A little heart-to-heart before 2026...

A personal note from Collin on finding your "Why."

Author

Ashley Joves
December 23, 2025

From the desk of Collin Al-Samarrie

Hi!

Collin here. As we hit the final stretch of the year, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting.

If you’ve been following along, you know that our favorite word at The Making Of is PIVOT. Usually, we talk about pivoting when a contractor misses a deadline or a piece of equipment doesn't show up. But lately, life has been asking for a different kind of pivot.

2025 was a year that reminded me just how fragile and precious our time really is. From personal losses in my own family to walking alongside Ashley and Brian through his health journey, this year has been a series of reminders to hold the people we love a little closer.

It has a way of making all the "day-to-day" stress of running a business feel very small.

As we head into the holidays, I want to ask you: What is your "Why"?

When you’re in the middle of a startup, it’s easy to let your "Why" become about the plumbing, the P&L, or the patient acquisition numbers. But those things are just the how.

My "Why" isn't clinical dentistry—it’s you.

A much-needed night out with Ashley, Brian, Adrian, and myself at the Lauren Daigle Christmas concert. I’m grateful for this crew and the community we’re building together! Helping this community find their way is what keeps me going.

Before 2026 starts, I encourage you to take a breath and:

  1. Evaluate your focus: Are you getting caught up in the runaround, or are you focused on what matters most?

  2. Set your intentions: Take a moment to decide what you want this next year to feel like, not just what you want to achieve.

  3. Lean on us: This community is like nothing else in the industry. You aren't in this alone.

We’re taking a little breather this week to reflect, and we’ve re-released a very special "Rewind" episode: Dr. Ashley Joves’ very first interview about the build-out of Smile & Co. If you're feeling the "startup fog," give it a listen. It’s a beautiful reminder that every great story had a messy, uncertain beginning.

Listen to the "Find Your Why" Episode 

Whether you celebrate Christmas, the holidays, or just a week of rest—I hope you spend it with the people who make you feel brave. We aren't promised tomorrow, so let’s make today count.

Love you all,

Collin Al-Samarrie The Making Of Team

P.S. Don’t forget to leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—it helps other dentists find us and fuels this mission we believe in so deeply.

The Making Of has partnered with Net32, the dental marketplace that lets you compare vendors, brands, and pricing in one place. → Net32: www.net32.com/TheMakingOf