Beyond the Blueprint: Building for 2026

Collin Here 🙂 

First things first!

Before we dive into 2026, we have some incredible news to share with this community. The Making Of was named Course Karma’s 2025 Educational Facebook Group of the Year for Business Management! 🏆

We are so honored by this, but more than that, we are proud of you. A group is only as strong as the people sitting at the table, and this award is a testament to the vulnerability, support, and "real talk" you all bring to the community every day. Thank you for making this the best corner of the dental world.

As the final hours of 2025 wind down, I’m taking a moment to look back before we leap forward. It has been a beautifully chaotic season—from Dr. Toni Torres’ daughter’s 5th birthday to hosting eight Australians in my house (my husband’s family from down under!).

Between the celebrations and the houseguests, I’ve been thinking a lot about our conversation from last week: Finding your "Why."

For me, 2026 isn't about resolutions; it’s about Intentions. I want to build a life I don’t necessarily need a vacation from. We’re entrepreneurs—we know how to grind—but we have to make sure that grind is actually serving the life we want to lead.

Your 2026 Alignment Audit

I want to challenge you to move from a vague "Why" into a concrete 2026 plan. Grab a notebook, find a quiet corner, and walk through these four tangibles:

1. Identify the Drains vs. the Fills: Look back at your 2025 calendar. What activities or people pulled you away from your mission? What gave you energy?

2. The Peloton Principle: Years ago, I wanted to get healthy, so I got a Peloton to remove the friction of going to a gym. What is the one tool, system, or change that will remove the friction between you and your 2026 goals?

3. Audit Your Table: Are the people sitting with you filling your cup or bringing negativity? Surround yourself with builders.

4. Intentional Priority: In a world of "doom scrolling" and day-to-day BS, how will you protect your mental health this year?

This Week’s Featured Listen: The Rewind

Episode 2: The Very Beginning

To ground us in the reality of the journey, we are re-releasing Episode 2 of The Making Of. It captures the early days of Dr. Ashley Joves and Michael Arias building Smile & Co.

I love listening to these old episodes to see how the mindset has evolved—the construction errors, the budget hacks (hello, IKEA cabinets!), and the grit it took to keep going. If you’re feeling the weight of a new project, this is your reminder that every legacy starts with a single, often messy, first step.

Listen to the Episode Here →   SPOTIFY / APPLE 

We Want to Hear From You!

We genuinely want to help this community grow in 2026. What are your big intentions for the year? What hurdles are you currently facing that we can help you navigate?

Hit reply and share your ideas, your "One Word" for 2026, or a question you want us to tackle in the new year. Next week, we kick off 2026 with a brand-new episode featuring Dr. Toni Torres of Bloom Dental Co. We’re going deep into her lease and the "Day One" realities of her startup.

Happy New Year—let's get after it!

With gratitude,

Ashley, Brian, & Collin The Making Of Team

Find me @ashleyjovesdds / @themaking.of / www.themakingofpodcast.com

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.