Who Is In Your Corner When It Matters Most?

Hey friends!

I am back!

After months of appointments, scans, surgeries, and everything that came with walking alongside Brian through his cancer journey, I am back in the chair, seeing patients, and doing the thing I genuinely love. Changing smiles. Changing lives. Showing up for the people who trust us with their care.

And I am not going to pretend like I did that on my own.

I stepped away from the practice for months. Months. And the entire time, my team held everything together. They showed up every single day. They cared for our patients with the same love and intention I would have if I had been there myself. They ran huddles. They handled the chaos. They made sure Smile and Co. never missed a beat, even when I could not be the one steering the ship.

I do not think I will ever be able to fully put into words what that means to me.

There were so many mornings during this season where I genuinely could not be present. And yet I never once worried about the practice falling apart, because I knew my team had it. That is not something you build overnight. That is years of culture, trust, and intention finally paying off in the moment you need it most.

So this newsletter is simply a thank you. To Judy. To my assistants. To my hygienists. To my front office. To every single person who showed up for our patients when I could not. You are the reason I get to come back to something whole.

This Week On The Making Of 🎙️

Listen To The Full Episode On

Spotify Podcasts / Apple Podcasts

This week's Michelin Star Moves episode feels especially fitting given everything I just shared. Collin and I sat down to talk about something that has quietly been one of the biggest contributors to our team's strength this entire time. The morning huddle.

Here is what we cover:

Why We Start With Gratitude
Every single morning before we talk numbers or schedules, we go around the room and share something we are grateful for from the office. It sounds simple, but it sets the tone for the entire day and it is honestly one of my favorite 30 seconds of our morning.

The Chart Review Process
Our assistants and hygienists go through every patient on the schedule ahead of time, checking for PAs, treatment accuracy, medical history updates, and any nuances that help the day run smoothly. It is the behind the scenes work that makes patients feel truly known.

Identifying Same Day Opportunities
We talk through who has unscheduled treatment, who might no show, and who we can call to fill any gaps. It keeps the day moving and the schedule full without anyone scrambling last minute.

The VIP Patient Moment
One of my favorite things we do. Each day a team member identifies one patient they are going to go above and beyond for. It is a small shift that creates a genuinely memorable experience and naturally leads to more of the reviews and referrals that have made Smile and Co. what it is today.

Why Fifteen Minutes Changes Your Whole Day
The huddle takes fifteen minutes. But the communication and alignment it creates carries through the entire rest of the day. We talk about why we believe so strongly in this and why we still miss our old end of day huddles too.

If you are building your own team and wondering whether a morning huddle is worth the time, this episode is your answer. It absolutely is.

The Making Of Moment

Reflecting on this season, I keep coming back to one thing. The ROI of a great team is not just measured in collections or production numbers. It is measured in moments like this. Moments when life throws everything at you and the people you surround yourself with simply rise to meet it.

I am back. I am grateful. And I am so ready to keep building alongside the people who never stopped believing in this practice, even when I could not be the one holding it together.

Listen To The Full Episode On

Spotify Podcasts / Apple Podcasts

Until next week. 💛

Dr. Ashley Joves

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

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