This article explains the numbers to track, the common mistakes, and how to make better decisions fast. Most principals have an instinctive sense of whether a clinician is “worth the chair time”. With general dentistry, that instinct is often close enough. With a dentist who has a special interest, implants, endodontics, ortho, perio, it’s much easier to get it wrong. The reason is simple: high-value dentistry can look profitable on the surface, while quietly draining margin

Why real-time data, cockpit-style reporting and smarter decision-making will separate the leaders from the laggards Here's a prediction for 2026. The year of the AI-driven Dashboard. Dashboards that tell us, in real time: Detailed financial analysis - revenue, costs, KPIs, OCPSPD; Profitability analysis on all types of treatment; Real-time fee-setting; Clinician productivity analysis and "score on the doors" reporting every day; Marketing systems - ROI on everything we do; CR

What a sudden loss of confidence in big tech tells us about risk, resilience and decision-making in dental practice ownership There's no bigger fan of AI than me - but....... Oracle’s $80 billion drop in market value yesterday (yikes) has sent shockwaves through the tech world. This sharp decline followed a small shortfall in their earnings forecast, revealing just how sensitive the AI marketplace remains. The event highlights the risks companies face when heavily investing i

The Extreme Business Autopilot© turns insight into action — one question at a time. Over the past year, many clients have begun using The Extreme Business Autopilot© (our trained ChatGPT) to bring structure, clarity and momentum to their long-term planning. One recent project (client anonymised) demonstrates exactly how this works: a collaborative, coach-led process that takes an owner from broad ambition to a complete, data-driven business plan running from today to their ch

THE EXTREME BUSINESS AUTOPILOT© HIT PARADE: THE TOP 10 QUESTIONS FROM DENTAL PRACTICE OWNERS Over the last 12 months, The Extreme Business Autopilot© has quietly answered hundreds of questions from dental practice owners and managers. When you zoom out, the pattern is clear: the issues repeat — it’s the context  that changes. So here it is: the 10 most asked questions of 2025, counting down to number 1… #10 – Where do we even start with marketing? Still the biggest gap and th

When you start planning in January, you’ve already lost the first six weeks of the year. Every December, practice owners and managers tell me the same thing: “I’ll sort the plan in January.” I understand the instinct. December is full. Patients want everything done before the break, the team is juggling life and work, and you’re trying to hold the whole thing together. But there’s a truth that most practices don’t discover until mid-February: When you start planning in Januar

The Final Fortnight: How to Lead Your Practice Calmly to Christmas The final two weeks before Christmas bring a unique challenge for UK dental practice owners. Patients rush to book last-minute appointments, your team juggles holiday plans, and you must keep the practice running smoothly while preparing for the new year. This period tests your leadership and organisation more than any other time of year. Staying calm, visible, and focused will help you lead your practice conf

stand your ground On Thursday 2nd October I began our latest workshop tour with Dr. Mike Hesketh. Mike presented the last of his 7 days in Edinburgh yesterday - a triumph - clients who had missed his tour travelled to Edinburgh from The Republic of Ireland, Devon, Essex and Surrey, as well as those who normally meet us here from the North of England and Scotland. A full house for the finale of a game-changing presentation. Mike has been utterly brilliant. I've listened to him

The rising cost of keeping the lights on: your daily surgery costs explained For many years I have suggested that the “most important number that Dental Practice Owners don’t know” is Operating Cost Per Utilised Surgery Per Day.   OCPUSPD.   My clients are an inventive lot, and one exceptionally bright spark refers to this as her:   OCTOPUSSY   Hopefully, (to avoid blushes or my blog being cancelled) a reference to the infamous "Bond girl" of the book and movie series.   “The

Thank you Portman Dentex for a five-star day on the road to 2030 It's not my place to talk about the content of the Portman Dentex Conference, or their ambitious plans, unveiled during the morning session, to take them to 2030. But I am going to offer a huge thank you to the team, and the audience, who could not have made me feel more welcome and appreciated. A 5-star event from start to finish (and I know just how much effort goes in to making a day like this a success). To