It was noticeably quieter in Ithaca this year: Fewer super-yachts - we would normally expect to see between 6 and 10 of the top 100 yachts in the world (by size and value) - this year only one - owned by the wealthiest family in Kazakstan; Fewer flotillas - the harbour at Vathi is normally full at least 4 nights a week (accounting for change-over days) - this year there was only one night in 14 where the harbour seemed busy; Fewer diners - most of the harbour-side restaurants

Back at work this morning after our annual 2-week sabbatical on the Greek island of Ithaca. Rested, re-charged and ready to go again. 5 books read, lots of sleep, food, drink and fun on beaches and boats. The last time I saw Colin Campbell was on the London Underground, the evening before we departed and at the end of his Consultation Masterclass. The last thing he said to me was "I challenge you to take a 2-week vacation from social media, as well as work." As expected, I ro

Spend any time on dental social media and you notice two recurring themes. By far the biggest is feeling burned out, and not just dentists. The other is recruitment and retention. When I asked the audience at a recent talk what the biggest challenge in dentistry is, they gave me the same answers. So let me tell you my story. A few years ago I was working long hours with barely any life outside the surgery. My team were close to walking out, and then they did, right after lock

Yesterday I had the pleasure of co-hosting, alongside Manish Chitnis, a meeting of around 40 Indian dentists in Dental Business Masters, and I came away from the session feeling energised, optimistic and reminded, yet again, that the right room changes everything. What struck me first was the quality of the people in the room. This was not a gathering of dabblers or dreamers. These were committed practice owners and clinicians from across India and Nepal, representing a wide

There are just 2 months until the Mouth Cancer Foundation Awareness Walks which take place in Old Deer Park, Richmond Upon Thames on Saturday 05 September 2026. THANK YOU to those of you who have signed up. There are still places available at this year’s walk so please encourage any family, friends and colleagues to get involved. Simply register here - https://register.mouthcancerwalk.org/ There is something for all the family. So, whether you take on the 10 KM challe

Attending the funeral of Dr. Simon Gallier yesterday in Marylebone was a privilege and, at the request of his family, an opportunity to celebrate a life lived to the full. There have been other eulogies, notably on GDP-UK, from the dental profession, so it's not my place to add to them. At St James Roman Catholic Church we heard from his elder brother Nigel Gallier (also a soldier), his best man and lifelong friend Russell Sowden and his wife Wendy, all of whom spoke with gra

It's difficult to realise that it is 18 years since my former business manager married and emigrated (in an age where that meant "goodbye") and that, through a word of mouth recommendation, I found myself meeting Phillippa Goodwin in a cafe off the M5, to discuss whether or not we could work together. Perhaps the shortest and least professional interview ever, as I knew in the first few minutes that we had "clicked" and that PG would be the right fit - for me and for the job.

Over the next three months, in my Q3 workshop day, I’ll be focusing on four subjects that sit right at the heart of building a modern, manager-managed dental business. Not theory for its own sake. Not “interesting content”. Not another day of nodding along to things we already know. This is practical material for owners and managers who are trying to solve real problems in real businesses, over the next 90 days and beyond. The ground we will cover has been deliberately chosen

Last week I was the victim of a sophisticated attempt to steal my identity and compromise my bank accounts. I'm going to confess that they had me fooled - I genuinely thought nobody could outsmart me - and they did. They caught me on the hop, when I was busy, tired and in a rush. Two calls, both of which appeared to me to to be absolutely genuine. I've spoken to my bank and I've spoken to The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) at the request of my bank. Both of them are amazed

Most business owners I work with hit the same wall at roughly the same point. The business has grown, the team has grown, and yet somehow everything still seems to run through them. Decisions wait for them. Problems land on their desk. They are busier than ever, and wondering why building a team hasn't bought them any more room to breathe. When that happens, the instinct is usually to hire. Bring in someone senior, someone who already knows how to lead, and let them take the