Private practice ownership is one of the most rewarding, and at times, one of the most challenging paths you can take in dentistry. The weight of leadership, financial responsibility, and patient care can feel overwhelming. But at its core, private practice is about more than numbers, systems, or production goals. It's about people.Great practices don't just operate efficiently; they feel right, because they reflect who you are and what you stand for.
When I reflect on the times I experienced the greatest joy in practice, it was when my focus was centered on people-my team and my patients. By putting people first, trust was built, loyalty grew, and fulfillment and success followed. The byproduct of that approach was a healthy and thriving practice. On the other hand, when I became driven by money, performance, or external validation, the result was fatigue, discouragement, and a hollow sense of success. True fulfillment came only when I chose to do what was right for others and led with principles that mattered most.
Private practice becomes sustainable when it is rooted in a clear Vision, Mission, and Values. Gratitude, integrity, compassion, growth, connection, and service created alignment in our decisions and stability in our culture. These same values also anchored us when difficulties arose. Dentistry is demanding, and ownership even more so. But when your purpose is clear and your choices are guided by enduring principles, obstacles become opportunities for growth.
One of the greatest strengths in private practice is realizing you don't have to carry the weight of ownership alone. Living by your vision and values is powerful, but sharing the journey with trusted colleagues and peers makes it sustainable. The encouragement and perspective that come from others can renew your hope, remind you that you're not alone, and give you courage to take the next step. Sharing experiences and learning from those who have walked the path before you often provides the clarity needed to move forward with confidence.
So the questions become: What is your vision for your practice and your life? What do you really want for yourself, your team, and your patients? What is stopping you from moving forward toward that vision? And if you know a change needs to be made, what would it take to start moving in that direction?
The best answer is often to take the first step-and then the next, and then the next. Sometimes it takes a leap of faith. More often, it simply takes courage to begin. As Napoleon Hill once said, "Do not wait; the time will never be Just right.' Start where you stand."
Owning a private practice will never be without its struggles, but those struggles can become the very experiences that shape us into stronger leaders and more compassionate providers. When we approach challenges with clarity of vision and steadiness of values, they no longer feel like burdens. They become opportunities for growth.
Hope in private practice comes from knowing that difficulties are not dead ends, but turning points. Each decision to act with integrity, each effort to build trust with your team, and each moment of compassion shown to a patient is evidence that you are creating something greater than a business. You are creating a legacy.
The future of private practice will always belong to those who choose courage over comfort, people over profit, and principles over pressure. And when that choice is made consistently, what follows is not only success, but fulfillment. The kind that lasts far beyond the walls of the practice itself.
Eric Chatterley, DDS, PBFP
Founder I Mentor/Coach for Private Practice Owners
eric@ctc-pathways.com
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