📍   Hey there and welcome back to Dentistry Support the Podcast. I'm your host, Sarah Beth Herman, and today I just had  to talk about the field of dentistry and my gratitude and what this holiday season actually means for me.  I think that there are a million different podcasts out there.

And many of them just don't take the time to talk about the gratitude for the industries that they serve.  So I couldn't end this year and this very podcast episode without taking the time to honor what this industry has meant. So as we settle into the holiday season, I want to share why I'm so thankful for this industry and the amazing ways that it has changed lives, including mine. 



 We're going to talk about something really exciting, the future of this podcast, including a rebrand that I've been working on for six months. And I am finally able to announce it. We're going to talk about our sister company, the growth of Dentistry Support Academy, our free training resources, and our newest program, Blueprint to Breakthrough.

There is so much to be excited about as we close out 2024 and step into 2025. So grab a cup of coffee, get cozy and let's get to talking.   

Alright, I really wanted to have fun with this last episode, and maybe it's just fun for me because I love dentistry, but can you even imagine a world without dentists? I mean literally. I am grateful personally every day that we don't have to pull out our own teeth with pliers anymore. People actually did that. 

Dentistry dates back to 7, 000 BCE. Ancient people used bow drills, You know, like the kind of tool that you would expect to see in a survival kit to fix cavities.  And if that's not enough to make you appreciate modern dentistry, the ancient Egyptians were filling teeth with honey and crushed salts.

Sweet and salty, but definitely not the kind of treatment I would recommend.  Fast forward a few thousand years and Pierre Foucher, known as the father of modern dentistry, he changed the game in the 1700s by inventing dental forceps and writing a book that literally shaped the profession. Can we just take a moment to appreciate how bold you have to be to look at someone's mouth back then and think, Yeah, I can fix that. 

George Washington's famous wooden teeth. Totally a myth. His dentures were actually made of ivory, gold, and hippopotamus teeth. Wild, right?  Dentistry has always been about innovation and courage, and it's amazing to think how far we've actually come. From early tools to advanced x rays, this field keeps finding ways to make life better for all of us. 

Dentistry for me is a It's not just about fixing teeth. It really is about changing lives. Imagine how many people got their first job or fell in love with a new found confidence. Thanks to a healthier smile.  Programs like water fluoridation and free dental clinics have brought care to underserved communities, making oral health accessible to millions.

And it's not just about teeth. It's about overall health. Did you know that gum disease is linked to heart health?  By taking care of your teeth, we're actually taking care of our whole selves.  One of my favorite quotes about dentistry comes from Dr. Charles Cassidy Bass, who said the toothbrush is the first line of defense in the war against tooth decay.

I sound so cringy saying that. I know I do, but I have to think about it for a minute. Something as small as a toothbrush has a massive impact on our lives and it's the little things, right? Right? I mean, maybe I'm weird. Maybe this is all a little bit too much for a gratitude episode at the end of the year right around Christmas. 

But my personal journey in dentistry started when I was 17. I was a kid.  I never even imagined that it would lead to me becoming a five time CEO, building a brand, providing 700 jobs for people all over the world. Dentistry has not only shaped my career, but it gave me a purpose.  With Dentistry Support, my largest organization, I've been able to help dental offices across the country focus on what really matters, their patients. 

And with Dentistry Support Academy, my virtual dental school, we've trained professionals worldwide, giving people tools to thrive,  tools that take their business to a whole nother level.  At Dentistry Support Academy, we believe education is the foundation of success.

Our online school has coached, taught, and guided dental professionals from all over the globe, from billing, to team management, to insurance eligibility, credentialing, medical billing. We've created resources that aren't just helpful or there to exist, but they actually change the trajectory of businesses and professionals worldwide. 

We were announced as a global organization in 2017.  And the best part, most of our trainings are completely free. Listen to that again.  It's been our way of giving back to an industry that has given us so much. Whether it's through downloadable digital products, free webinars, personalized coaching, our mission has always been to advocate for the dental professional in you.

You deserve the tools, the confidence, and the support to succeed, and we have always been here to provide that. Have we been the perfect company? Have we done it all exactly as we dreamt of and then it turned out perfect? No. That hasn't always been our journey. That won't ever be our journey.  But where we are right now is so incredible and I really am just filled with gratitude that I get to consume a small teeny tiny corner in this industry. 

This year we introduced a brand new program that we've been working on for nine months called Blueprint to Breakthrough. We have a whole episode on it. Go listen to it. It'll teach you all about the program.  It has been such an exciting addition to what we offer across all of the companies that I lead and own. 

I couldn't be prouder of what we are building.  Blueprint to Breakthrough is a 16 week ongoing program designed for business owners and leaders who are ready to actually scale,  whether you are moving from Six to seven figures, seven to eight, or you're looking to break into new sectors or build your own podcast.

This program is built to help you do just that.  What makes this program special  is that it's not just about the numbers. It's about mindset, strategy, growth. We focus on helping you build a legacy, developing your brand and the new markets, expanding your leadership, dominating your industry.  The first cohort starts in January 2025  and the results are going to be incredible. 

Business owners are going to transform not just their companies, but their confidence and their approach to leadership.  And as we lead into 2025, The wait list for our May session is already open, but if you're listening to this before January 2025, there's still time for you to join the upcoming cohort.

Blueprint to Breakthrough is for anyone ready to break through the barriers and achieve something extraordinary.  If that sounds like you, I'd love for you to join us.  In January 2024, this year, I launched Dentistry Support the Podcast, not knowing just how far it would reach. Fast forward 11 months  and this podcast has made it to over 100 countries and a thousand cities. 

This blows my mind  because I literally hemmed and hawed over starting the podcast for three years.  I had two different graphics for the cover. I had multiple intros and outros. I even tested myself and created and wrote episodes and never really bringing any of it to fruition. I was too scared because I just didn't know what I was doing. 

And here we are.  This podcast has generated six figures of revenue for my companies. Six figures of revenue.  From just connecting with people like you  that are willing to listen, that keep coming back for more. And I just can't believe it,  but I've caught even bigger news  starting in January, 2025 dentistry support.

The podcast will officially rebrand as no silver spoons. This rebrand is about expanding our reach beyond dentistry. We've heard the need in all industries for the kind of leadership, coaching and small business support that we've been offering in the dental world.  No silver spoons is about breaking barriers, sharing authentic stories and equipping businesses with the tools to grow, thrive, and lead.

So whether you're in healthcare, hospitality, tech,  services of any kind, retail spaces of any kind,  it doesn't matter the industry. This podcast is going to bring you the inspiration to help you navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship and leadership, and there were no. Silver spoons given to get right here. 

I'm excited to take this step with you. Our mission has always been to serve and inspire. And with this rebrand, we will continue doing that on even a larger scale.  I want to take a moment to pause.  The holidays are a really busy time, but I want us to take a breath and to reflect on where we are right now. 

A few hours ago, I went through my phone and I called as many of my friends as I could. And most of them, I spent less than two minutes on the phone telling them how proud I am of them. Not because I wanted them to say it back, but just because I wanted them to receive it. To know that they're doing amazing.

They're accomplishing things I never knew they would, and they never knew they would.  So you're here  in this moment listening to this episode and this means you've made it through every challenge that you faced so far  and that's no small thing.  You're worthy of this very moment, of this season and of all of the incredible blessings in your life.

And I think we sometimes forget to celebrate ourselves. It's easy to focus on what's next. The perfect gift,  the person coming into town, the person leaving town, the friend that didn't text me back, the card I never got, the things that didn't go perfectly.  But let's flip the script.  Gratitude starts with recognizing the good that's already here. 

I want you to take this season to slow down and reconnect  with your loved ones, with your goals, and most importantly, with yourself. Remember that you're perfectly designed for this space that you're in. Everything that you've been through has brought you right here and you are more than enough.  And as we wrap up this episode, I just want to thank you for being part of this journey of mine with me. 

Whether you're a dentist or a small business owner or just someone passionate about growth, your work matters and it matters to me. You've been making a difference in people's lives every day and no one's been telling you and you're not even seeing it and I just want you to see it. 

This holiday season, I hope you take the time to reflect on the impact that you've made and the blessings around you. And remember, John Wooden once says that things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.  Can I say it again so that you can hear it one more time?

 Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out.  You got this, you've been getting this, you've been doing it. And even though it's been hard, you've been doing it. And I just want to sit in gratitude.  So I'm going to challenge you right now to pause this episode  and let 15 or 20 or 30 seconds pass by and just sit in the silence wherever you are and think about the first gratitude moment that comes to your mind and relish in it.

Love it, experience it, memorize the way you feel right now because you're grateful.  Go spend time with your family, enjoy these holidays, bring in the new year and set goals that bring you to a space you never knew you could get to.  I don't know you, but I want to talk to you and I want to tell you that I feel like I know you and I feel like I know what you're thinking and I feel like maybe  you think you're not going to make it through the end of the year or you don't know how your goals could be any bigger because how can you even reach the ones you have now? 

But you wouldn't have these grandiose ideas if it weren't for anything.  It's for something. You're thanking them for a reason because you were the one meant to make them come true.  I'm so proud of you.  You've done great this year. I'm grateful for dentistry. I'm grateful for business. I'm grateful for colleagues.

Just like you I'm grateful that you allowed me to think of this very business and then the four that came after it  I'm thankful for the space of CEO in my companies and I'm thankful that I've created over 700 jobs all Over the world for people who gosh, what if I had never met them?  They've changed my life. 

Thank you for spending time with me on this last episode of 2025. And when you hear my voice again,  this podcast will be rebranded under no silver spoons powered by dentistry support.  I'm so grateful for you, and I'm wishing you a season filled with joy, love, and lots of laughter.

Merry Christmas from my little corner of the dental world. Until next time, stay inspired and I'll catch you on the next episode in season three,  No Silver Spoons,  📍 powered by dentistry support.