68 ::: Creating Impact: Dr. Bob Dee on Leadership, Community, and Growth

Shawn Zajas (: 00:00

Okay, so today I could not be more excited to be with Dr. Bob D. And Bob, before I set you up, I just want to say thank you so much for letting me interview you today.

Bob Dee (: 00:12

Of course, of course, that's my honor. I'm being interviewed, but you know, so it's my pleasure. Thank you.

Shawn Zajas (: 00:21

Well, Bob, the whole reason why I have this podcast, it's really to serve my listeners. And my contention is this, that dentistry is going to be unbelievably great in 10 years. But my challenge to my listeners is, is it going to be great because of them? At some point, there's someone like you that decides to say, you know what, why can't it be me? Why can't I step up and lead? You're an amazing clinical dentist.

but you're so much more than that. And there's nothing wrong with those dentists that just want to stay in the op. But here you are, you have dentistry in general, this huge online private community. And it's like at some point you had a decision point, like, why can't I be the one that pioneers change in dentistry? And that's really what the podcast is all about. It's about the stories of those people that just step up and lead. And I feel like you're a natural leader. Now, when we met at Supercharge, your dental practice,

I remember being struck by, again, how authentic, how candid, and how real you were. And I just hope you bring that into this interview. So start wherever you want with your journey in dentistry.

Bob Dee (: 01:32

Thank you very much for having me, Sean. It was a pleasure meeting you at the Podfest and I'm glad to be doing this. You tell me, I hope you bring the same. Some people call it authentic. My wife likes to call it unfiltered. So she wants me to have more filter, but I don't have any other way. So in this podcast or with my friends outside, some people sometimes say,

In real life, he's nice. That's just online persona. I'm the same thing you get online or offline or anywhere else. Because I believe to be able to appeal to as many people as possible, you have to be yourself. One of the...

things that a professional poker player told me once was that you can't be somebody else. You need to play your personality at the table. And also, Warren Buffett says, invest in things that you understand. If I don't understand something, I don't do it. So this group is not about me being a leader or not leader. I don't consider myself as a leader. I consider myself

as someone compassionate that can help people. And this group of mine was...

established based on helping the young generation of dentists succeed. Dentistry has been great to me and I want to give something back. So we started actually this group. I started the idea and creating it offline seven days after the pandemic closed down. So on March 20th, I started writing this on a paper on the idea and things like that and

Bob Dee (: 03:27

th of: 2020

very

Safe and I know some people don't like to use that word safe, but I want it to be somewhere that people could share their ideas obviously even within our own community there are there are guys who fight with you over using this paper towel then over that one but but mainly if you don't have other people in there that the conversation can be more authentic so it was created based on a support mission and not necessarily me trying to lead people.

Now we can get into it a little bit later that it has morphed into something else after the pandemic, but that was basically my mission to help the younger generation.

Shawn Zajas (: 04:24

Okay, so I love what you say because if you track almost any amazing breakthrough or any pioneer and you ask about the genesis of their idea or their breakthrough or their sense of leadership, it's always missional first. It's always there's a need and I'm wanting to step up and occupy that contrasting that to the people that want impact, have ego as their primary thing and are trying to.

lead and pioneer impact. And it's like, you don't become a leader by trying to lead, you become a leader by serving. And that's exactly what you did. So I think that's massively profound, Bob. But before we kind of touch more on that, I want to circle back. You said something about how this is just who you are professionally, personally, unfiltered, raw, uncut Bob.

And I'm curious if that was something that you identified early on or how early, because what I see is so many times people are really good at modeling based off, as you're growing, you model from your parents and you model from role models and mentors. And it seemed like maybe you found your voice, maybe even your backbone early on. When do you think that emerged?

Bob Dee (: 05:44

I mean, my background could be a book, right? We were immigrants. I went through a revolution, a war, come to this country at the age of 17 and trying to basically, you know, survive and then try to go to college, try to work full time, try so.

You know, the same story as most immigrants have, right? I mean, we've had a couple other twists here and there, you know, the earthquake in San Francisco destroying our business again and, and, and, you know, the pandemic and then, then 9 -11 and all of these things have formed a resiliency for not just me, for most immigrants and for most people who've gone through a lot of these things, right? So, do I...

have a point in my history that say, that was it. I have to say going through a revolution at the age of 14 and seeing what's happening in the old country was eye opening. So that's basically, I think what created my personality of not conforming and standing up to bullies and standing up to

what you think is wrong for someone to do for the profession. And that's where I wanna kind of segue into my activities with organized dentistry and creating this coalition of advocacy that we're trying to influence how organized dentistry is acting on our behalf.

Shawn Zajas (: 07:41

The fact that you mentioned the non -conformist, I love that because it's like, in some ways you almost, I don't want to say you assumed it, but.

difficulty and challenge doesn't have to make us. It can break us. And I know a lot of individuals and maybe to your point, not immigrants, maybe entitled Americans can play the victim card of how difficult life can be. And maybe those that showed up with an appreciation and just a gratitude for opportunity found a way to just lay hold of it and not complain.

and just find a way to see the positives. Because I see that. And just to let you know, when I met you, like I said, at Len's event, there was a certain security I got instantly when I was like, wow, Bob is just gonna say it how it is. I trust that. I feel safe around that. Because if there's something you don't like, you're gonna tell me. It's the people that tiptoe. It's the people that, I don't know, you can call it.

but I don't know how they sit with me, because maybe they're going to say one thing to my face and then one thing the second I leave. So I really appreciate your uncensored, you're very aligned to who you are, and I think that's a gift.

Bob Dee (: 08:53

Yeah, that's right.

Bob Dee (: 09:01

Yeah, I appreciate you saying that, but I want to make sure I point this out that being kind is also something that was taught to me by my friend Paul Goodman because I'm kind in person, but online we can be unkind to each other. And I'm guilty of it many for many years, right? Because you don't understand that what you're putting down.

online or on a podcast or something can affect people. So although I'm unfiltered, I've always tried to make sure they know I'm coming from the position of trying to support them. I'm not going to beat around the bush and tell people, you're just okay. You know, I don't believe in participation trophies, but I also am going to support you if you are struggling.

I am going to support you if you have a question. Those are the things that I believe people look at our group and associate that to the principles of how I run this group is that you cannot tear somebody up. You have to be supportive, but also be real and don't just support someone without knowing your stuff.

Shawn Zajas (: 10:28

Well, I think the great thing about even what we were saying about people being more comfortable modeling at first is that thankfully, at least you're getting to model, hey, guys, take it for what it is. I'm here to support you guys, but I'm going to show up how I am. And I believe you probably give that kind of permission and have created that culture in your group. And that's why I think it's known and it's so influential. And that's why even before this, we started hitting record, you couldn't help Bob.

but share in the most generous way, a generosity of spirit to me about what I'm doing because you're not, again, like you're not pulling punches. You want me to succeed, so you couldn't help but sharing that. So I interview a lot of people. That's not something I see that's common to people. So I don't know if you recognize that it's like kind of a unique capability you have, but I just want to honor that.

Like it really is, it's special. And I think that's why your private community is as influential as it is.

Bob Dee (: 11:32

I really appreciate you saying that. I don't want to take too much credit for that because I believe there are a lot of people who do that. I can't really recognize that because that's all I know, right? I can't really do anything else, but I also believe that it resonates with people and that's why people trust me.

on certain things.

Shawn Zajas (: 12:04

So a good friend of mine, Chuck Blakeman, was sharing these two concepts that really just kind of revolutionized so much of my understanding of business. And they're two words that are not very well known. One is connation and the other is velayity. And he was saying how he discovered them was pretty interesting. But connation is the idea. The slang kind of definition is I want something so badly, the evidence of me wanting something is I'm already doing something about it. I'm in movement.

If I want to go to Dallas, you know, I want to go to Dallas because I'm already in my car driving with a map set on Dallas. The lady on the other hand is this idea that I have a sincere desire for something, but I really don't plan on doing anything about it. Now you get this idea about starting this group. You said, I think March or something. And then in April, you're already running. You're already doing it. And between the lines of what we're saying, I'm always hoping that my audience picks up like,

There's no better time than now to pursue whatever dream is on their heart. Whatever problem that they're seeing, wherever they think they can step up and provide value, you don't need to be qualified. Like, did you ever encounter as you were starting this any sense of imposter syndrome or like, hey, Bob, why do you think you're qualified to do this? Or why is this the right time? Did you ever have a moment of that? Or were you just kind of so focused on the value that it was easy for you?

Bob Dee (: 13:31

You know, I have, and I talk about this a lot, is that maybe I got lucky. Maybe the pandemic created such an environment that there was a need for a group like mine, right? And there were a lot of groups and there's still a lot of Facebook groups out there and a lot of community. I believe what you're saying is very accurate as...

It is a litmus test that I have to run at all times. Am I qualified to do this? And if I forget about that part, it's when I get a big head, right? I have to be grounded. And that is always in the back of my mind. For whatever I do. You know, I'm that we are creating this advocacy coalition that hopefully will change.

dentist lives for the better in for years to come. And I have surrounded myself by leaders. I refer to myself as the loudmouth. I'm the mouthpiece. You guys are experts in this. Help me create this and then I will publicize it. So knowing your place and knowing that your limitations is important in any business, especially

when you're online and you're presenting yourself to many people, I don't comment on things that I am not an expert. I just ask the expert, you know. So again, I appreciate what you're saying, but yes, you have to doubt yourself and question yourself. Otherwise you become stale. And that is maybe in contradiction to this word that I, I don't know, some people use as I don't.

the influencer thing, right? You have to always exude confidence. I kind of just done myself basically.

Shawn Zajas (: 15:38

This idea though of I am just myself basically, like I, there's such, it's so profound, Bob. And the reason why is that I talk to dentists a lot and I tell them, hey, at some point, if you want to do dentistry in a really meaningful way, you have to find out your style of dentistry, the culture you want to keep in your practice and hope to God you're lucky enough to align everything. So when you show up, you're not having to perform.

You're not having to put on the smile, fake it with your team, fake it with your patients. But hopefully because you're just, you have the courage to just be yourself, you're going to attract team members that accept you and are on board with what you're doing. And you're going to attract patients that get you. And then you don't have to keep faking it. No wonder why there's so much burnout in dentistry, because everyone's trying to be that version of the dentist that they saw that they think is what, that's what success looks like. You know, Gordon Christiansen, that's the way you you're successful.

And somehow it seems like you got liberated from that, that fantasy early on. And you've just had that courage to be like, look, I'm Bob D. This is how I am. And I'm going to be great. And I'm going to temper it with humility, but I'm not going to fake it. And I think again, from my perspective, interviewing a lot of different people, that to me doesn't always, it's not something people arrive at and aren't quite as rooted in that.

as you are. So I'm sorry if I'm beating the horse dead. But earlier, Bob, you said something about how ideas come to you all the time. Now, to me, that's like, evident that you probably have been entrepreneurial for a very long time. And yet it doesn't seem like entrepreneurs naturally find themselves as dentists. Do you find that perplexing? Or was that entrepreneurial nature developed after you became a dentist?

Bob Dee (: 17:34

I talk about this all the time as dentists are entrepreneurs. When a college student decides to go to dental school, the first thought in their head is that I'm going to have my own dental office. Nobody is thinking I'm going to go work for a DSO, right? Nobody's thinking I want a nine to five job or I want to, yeah, they may change when they're in dental school and say, I don't want to have a business.

But to this day still, every single pre -dental student is thinking, I want to own my own practice. I challenge anyone to question me. I don't even think it's 99%. 100 % go there because they want autonomy, and that's the entrepreneurial qualities of human beings. Now, they may not want it. They may not want the responsibility. When you're a business owner,

you are 24 seven. Don't tell me you want to take four weeks of vacation. I know some of our colleagues brag about their $30 ,000 vacation that they did here and there. That's fine. But do know that you're 24 seven when you're a business owner. You know, but entrepreneurship is also rooted in my past. My father dropped out of high school, you know, and started a business.

and retired at the age of 32. Right. So that's all I know, basically. And it's not like, I don't know, I'd like to, you know, get my hands in different things. And I enjoy it. So I enjoy the business world as much as I enjoy being a healthcare professional. So that's basically how I feel.

Shawn Zajas (: 19:26

It's so cool that your dad was an entrepreneur and that you get to, not that it's all about honor, but almost like following that legacy by occupying that same. I feel like our DNA is so much more advanced than science has revealed. And I even think that like, I don't want to say soft skills, but like you got so much probably of that disposition or gifting probably from him. And the fact that you leaned into it instead of being like, dad, I'm doing.

my own thing in some massive leap, some big order of magnitude where it's not even entrepreneurial. The fact that it is entrepreneurial, that is neat. And I can see, Bob, you uniquely being placed as the leader facilitator of the group you're in, it probably gets to completely satisfy these intellectual and entrepreneurial curiosities that you have because you're constantly hearing about new opportunities, opportunities to fund this.

or just to help people. So I'm sure it's almost like you stumbled into something that was going to be incredibly fulfilling. Did you know it was going to be as fulfilling? Because you came into it from this place of, I want to help the next generation. Did you know it was going to be as fulfilling as it's been?

Bob Dee (: 20:43

Fulfilling, I mean, obviously, you know, I started with 50 people in my area. I didn't think that we were gonna grow to 7 ,800 dentists in a matter of four years. And I say 7 ,800 dentists, but I gotta tell you, because we're so picky, let's say, weekly, we accept 100 people.

we have another 150 that we denied entry to my group. So I, again, I do things a little differently. I don't go based on eyeballs for social media platform. I go based on quality and what, who I want to be in the group. But you know, I, yes, I was surprised as how far we've gone in the, in the four years that we've been doing this, but I did not.

have any doubt that this was going to succeed once I committed to it. So that commitment took a little bit to see, hey, what do we have here? It was an unknown territory for me. But it is a lesson for people to remember that I always say this, if you can do a root canal, you can do anything.

Right? If you learn how to do a root canal, all the steps, all the little detailed work that you're doing, you can do everything. It's just that you have to commit to yourself. A lot of people don't want to commit themselves.

Shawn Zajas (: 22:19

If you can graduate dental school, you can do anything. It's like, from what I've heard, it's a pretty high bar and it sifts out some of the smartest people because it's just, it's difficult. And yet I also heard from my friend, Eric Roman, dentistry is so great because it gives you the freedom to pioneer if you want to, because at the end of the day, if something you're trying doesn't work as a side hustle, you are still a dentist.

You still have value with your hands. You always have something you can fall back on. And I think that's really interesting when it comes to giving someone permission to follow the dream of their heart. You don't have to risk your dentistry. You don't have to stop being clinical. Did you ever find it at odds? The clinical, maybe more scientific mindset of maybe being a little bit more cautious, limiting liability in a patient's mouth.

versus the entrepreneurial mindset of iterate, fall forward, fail fast, you know, explore where risk is a totally different relationship you have with risk than you would in someone's mouth. Did you ever struggle with those two caps or have you found a way to find harmony with them?

Bob Dee (: 23:38

question. You know, my plan for my platform, which I call because I want I want it to be a platform for dentists to to communicate with each other. That's the mission, right? That's if you commit, if you connect, you get rid of those burnout things that you talked about as isolation, you can help each other. That plan.

was set in that one month that I took away to figure out what I wanted. So the framework has always been there and I just followed it, meaning that I don't want toxic dentists in my group. You know, I've seen them ruin many, many platforms. Now, why do they do that? You know, my friend Paul Goodman and I talk about this all the time. You know, it takes a lot of injury for you to be able to injure someone else.

So these are hurt people that come out there and try to hurt others. I feel compassionate towards them, but I'm not going to let them ruin my platform by doing certain things. And there are some that have changed over time, but I had a plan and I've stuck to it. Like sponsors of my group. I have said no to companies even though they offer me money.

I don't want something in my group that I can't buy for myself as a dentist. So those were the things that I set up and not necessarily anything wrong with anybody else doing anything else. It's just that I'm not as charismatic as other influencers that I can sell something. I got to be able to say I'm using it. You like it, you like it, you don't, you don't. So that's basically my...

my whole plan about this has been.

Shawn Zajas (: 25:42

It's interesting. So you say you don't have as much charisma, but somehow your conviction, your principle, and just your authenticity does create such a power in your presence that like, I don't think you needed the charisma. When I was talking to you, like I said, and I keep going back to this, it's because, I don't know, people say I can read people fairly quickly. And I just remember being like, man,

This guy must have a gold mine in this group because he won't get bought out. He won't bow to the eternal dollar. Even when it comes to membership, I understood a lot of the members in Facebook groups that are huge are international overseas people that really aren't contributing to our community in dentistry. And yet people accept them all the time just to pad their numbers. And here you are, almost like Chick -fil -A being like, nope, we're closed on Sunday.

And I don't know, it just takes courage. I just think it's great. I love someone. I love people that have the courage to be who they are and to follow whatever conviction and whatever gumption is in their heart to just to go for it. And I feel like that's what you're doing. I'm super curious about what's next for you, Bob. Like as you're looking at the next five, 10 years, is there anything that gives you that whole sense of like, I don't know, this is really big.

I don't know, not to like swear, but that, shit, like maybe this is something that is bigger than me and gives you those types of nerves or butterflies. Is there anything you're working on like that?

Bob Dee (: 27:17

Yeah, two things actually. I want to get rid of what we're doing right now. These online things are driving me crazy. This prevents Sean and I connect. I'd like to Sean invite me to his studio, so I come there and do this interview. In -person connections have been reduced by COVID. I mean, who has heard of Zoom? You know, these...

Conferencing online was done only by businesses. Now we meet our family on campus. So I think that hurts people. Not getting out there and going to CE courses and meeting colleagues hurts us. And I am trying to establish what we call digapalooza, which is a one time a year. Hopefully we can increase it if it's successful. If it's not successful, I'm going to bow.

And I told my friend Paul Goodman, Paul, I'm not like you. I can't lose money. And then we're doing these kinds of things. So if it doesn't work out, it'll go away. But I'm hoping that I can convince people by inviting major speakers. And I have, you know, I can give you the details that you can share if you want. But I have some major speakers coming into Chicago October 25th and 26th.

to not only talk about clinical stuff, but also communication, how to talk to patients and things like that. So that's one thing that I really is my passion now. In other words, it's not a secret that if you record a seminar and then sell the recording, you can make a lot of money because there is no

paying for the venue, paying for food, paying for valet in my case, I have to pay for valet for my attendees. And I have said, no, my symposium will never be recorded and rebroadcast. You're not there, it's done next year. Because I believe we need to get together again and we need to connect. I bought my practice because of these connections. I bought...

Bob Dee (: 29:42

my second practice, which I combined because of these connections and my new location was based on a dental meeting that the guy told me, this place is empty. Go ahead and get it. So that's important. But the other important thing is that my group in the past year and a half has taken the position that we want organized dentistry to behave this way and to advocate this way. And that

has become my passion to be the voice of non -ADA members to be heard by the American Dental Association because they talk and the members hear, but the non -members who've been disenfranchised from organized dentistry, for whatever reason, they're not heard. And that is my passion. And that's what this advocacy coalition is all about. And hopefully we can go public.

in the next few days.

Shawn Zajas (: 30:44

Well, this is...

This is exactly why I have this podcast, because I love discovering when I get to talk to somebody and just find out you have an idea, you see something, and what do you do? Well, the only reason why, Bob, you have an event coming up in October is because you're doing something about it. I know there are listeners right now that are like, well, I could put an event together. Yeah, but you're not. Well, I could start a coalition, but you're not.

And my whole point isn't to shame the people that might be timid. I've been timid. I spent five years in the boardroom working on some home run business idea, realizing I never had the guts to share it with the marketplace, to let the market tell me it was good or bad, to let the market say, eh, we like that, we don't like that. And it was just flat out because of insecurity. And I realized that I could have lived the next 20 years of my life

telling myself a story of how I almost, how, you know, if I would have been one of the lucky ones, I would have, or maybe I could have. And it's like, Bob, I realized right away, I'm going to have regret at the end of my life if people that know me are like, yeah, Sean, he was a nice guy, but he was really timid. He played it safe. Who wants to be described as the guy that's timid and plays it safe and doesn't have the courage to follow their conviction?

We have no idea what impact your event could possibly have on dentistry if you just pull punches, play it safe and don't launch. And I'm guessing along the way, and you might've even delayed it a year or two just because of like, is now the right time? I mean, I don't know. Even for someone as action oriented as you, Bob, I'm sure there were still those voices of, but Bob, you've never done an event before. How did you grapple with those? I'm just so curious.

Bob Dee (: 32:42

you know, to be honest with you again, just like the group, it was dropped in my lap and we did it last year. And it was a, yes, this will be round two, round one started as a 50 person event that a friend of mine, Dr. Lincoln Harris, who's going to be lecturing again this year told me, Hey, I'm coming to Chicago from Australia. Can you put something together? Make a long story short, the 50,

Shawn Zajas (: 32:50

Okay, so this will be round two.

Bob Dee (: 33:11

person event sold out in one day and we had to keep moving it up and actually change venue and it ended up at a hundred and seventy people. So this year we decided to go even bigger and then see what happens. So yes, there are still doubts not because I doubt myself and I doubt dentists. I doubt the progression that these live events have taken.

A lot of events are being canceled. A lot of events people do not attend. There's a lot of risk in running an event. You know, there's no risk in doing something online, right? Hey, let's reschedule, Sean, right? But, you know, you have to commit to these venues that charge a lot of money. You have to commit to the food. You have to commit to the speakers. You have to commit to a lot of different things. So I take a lot of risk and

Some people may look at it as, this is a moneymaker. I'd probably make a lot more money if I worked in my demo office rather than doing this. So I'm doing this for bringing us together and building the brand of dentistry in general. This brand is very important to me because it's not my brand. It's the brand of the people who participate in the platform. So when people ask me to do these kinds of things, Sean, I'm very, very hesitant to do because I don't

I am a nobody. I'm just a hall monitor, right? And I'm the person who sets the framework. I want to promote the platform. And I came on because I wanted to also talk about my event and our coalition advocacy, but I feel uncomfortable promoting myself, to be honest with you.

Shawn Zajas (: 35:00

Well, so here's the thing. You get the idea of the power in the collective. And I think that is brilliant. And yet the reason why I wanted to interview you and the reason why I interview people is because I realize a lot of people do feel uncomfortable. And the people that are making the most impact and the most change aren't the ones that are wanting the spotlight. And they're not wanting to be like, hey, it's all about me. But the thing is, and I tell people this because...

I had the story where Doc Hoff Power and I, he was, we were at an event and he just got off a panel and I'm walking past him and I'm like, Doc, that was amazing what you did. And I said three reasons why I thought it was great. And he looks at me and he goes, Hey, nice job kissing my ass. And with compassion, I just looked at him and I was like, I'm being completely sincere. Like I have a brother and a sister that are 13 months older than me. And they were both models.

They were both like prom king, prom queen. They were loved by everyone. They were gifted. And yet my parents found a way to love me and still have me feel like I belonged and that was special. So instead of me being envious of their gifts, I celebrated them. So one of the greatest gifts my parents ever gave me is I love people's gifts. I love people's strengths. And I love being just obnoxious about.

honoring people. So that's why it does make people feel uncomfortable at times. But you know what? You've been in the trenches, Bob, and you have been saying yes to struggle, to challenge, creating things that aren't formed yet, taking risks when people don't see it. Maybe sometimes having sleepless nights because of the uncertainty and people don't realize the price you pay so that you can serve.

elevate other people and lead to impact. And you just dropped a blueprint for innovation a moment ago that I hope people catch. You play the long game and everything you do is to preserve your reputation, not in some weird way, but you live aligned and authentic and you broker trust with people. And that's why you keep saying, Paul Goodman or my friend here or my friend here. Why? Because you know, it's the friendships that you have, it's the relationships you have, it's the trust you have.

Shawn Zajas (: 37:24

in this community that you've poured yourself out for is where your true equity lies. And that my friend is a blueprint for innovation playing the long game. And that's what you've been doing. And that's why you keep winning. So I'm just a massive fan, Bob, like anything I can do to support what you're doing, to bring eyeballs to it. Like right now people are listening and they're like, I want to be part of his advocacy group. I want to be part of this event. Where do you want their eyeballs to go?

Bob Dee (: 37:48

If they go to my website, they can go both ways. If they go to dentistry in general .com, you can join our Facebook group from there directly. There is a link and you can look at our event, the digapalooza, which we call it because I bring all stars in. There are two different links there that you can go either way or both ways if you'd like. And you can join us and join our advocacy group, which

will be coming up soon. That will be a totally different platform. It's on Google Groups. It's nonprofit. Everything is about that advocacy. And I will publicize that a little bit later.

Shawn Zajas (: 38:33

You know, my contention is this, that everyone has their own gift that they can share with the world. And we're not competing in that sense. And that nobody wins if Bob D plays it small. If you don't let people know what you're doing and you don't just shine as bright as you can to make an impact, we don't win. So I'm so thankful that you don't do that. I'm thankful that you don't play small. I'm thankful that you haven't stayed on the sideline.

My last question is this. Earlier on, you mentioned a really pivotal time in your life when you were 14.

And right now, if you just picture 14 year old Bob, and if you're walking down the street and you see him off in the distance and you know you have a brief moment to just communicate one sentiment to him, what would you share?

Bob Dee (: 39:25

Don't change a thing.

Bob Dee (: 39:30

and get therapy.

Bob Dee (: 39:35

I'm always advocate for mental coaches. You know, you want to do something well, you need to be balanced. I wasn't balanced many years ago in my life. And therapy has helped me be the person I imagined I wanted to be. But when you're younger, you look at things differently. I didn't believe in...

coaches for demo practices, now I do 100%. You know, there are things that if I had an open mind earlier on, I would be more successful than I am today, or actually reached where I am today a lot sooner. A trial and error was my method, and experts can help you. And if you're isolated, if you are depressed,

a therapist can help. Those are the only thing that I would tell my 14 year old that have an open mind and get therapy.

Shawn Zajas (: 40:43

I just appreciate the humility so much in what you just said. And I think that really is at the end of the day what it's about, Bob. It's about like speed. How quickly do we get to a place where we really are mature enough to be able to serve in the way that we're meant to serve? And before we get to that place, we talk ourselves out of it. We're our own worst enemy. We burn bridges that we shouldn't because we're immature.

We just don't know what we don't know to get to that place of just being capable of being whole enough to give back, to turn around and be like, look, now I know how I can serve without getting in my own way. And that's exactly what you have been doing. And I'm sure it's been a lifetime, but all I got to hear about is this recent thing you've been doing with dentistry in general. And again, I'm a fan. When I asked to interview you, I didn't do a lot of research. I know I'd met you.

But I was just prepared to get on here and just, just go for it. And, and I asked you, if you would just trust me and going with this, and I just appreciate you so much that you have, like, it's been easy to honor you as someone that's innovating in our industry and doing so much to elevate dentistry. I'm just a massive fan. Bob, thank you so much for letting me interview you today.

Bob Dee (: 42:00

Of course, thank you very much for having me.