In this festive and refreshingly honest episode of The Making Of Podcast, Dr. Ashley and Collin take a step back from startup playbooks to talk life, business, and the chaos in between. What starts as a lighthearted holiday check-in quickly turns into an episode full of laughter, vulnerability, and lessons for every practice owner—especially as the year winds down.From decluttering your closets to decluttering your team, Ashley and Collin cover what it really looks like to simplify, to set boundaries, and to stay focused on what matters most. Whether you’re running a lean startup team or managing the emotional weight of leadership, this episode is for you.What You’ll Hear in This Episode:00:00 – Kicking off with a “This or That” 14:00 – Minimalism, Materialism, and the Bonus Room Dilemma 20:00 – Decluttering the Home…and the Office 25:00 – How Letting Go Can Be a Business Strategy 28:00 – Why You Need to Show Up Before Your Practice Opens 34:00 – Ashley’s OG grassroots marketing 39:00 – Creating a VIP Patient List Before Your Startup Launches 42:00 – Why In-Person Visibility Still Matters 46:00 – Building Practice Culture Without Losing Yourself 52:00 – Navigating Team Transitions Without Guilt 57:00 – “Give yourself permission to be brutal in business” 1:02:00 – Boundaries, Burnout, and Letting Go of the Fairytale 1:08:00 – People are replaceable—but your business isn’t 1:12:00 – Personality tests, People Analyzers, and Leadership Books Worth ReadingQuote of the Episode: “You have to give yourself permission to be brutal in business. That doesn’t mean you’re not a good person. It just means you’re the owner. And nobody else is going to lose sleep over this like you will.”Ashley’s Reflection: This episode is full of the things we don’t talk about enough—team transitions, misplaced loyalty, letting go, boundaries, leadership decisions, and the reality that not every relationship in business lasts forever. If you’re wrestling with any of that right now, let this episode remind you: you’re not alone.Ask to the Audience: What are the unspoken truths of practice ownership that you wish more people talked about? Drop them in the comments—we’re all ears.Connect with Ashley: @ashleyjovesdds | @themaking.ofSponsors: This episode is made possible by:Studio 8E8 — Dentistry’s story-driven growth agency for startups. Learn more at https://s8e8.com/vslNet32 — Your one-stop marketplace for comparing dental supply brands, vendors, and pricing: www.net32.com/themakingofThanks for listening to The Making Of Podcast. We’re closing out 2025 with intention, honesty, and a whole lot of gratitude.Find Out More Thank you for listening to The Making Of podcast. If you enjoyed it, please share with anyone you think will gain value from the show by clicking on one of the sharing tabs above. SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER HERE Also, please consider leaving an honest review on iTunes. It helps other listeners find the show, and I would be forever grateful.Questions or comments? Feel free to contact us at - [email protected] us on Instagram or Facebook and improve your dental practice every day!Have you subscribed? Don't miss a single episode!

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.