The Mint Door: Financial Mistake

08/23/24 • 13 min

This week on #DentalFuel Tanya Sue Maestas, Laura Schwindt, and Karen Tindall delve into pivotal financial mistakes made early in their dental careers and the invaluable lessons learned. Laura shares her story of hiring the wrong consultant by ignoring her gut feeling, highlighting the importance of adhering to one's values in practice management. Karen discusses the challenges she faced as a new associate in the UK, stressing the need for due diligence and legal advice before committing to contracts. The episode also covers the financial implications of transitioning out of clinical dentistry and offers practical advice on maintaining financial stability during such transitions. Tune in for these essential insights on navigating financial pitfalls and fostering financial resilience! Key Takeaways:

Trust Your Gut Instinct: When making significant financial decisions, always listen to your gut feeling to stay true to your values.
Due Diligence is Crucial: Seeking legal advice and consulting with a mentor can prevent potential pitfalls, especially when entering new agreements or contracts.
Financial Planning for Transitions: Streamlining expenses and making informed decisions can ease the financial burden when transitioning from clinical roles.
Support Systems Matter: Having a strong support network, including mentors and family, can make challenging transitions smoother and more manageable.
Control What You Can: Focus on what you can control and let go of the things beyond your reach to save energy and reduce stress.

About the Guest(s):

Karen Tindall: Karen Tindall is a former dentist and orthodontist who qualified in England in 2000. After nearly two decades in family dentistry and orthodontics, she moved to the U.S. in 2015 and transitioned to being a stay-at-home mom before retraining as a professional life coach. Karen now focuses on supporting dental professionals through life coaching and co-founding The Mint Door, an organization dedicated to the well-being of people in dentistry.

Laura Schwindt: Laura Schwindt is a former dentist with 21 years of clinical experience. Having served as an associate in various practices and eventually owning her own practice, Laura faced severe burnout, prompting her to seek life coaching. Inspired by her transformative experience, Laura became a professional life coach to help other women in dentistry. She co-founded The Mint Door with Karen to focus on the holistic well-being of dental professionals.

Connect with Ignitedds and Dr. David Rice: @ignitedds Free Intro Call

Connect with Tanya Sue Maestas: @tsmaestas.dds

Learn more about 90 Day JumpStart : https://ignitedds.com

This week on #DentalFuel Tanya Sue Maestas, Laura Schwindt, and Karen Tindall delve into pivotal financial mistakes made early in their dental careers and the invaluable lessons learned. Laura shares her story of hiring the wrong consultant by ignoring her gut feeling, highlighting the importance of adhering to one's values in practice management. Karen discusses the challenges she faced as a new associate in the UK, stressing the need for due diligence and legal advice before committing to contracts. The episode also covers the financial implications of transitioning out of clinical dentistry and offers practical advice on maintaining financial stability during such transitions. Tune in for these essential insights on navigating financial pitfalls and fostering financial resilience! Key Takeaways:

Trust Your Gut Instinct: When making significant financial decisions, always listen to your gut feeling to stay true to your values.
Due Diligence is Crucial: Seeking legal advice and consulting with a mentor can prevent potential pitfalls, especially when entering new agreements or contracts.
Financial Planning for Transitions: Streamlining expenses and making informed decisions can ease the financial burden when transitioning from clinical roles.
Support Systems Matter: Having a strong support network, including mentors and family, can make challenging transitions smoother and more manageable.
Control What You Can: Focus on what you can control and let go of the things beyond your reach to save energy and reduce stress.

About the Guest(s):

Connect with Ignitedds and Dr. David Rice: @ignitedds Free Intro Call

Connect with Tanya Sue Maestas: @tsmaestas.dds

Learn more about 90 Day JumpStart : https://ignitedds.com

Previous Episode

The Mint Door: Clinical Mistake

From Dentistry to Life Coaching: A Transformative Journey! This week on #DentalFuel host Tanya Sue Maestas welcomes Karen Tindall and Laura Schwindt, co-founders of @TheMintDoor, to discuss their inspiring transitions from clinical dentistry to life coaching. Karen shares her journey from the UK to the U.S. and her shift from orthodontics to life coaching, while Laura talks about her 21-year career that led to burnout and a major life pivot.
Explore the challenges dental professionals face, particularly burnout, and discover the importance of setting boundaries. Karen and Laura share insightful anecdotes about their clinical experiences and the lessons learned from their mistakes. This episode highlights the necessity of balancing professional and personal lives and the transformative power of life coaching.

Key Takeaways:

Importance of Boundaries: Both Karen and Laura emphasize the need to establish and maintain clear boundaries between professional and personal lives to avoid uncomfortable and stressful situations.
Managing Burnout: Laura highlights her journey through burnout and how life coaching became a pivotal tool in her recovery and eventual career transformation.
Learning from Mistakes: Both guests share specific clinical errors that forced them to reevaluate their approach to patient care and productivity, underscoring the growth that comes through learning from mistakes.
Transition to Life Coaching: Karen and Laura illustrate that there are alternative paths within the dental profession, such as life coaching, that can offer personal fulfillment and professional rejuvenation.
Authentic Conversations: The importance of having deep, authentic conversations to support mental health and professional satisfaction is a recurring theme, as highlighted by the origins of The Mint Door.

About the Guest(s):

Karen Tindall: Karen Tindall is a former dentist and orthodontist who qualified in England in 2000. After nearly two decades in family dentistry and orthodontics, she moved to the U.S. in 2015 and transitioned to being a stay-at-home mom before retraining as a professional life coach. Karen now focuses on supporting dental professionals through life coaching and co-founding The Mint Door, an organization dedicated to the well-being of people in dentistry.

Laura Schwindt: Laura Schwindt is a former dentist with 21 years of clinical experience. Having served as an associate in various practices and eventually owning her own practice, Laura faced severe burnout, prompting her to seek life coaching. Inspired by her transformative experience, Laura became a professional life coach to help other women in dentistry. She co-founded The Mint Door with Karen to focus on the holistic well-being of dental professionals.

Connect with Ignitedds and Dr. David Rice: @ignitedds Free Intro Call

Connect with Tanya Sue Maestas: @tsmaestas.dds

Learn more about 90 Day JumpStart : https://ignitedds.com

Next Episode

The Mint Door: Team Mistake

This week on #DentalFuel, Tanya Sue Maestas, Laura Schwindt, and Karen Tindall dive into the complexities of building and maintaining dental teams. Laura shares an emotional story about the power of vulnerability and open communication, showing how empathy can transform a clinical environment and enhance patient relationships. Karen recounts her early career challenges in setting professional boundaries, highlighting the lessons learned and the importance of respectful relationships within the team. This episode explores professional boundaries, team dynamics, and the significance of compassionate leadership in dentistry. Don't miss these valuable insights on fostering a supportive and empathetic workplace!

Key Takeaways:

Vulnerability in Leadership: Learn how being open and honest with your team can foster a more empathetic and supportive work environment.
Professional Boundaries: Understand the importance of maintaining a clear distinction between professional relationships and personal friendships within the workplace.
Team Communication: Discover strategies for improving communication within dental teams, ensuring everyone's voice is heard and valued.
Leadership Challenges: Gain insights into the specific challenges faced by young leaders in dentistry and how to navigate them.
Impact of Empathy: See how empathetic leadership can transform a dental practice, improving both team morale and patient care.