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Show Notes

About the Guest: Dr. Hiral Patel is the owner of Solid Smiles in Lewisville, Texas. As an "OG" member of The Making Of community, she transitioned from searching for acquisitions to building her own startup from the ground up in 2019.

Episode Summary: Collin and Dr. Patel discuss the full evolution of a startup—from the first "silent" months in 2019 to a thriving, five-op practice seven years later. Hiral gets transparent about the financial struggles of the early years, the importance of "boots on the ground" marketing, and the deeply personal motivation behind her practice: her father’s battle with and victory over oral cancer. She also shares her simplified hiring philosophy and why she wouldn't trade ownership for an associate role for anything.

Key Takeaways:

• A Personal Mission: Hiral opens up about her father’s oral cancer journey (diagnosed in 2014).
• The Marketing Myth: Hiral shares how she used baskets of cards at local businesses and handwritten thank-you notes to build a patient base when the phone wasn't ringing.
• Attitude Over Resume: Why Hiral looks for people who are presentable and willing to learn rather than "experienced" staff who might be jaded or stuck in their ways.
• The Power of Coaching: Hiral utilizes a coach to role-play handoffs and case presentations monthly.
• Financial Reality: Hiral breaks down her personal pay structure from Year 1 ($23k) to Year 7.

Time Stamps:

• [00:00] Intro: Meeting an OG member of the 14,500+ Facebook community.
• [05:30] The "Anti-Startup" mindset and opening in August 2019.
• [12:45] Bootstrapped Marketing: 7-Eleven flyers and Chipotle baskets.
• [18:20] The "Secret Sauce": Why Hiral’s team still sends 50 handwritten cards a month.
• [23:40] Outfitting rooms: Why Hiral wishes she did more than 2 ops at the start.
• [28:15] The Paycheck: From $23,000 in Year 1 to owner-level income.
• [34:50] Hiring & Firing: The first termination and hiring for attitude.
• [42:15] The Heart of the Practice: Hiral’s father’s oral cancer story and 10-year recovery.
• [53:10] Advice for the Grind: "The days are hard, but the years are good."

Connect with Dr. Hiral Patel:

• Instagram: @solidsmiles
• Practice: Solid Smiles (Lewisville, TX)

This episode is made possible by: 

Studio 8E8 — Dentistry’s story-driven growth agency for startups. Learn more at https://s8e8.com/vsl 

Net 32 — The online marketplace to compare brands and prices so you never overpay. Check them out at net32.com/themakingof

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