spk_0: 0:01
Hi. Welcome to building a business that lasts. My name is Joo in, and I'm your host on a quest towards stories, tips and ideas that will help you grow a business without being stressed out, worn out and ready to quit. Each week, I'll interview other business owners who has successfully grown businesses of all types for many years. It's my hope that these conversations will help you build a business that lasts. This next guest has been on a B. C's Extreme Makeover. CBS is the doctor, Larry King Live, Steve Harvey and Oprah Doctor Bill Dorfman is literally the dentist to the celebrities he's been in practice for over 30 years. Now he's responsible for the company that helped make Zoom whitening, which later sold to Phillips for $1.3 billion. On this episode, he talks about his key to success from growing up in a family who didn't have money to. Now he's in a place where he has all kind of celebrities coming to him for help. He speaks all over the country all over the world, actually, and he has some amazing foundations in areas where he gives back, so I can't wait to share this interview with you of Dr Bill Dorfman. Hey, real quick. Before we jump into today's episode, I wanted to let you know about a special offer on my brand new book, Building a Business that last just like the podcast title. It just came out and you can grab a free copy. Today. All you've got to do is cover the cost of shipping and handling. I can't wait to get this in your hands. Go online right now and grab your copy. Just go to get Jay's book dot com. That's get Jay's book dot com, and you can get your free copy sent right out to you. So go check it out. And without any further ado, here is today's episode. Hey, Dr Berman, thanks for being on the show,
spk_1: 1:49
and it's a pleasure. Thank you.
spk_0: 1:51
So I'm really excited to talk to you because you've just had an incredible level of experience, exposure and opportunity. And you know what? People might listen to this and think, Well, this is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business owners. Why do you have a dentist on this show? But the reality is you're a lot more than a dentist, and I'd love to hear kind of a little bit of your own journey. I've already kind of going over your bio in a pre record of the show, but I love for you to kind of tell your journey of you started off as a dentist. But now you're really much more that you've built businesses. That's a major connection opportunity. You've worked with some incredible celebrities and personalities and left for you to kind of talk about your journey from the beginning of starting dentistry and then transitioning into really entrepreneurship, which is where you are now.
spk_1: 2:34
I'd love to ask me anything you want. I'm an open book.
spk_0: 2:38
So tell me a little bit about your journey. You know, from the beginning. What got you from being a dentist? Which there's a lot of Dennis out there to making that transition into starting different businesses, entrepreneurship, things like that.
spk_1: 2:50
You know, I think a lot of people look around their world and they say, and I wish there was, ah, widget. I wish there was, uh and nothing ever happens. I don't do that. It's like if I think man, there should be a new whitening system. I just made one. And, uh, I think that so many people, you know, grow older and regret never having lived their dreams. And I'm not one of those people. I, uh I graduated dental school in 1983. I grew up in a very, very low income family, and I never got to travel. I never saw the world. You know, I was really fortunate to get scholarships to go to U. C L. A and the dental school and, you know, but I've never really seen the world that I thought. Yeah, 23 years old. I don't want to be tied down your practice. It is for the rest of my life where I won't be able to see anything. So I heard about a clinic in Switzerland, and it was pretty much the only place in the world where you could practice with the U. S. License without getting another license. But there were 400 applicants for one position. There was no reason in the world. They should have never hired me. No, I didn't speak French. I had no experience. I mean, I was his green screen for B, but I sent this guy like 30 letters of recommendation. The director I called him weekly, and eventually one day I just did something and I teach approval and you see, like all week, it's a motivational leadership program for high school and college kids. It's It's every summer for students 15 to 25 1 of the things we teach it, Leap has had to become successful. And I will tell the kids there will be moments in your life that are going to define your future and you may plan it. You may not planet, but they happen. And this was one of those life defining moments where I was on the phone with them and I realized I was not going to get this job and I said, Hey, can I take you to lunch? He goes, But you're in San Francisco. I'm like, I'll fly out which was a joke because I had no money anyhow, he said. So I get. I flew to Switzerland and I took the guy the lunch and he hired me, and I think I was the only one of the 400 people that did that. And I tell kids, isn't leaked all the time. Successful people are willing to do the things that unsuccessful people are not. And I think it was probably the only person who flew to Switzerland and Meda. But for me, that was an amazing opportunity. I got to spend two years and lows on Japan. Alphonse, a mutt now a bunch of papa. I speak French perfectly. I before I couldn't speak a word of it. I have great friends that I'm still in contact with. And it changed the whole course and directs for my life. So I practiced there For two years. I came back to L. A. I've worked with an older dentist. The plan was I was going to take over his practice. Within two years. My practice exceeded Hiss case. Until you don't need to buy my practice, you're doing better than me. Go out on your own. Any literally gave me his blessing. So I did. And within a few years, tooth whitening becomes popular. The initial whitening kits that were available wars were being sold to patients. And now this is in 1989 for $800. And he stunk that the packaging was bad. The flavor was disgusting, The results were marginal and they came in a plastic bag, many a graft. You don't even know if you're too young. Before Iraq's machines, there was this thing called me a graph. It was like the worst quality printing ever. It even faded over three months. A Pete, the paper became white, and now it's what they were selling for. And the patients were being $800. And one day I get a phone call from the leading company saying, You know, Dr Dorfman, you are our biggest client in the world. I'm like, really? I said, Well, as long as I have you on the phone, I have some ideas. Why don't you do this in this? In this? In this and they're like, you're 30 years old, What do you know? And they basically kind of brushed me on. So I thought, You know what? If they're not going to do it, I will. I happen to need a charity event. And ironically, I found that so many times when I was really committed to giving back and being involved in charity, amazing things happened back to me. And lo and behold, I was it, of all things, a bachelor option where I was being auctioned off to like 1000 Women for a charity, and the guy in line in front of me became my best friend. Robert Hammett and Robert was the son of Fred Hayman, who developed Giorgio cosmetics, and Robert had a background in marketing and manufacturing and distribution, and I had a background in dentistry and marketing through the school of hard knots, and Robert Knight became best friends. We launched just his dental and discuss dental, became a company, which we grew with no investors with no capital, with nothing but just sheer guts and desire. And we agree that to over $1.3 billion in sales with Zoom and Night White and Day White and bright smile and ah, plaster of other dental products. We had more than 150 dental products, and we sold over 100 countries worldwide, and it was an amazing experience. There you go. In a nutshell.
spk_0: 9:04
That's the heads, quite a story. I mean, there's so many like big takeaways there, I think are really valuable for people to think through because I think what happens with a lot of people is Let's take your example. They go to school. They, you know, didn't grow up in a wealthy family. Um, and to become a dentist, like for a lot of people, that would be enough, like that would be like, the big thing like I got. I'm a doctor, I'm a dentist, and you could make pretty good money just being a dentist. But then, like you said, you had these visions and ideas of how you could do things better. What? I always tell people his ideas were junk. Unless you're gonna actually execute on them and taking those steps to go now, I'm gonna do the extra step. I heard somebody say one time to really be successful, you have to be willing to do the unscathed liable. And that's kind of like what you did with the trip out to Switzerland. If you hadn't taken that step, how many of the other connections might not have happened? You know, as a result of that one decision to to go the extra mile and push a little bit farther than maybe anybody else would
spk_1: 10:02
Yeah, they're the two key points that I tried to basically drive into kids heads when they come. The weak are these. Number one don't wait for opportunities. Make them. I can't even tell you how many people I know. I mean, come now. Lay some time. It is amazing how many unemployed people there are out there, and they're just waiting for the universe to show them what to do. I'm like, you know what? The universe is pretty busy, You know what I mean? Like, you need to make a direction number two. And this is bigger when you get an opportunity. Master, when I got an opportunity to be on a B. C's extreme makeover and I saw the impact that that made on the sales of my company, I was smart enough to realize I stuck a TV. The first few episodes I literally looked like a deer in headlights of accepting that. I went out and I took acting class hosting class Tele prompting. I mean, I did everything I could do to be the best me that I could be on TV because that was a direct reflection of the sales of our company and our company. Sales went from a plateau of 76 year to the first year I was on Extreme Makeover. 101 million to 134 million to the next year. 176 million. We have a free exposure. ABC gave me a platform to be on time, time TV and literally for the first time ever, show people that dentistry didn't have to hurt. It wasn't that scary. And, yeah, a beautiful smile can change your life. And by the way, it doesn't work. If you have yellow teeth, so do Zoom. And it was like, amazing
spk_0: 12:10
and, you know, just to speak to the power of that, even the brand and the name itself. Before I started the podcast, I kind of just stuck my head out in the office to the team. I was like, Ooh, of you have heard a zoom whitening before and everybody raises their hand like that's pretty amazing. Especially like when you sit on my staff ranges in age from 23 to probably 45 ish, and they all like, know what that product is, and that's pretty
spk_1: 12:33
cool. Well, here's another life defining moment, so we shoot the pilot, right? For for Extreme Makeover. I did zoom on three patients. That's it. That ABC didn't really realize at that point yet. What an impact Dentistry kidnap, you know, they asked me how much I want to be reimbursed. I said, Don't worry about it. You know, I'm an owner in the company. We go here, we get picked up for our first season, 22 episodes. First patient first season needs 20 veneers. 10 uppers. 10 lowers at the giant. Clear charging $1500 A, too. So that's a $30,000 kid. It's You have to understand everybody on Extreme Makeover got paid the plastic surgeons that hairstylist weight trainer I mean everybody. So I submitted an invoice for $30,000 the second it hit their desks, they called up. It's a doc. We have a problem. So what is it? We didn't budget that much for dentistry. I'm like, Well, what do you want me to dio? They said, Well, can you do three veneers? I like where you are you every other tooth like No, I think like they all have to match. And it was a spur of the moment game day decision. I said this. I'll tell you what all do all the dentistry for free under the following conditions. Number one. I'm only dentist because if I was on there, I don't want some happy being on there than people confusing us. Right on number two, You have to highlight Zoom in every episode. Now, this was the beginning of reality TV, right? They didn't really realize the power of that, you know, today that would never happen. You know, I would even have to pay it. But they said okay. And number three, you need to give my laboratory credit. I did not want to have to pay a $10,000 lab bill every time we did a case and they agreed to all three of those. And as a result, I was pretty much the only dentist on the show. The only other time there was another dentist on there was when they were friends. Mind that. I wanted to kind of share the love with and, um, kill. Another company exploded. So I never got paid by a d. C. But I got
spk_0: 14:59
Yeah, that's amazing. I think that's a true testament. Like figuring out those relationships and understanding, like the long game there, too, because you knew you knew that you like the reality of what you could you could potentially achieve out of it and what you were willing to work for.
spk_1: 15:12
Yeah, well, but you have to understand, prior to extreme makeover, dentistry did not have a very good image in the media. You know, marathon math and little shop of horrors. I mean, we were always the front of every bad joke and the routine on this This was the first time ever, and on prime time TV that we got an opportunity to show people the good sign of dentistry. And I'll tell you something at the end of the day with these people were nipped and tucked and everything else in the world. And you said What made the biggest difference to you so is their teeth is always just It makes a huge difference. I mean, after all the criticism that people gave, like Oh, you know, they didn't have to have pressed on that are being never criticized against. Nobody ever said You know what? He should have bad teeth. Why didn't you fix it? Like we always got, like, two thumbs up from the audience. It was pretty cool.
spk_0: 16:18
Yeah, that's awesome. I mean, I actually feel a little cut, self conscious about my own teeth right now, but being with the $1,000,000 Smile, man, it's pretty cool. So what? I loved here, though, on that there's two things I want to hit on. One is I wanna talk about your charity involvement and the elite program things. I think it's interesting that you're involved with that. I think it's important thing to highlight, but before I do, I was curious on that ABC connection When you first got Extreme Makeover, was that the first big show that you could have been on Oprah even on Larry King Live, you been all kind of that does. Is that the first entrance into TV and how did you get that relationship to begin with?
spk_1: 16:53
So this is this is kind of crazy. About almost 22 years ago, we got a phone call from a group of dentists, Steve Anderson and Greg Anderson. There were the they're brothers that had this group called the Crown Council. Crown Counsel is a group of dentists committed to education and self improvement. They kind of teach it everything except the dentistry. You know how to run your office, have team dynamics and all that stuff. And they called us up at discuss and they said, Look, we'd like to do a fundraiser for ST Jude's Hospital and what we'd like to do is buy your white meat product at your cost and we'll have dental offices, performed the procedure and have the patient write a check directly to smiles for life. And we said, Okay, you know, we'll we'll talk about it and we'll call you back. So, uh, we call them back. We said, Look, we're not going to say you the product at our cost and they're like, Oh, really? You said no, we're gonna give it to you. Yes, So what? So we're gonna get it. So we donated all the product. Over the last 22 years, we have raised $42 million for Children's charities. Garth Brooks and I did public service now spends all over the country basically saying, Hey, if you like to wait your smile and help the child's pile for life, call 18774 smiles and you'll be directly connected to get us in your area. And that thing just took off like wildfire. And, um, it was it was huge. So, you know, we raised $42 million with the help of all these dentists all over the country doing that, which was an amazing experience. And through that, I also started a nonprofit called Leap and Leap is a motivational leadership program for high school and college kids. It's one week long leak week every year at U. C. L. A. This year will be July 21st to the 27th where we bring in amazing speakers. And again, this is the nonprofit About 400 plus kids come to the program, and I bring in incredibly successful entrepreneurs, you know, business people, celebrities. Last year I had Mark Walberg, Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Bennett from Mean Girls, Devin Druid from 13 Reasons Why, Paula Abdul in the Past, and Michael's Trey Hanna, Usher Seth Green, Kevin Neil It. I need the Eva Longoria. It's an amazing program, and we basically teach these kids how to be successful. We take great kids and help him become even greater, and I'll tell you something I didn't grow up with much at all. But this has been such a blessing in my life to be able to get back. My parents always said he gives receives a greatest gift and it's true. I mean, for me from the second discus started making money from the second, you know, we were able to we gave back and gave that big and we still d'oh and, you know, for me, that's the greatest part of being able to make money is to, you know, making up money, that you can help other people out.
spk_0: 20:25
Yeah, I really love that. I mean, I think it's interesting because only people could look at you and think, Oh, this guy's, you know, got it all and you might like you've been in all kind of awesome shows. You've got to work with some amazing celebrities, like you said. But it's been interesting because from the very beginning there's been this kind of like thread of connecting back to charity, showing up for opportunities that you know, may eventually result in you benefiting as well. But that's not the original route purpose. I'm even going back to what you said about the, you know, the charity auction at the beginning, where you, you know, met one person, alleged another person, Let another person. I think so many people get caught up in the world wind of their day to day of business that they forget to just take a pause and go, Hey, where can I go help somebody else today and realized like you said that your parents taught you that? You know, the person that gives is often gonna you know I have a return from that in the future. It's totally one of things that I always am curious about, because obviously you've been in dentistry now for a while you've had huge entrepreneurial success. But along the way, obviously you came through some roadblocks and especially coming from like you said You came from a family who didn't have a lot of money. And I'm the same way. I'm the oldest of five kids. My dad drove a UPS truck like we never traveled and you know, now my wife and I give you all over the place and and take our kids everywhere, and it's great, but I have had struggled over the years of going Hey, what is a lot of money and what is a lot of success look like? And how do you break through that ceiling you've obviously been able to do? That would have been some ways that you've kind of gone. Yes, I'm worth this. And I'm gonna keep pushing and keep getting better and keep growing. Even though maybe you didn't see that as a child, per se,
spk_1: 21:56
you know, I'm the oldest of five kids. Also, I refuse to fail. Yeah, and I never do. And before you think that's really arrogant, let me explain to you failure on Lee happens when you give up. If I do something and I don't get the results I want I don't consider that a failure. I consider that practice and I'm a practice a bunch before I eventually get the results I want. But I will not give up ever. If there's something I want, I will make sure I get it. And I may I could sit here and give you example after example after example. But I'm telling you, there is nothing in my life that I ever really wanted get that I didn't get because I am the most tenacious little dude you pull. It relieves your life. I just won't quit. I just won't. And it's, you know, So I refused to bail. I mean, and that's that's really the secret of success. If you ask me and and I could give you one word, it's tenacity, tenacity, tenacity, tenacity. That's it. And, um, you need you, you know, take it to the mat. You need to be dedicated. You need you not give up. And, you know, at a certain point you need to say, What do I need to do to make this happen? And most people just don't go that far, you know? It's like they hit a roadblock and on then they feel bad for themselves and they cry. And the letter, Yeah. Stop crying. No, but on your you know, your toughest face and go out there and face the world and just make it happened. Yeah, I think
spk_0: 23:50
that gets you to my favorite example. That is actually Abraham Lincoln. You know, people look at him and think, you know, he's one of the greatest presidents that ever lived. But the reality is that guy went through some of the worst hardship that anybody can imagine. He lost Children. He lost spouses. He lost elections. He lost a lot. And then he eventually, because he didn't give up, became one of the greatest presidents that ever lived. And I just think it's so interesting because I think a lot of people can look at somebody like you who has, you know, celebrity status and isn't celebrity circles and just think, Well, it's easy for him to say because of X wires. E. But the reality is, it's because you've pushed through all those when somebody said no, you're like it's not good enough. I'm gonna go find another way, like when you call that first company and said, Hey, let me give you some ideas about this you know, teeth whitening at the age of 30 and they said, No, you said, Great. I'm just gonna go build my own thing. That's fine. Um, that's a nasty is huge. One thing's always like to ask people if we start to wind down. This show is the question of work, life, balance. I know it means something totally different for everybody, For some, people don't even love that term necessarily. But But how have you kind of going? Hey, I want to find harmony in my life, if you will, in all the things that I want to do. I know you have three daughters that you care about and spend time with, and and it's by other activities you want to in life other than just work. My guest says you're also the kind of guy who also probably loves his work. Just how I am too. But how do you find that? Harmony or balance over time? What does that even look like or mean to you? And you talk about work, life,
spk_1: 25:15
balance. Oh, I mean, first of all, you're right. I do love what I do in 2010 and it's pretty crazy because if you look at the back, my phone here, that 10 is from lead. And basically what we do at leat the very 1st 2nd that these kids come into the program. And if any of your listeners want more information or house, you know, student 15 and 25 that they like to sign up, they can go to www dot leap foundation dot com and, um, and sign up for the program. But the very first thing I do when these kids come in the program and say I say, Listen, when you woke up this morning, whether you thought you did this or not, you put a number on your head, one being the lowest and 10 being the eyes. How many of you did not put a 10 on your head? I'll see these kids kind of. She officially raised their hands and, like, Why not? Who picked the number? You. Why would you pick anything less than attempt? Right. So you know, we have this culture of teaching kids toe act like a 10 toe walk like a 10 to talk like a 10 didn't be a 10 in their life. Ironically, we sold discus dental to fill ups on 10 10 10 for six or seven months. The merger documents came in on October 10th 2010 at nine o'clock in the morning, and I literally signed them and help them until exactly 10 so it could be 10 10 10 at 10 AM I know I could have done 10 10 AM, but tens in there said that, and when I did that, it literally changed my life in a second. I always knew that I make a good living as a dentist, just like you said for Ah, lot of Dennis Dennis Trapeze. The end point I love. Speaking of dental since fact, I'm speaking next month in Sweden. I get invited out schools all over the world, and the first thing I said, What? I sit out and I look at that, you know, audience of all these bright, eager young men and women is I say to them this and I mean it Sincerely. I wish for you all the joy and success that I've had in this profession because it has exceeded every expectation I've ever had and getting back to your question. I don't work because I'm playing the whole time, right? So I never really feel like it's work. I mean, I really, really love what I do and, as far as you know, making time. Well, I'll tell you, there was a time when I was filming Extreme Makeover free. We see where I was putting in 60 hours, a week of dentistry and then filming 14 and 15 hour days on Saturday and Sunday because I couldn't fill. I couldn't have a whole crew in the hair, You know, while, you know, while I have patients. I mean, I worked like a dog and, you know, as a result, you know, I think that probably is the reason I got divorced. No, but But I had a goal inside, you know? And I'll be honest with you. 10 10 10 When I sold that company the next. That was a Sunday. The next day I came to work and I said, You guys, these are my new hours and I literally cut from a 40 hour workweek. 20 hour work week. Everybody looked at me and I thought I had cancer. Some I'm like, No, they said, But we thought you were workaholic. I said, not by desire. You know, I was supporting a lot of people. My parents, my brother. But, you know, I said, this is my new work schedule. I wanna have time to do charity work now and dentistry. And since 10. 10 10 at 10 a.m. I've worked 20 hours a week, is a dentist, and then the rest of the time, I do you know the doctors at ABC I just finished filming a new TV show, which I'm not allowed to talk about, but it's gonna have huge ratings and I can't tell you what network. It's on its way. It's gonna be awesome. Friday I have a screen test for a brand new show, which also sounds like it could be awesome. We just launched a new whitening product, Mobile White, which is super cool. You plug it into your phone. It's light activated device that you put in your mouth that helps whiten your teeth really fast, really easy and really convenience, I mean, and, you know, and leap. I mean, I spent up the rested. Today I'll be elite planning our first lead fundraiser for any of your listeners in the L. A area. They can go on our website again. Www dot leave foundation dot com. We're gonna have our first fund raiser at Smashbox Studios April 20 for this year. You know, being a nonprofit, 60% of the kids that come to leave come on scholarship and you know it's it's always a lot of work to raise money for those kids. So we're hoping that this fundraiser will help, so I got a lot of balls in there.
spk_0: 30:53
Well, that's awesome. I'm gonna check out that leak problem because my oldest son, he's actually the oldest of five as well. He is, Ah, well turned 15 this year. So myths checked it up. Yeah, is an entrepreneurial kid to He's got the got the heart for it, and he's big into music, and he's a great kid. And unfortunately,
spk_1: 31:10
I'll tell you what I love about about Leap to is if a kid like that comes at 15 and they're really into it, he has the option of coming back next year. Either is a student or a junior coach so cool after the junior coach, it can actually be a coach, which means no. Once he turns 18 he could be a coach where he has the responsibility of having 10 other kids underneath him. That he is kind of, you know, there their coach, and it's It's a pretty cool experience and ah, live. The kids that have gone through the program were junior coaches and coat, which is that for a few years they were coaches, and then we put him up on stage and, you know, a few of my students have launched incredibly successful speaking careers as a result of going through a leak, so it's kind
spk_0: 32:05
of amazing. Well, I'm just gonna check it out because he's the kind of kid that would would thrive in that environment. I think could be really good for him. So I'll check that out. Leap foundation dot com. If you miss that earlier, check it out. Last question. I would like to kind of part with this. This podcast is called Building a Business That Lasts, and you've talked a lot about tenacity. You talked about teaching, talked about giving back if you had to give kind of one final takeaway for people when they're trying to build their own business, build their own thing into into the next level and make it be something that's gonna last over time and improve over time. What's that parting advice that you would want to leave with them to think about as the show ends?
spk_1: 32:41
You know, it's funny. I don't know if building a business that last is always the objective. For instance, I have to businesses right my dental practice and and discuss dental discus Dental was never a concept that I thought I was going to do forever. The plan with Discus Dental WAAS. You know, get our he bid up to 20 to 25 million. I could then sell the company for multiple of 8 to 10 times, even dog and retire. Yeah, it wasn't to build a company that I would have for 50 years. Right? Where's my dental practice? I mean, you know, provided I stay healthy. And by the way, when you talk about balancing life, you need to exercise. Yes. I don't care who you are and what you do. I go to the gym every day. I'm just shopped for the cover of men's health magazine. And if I get it, I will be the oldest guy on the cover by like, 35 years. Why? But you cannot have a successful career life, marriage, relationship, whatever. If you're not healthy, you need to take care of yourself. That's so critical. So and I will tell you I don't care where I am in the world. I go to the gym every day for a Knauer, whether I do cardio or you know or wait or whatever it is, I mean, Mr Museum in Paris. I won't miss the gym. I just want that is a priority in my life. That is constant. So you need to make that important part of your life no matter what you do. But as far as building a business, you know, not every business is built to last. Like as long as I stay healthy, I wanna practise dentistry. We'll have a great practice. I have an amazing team. We, uh You know, I see patients about 20 hours a week, and I'm doing cosmetic dentistry all the time. If you follow me on my instagram, you'll see I post a live really, really cool dental procedures. Um, all the time it, you know, And it's crazy because instagram like it Who would've ever thought? But, you know, I'm getting, like, three or four new patients a week that just follow me on instagram. I have some, like, 150,000 followers now, and it's a really crazy thing, So I don't think that that's always the objective. You know, Discus dental was a bill to sell. My dental practice is a build for life kind of thing, and I think that When you build your business, you have to decide what your objective is. But, you know, I would say for both business just regardless of whether you want to sell it or or stay in it. Customer service is critical, and we really focus on gold. Played it customer service and making sure that the customer always feels like they are the priority because they are and catering to them. And, you know, I'll get emergency calls on the weekend and my patients to be like I can't believe you actually came in at, like, midnight. I'm like, Yeah, I live in process feed. It's our problem, you know, Um and and I do And, um, you know, im is accessible as I can be. You know, I've never in my entire life not returning a phone call, a tests, text message or email. And when patients come into our office, we tried to cater to all of their needs. If you come in and you're my patient and you need seeing fun, orthodontist, period, honest and it ended up we coordinate all your appointments for you. We follow up with you. You know, we give gold plated customer service and you know, that's why I have, I think, 1705 star Google Redus. You know, when people go and look for a dentist and you know, most dentists have, like, 10 right? And when they're looking on Google and going, Wow, this guy has 1705 star reviews. You know, that's an important part of business. The way that businesses work today is completely different. They did when we were growing up, you know? I mean, who thought of Google and Google reviews And and I only started doing instagram because my kids like Dad, look at those death. I'm like, Oh, maybe maybe I should do that. So, you know. But you know what? I didn't just do it. I mastered it. I now have a whole social media team, you know? I mean, it's crazy. I never thought I'd be doing this, but these guys were geniuses, you know, if they make sure that every post I post hit Sea Explorer page, you know, and when I first started, I was got, like, 10 20 lights, you know, now post up. I get 150 lights, you know, and comments. And this and that and that engagement enables people who don't know me to know me and know my practice know about leaked and know about you, all the stuff I do. Every Wednesday morning at 11 30 we do a Meet the Mentor Live interview on Instagram, which has become very popular. We get like 30 plus 1000 people listening and leap. We culminates in a mentor workshop where I bring in mentors and the students get an opportunity to sit and ask questions. And we have doctors and lawyers and writers Webber's and so as kind of a pre view of what they're gonna get. Leap. Every Wednesday morning, I interview a professional. One of our meant was that comes to the program usually, and we doing instagram life. So, uh,
spk_0: 38:57
that's awesome so much. I got out of this interview talking about tenacity, teaching, giving back and then ultimately, that, too. I think the last bit there about taking care of yourself is really important. I know I personally neglected that over time and told myself the lie that I don't have time for it, and you're the proof that that's not true, and I think that's really important for people to see Dr Rorke Dorfman. Thank you so much for being on the show today. If people want to find out more about you or or just look for you on the Internet, what is the best place for them to go?
spk_1: 39:22
Well, if they want to find out about my practice, they can go to, uh, build Dorfman d d s dot com. But if you want to Really? I watch and see what I'm doing. Just follow me on Instagram. It's Dr Bill Dorfman. This is the photo that, uh, that we submitted for men's health. Durant,
spk_0: 39:47
I need to go to the gym. I, uh
spk_1: 39:49
don't forget I'm 60.
spk_0: 39:52
Amazing. That is so awesome. Thank you so much for being on the show. But if we're gonna check out that leap Foundation site for my son as well and I wish you all the best and I'll send you a link to this show says it's life. Thanks again.
spk_1: 40:02
All right. Thank you.
spk_0: 40:05
I hope this episode has given you some ideas or inspiration that will help you grow your business. If you found it helpful, and you know somebody else who might benefit from it. as well. I would greatly appreciate it if you would take the time to share this with him, maybe on Facebook or Twitter, or linked in, or even shoot an email over to a friend with a link to this podcast in it. And if you haven't already, make sure you sign up for email list at building a business that lasts dot com.
Hi. Welcome to building a business that lasts. My name is Joo in, and I'm your host on a quest towards stories, tips and ideas that will help you grow a business without being stressed out, worn out and ready to quit. Each week, I'll interview other business owners who has successfully grown businesses of all types for many years. It's my hope that these conversations will help you build a business that lasts. This next guest has been on a B. C's Extreme Makeover. CBS is the doctor, Larry King Live, Steve Harvey and Oprah Doctor Bill Dorfman is literally the dentist to the celebrities he's been in practice for over 30 years. Now he's responsible for the company that helped make Zoom whitening, which later sold to Phillips for $1.3 billion. On this episode, he talks about his key to success from growing up in a family who didn't have money to. Now he's in a place where he has all kind of celebrities coming to him for help. He speaks all over the country all over the world, actually, and he has some amazing foundations in areas where he gives back, so I can't wait to share this interview with you of Dr Bill Dorfman. Hey, real quick. Before we jump into today's episode, I wanted to let you know about a special offer on my brand new book, Building a Business that last just like the podcast title. It just came out and you can grab a free copy. Today. All you've got to do is cover the cost of shipping and handling. I can't wait to get this in your hands. Go online right now and grab your copy. Just go to get Jay's book dot com. That's get Jay's book dot com, and you can get your free copy sent right out to you. So go check it out. And without any further ado, here is today's episode. Hey, Dr Berman, thanks for being on the show,
spk_1: 1:49
and it's a pleasure. Thank you.
spk_0: 1:51
So I'm really excited to talk to you because you've just had an incredible level of experience, exposure and opportunity. And you know what? People might listen to this and think, Well, this is a podcast for entrepreneurs and business owners. Why do you have a dentist on this show? But the reality is you're a lot more than a dentist, and I'd love to hear kind of a little bit of your own journey. I've already kind of going over your bio in a pre record of the show, but I love for you to kind of tell your journey of you started off as a dentist. But now you're really much more that you've built businesses. That's a major connection opportunity. You've worked with some incredible celebrities and personalities and left for you to kind of talk about your journey from the beginning of starting dentistry and then transitioning into really entrepreneurship, which is where you are now.
spk_1: 2:34
I'd love to ask me anything you want. I'm an open book.
spk_0: 2:38
So tell me a little bit about your journey. You know, from the beginning. What got you from being a dentist? Which there's a lot of Dennis out there to making that transition into starting different businesses, entrepreneurship, things like that.
spk_1: 2:50
You know, I think a lot of people look around their world and they say, and I wish there was, ah, widget. I wish there was, uh and nothing ever happens. I don't do that. It's like if I think man, there should be a new whitening system. I just made one. And, uh, I think that so many people, you know, grow older and regret never having lived their dreams. And I'm not one of those people. I, uh I graduated dental school in 1983. I grew up in a very, very low income family, and I never got to travel. I never saw the world. You know, I was really fortunate to get scholarships to go to U. C L. A and the dental school and, you know, but I've never really seen the world that I thought. Yeah, 23 years old. I don't want to be tied down your practice. It is for the rest of my life where I won't be able to see anything. So I heard about a clinic in Switzerland, and it was pretty much the only place in the world where you could practice with the U. S. License without getting another license. But there were 400 applicants for one position. There was no reason in the world. They should have never hired me. No, I didn't speak French. I had no experience. I mean, I was his green screen for B, but I sent this guy like 30 letters of recommendation. The director I called him weekly, and eventually one day I just did something and I teach approval and you see, like all week, it's a motivational leadership program for high school and college kids. It's It's every summer for students 15 to 25 1 of the things we teach it, Leap has had to become successful. And I will tell the kids there will be moments in your life that are going to define your future and you may plan it. You may not planet, but they happen. And this was one of those life defining moments where I was on the phone with them and I realized I was not going to get this job and I said, Hey, can I take you to lunch? He goes, But you're in San Francisco. I'm like, I'll fly out which was a joke because I had no money anyhow, he said. So I get. I flew to Switzerland and I took the guy the lunch and he hired me, and I think I was the only one of the 400 people that did that. And I tell kids, isn't leaked all the time. Successful people are willing to do the things that unsuccessful people are not. And I think it was probably the only person who flew to Switzerland and Meda. But for me, that was an amazing opportunity. I got to spend two years and lows on Japan. Alphonse, a mutt now a bunch of papa. I speak French perfectly. I before I couldn't speak a word of it. I have great friends that I'm still in contact with. And it changed the whole course and directs for my life. So I practiced there For two years. I came back to L. A. I've worked with an older dentist. The plan was I was going to take over his practice. Within two years. My practice exceeded Hiss case. Until you don't need to buy my practice, you're doing better than me. Go out on your own. Any literally gave me his blessing. So I did. And within a few years, tooth whitening becomes popular. The initial whitening kits that were available wars were being sold to patients. And now this is in 1989 for $800. And he stunk that the packaging was bad. The flavor was disgusting, The results were marginal and they came in a plastic bag, many a graft. You don't even know if you're too young. Before Iraq's machines, there was this thing called me a graph. It was like the worst quality printing ever. It even faded over three months. A Pete, the paper became white, and now it's what they were selling for. And the patients were being $800. And one day I get a phone call from the leading company saying, You know, Dr Dorfman, you are our biggest client in the world. I'm like, really? I said, Well, as long as I have you on the phone, I have some ideas. Why don't you do this in this? In this? In this and they're like, you're 30 years old, What do you know? And they basically kind of brushed me on. So I thought, You know what? If they're not going to do it, I will. I happen to need a charity event. And ironically, I found that so many times when I was really committed to giving back and being involved in charity, amazing things happened back to me. And lo and behold, I was it, of all things, a bachelor option where I was being auctioned off to like 1000 Women for a charity, and the guy in line in front of me became my best friend. Robert Hammett and Robert was the son of Fred Hayman, who developed Giorgio cosmetics, and Robert had a background in marketing and manufacturing and distribution, and I had a background in dentistry and marketing through the school of hard knots, and Robert Knight became best friends. We launched just his dental and discuss dental, became a company, which we grew with no investors with no capital, with nothing but just sheer guts and desire. And we agree that to over $1.3 billion in sales with Zoom and Night White and Day White and bright smile and ah, plaster of other dental products. We had more than 150 dental products, and we sold over 100 countries worldwide, and it was an amazing experience. There you go. In a nutshell.
spk_0: 9:04
That's the heads, quite a story. I mean, there's so many like big takeaways there, I think are really valuable for people to think through because I think what happens with a lot of people is Let's take your example. They go to school. They, you know, didn't grow up in a wealthy family. Um, and to become a dentist, like for a lot of people, that would be enough, like that would be like, the big thing like I got. I'm a doctor, I'm a dentist, and you could make pretty good money just being a dentist. But then, like you said, you had these visions and ideas of how you could do things better. What? I always tell people his ideas were junk. Unless you're gonna actually execute on them and taking those steps to go now, I'm gonna do the extra step. I heard somebody say one time to really be successful, you have to be willing to do the unscathed liable. And that's kind of like what you did with the trip out to Switzerland. If you hadn't taken that step, how many of the other connections might not have happened? You know, as a result of that one decision to to go the extra mile and push a little bit farther than maybe anybody else would
spk_1: 10:02
Yeah, they're the two key points that I tried to basically drive into kids heads when they come. The weak are these. Number one don't wait for opportunities. Make them. I can't even tell you how many people I know. I mean, come now. Lay some time. It is amazing how many unemployed people there are out there, and they're just waiting for the universe to show them what to do. I'm like, you know what? The universe is pretty busy, You know what I mean? Like, you need to make a direction number two. And this is bigger when you get an opportunity. Master, when I got an opportunity to be on a B. C's extreme makeover and I saw the impact that that made on the sales of my company, I was smart enough to realize I stuck a TV. The first few episodes I literally looked like a deer in headlights of accepting that. I went out and I took acting class hosting class Tele prompting. I mean, I did everything I could do to be the best me that I could be on TV because that was a direct reflection of the sales of our company and our company. Sales went from a plateau of 76 year to the first year I was on Extreme Makeover. 101 million to 134 million to the next year. 176 million. We have a free exposure. ABC gave me a platform to be on time, time TV and literally for the first time ever, show people that dentistry didn't have to hurt. It wasn't that scary. And, yeah, a beautiful smile can change your life. And by the way, it doesn't work. If you have yellow teeth, so do Zoom. And it was like, amazing
spk_0: 12:10
and, you know, just to speak to the power of that, even the brand and the name itself. Before I started the podcast, I kind of just stuck my head out in the office to the team. I was like, Ooh, of you have heard a zoom whitening before and everybody raises their hand like that's pretty amazing. Especially like when you sit on my staff ranges in age from 23 to probably 45 ish, and they all like, know what that product is, and that's pretty
spk_1: 12:33
cool. Well, here's another life defining moment, so we shoot the pilot, right? For for Extreme Makeover. I did zoom on three patients. That's it. That ABC didn't really realize at that point yet. What an impact Dentistry kidnap, you know, they asked me how much I want to be reimbursed. I said, Don't worry about it. You know, I'm an owner in the company. We go here, we get picked up for our first season, 22 episodes. First patient first season needs 20 veneers. 10 uppers. 10 lowers at the giant. Clear charging $1500 A, too. So that's a $30,000 kid. It's You have to understand everybody on Extreme Makeover got paid the plastic surgeons that hairstylist weight trainer I mean everybody. So I submitted an invoice for $30,000 the second it hit their desks, they called up. It's a doc. We have a problem. So what is it? We didn't budget that much for dentistry. I'm like, Well, what do you want me to dio? They said, Well, can you do three veneers? I like where you are you every other tooth like No, I think like they all have to match. And it was a spur of the moment game day decision. I said this. I'll tell you what all do all the dentistry for free under the following conditions. Number one. I'm only dentist because if I was on there, I don't want some happy being on there than people confusing us. Right on number two, You have to highlight Zoom in every episode. Now, this was the beginning of reality TV, right? They didn't really realize the power of that, you know, today that would never happen. You know, I would even have to pay it. But they said okay. And number three, you need to give my laboratory credit. I did not want to have to pay a $10,000 lab bill every time we did a case and they agreed to all three of those. And as a result, I was pretty much the only dentist on the show. The only other time there was another dentist on there was when they were friends. Mind that. I wanted to kind of share the love with and, um, kill. Another company exploded. So I never got paid by a d. C. But I got
spk_0: 14:59
Yeah, that's amazing. I think that's a true testament. Like figuring out those relationships and understanding, like the long game there, too, because you knew you knew that you like the reality of what you could you could potentially achieve out of it and what you were willing to work for.
spk_1: 15:12
Yeah, well, but you have to understand, prior to extreme makeover, dentistry did not have a very good image in the media. You know, marathon math and little shop of horrors. I mean, we were always the front of every bad joke and the routine on this This was the first time ever, and on prime time TV that we got an opportunity to show people the good sign of dentistry. And I'll tell you something at the end of the day with these people were nipped and tucked and everything else in the world. And you said What made the biggest difference to you so is their teeth is always just It makes a huge difference. I mean, after all the criticism that people gave, like Oh, you know, they didn't have to have pressed on that are being never criticized against. Nobody ever said You know what? He should have bad teeth. Why didn't you fix it? Like we always got, like, two thumbs up from the audience. It was pretty cool.
spk_0: 16:18
Yeah, that's awesome. I mean, I actually feel a little cut, self conscious about my own teeth right now, but being with the $1,000,000 Smile, man, it's pretty cool. So what? I loved here, though, on that there's two things I want to hit on. One is I wanna talk about your charity involvement and the elite program things. I think it's interesting that you're involved with that. I think it's important thing to highlight, but before I do, I was curious on that ABC connection When you first got Extreme Makeover, was that the first big show that you could have been on Oprah even on Larry King Live, you been all kind of that does. Is that the first entrance into TV and how did you get that relationship to begin with?
spk_1: 16:53
So this is this is kind of crazy. About almost 22 years ago, we got a phone call from a group of dentists, Steve Anderson and Greg Anderson. There were the they're brothers that had this group called the Crown Council. Crown Counsel is a group of dentists committed to education and self improvement. They kind of teach it everything except the dentistry. You know how to run your office, have team dynamics and all that stuff. And they called us up at discuss and they said, Look, we'd like to do a fundraiser for ST Jude's Hospital and what we'd like to do is buy your white meat product at your cost and we'll have dental offices, performed the procedure and have the patient write a check directly to smiles for life. And we said, Okay, you know, we'll we'll talk about it and we'll call you back. So, uh, we call them back. We said, Look, we're not going to say you the product at our cost and they're like, Oh, really? You said no, we're gonna give it to you. Yes, So what? So we're gonna get it. So we donated all the product. Over the last 22 years, we have raised $42 million for Children's charities. Garth Brooks and I did public service now spends all over the country basically saying, Hey, if you like to wait your smile and help the child's pile for life, call 18774 smiles and you'll be directly connected to get us in your area. And that thing just took off like wildfire. And, um, it was it was huge. So, you know, we raised $42 million with the help of all these dentists all over the country doing that, which was an amazing experience. And through that, I also started a nonprofit called Leap and Leap is a motivational leadership program for high school and college kids. It's one week long leak week every year at U. C. L. A. This year will be July 21st to the 27th where we bring in amazing speakers. And again, this is the nonprofit About 400 plus kids come to the program, and I bring in incredibly successful entrepreneurs, you know, business people, celebrities. Last year I had Mark Walberg, Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Bennett from Mean Girls, Devin Druid from 13 Reasons Why, Paula Abdul in the Past, and Michael's Trey Hanna, Usher Seth Green, Kevin Neil It. I need the Eva Longoria. It's an amazing program, and we basically teach these kids how to be successful. We take great kids and help him become even greater, and I'll tell you something I didn't grow up with much at all. But this has been such a blessing in my life to be able to get back. My parents always said he gives receives a greatest gift and it's true. I mean, for me from the second discus started making money from the second, you know, we were able to we gave back and gave that big and we still d'oh and, you know, for me, that's the greatest part of being able to make money is to, you know, making up money, that you can help other people out.
spk_0: 20:25
Yeah, I really love that. I mean, I think it's interesting because only people could look at you and think, Oh, this guy's, you know, got it all and you might like you've been in all kind of awesome shows. You've got to work with some amazing celebrities, like you said. But it's been interesting because from the very beginning there's been this kind of like thread of connecting back to charity, showing up for opportunities that you know, may eventually result in you benefiting as well. But that's not the original route purpose. I'm even going back to what you said about the, you know, the charity auction at the beginning, where you, you know, met one person, alleged another person, Let another person. I think so many people get caught up in the world wind of their day to day of business that they forget to just take a pause and go, Hey, where can I go help somebody else today and realized like you said that your parents taught you that? You know, the person that gives is often gonna you know I have a return from that in the future. It's totally one of things that I always am curious about, because obviously you've been in dentistry now for a while you've had huge entrepreneurial success. But along the way, obviously you came through some roadblocks and especially coming from like you said You came from a family who didn't have a lot of money. And I'm the same way. I'm the oldest of five kids. My dad drove a UPS truck like we never traveled and you know, now my wife and I give you all over the place and and take our kids everywhere, and it's great, but I have had struggled over the years of going Hey, what is a lot of money and what is a lot of success look like? And how do you break through that ceiling you've obviously been able to do? That would have been some ways that you've kind of gone. Yes, I'm worth this. And I'm gonna keep pushing and keep getting better and keep growing. Even though maybe you didn't see that as a child, per se,
spk_1: 21:56
you know, I'm the oldest of five kids. Also, I refuse to fail. Yeah, and I never do. And before you think that's really arrogant, let me explain to you failure on Lee happens when you give up. If I do something and I don't get the results I want I don't consider that a failure. I consider that practice and I'm a practice a bunch before I eventually get the results I want. But I will not give up ever. If there's something I want, I will make sure I get it. And I may I could sit here and give you example after example after example. But I'm telling you, there is nothing in my life that I ever really wanted get that I didn't get because I am the most tenacious little dude you pull. It relieves your life. I just won't quit. I just won't. And it's, you know, So I refused to bail. I mean, and that's that's really the secret of success. If you ask me and and I could give you one word, it's tenacity, tenacity, tenacity, tenacity. That's it. And, um, you need you, you know, take it to the mat. You need to be dedicated. You need you not give up. And, you know, at a certain point you need to say, What do I need to do to make this happen? And most people just don't go that far, you know? It's like they hit a roadblock and on then they feel bad for themselves and they cry. And the letter, Yeah. Stop crying. No, but on your you know, your toughest face and go out there and face the world and just make it happened. Yeah, I think
spk_0: 23:50
that gets you to my favorite example. That is actually Abraham Lincoln. You know, people look at him and think, you know, he's one of the greatest presidents that ever lived. But the reality is that guy went through some of the worst hardship that anybody can imagine. He lost Children. He lost spouses. He lost elections. He lost a lot. And then he eventually, because he didn't give up, became one of the greatest presidents that ever lived. And I just think it's so interesting because I think a lot of people can look at somebody like you who has, you know, celebrity status and isn't celebrity circles and just think, Well, it's easy for him to say because of X wires. E. But the reality is, it's because you've pushed through all those when somebody said no, you're like it's not good enough. I'm gonna go find another way, like when you call that first company and said, Hey, let me give you some ideas about this you know, teeth whitening at the age of 30 and they said, No, you said, Great. I'm just gonna go build my own thing. That's fine. Um, that's a nasty is huge. One thing's always like to ask people if we start to wind down. This show is the question of work, life, balance. I know it means something totally different for everybody, For some, people don't even love that term necessarily. But But how have you kind of going? Hey, I want to find harmony in my life, if you will, in all the things that I want to do. I know you have three daughters that you care about and spend time with, and and it's by other activities you want to in life other than just work. My guest says you're also the kind of guy who also probably loves his work. Just how I am too. But how do you find that? Harmony or balance over time? What does that even look like or mean to you? And you talk about work, life,
spk_1: 25:15
balance. Oh, I mean, first of all, you're right. I do love what I do in 2010 and it's pretty crazy because if you look at the back, my phone here, that 10 is from lead. And basically what we do at leat the very 1st 2nd that these kids come into the program. And if any of your listeners want more information or house, you know, student 15 and 25 that they like to sign up, they can go to www dot leap foundation dot com and, um, and sign up for the program. But the very first thing I do when these kids come in the program and say I say, Listen, when you woke up this morning, whether you thought you did this or not, you put a number on your head, one being the lowest and 10 being the eyes. How many of you did not put a 10 on your head? I'll see these kids kind of. She officially raised their hands and, like, Why not? Who picked the number? You. Why would you pick anything less than attempt? Right. So you know, we have this culture of teaching kids toe act like a 10 toe walk like a 10 to talk like a 10 didn't be a 10 in their life. Ironically, we sold discus dental to fill ups on 10 10 10 for six or seven months. The merger documents came in on October 10th 2010 at nine o'clock in the morning, and I literally signed them and help them until exactly 10 so it could be 10 10 10 at 10 AM I know I could have done 10 10 AM, but tens in there said that, and when I did that, it literally changed my life in a second. I always knew that I make a good living as a dentist, just like you said for Ah, lot of Dennis Dennis Trapeze. The end point I love. Speaking of dental since fact, I'm speaking next month in Sweden. I get invited out schools all over the world, and the first thing I said, What? I sit out and I look at that, you know, audience of all these bright, eager young men and women is I say to them this and I mean it Sincerely. I wish for you all the joy and success that I've had in this profession because it has exceeded every expectation I've ever had and getting back to your question. I don't work because I'm playing the whole time, right? So I never really feel like it's work. I mean, I really, really love what I do and, as far as you know, making time. Well, I'll tell you, there was a time when I was filming Extreme Makeover free. We see where I was putting in 60 hours, a week of dentistry and then filming 14 and 15 hour days on Saturday and Sunday because I couldn't fill. I couldn't have a whole crew in the hair, You know, while, you know, while I have patients. I mean, I worked like a dog and, you know, as a result, you know, I think that probably is the reason I got divorced. No, but But I had a goal inside, you know? And I'll be honest with you. 10 10 10 When I sold that company the next. That was a Sunday. The next day I came to work and I said, You guys, these are my new hours and I literally cut from a 40 hour workweek. 20 hour work week. Everybody looked at me and I thought I had cancer. Some I'm like, No, they said, But we thought you were workaholic. I said, not by desire. You know, I was supporting a lot of people. My parents, my brother. But, you know, I said, this is my new work schedule. I wanna have time to do charity work now and dentistry. And since 10. 10 10 at 10 a.m. I've worked 20 hours a week, is a dentist, and then the rest of the time, I do you know the doctors at ABC I just finished filming a new TV show, which I'm not allowed to talk about, but it's gonna have huge ratings and I can't tell you what network. It's on its way. It's gonna be awesome. Friday I have a screen test for a brand new show, which also sounds like it could be awesome. We just launched a new whitening product, Mobile White, which is super cool. You plug it into your phone. It's light activated device that you put in your mouth that helps whiten your teeth really fast, really easy and really convenience, I mean, and, you know, and leap. I mean, I spent up the rested. Today I'll be elite planning our first lead fundraiser for any of your listeners in the L. A area. They can go on our website again. Www dot leave foundation dot com. We're gonna have our first fund raiser at Smashbox Studios April 20 for this year. You know, being a nonprofit, 60% of the kids that come to leave come on scholarship and you know it's it's always a lot of work to raise money for those kids. So we're hoping that this fundraiser will help, so I got a lot of balls in there.
spk_0: 30:53
Well, that's awesome. I'm gonna check out that leak problem because my oldest son, he's actually the oldest of five as well. He is, Ah, well turned 15 this year. So myths checked it up. Yeah, is an entrepreneurial kid to He's got the got the heart for it, and he's big into music, and he's a great kid. And unfortunately,
spk_1: 31:10
I'll tell you what I love about about Leap to is if a kid like that comes at 15 and they're really into it, he has the option of coming back next year. Either is a student or a junior coach so cool after the junior coach, it can actually be a coach, which means no. Once he turns 18 he could be a coach where he has the responsibility of having 10 other kids underneath him. That he is kind of, you know, there their coach, and it's It's a pretty cool experience and ah, live. The kids that have gone through the program were junior coaches and coat, which is that for a few years they were coaches, and then we put him up on stage and, you know, a few of my students have launched incredibly successful speaking careers as a result of going through a leak, so it's kind
spk_0: 32:05
of amazing. Well, I'm just gonna check it out because he's the kind of kid that would would thrive in that environment. I think could be really good for him. So I'll check that out. Leap foundation dot com. If you miss that earlier, check it out. Last question. I would like to kind of part with this. This podcast is called Building a Business That Lasts, and you've talked a lot about tenacity. You talked about teaching, talked about giving back if you had to give kind of one final takeaway for people when they're trying to build their own business, build their own thing into into the next level and make it be something that's gonna last over time and improve over time. What's that parting advice that you would want to leave with them to think about as the show ends?
spk_1: 32:41
You know, it's funny. I don't know if building a business that last is always the objective. For instance, I have to businesses right my dental practice and and discuss dental discus Dental was never a concept that I thought I was going to do forever. The plan with Discus Dental WAAS. You know, get our he bid up to 20 to 25 million. I could then sell the company for multiple of 8 to 10 times, even dog and retire. Yeah, it wasn't to build a company that I would have for 50 years. Right? Where's my dental practice? I mean, you know, provided I stay healthy. And by the way, when you talk about balancing life, you need to exercise. Yes. I don't care who you are and what you do. I go to the gym every day. I'm just shopped for the cover of men's health magazine. And if I get it, I will be the oldest guy on the cover by like, 35 years. Why? But you cannot have a successful career life, marriage, relationship, whatever. If you're not healthy, you need to take care of yourself. That's so critical. So and I will tell you I don't care where I am in the world. I go to the gym every day for a Knauer, whether I do cardio or you know or wait or whatever it is, I mean, Mr Museum in Paris. I won't miss the gym. I just want that is a priority in my life. That is constant. So you need to make that important part of your life no matter what you do. But as far as building a business, you know, not every business is built to last. Like as long as I stay healthy, I wanna practise dentistry. We'll have a great practice. I have an amazing team. We, uh You know, I see patients about 20 hours a week, and I'm doing cosmetic dentistry all the time. If you follow me on my instagram, you'll see I post a live really, really cool dental procedures. Um, all the time it, you know, And it's crazy because instagram like it Who would've ever thought? But, you know, I'm getting, like, three or four new patients a week that just follow me on instagram. I have some, like, 150,000 followers now, and it's a really crazy thing, So I don't think that that's always the objective. You know, Discus dental was a bill to sell. My dental practice is a build for life kind of thing, and I think that When you build your business, you have to decide what your objective is. But, you know, I would say for both business just regardless of whether you want to sell it or or stay in it. Customer service is critical, and we really focus on gold. Played it customer service and making sure that the customer always feels like they are the priority because they are and catering to them. And, you know, I'll get emergency calls on the weekend and my patients to be like I can't believe you actually came in at, like, midnight. I'm like, Yeah, I live in process feed. It's our problem, you know, Um and and I do And, um, you know, im is accessible as I can be. You know, I've never in my entire life not returning a phone call, a tests, text message or email. And when patients come into our office, we tried to cater to all of their needs. If you come in and you're my patient and you need seeing fun, orthodontist, period, honest and it ended up we coordinate all your appointments for you. We follow up with you. You know, we give gold plated customer service and you know, that's why I have, I think, 1705 star Google Redus. You know, when people go and look for a dentist and you know, most dentists have, like, 10 right? And when they're looking on Google and going, Wow, this guy has 1705 star reviews. You know, that's an important part of business. The way that businesses work today is completely different. They did when we were growing up, you know? I mean, who thought of Google and Google reviews And and I only started doing instagram because my kids like Dad, look at those death. I'm like, Oh, maybe maybe I should do that. So, you know. But you know what? I didn't just do it. I mastered it. I now have a whole social media team, you know? I mean, it's crazy. I never thought I'd be doing this, but these guys were geniuses, you know, if they make sure that every post I post hit Sea Explorer page, you know, and when I first started, I was got, like, 10 20 lights, you know, now post up. I get 150 lights, you know, and comments. And this and that and that engagement enables people who don't know me to know me and know my practice know about leaked and know about you, all the stuff I do. Every Wednesday morning at 11 30 we do a Meet the Mentor Live interview on Instagram, which has become very popular. We get like 30 plus 1000 people listening and leap. We culminates in a mentor workshop where I bring in mentors and the students get an opportunity to sit and ask questions. And we have doctors and lawyers and writers Webber's and so as kind of a pre view of what they're gonna get. Leap. Every Wednesday morning, I interview a professional. One of our meant was that comes to the program usually, and we doing instagram life. So, uh,
spk_0: 38:57
that's awesome so much. I got out of this interview talking about tenacity, teaching, giving back and then ultimately, that, too. I think the last bit there about taking care of yourself is really important. I know I personally neglected that over time and told myself the lie that I don't have time for it, and you're the proof that that's not true, and I think that's really important for people to see Dr Rorke Dorfman. Thank you so much for being on the show today. If people want to find out more about you or or just look for you on the Internet, what is the best place for them to go?
spk_1: 39:22
Well, if they want to find out about my practice, they can go to, uh, build Dorfman d d s dot com. But if you want to Really? I watch and see what I'm doing. Just follow me on Instagram. It's Dr Bill Dorfman. This is the photo that, uh, that we submitted for men's health. Durant,
spk_0: 39:47
I need to go to the gym. I, uh
spk_1: 39:49
don't forget I'm 60.
spk_0: 39:52
Amazing. That is so awesome. Thank you so much for being on the show. But if we're gonna check out that leap Foundation site for my son as well and I wish you all the best and I'll send you a link to this show says it's life. Thanks again.
spk_1: 40:02
All right. Thank you.
spk_0: 40:05
I hope this episode has given you some ideas or inspiration that will help you grow your business. If you found it helpful, and you know somebody else who might benefit from it. as well. I would greatly appreciate it if you would take the time to share this with him, maybe on Facebook or Twitter, or linked in, or even shoot an email over to a friend with a link to this podcast in it. And if you haven't already, make sure you sign up for email list at building a business that lasts dot com.
