The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger

Most practices obsess over lead gen, marketing, and branding. But if your TC isn’t a natural closer—or if they have a limiting mindset around money—it won’t matter how many patients walk through your door. In this episode, I share real, tactical insights from a weekend deep dive with my OrthoPreneurs RD group focused entirely on sales, psychology, and case acceptance.I’ll walk you through what makes a TC a true closer (and how to tell if yours is or isn’t), the emotional baggage some team members unknowingly bring to $6,000 treatment presentations, and the sales science behind why little mindset shifts can change everything. This is must-know material if you're aiming for an 85–90% case acceptance rate.QUOTES“If your TC sees $6,000 as life-changing money, they’ll never confidently recommend that treatment to a patient.” — Dr. Glenn Krieger“You can have the best sales funnel in the world, but without a closer, it all falls apart.” — Dr. Glenn KriegerKey TakeawaysIntro & Parenthood Metaphor (00:00)Why the roller coaster matters more than the merry-go-round (02:00)How complacency sneaks into ortho practices (03:00)The reality of failure—and why I welcome it (04:30)You can’t build your dream life in circles (05:30)A call to action for choosing growth, risk, and transformation (06:00)Why Vanguard LA 2026 will be unlike any ortho event you've ever attended (06:45)Additional ResourcesIf your gut is telling you something’s off with your conversion rate, don’t ignore it. 🎯 Ask your TC the hard questions. Record a few presentations. Check for mindset blocks. You might be sitting on untapped potential.And if you want help dialing in your sales funnel or turning your TC into a confident, ethical closer—📩 reach out. It’s one of the most transformative parts of my 1:1 coaching work with doctors across the country.🚀 Want to experience what real, impactful change feels like? Join me and 95 other forward-thinking orthodontists this February at Vanguard LA. We’ve designed something unlike any ortho meeting you've ever attended—with custom 90-day growth plans for every doctor.Register for Ortho Vanguard: https://www.opvanguard.com If you’ve trusted me before, trust me on this: It could change your life.- For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/- Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Jeremiah Sturgill, a down-to-earth orthodontist from Johnson City, Tennessee, who’s built one of the most impressively scaled, efficiently run, single-owner practices in the country. But what makes Jeremiah stand out isn’t just the growth—it’s the way he’s done it: with humility, grit, and a relentless focus on investing in people and systems.We dive into how he transformed a modest, well-run legacy practice into a multi-location, multi-doctor machine—while still making time for real estate ventures, short-term rentals, and even a boutique marketing firm. You’ll hear how he staffs a 15-chair main office with surgical efficiency, manages a rotating team across three locations, and still finds the time to build custom homes with a team of craftsmen who love what they do. If you’re looking to scale, stabilize, and stop micromanaging, this is a masterclass.QUOTES“You will never get fired for making a mistake. You will get fired for not owning it and blaming someone else.” — Dr. Jeremiah Sturgill“You can’t control everything. You can try your best, but when you strangle your business, you kill its potential.” — Dr. Jeremiah SturgillKey TakeawaysIntro: Wagon Wheel, small towns, and big growth (00:00)The 16-year-old decision that led to ortho (01:35)How he grew a standard practice into a national standout (03:41)Practice structure: 3 locations, 17–18 doctor days/week (05:03)The secret: efficiency, not just scale (06:02)His “open-hand/closed-hand” culture system (08:06)Toxicity vs. mistakes: the cultural line in his practice (09:26)Why age doesn’t predict maturity—and why gratitude matters (10:58)Office “cultural anchorage” and scaling team values (13:51)Comparing small vs. large teams: impact, culture, and coverage (15:19)How humility and faith ground his leadership approach (17:27)Real estate beginnings: realtor at 18, flips in dental school (19:41)Short-term rentals, storage units & the road to REPS (21:45)Why doctors must partner with experts in real estate (23:11)His custom home design firm—and love of elite tradespeople (29:24)Boutique SEO wins: 30% increase in new patient exams (28:10)Launching GoUnicornStrategy.com for ortho marketing (30:51)Final thoughts: relationships over returns, every time (33:29)Additional ResourcesIf you’ve ever wondered how to grow a thriving ortho practice without burning out or losing your culture—Jeremiah's story proves it can be done. It’s not luck. It’s leadership, systems, and people-first thinking.👉 Listen now, and if you're curious about his marketing firm or real estate approach, visit GoUnicornStrategy.com  or shoot him a message.Register for Ortho Vanguard: https://www.opvanguard.com - For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/- Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/

If you’ve ever felt that little itch in the back of your brain—the one that whispers, "I love being an orthodontist... but I can’t imagine doing this full-time for another 30 years"—you’re not alone. In fact, you're part of a generational shift. In this episode of 5 Minute Friday, I unpack why Orthodontic Support Organizations (OSOs) and DSOs are growing rapidly—and why that’s not a bad thing.This isn’t about promoting any particular group. It’s about being honest with ourselves and understanding that how we want to work is changing. I’ve spoken to hundreds of orthodontists who feel exactly the way you do: deeply passionate about the profession but uninterested in grinding until age 80. Let’s explore the real reason OSO/DSO interest is surging—and how generational mindset, lifestyle goals, and future planning are all connected.QUOTES"The first thought you had when I said 50 years as an orthodontist was probably dread. And that’s okay. That instinct? It’s normal." — Dr. Glenn Krieger"If you’re between 37 and 42, you’re not thinking of retiring next year—but you are thinking about what comes next. That’s smart planning, not early exit." — Dr. Glenn KriegerKey TakeawaysIntro & Why This Conversation Matters (00:00)What’s fueling the rise of OSOs and DSOs (00:36)The generational mindset shift: Millennials don’t want the 50-year grind (01:52)Understanding the evolution of social capital and work-life values (03:40)What orthodontists are really telling me in their 30s and 40s (06:20)Why now is a great time to evaluate your future options (07:00)Additional ResourcesIf anything I shared today struck a chord, don’t keep it to yourself.📩 DM me. Let's talk. You don’t have to be “ready” to make a change—just ready to explore options. Whether you’re OSO-curious, DSO-skeptical, or just unsure, I’ll give you the straight truth.And if you know a colleague quietly wrestling with these same thoughts, send them this episode. You might be giving them the permission they've been waiting for.🚀 Want to experience what real, impactful change feels like? Join me and 95 other forward-thinking orthodontists this February at Vanguard LA. We’ve designed something unlike any ortho meeting you've ever attended—with custom 90-day growth plans for every doctor.Register for Ortho Vanguard: https://www.opvanguard.com If you’ve trusted me before, trust me on this: It could change your life.- For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/- Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Blair Feldman, former Phoenix Suns team orthodontist and co-founder of Retainer Club, to talk about everything from 3D printing and recurring revenue, to product innovation and mindset. Blair practiced for over 21 years, ran multiple startups, taught at AT Still, and ultimately made the leap to full-time entrepreneur after building a retainer program so effective, it demanded all of his attention.We dive deep into how Blair transformed a frustrating problem—retainer replacements—into a venture-backed fulfillment platform that supports ortho practices across the country. We also talk about how he helps orthodontists with product ideas that actually bring them to life, what he's learned from Entrepreneur's Organization (EO), and how to tell whether your big idea is a real business—or just a fun hobby.Quotes“It’s a dirty secret in orthodontics: if patients stop wearing their retainers, their teeth move. Retainer Club was built to make sure that didn’t happen—without creating more work for the practice.”— Dr. Blair Feldman“A patent is not a business. It’s a tool. If you don’t know what to do after the patent, then you don’t have a plan—you have a prototype and a dream.”— Dr. Blair FeldmanKey TakeawaysIntro (00:00)From Penn to Detroit Mercy: why ortho won out over medicine (01:00)Blair’s unusual journey into ortho—and architecture (01:35)Dental school culture at Penn and its impact on specialty training (02:27)21 years of experience: associate, buyer, builder, teacher, team ortho (17:10)The truth about being the “team orthodontist” for pro sports (17:58)How a casual idea about retainers turned into a funded business (20:30)Retainer Club: what it is, how it works, and who it’s for (25:00)How recurring revenue + 3D printing changed the business model (22:40)Competitors vs. the real challenge: docs who think they’re “fine” (26:43)Young orthodontists, hyper-efficiency, and outsourcing (28:25)Blair’s passion for helping orthos bring product ideas to life (29:00)“Do you want a business, or just to see your idea in the real world?” (30:00)Advice on patents, investors, and entrepreneurial mindset (30:30)Additional ResourcesI’ve seen firsthand how a smart retainer program can transform your practice—financially and operationally. If you're tired of broken systems, endless remakes, or patients who stop coming back, Retainer Club might be exactly what you need.👉 Reach out to Blair at [email protected] and see how he can help you simplify your workflow and scale your revenue.Register for Ortho Vanguard: https://www.opvanguard.com - For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/- Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/

I recently revisited one of my favorite metaphors from the classic film Parenthood, and it hit me hard again: Life is either a roller coaster or a merry-go-round. And far too many orthodontists—talented, capable, ambitious people—end up coasting in circles after hitting a certain level of success. I get it. It’s comfortable. It’s safe. But is it what you really want?In this episode, I break down the difference between choosing comfort vs. choosing growth—and why, in my own life and career, I’ve always chosen the ups and downs of the roller coaster. Yes, it comes with risk, fear, and the possibility of failure. But it also brings the kind of excitement, fulfillment, and impact that the merry-go-round could never offer. I’ll challenge you to think deeply about which ride you’re on—and what it would take to switch tracks.QUOTES"If you're going to end your career one day, make sure you rode the roller coaster." — Dr. Glenn Krieger"Complacency is just the merry-go-round in disguise." — Dr. Glenn KriegerKey TakeawaysIntro & Parenthood Metaphor (00:00)Why the roller coaster matters more than the merry-go-round (02:00)How complacency sneaks into ortho practices (03:00)The reality of failure—and why I welcome it (04:30)You can’t build your dream life in circles (05:30)A call to action for choosing growth, risk, and transformation (06:00)Why Vanguard LA 2026 will be unlike any ortho event you've ever attended (06:45)Additional Resourcesf this message stirred something in you—if you’ve been playing it safe but secretly want more—then it’s time to choose the roller coaster. Push yourself. Reignite your practice. Take the ride.🚀 Want to experience what real, impactful change feels like? Join me and 95 other forward-thinking orthodontists this February at Vanguard LA. We’ve designed something unlike any ortho meeting you've ever attended—with custom 90-day growth plans for every doctor.Register for Ortho Vanguard: https://www.opvanguard.com If you’ve trusted me before, trust me on this: It could change your life.- For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/- Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/