Love Your Practice

Dr Laura Mach, DDS, The Life Coach For Busy Dentists, discusses mental and physical well being for business owners, practitioners, parents, spouses and humans. We explore our journey through the mental acrobatics of personal health, relationships, goals and how all these things relate to our thoughts as an individual, a parent, a spouse and a healer.

Leadership and Communicating Effectively with Team Members 05/01/2024

Leadership and Communicating Effectively with Team Members Are you struggling to make important decisions to move your practice forward? This happens to all of us, and my guest on this episode, Dr. Seema Amin, opens up about her doubts and struggles with making necessary staffing changes in a timely manner. Dr. Amin has practiced dentistry for 26 years, starting in an associateship and then buying her own practice in 2011. She discusses her transition to practice owner and the challenges of moving into the “employer” side of managing the business, making decisions on her own, and managing people. Buying her dental practice, Dr. Amin was scared but dreamt of how great it would be to be independent. She soon realized how difficult it was going to be when confronted with managing people. Hiring and retaining employees was the hardest part of growing the practice. As we worked to develop her vision, she discovered her internal fears prevented staffing changes that needed to happen and learned that much of leadership is looking at the perspective of people we are leading. It’s so important to consider how our employees are thinking to understand their emotions and actions. This helps us set the stage for more productive communication. If you feel that an employee is toxic to your practice even with your good leadership skills, follow your gut. As Dr. Amin says, “Never let a toxic employee make you feel any different or insecure in your own thoughts.” If you’re unhappy in your practice, something has to change. Don’t let the fear of what could happen stop you from making the decisions that need to be made. You will show up as a better caregiver for your patients. Listen to this episode now for questions to ask yourself if you think an employee may need to be replaced and the necessity to overcome personal fears and doubts in facing the difficult changes needed to move your practice forward! Highlights from this episode: Reconciling our human side with our business-owner side when changes are needed within the practice How setting and meeting standards for success can interfere with how we run our practices as we strive to meet those standards Signs that an employee may need to be replaced Addressing management issues in a timely manner Overcoming challenging thought habits and internal conflicts behind personal fears in good practice management Leadership skills: their importance, using them, and looking at issues through the eyes of employees Learning to communicate Resources and links mentioned: Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s Instagram: Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/31068803

Avoiding Burnout and Making Changes With Dr. Laura Brenner 01/31/2024

Avoiding Burnout and Making Changes With Dr. Laura Brenner As female dental practice owners, we love helping others and putting others first. However, we often forget that we also need to set boundaries and take care of ourselves so we can serve our employees and patients in beneficial ways. In this episode, I welcome Dr. Laura Brenner who helps dental practice owners recognize what burnout looks like and make important decisions regarding continuing on their journey as a dental practice owner … or not. As dental practice owners, we often create and carry great levels of stress which can lead to burnout! We sometimes compromise how we want to serve because we try to conform to how we believe others are viewing us. However, as leaders, it is essential to give ourselves permission to design our practices the way we want them to be. And this includes trusting others to do their jobs. Situations may arise that are beyond our control, but we have to give ourselves the grace to know that we can do things better in the future. Taking time to create boundaries and define how we want to serve others in our lives can create clarity and help us define how we, along with our employees and patients, can be winners. Are you ready to design and plan your life right now according to where you are right now? Why wait? Listen to this episode so you can start living right now, and you may be surprised at what doors open to you because you are serving in the capacity you want! Highlights from this episode: How burnout happens within dental practice ownership The predictability of the brain and how it wants us to conform for our safety Defining how you want to serve and creating boundaries It’s okay to say, “No.” Giving yourself permission to run your practice the way you want to Being a leader and trusting others around you to do their jobs The art of developing yourself right now Resources and links mentioned: Laura Brenner’s website: (contains the link to her free guide “6 Reasons You’re Burnt Out in Your Dental Career”) Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s Instagram: Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/29733178

The Mental Stress of Owning A Dental Practice 01/10/2024

The Mental Stress of Owning A Dental Practice Is your brain giving you a hard time? Is it telling you something is dangerous that really is not dangerous? If so, know that this happens to the best of us! In this episode, I look at some of my struggles as a dental practice owner of 15 years and discuss how coaching can help all of us who are female dental practice owners. We all have many elements of our work lives that can cause stress. And our brains often feed into that stress and can cause us to spiral into worrying about things that, in reality, we may not need to be stressing over. This is natural because human brains have evolved into showing us potential dangers in our lives. However, we can choose to look at frightening situations in new ways. This changing of our perspectives can lift the weight of worry in profound ways. What are you worrying about? Chances are that how you are looking at your situation could be changed! This episode will help you recognize ways to handle situations without the worry so you can enjoy your practice ownership in a more intentional way. Listen now, and put yourself on the best path to loving your practice! Highlights from this episode: Stresses associated with a slowdown in a practice How quickly our brains can switch to very negative thoughts Ways that coaching helps dental practice owners Recognizing that it is okay to worry about our practices and that worrying is natural The benefits of looking at the facts of situations we are facing to change our perspectives Resources and links mentioned: Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s Instagram: To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866 Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/29426833

Exploring Endodontic Education with Dr. Sonia Chopra 11/01/2023

Exploring Endodontic Education with Dr. Sonia Chopra When you went through dental school, did you have much training in endodontics? If you’re like most of us, you probably didn’t, and my guest today is on a mission to change that! Sonia Chopra, DDS became a board-certified endodontist as a result of her own personal dental experience and healing process. She is a TEDx speaker, Forbes contributor, and founder of Ballantyne Endodontics in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this episode, Dr. Chopra shares details of her path to endodontics and passion to improve endodontic education within dentistry. Her mission of “helping dentists fully understand and fully embody and embrace endo as a critical part of dentistry and building their practice” is how her award-winning business, E-School: Everyday Endo Made Easy, was founded. This Online Endodontic Continuing Education for Dentists is revolutionizing continuing education through simple, tangible lessons so dentists can properly diagnose patients. We need to offer the best care to patients, and there are many hidden ROIs on learning endodontic care. Dr. Chopra’s education program offers three primary iterations: an 8-10 week program with coaching calls, independent study, and E-school Live that incorporates in-person training for doctors to work under Dr. Chopra’s supervision on patients who receive their necessary treatments at extremely discounted prices. As dental practice owners we carry an emotional burden. We absorb much of our patients’ energy through the contagious nature of human emotions. So, Dr. Chopra also offers a coaching program for current endodontists and general dentists to help us free up time so we can take better care of ourselves as well as our patients. It is time to change our culture so we can offer our best care to our patients! Listen to this episode now to hear about increasing your knowledge, improving your practice, and valuable information if you are considering selling your practice! Highlights from this episode: Looking at the culture within academics regarding endodontics Exploring the hesitancy to offer endodontic care in dental practices Why learning endodontics is essential for a dental practice Diagnosis: How critical it is to get your patients to the proper specialists The benefits of learning within a community How different your life as a practice owner can be with some key changes The difficulties, realities, and challenges facing dentists who sell to DSOs Resources and links mentioned: Dr. Chopra’s Instagram: Dr. Chopra’s website: Dr. Chopra’s E-school: Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s TikTok: Laura’s Instagram: To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866 Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/28485296

Bonus Ep: FFS Update-Downsizing, Doubling Take Home Pay and More 10/19/2023

Bonus Episode: FFS Guest Appearance: Going out of Network & the Mental Blocks Dentists Face 10/17/2023

Burnout, Change, and Finding Joy in Dentistry with Dr. Maggie Augustyn 08/24/2023

Burnout, Change, and Finding Joy in Dentistry with Dr. Maggie Augustyn In this captivating podcast episode, I welcome Dr. Maggie Augustyn, DDS, FICOI, FAAIP, a dental practice owner and inspirational woman. We dive into various topics, including the importance of finding joy in work, overcoming burnout, and learning from Maggie's courageous battle with cancer. Join us as we discuss adapting to changes in both work and life, and how Maggie found her true purpose - helping dental professionals feel understood and less alone. Dive into this engaging conversation to uncover the unique challenges faced by dental practice owners and gain insight into Maggie Augustyn's journey as a dental professional, writer, and advocate. Find the inspiration to embrace change, work through fears, and build a strong support system for a successful career! Don't miss out on this enlightening episode – check the show notes below for Maggie's articles in Dentistry Today and follow her on Facebook and Instagram for more insights. Dr. Maggie Augustyn, DDS, FICOI, FAAIP is a practicing general dentist, author, and inspirational speaker. She is committed to helping people achieve their full potential, both physically and mentally. She is a strong advocate for mental health awareness and has spoken publicly about her own experiences with mental illness. Dr. Augustyn is passionate about creating a world where everyone feels accepted and included. Highlights from this episode: Pros and Cons of Dental practice Overcoming the challenges of partnership Adapting to change Navigating burnout and motivation Mental health and the role of social media Leadership, accountability, and consistency The importance of investing in coaching Resources and links mentioned: Where to find Maggie Augustyn, DDS, FICOI, FAAIP Dentistry Today Column: Facebook: Instagram: Where to find Dr. Laura Mach Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s TikTok: Laura’s Instagram: To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866 Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/27842865

How to Build Your Dental Practice Brand With Joanna Scott 06/14/2023

How to Build Your Dental Practice Brand With Joanna Scott What is your story? Have you clarified your “why” within your brand? My guest on this episode is Joanna Scott, who, together with her husband, manages Studio 8e8: Dentistry’s Story-Driven Marketing Agency based in Columbus, Ohio. Joanna says, “We all have a unique story, and we’re all on a mission to make the world a better place, especially as women.” This episode will help bring clarity to you as a practice owner so you can effectively communicate your story with your patients as you market your practice! Simply put, story and connection build trust with patients. Joanna notes, “Dentistry is an inspiring profession … full of humans serving humans,” and we all love and remember stories - especially those about people in our lives. Do your patients know your story? If not, now is the time to change this because we all have unique qualities that can connect us with the right patients for us. Joanna’s company works to develop a custom digital presence for dentists so we can do a better job of telling patients who we really are. In this episode she shares information about what we should expect from our marketing agencies, the questions we should ask, and the importance of our websites and custom photography, video and more. Listen now to hear great tips and resources to showcase our stories, connect with our current and future patients, and establish trust with patients as we move forward with our practices! Highlights from this episode: The importance of being motivated by the relationships around us Understanding that our teams are not our tribes and how that makes us better leaders What story-driven marketing is and how it can improve relationships between dentists and patients Stories are remembered so much more than facts Three common mistakes with marketing and ways to avoid these mistakes How to showcase brands and values Resources and links mentioned: Joanna’s Studio 8e8 website: Joanna’s Instagram: Client story: Dr. Gigi of in Livingston, NJ Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s TikTok: Laura’s Instagram: To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 6686 Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/27148527

The Dental Culture Con With Karese Laguerre and Chris “Love” Williams 04/20/2023

The Dental Culture Con With Karese Laguerre and Chris “Love” Williams Do you feel as though your dental practice is not only recognizing but also celebrating diversity? For a closer look at this vital topic, I welcome experienced dental practitioners Karese Laguerre, RDH, and Chris “Love” Williams, RDH, to this episode. Both feel as though diversity is missing from our industry and are organizing an amazing experience for all to learn more about this topic. In this episode, we delve into diversity, equity, and inclusion within our workplace and patient culture. Karese is a Myofunctional Therapist, author, and founder of The Myo Spot, a practice through which she uses teletherapy to help clients overcome tongue ties, TMJ disorders, sleep apnea, grinding, anxiety, and various breathing and orofacial dysfunction. Chris "Love" Williams is a United States Air Force combat veteran turned dental hygienist, entrepreneur, speaker, and life coach. As an accomplished professional and motivational speaker, Chris inspires audiences with his unique perspective and infectious enthusiasm and has a personal mission to impact 1 million people. Together, Karese and Chris share a passion for celebrating diversity and have co-founded The Dental Culture Con, an interactive virtual conference that will be happening June 15 -17, 2023. “There is a person attached to these teeth” is a saying that Karese likes to say, and this is so true as we show understanding and empathy to the various populations we serve within our dental practices. It is important to celebrate the differences that people have. Within our industry, patients are more likely to show up to their appointments and respect our dental practices when we respect them as humans. Chris says they are working to promote the “peaceful harmony of connectedness” that people genuinely want to feel. Regarding the conference he says, “The goal is for people to know how to connect with others who are different.” As dental practice owners, it is important to create offices that are inviting to all. As we advertise, showing diversity demonstrates our welcomeness to all within our communities. And this applies to staffing as well, as we work to create environments that retain our current staff and attract new, diverse team members. It’s important to include and represent everyone and celebrate them in the best way possible. Are you ready to learn more about celebrating our differences and all the ways those appear in our lives? If you think culture is important to your business and your life, you are invited to attend The Dental Culture Con! Listen to this episode for more information about the event and a greater understanding of diversity and how it can impact our dental practices! Highlights from this episode: Why it is important for dental practice owners to pay attention to diversity In a time where there are employee shortages in our industry, the need to build a culture where people are celebrated because they are different Ways to communicate welcomeness to our practices How culture will be discussed in the upcoming conference and how to build it within your practice Bringing the five love languages into our practices and getting the most from our employees The importance of recognizing why people enter dentistry Resources and links mentioned: Event website: Karese’s book: Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s TikTok: Laura’s Instagram: To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866 Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26891028

Exiting Insurance Contracts With Angela Davis-Sullivan 03/23/2023

Exiting Insurance Contracts With Angela Davis-Sullivan Are you afraid to break free from insurance contracts and practice dentistry on your own terms? This episode will help you learn how you can face and overcome this fear! One of the amazing people in dentistry is my guest on this episode, dental coach Angela Davis-Sullivan. Angela has over 30 years of experience in the industry, and she coaches dental practices on how to exit their insurance contracts. Are you envisioning your practice without contracts? Angela discusses ways to determine if your practice is ready - right now - to drop your insurance contracts. As practice owners, we buy our jobs, and then we sometimes PAY to be in-network. This can put caps on our income … but this episode will help you see how to get out from under those insurance contracts! It is time to BE HAPPY about the money you are making in your practice. This exit process requires bravery to create a strategy to inform the team and patients that you are moving away from insurance contracts. And, ultimately, this is best for the patients. Stepping away from insurance requires a mind shift in how we look at each day; it’s a matter of thinking about the patients we can actually serve and help each and every day. This process can be stressful, but it is vital to trust the process and celebrate the wins as they happen. Don’t be a slave to dental insurance companies - get your freedom back! Listen to this episode now to learn how you can change your perspective and develop the confidence it takes to overcome the fear of taking this big step for your practice! Highlights from this episode: What dental insurance really is - a coupon Factors that determine if a practice is ready to drop a contract Training your team so they understand and believe this is best for the office and for the patients The satisfying alignment of values between the dentist and the patients who select this level of care Overcoming the fear of going fee-for-service Aligning your vision for your practice with your profit margin by looking at your practice’s numbers The magic of getting paid for what you do … and what that can mean to you and your team Resources and links mentioned: Angela’s website: Angela’s email: Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s TikTok: Laura’s Instagram: To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866 Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26891031

Happiness with Dental Legend Dr. Rich Madow 03/08/2023

Happiness with Dental Legend Dr. Rich Madow We’re saving the world one dentist at a time! Having success in our business depends not only on revenue but on happiness as well. This week I am pleased to welcome dental practice coach Dr. Rich Madow to the podcast. In this episode, we discuss how the positive feelings we can cultivate in our practices flow through an office and spread to communities and also ultimately to the bottom line in our practices. When we feel happy and our lives feel aligned, this is when the magic can happen in our businesses. As Dr. Madow says, “When you’re a doctor, you’re a leader,” and this means you have people who look up to you. The importance of our relationships with our teams (who are our work family) as we work together is essential to providing excellent treatment for our patients. This episode will provide you with great ways to lead to create a work environment that is a very pleasant place to work, open lines of communication between team members, create happy team members, and improve how your business operates. Listen now to hear how happiness can flow from us as the dentists through our offices, our teams, and ultimately to our patients. This happiness then flows into all of their families as happiness and good dental health spread in our communities. Spread happiness around you today! Highlights from this episode: The negative happiness equation and how it impacts our work What the golden handcuffs are The heaviness of debt and its effects on how we treat our patients Steps to eliminate the negative happiness equation and improve our relationships with our team members How vital huddling with your team is Passing the seating chart rule How having good systems in place prevents problems between team members Respect, team appreciation, and knowing that how we feel dictates how we act Resources and links mentioned: Dr. Rich Madow Dr. Madow’s Podcast: Dr. Madow’s email: Go to to book a 30-minute chat as a dental practice owner Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s TikTok: Laura’s Instagram: To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866 Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26891037

Mastering Emotions and Conversations With Katherine Eitel Belt 01/11/2023

Mastering Emotions and Conversations With Katherine Eitel Belt We all communicate each and every day. And how we do that has an amazing impact on our team members and our patients. On this episode, I am pleased to welcome Katherine Eitel Belt, CSP, Founder and CEO of LionSpeak Communications Coaching. Katherine focuses on both team-facing and patient-facing communications. This episode explores the importance of always delivering messages from a place of integrity and from a good emotional space as we recognize that we want the best for ourselves and those around us. As dentists, we all want to help people. But when we wear all the hats we need to wear as dental practice owners, we can feel overwhelmed. And then we can get into negative head spaces — or as Katherine says “emotional platforms” — where we suffer from negative thoughts, especially when we need to deliver bad news to employees or patients. However, this episode will help you develop your ability to center yourself before conversations so you can enter them from the platform of trying to make things better for both you and the person to whom you are speaking. You will learn to see your conversations — and change the framework of your conversations — as opportunities to create better alignment for both parties moving forward. Listen now to learn more about the framework for mastering your emotions so you can master your conversations! Highlights from this episode: The need for good communication tools that we can use to shift our emotional platform Best emotions to experience before conversations Goals to have when communicating with others What patients see and hear in the verbal cues when information is delivered to them The reality and proof that situations can look one way and end up turning out much better than expected Recognizing that things “happen for us” as opposed to happening to us What high performers do when mastering their emotions Four reasons people don’t do what we want them to do Resources and links mentioned: Katherine Eitel Belt’s website: Katherine’s Courageous Conversation Support Sheet: Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s TikTok: Laura’s Instagram: To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866 Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26891040

Are The Dentists OK? With Dr. David Galler 12/07/2022

Are The Dentists OK? With Dr. David Galler Are you unhappy as a dentist? If so, you are not alone! Many are unhappy in their practices even though our profession is such a beautiful profession! In this episode, I welcome Dr. David Galler, DMD who has transformed thousands of lives through Invisalign and as the leader and instructor of Reingage, a network of thousands of dentists committed to improving the lives of patients through Invisalign and advanced alignment techniques. We discuss how powerful a smile is, how alignment can change lives, some theories on why dentists are unhappy, and how we need to have the proper mindset in our careers. I always tell other dental practice owners to start your day thinking how and who you can help … We can all improve the lives of our patients by offering them what we know how to do. Alignment can be an integral part of proper treatment for many patients and is something to be valued. In this episode, we delve into what a difference it can make in many people’s lives! We also discuss how we all, as dentists and practice owners, face many of the same fears and anxieties. For example, we seem to all have the pressure to constantly “do more,” whether that is opening more offices, upgrading to the latest equipment, working to treat more and more patients, or countless other ways that we aren’t ever “doing enough.” It’s time to change that way of thinking! Our feelings come from our thoughts. If we want to be happy, it starts with being aware of what is going on in our minds. This episode can help you change your mindset; listen now to hear some great advice and suggestions to feel good about your work and your practice! Highlights from this episode: Why so many dentists are tired and miserable Ways to change your mindset The importance and necessity of feeling confident Valuing alignment in addition to other treatments needs The difference alignment makes in the lives of patients and the power of the smile How our brains sift through information we take in and the effects of our thoughts The factors that cause our anxieties Advice to improve your thinking and your practice Resources and links mentioned: Dr. Galler: Dr. Galler’s Instagram: Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s TikTok: Laura’s Instagram: To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866 Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26891043

Using My Life Coaching Tools to Help Me Through A Hard Time 11/10/2022

Using My Life Coaching Tools to Help Me Through A Hard Time What would your life be like if you weren’t afraid to FEEL a “sucky” thing? Ladies, sometimes that’s exactly what we need to do! There are steps we can take to move through hard times, and in this episode, I share how important it is to work to move away from feeling threatened and to recognize and use our power! Emotions are created from what we are thinking in our brains. Sometimes we need to adjust our thinking so we can look at the facts of any situation we are in, recognize what elements we are in charge of, and determine what we have the power to cultivate. As dental practice owners, we like to help people. On some days, it may just be best to be curious and ask “How can I help people today?” Focusing on cultivating our teams and our patients feels good. When we do this, we give ourselves the power to show up for ourselves! Do you know what emotion helps you stay in a good frame of mind and do things in the best way? Listen to this episode now to hear the answer to that important question that can change your life and to learn how we all can turn our hardships into opportunities for ourselves, our practices, and our patients! Highlights from this episode: Causal coaching - what it is and where you can hear more about it An intentional model that can help you get through a rough time The importance of looking at facts in a very neutral way Recognizing your power Look at opportunities available to you to do good How incredible the feeling of gratitude is What it takes to turn a hardship into an opportunity and how valuable that is Resources and links mentioned: Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s TikTok: Laura’s Instagram: To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866 Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26891046

Processing A Negative Emotion 10/26/2022

Overcoming Burnout in Dentistry With Dr. Laura Brenner 10/12/2022

Overcoming Burnout in Dentistry With Dr. Laura Brenner Are you feeling burned out, stressed, or overwhelmed from your dental practice? My guest on this episode knows exactly how you feel! Dr. Laura Brenner holds a very unique place in dentistry. She was a dentist for 10 years and, after burning out, left the practice to follow her passions along another path. She is now a career coach, and in this episode, we discuss some common concerns and solutions for those dealing with the challenges and frustrations facing dentists today. Have you ever considered the idea that sometimes our problems with practicing dentistry come from within ourselves? We often create a desire to please others and have to deal with our own perfectionism. However, there are steps you can take to relieve some of these stresses. It is critical to not sacrifice yourself to your work - it can lead to resentment and worry. Rather, it is necessary to look at yourself and figure out what is important to you, right now, in your own life. As Dr. Brenner says, “We all have to define success for ourselves. That’s the first thing we need to do.” You don’t have to settle into and feel stuck in your current role of work. Give yourself the permission to move past what is holding you back! And that may mean making some changes. Are you in love with your dentistry? If not, now is the time to do something about it. From side gigs to a career change, you can make a change in your life so you are having FUN! There are ways you can enrich other people’s lives other than solely through your practice of dentistry. What is most important is that you find balance and fulfillment in your life - sometimes adding a side gig can improve your dentistry. Shift your energy, and be willing to change. You CAN design your career so you can align it with your life, creating happiness for yourself. Are YOU still having fun with dentistry? This episode will help you find contentment within whatever path you choose for your life. Listen to this episode now to help you find clarity and happiness! Highlights from this episode: Recognizing your career should be FUN and the solutions available to you if you are not in love with dentistry How a side gig can help you find balance and fulfillment - and improve your practice of dentistry The necessity to NOT sacrifice yourself to work Creating boundaries (from others as well as yourself) and a vision and consistency for yourself Some of the biggest challenges facing dentists The necessity of choosing your self-talk Self-examination of why you practice dentistry Resources and links mentioned: Dr. Laura Brenner’s Facebook page: Dr. Laura Brenner’s Facebook group: Dr. Laura Brenner’s website: Dr. Laura Brenner’s blog: Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s TikTok: Laura’s Instagram: To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866 Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26891052

The Magic of Rejuvenating Teeth With Dr. David Clark 08/17/2022

The Magic of Rejuvenating Teeth With Dr. David Clark It is such a pleasure to welcome one of my favorite teachers, Dr. David Clark, to this episode. Dr. Clark is a dentist who has revolutionized how we can treat cracked teeth, going beyond doing crowns. He has created a system of matrices called the Bioclear Method, a new approach to cosmetic and restorative dentistry. Today we discuss practice management and how we present to patients about amazing treatments they actually want, versus just what they need. Friends, you are not going to have to worry about being poorly compensated for doing this beautiful dentistry that patients actually want. We know that our patients want to keep their natural teeth… And we want to help them achieve that! Bioclear overlays can help them keep their teeth, and they have many advantages such as that they feel more comfortable and have almost zero chance of snapping off or creating a need for a root canal. The important aspect is that you can offer this to patients as a treatment “choice.” When given the choice of how to treat their issue, many will be happy with choosing rejuvenation over extra drilling time on their teeth and will be comfortable paying the appropriate level of compensation to you. This treatment option makes so much sense and can transform your practice! Listen to this episode to hear more about this great procedure to offer to your patients and how you can learn to do injected moldings. Highlights from this episode: The magical question of asking patients what they want to do when you have multiple treatment options to offer and how it feels when you give patients what they want Benefits of overlays How to offer choices to your patients so that they don’t mind paying what the procedure is worth Rejuvenation of teeth as a choice Features of injected moldings and patients’ reactions to them How to begin learning about how to do injected moldings Great opportunities that exist for offering rejuvenation Resources and links mentioned: Dr. David Clark’s website: The discount code for Dr. Clark’s intro course: LYP50 Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s TikTok: Laura’s Instagram: To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866 Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26891055

Keeping Your Power In Challenging Relationships 08/03/2022

Keeping Your Power In Challenging Relationships Sometimes we give away our power to others! Do you often feel resentful of your employees, your partners, or even your dental practice?? This episode will empower you to know you can feel how you want to feel: independent of what others may do so you can make the decisions that are best for you. There are four principles that work together to make you feel how you want to feel. This episode will help you examine relationships in your life - including your relationship with your practice - and allow you to see that you’re in charge of your emotions and that you can decide how you are going to view your impactful relationships. I provide practical examples of how you can adapt these four principles to situations you are facing and need to alter to change how you are feeling. You’ll hear the necessity of intentional thinking and getting the actual facts of a situation so that you don’t go down the wrong path. This episode will help you understand that YOU are in control of your own emotions… This is so empowering to figure out and can make an immediate difference in YOUR life! Don’t miss this episode - listen now! Highlights from this episode: “How do you want to feel in this situation?” is an important question to ask Emotional adulthood - its definition and how freeing it can be to your life Why many people stay in a state of emotional childhood Relationships - a new way to view them Drawing boundaries and the behavioral changes that can come from this Practicing awareness of your emotions and identifying where they come from in our minds The paths our minds follow by default and what that creates in us Resources and links mentioned: Laura’s podcast episode Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s TikTok: Laura’s Instagram: To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866 Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26891058

Follow-up to– Decision Fatigue: How to Get Out 07/20/2022

How Fear Stops Us From Leading 06/22/2022

Managing Our Physical and Emotional Well-being With Dr. Ankur Gupta 05/04/2022

Managing Our Physical and Emotional Well-being With Dr. Ankur Gupta It is such a pleasure to welcome back Dr. Ankur Gupta to the podcast for a second time. In this episode, we explore the reality that it is okay to be both a human and a dentist. We all have flaws - nobody is perfect - and that truly is okay. We simply need to build these flaws into our philosophies and change our futures for the better. “In the world of CE, it is not as common to highlight our flaws,” according to Dr. Gupta; and, yet, we all have flaws but must learn to “change the systems around us” so others don’t have to suffer from our flaws. This episode explores the expectations placed upon us: the fact that they are there and how we handle them. It is essential to realize that thoughts are voluntary and can create a lifetime of suffering if we let our brains give in to unrealistic expectations instead of enjoying life! Now is the time for change: changing how you are thinking about various elements of your life and focusing on small physical changes you can do right now can alter the trajectory of your future. Devoting just a few minutes a day to physical improvement can create a big impact! Listen to this episode for some examples of what you can do and the empowerment that can come from these physical and emotional changes. You HAVE the time and the ability to change your future… Listen to this episode to start right now! Highlights from this episode: The reality that success can come, even though we are all flawed Handling the pressures of the expectations placed upon us Exploring our vulnerabilities and the actual sources of those pressures we feel How damaging it is when we look at what others do and subsequently create “shoulds” in our brains Small changes and how they can impact the trajectory of a person’s life Devoting time to posture, balance, diet and other wellness practices: how we view these and the importance of focusing on these actions Information on Dr. Gupta’s upcoming retreat near Chicago on July 29-30 Resources and links mentioned: Dr. Ankur Gupta’s retreat: Retreat coupon code for “Love Your Practice” listeners: LOVE Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s TikTok: Laura’s Instagram: Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26891067

Being Ready With Mary Fisher-Day 03/30/2022

Being Ready With Mary Fisher-Day If something happened to you today, what would happen to your practice? If you become disabled or die, do you have a plan for your practice? This is a difficult topic, but it is one that is essential to address. Unexpected things happen, and I want to make sure you are prepared to protect your practice’s value and legacy. In this episode, I welcome Mary Fisher-Day who is a personal practice transition advisor. Mary says, “I help dentists who are unprepared and underrepresented work through the transitions in their lives - specifically buying and selling a dental practice,” and she also helps them to prepare to buy or sell a practice. With a career in practice management and practice transitions, Mary has a wealth of information and experience to share with you to help you protect the value of your practice. As dentists, we need to be prepared for the transitions of our practices so that we can protect their values if something happens to us: Accidents, illnesses, and medical emergencies can be catastrophic to a dental practice if the proper steps have not been taken to prepare for a smooth transition of the practice. Being prepared - or NOT being prepared - greatly affects many lives: those of our own families as well as those of our employees and their families. In this information-packed conversation, Mary explains what to do right NOW to create a plan for the future of your practice and ultimate transition to a new owner. From explaining the vital need for a current practice evaluation to creating an emergency directive and much more, listen now as Mary shares incredibly valuable steps to take and information to know and understand as you protect your practice! Highlights from this episode: Understanding what “dual representation” means How and why buyers and sellers are usually underrepresented The necessity for a baseline practice evaluation and why it is the most important piece of information to have How fast the value of a dental practice falls when a dentist dies What an emergency directive is and why it is critical Smart ways to keep your practice valuable and be prepared to sell anytime you wish The importance of “buyer’s perception” Why you should consider incorporating “prepayment” into your business practice What buyers want A close look at profit numbers and what “add backs” are and why they matter Private buyers and DSOs Resources to learn more about selling your practice Resources and links mentioned: Mary’s website: - free checklist for an emergency directive or to contact Mary Business of Dentistry Facebook: Dental Nachos Facebook: Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s TikTok: Laura’s Instagram: Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26891070

What Employees WANT With Kara Kelley 03/16/2022

What Employees WANT With Kara Kelley When you went to dental school, did you dream about your role as a manager? Probably not! I know I definitely did not, and now we are all in the middle of dealing with “The Great Resignation” that is affecting dentistry as well as other industries. I am happy to welcome back to the show Kara Kelley who is a Dental HR Consultant and founder of Clinical HR, an advisory firm for medical and dental practices. This conversation with Kara will help you adapt and face the changes that are happening now and make your practice a progressive one! If you are having a difficult time hiring team members right now, you are not alone. Dentistry is dealing with the fact that employees have moved on to other side hustles or jobs that are providing greater flexibility and benefits. Being understaffed impedes our goals and sense of wellbeing as dentists. This episode will tell you what employees WANT right now to help you attract team members and get your practice back on track. From flexible schedules to paid time off and other key benefits such as professional development, Kara explains many things you can change in your practice to attract and keep valuable employees. This could require a mindset shift for you in how you look at rewarding your employees for their efforts and dedication to your practice. Learn how to avoid micromanaging, invest in your team, and create flexibility in your practice now… Your employees will love it, and so will YOU! Highlights from this episode: The challenges facing the dental industry right now Benefits you can offer to boost morale in your office Changing how you look at staffing to create more scheduling flexibility The dollar amount attached to turnover Aligning the standards of patient treatment with your team The importance of finding the right person for a job and knowing the market value of positions What good leadership is and how to exhibit it Resources and links mentioned: Kara Kelly’s company and link to the eBook: Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s TikTok: Laura’s Instagram: Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26891076

How To Draw A Proper Boundary With Someone 03/02/2022

Talking Tongue Ties and More With Cheryl Shafer 02/15/2022

Talking Tongue Ties and More With Cheryl Shafer Dentistry and medicine go together! After over 30 years seeing patients and impacting lives as a dental hygienist, Cheryl Shafer has changed her professional path and is now a Certified Orofacial Myologist focusing on airway, breathing, and tongue function. In this candid conversation, Cheryl addresses her burnout as a hygienist and thoughts for how we should measure the worth of our hygienists, discusses new services we should include in regular exams, and wants us all to remain focused on “The mission that we have is the health and welfare of our patients.” As practice owners and healthcare providers, our roles continue to evolve regarding what we should be doing for our patients. Cheryl believes that dental offices should be viewed as any other medical specialists treating patients; a dentist is a member of an individual’s medical team. So, it is critical that the care that can and should be given in dental visits is well known. Some of these issues include sleep screening, how people are breathing, if they have sleep apnea, or if they have tongue ties. Cheryl shares her story of ultimately stepping away from being a hygienist and becoming a Myofunctional Therapist focusing on tongues and the impact that tongue issues can have on patients’ overall health. Cheryl recounts a story of how she saved a patient’s life, and says, “We need to value what we do and how we change lives.” Listen to this episode to hear some great ways you can measure the worth of your hygienists and provide higher levels of care for your patients! Highlights from this episode: Challenges that hygienists face through their daily work Things dentists can do to help hygienists not burn out Recognizing and valuing the impactful work that hygienists and other dental office team members do Changing the perception of dental visits to include more essential medical screening Cheryl’s personal family experience that led her to focusing on the tongue The benefits of releasing a tongue A dentist’s role regarding focusing on tongues and recognizing concerns of the tongue Next steps for dentists to take to help their patients Resources and links mentioned: More information on the Cheryl Shafer’s website: Dr. Richard Baxter’s book: Dr. Soroush Zaghi’s website: James Nester’s book: Dr. Michael Geld’s book: Dr. Ben Miraglia’s website: Other Podcasts: Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26891088

A Better Way to Approach Being Understaffed 02/01/2022

A Better Way to Approach Being Understaffed Welcome ladies of dentistry. I am happy to see that you are all taking the time for yourself to listen to my podcast. I am so amazed every time I hear the graduation rates and that more and more female dentists are entering the workforce. We are taking over dentistry! In the last episode, I updated you all about some issues I had post-surgery. I am happy to report that I am doing much better at this time. Thank you for all of your notes of encouragement. In this episode, we’re going to talk about the current state of staffing affairs in dental offices. I am hearing from my mastermind class that many of your offices are understaffed and this is causing a lot of emotional stress. We will be talking about some ways to work through this. Highlights from this episode include: Kara Kelley will be back as a guest to discuss the HR perspective of the staffing shortage Information on how to sign up for a repeat performance of my free webinar about moving from fear to confidence in your practice More information about the March mastermind class that is getting ready to start The emotions we are experiencing by being understaffed The feelings that those emotions are causing us to have We work through “the model“ on how to handle these feelings We discuss how to recognize the actions that are resulting from these thoughts and feelings We go over how to change the thought process to manifest a more positive outcome And, finally, we share some real-life samples of actions that you can try in your own office Resources and links mentioned: Sign up for the FREE Webinar on February 16, 8:00 am CT: Get more information on the March 2022 Mastermind class: Kara Kelley’s company: Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26916495

Coaching MY Brain Through the “Shoulds” 01/19/2022

Coaching MY Brain Through the “Shoulds” Hi Friends! I have an unusual episode for you! I missed a week on the release of my podcast because I had an elective surgery that created some subsequent complications. This episode looks at what was going through my mind as I was going through my recovery… And then I take this golden opportunity to look at my mistakes of listening to my brain’s efforts to eliminate tasks from my life and turn those mistakes into learning opportunities FOR YOU as I reflect and “coach” myself through the recovery process. It was so interesting that the first thing my brain did was go through all of my “shoulds.” For example, I knew I was supposed to be back at work and caring for patients, but I had to realize that I just could not do that work. My brain made me highly aware of the fact that I was off track with my professional commitments for the week and continually went through the master list of tasks that I should be doing but was not completing. It was fascinating to actually witness how my brain reacted to the situation I was in. It didn’t want me to relax and take care of myself. It wanted me to feel like I was failing! My brain was taking what was uncomfortable to me and trying to efficiently eliminate those tasks from my life. In this episode, I share with you how to get away from the “shoulds” that are statements that remove our joy and replace them with curiosity about doing things differently. Listen to this episode to learn how to redirect your brain while it is trying to do its job of protecting you! Highlights from this episode: How to access the new, free course on redirecting your employees Information about the new, free upcoming webinar about moving from fear to confidence in your practice The steps my brain went through during recovery How quickly the brain perceives failure and reacts to it A look back at coaching through how my brain was reacting during my recovery process The importance of changing the brain’s narrative Resources and links mentioned: Sign up for the FREE Webinar on Jan 27, 2022: Sign up for the FREE course on Redirecting Your Employees: Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: ! Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26916498

Creating Synergy With Dr. Karen Tindall 12/22/2021

Creating Synergy With Dr. Karen Tindall Are you ready to be kind to yourself and your team members? It’s time to focus on synergy within our lives! In this episode, I welcome Dr. Karen Tindall who is originally from Yorkshire, England. There she was a family dentist prior to entering orthodontics. She and her family moved to the United States when her husband had a job opportunity here. After some time as a stay-at-home mother, she became an internationally accredited professional life coach for female dentists who are juggling their busy careers as well as family life at home. Noting the outdated nature of “work-life balance,” Dr. Tindall explains why she created a new concept of looking at juggling life at work and life at home. Her new concept is called the work-life synergy approach. She says, “It’s impossible to separate your life from your work and vice versa… It encourages you to blend those various parts of your life together so they work as a whole… It’s much easier to create something that makes you feel good.” This episode focuses on wellness: both your own wellness as well as the wellness of your team. This may mean handing some tasks off to others to manage or finding creative solutions by opening your thinking to how you can manage to accomplish tasks. It is critical that we spread the message of focusing on wellness within dental practice teams, and that starts with YOU - the owner. There is great value in focusing on the ROI of investing in yourself before anything else, and this episode will show you some ways to create work-life synergy! Highlights from this episode: Work-life synergy: what it is and how to view it The blending of work life and home life Equilibrium’s sliding scale and how it can let you be kinder to yourself The mental load concept of owning a dental practice How to reduce or remove the mental load by sharing tasks The Mint Door as a space for open conversation: its elements and how you can join Bringing wellness to the forefront of dental practices Resources and links mentioned: Laura’s free course: by Eve Rodsky website Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26916504

Embracing Change: Why It’s Hard, Why It’s Important, and How To Do It 12/08/2021

Embracing Change: Why It’s Hard, Why It’s Important, and How To Do It How are you doing at this point in 2021? It has been a roller coaster of a year, especially when we, as practice owners, look at our staffing issues. We’ve all experienced ups and downs as we’ve dealt with staffing turnover, but what about changes you’ve wanted to make to your practice? Have you wanted to implement new training, software, or equipment only to have those suggestions met with negative reactions? It is very normal to be uncomfortable with change, and we have to recognize that our employees’ brains react the same way as ours do! Our brains are wired to like and appreciate the status quo; we like systems and order. So, when we plan to make and implement changes, our brains try to protect us. The desire for the changes we want to make has to be greater than the objections our brain will register. We have to recognize our need to move forward by making the changes we want to make. And our employees’ brains are just like ours; they want to protect them. So, we have to understand that these defensive reactions will be normal. In this episode, I share with you a valuable system to overcome this natural tendency for your employees to hold out against change. From understanding that your employees’ feelings matter to allowing them to ask questions, listen to this episode to understand all the steps to overcoming your employees’ resistance to change and increasing their trust so you can successfully implement changes to YOUR practice! Highlights from this episode: The importance of expressing gratitude Our brain’s instinctive behavior What the speed bump of change is and how to overcome it Looking at how your employees’ brains react to changes we want to implement System to overcome your employees’ resistance to change Why your employees’ feelings matter Resources and links mentioned: Podcast episode featuring Dr. David Maloley: Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26916507

Integrating Dental Sleep Medicine Into Your Practice With Dr. Mona Patel 11/24/2021

Integrating Dental Sleep Medicine Into Your Practice With Dr. Mona Patel Sleep… we know we need it, we know how important it is… but are we prioritizing it in our lives? Lacking sleep from sleep-related breathing disorders can have far-reaching detrimental effects in our lives. My guest in this episode is Dr. Mona Patel, a private practice owner for nearly 30 years who now teaches teams how to implement Dental Sleep Medicine into their practices. Making changes in our practices is often met with fear and resistance. This is a natural response in our biologies. However, it is possible to proceed through this fear to get your practice to the point where you want it to be! Dr. Patel shares her story of overcoming fear and rejection by putting her patients’ health concerns ahead of her fears about making changes within her practice. And sleep issues are serious concerns for patients. From educating your staff to adding new questions to your screening questionnaires for patients, this episode will walk you through ideas to integrate Dental Sleep Medicine into your everyday care for patients. Listen to this episode now to hear Dr. Patel’s amazing path to creating her “Dental Snoozology” business and how you can customize implementing sleep care into your practice! Highlights from this episode: Shifting to a new mindset within the dental industry Dr. Patel’s path to selling her practice STOP-BANG questionnaire: what it is and why it is good to use as a screening tool and introduction to patients The importance of integrating Dental Sleep Medicine into dental offices Getting your staff on-board with discussing sleep medicine with patients to save lives Overcoming your fears about implementing change in your practice The process of integrating communication about sleep issues into your everyday conversations with patients Where to find a questionnaire right now to begin sleep conversations with your patients The Kaiser method and how that applies to your practice Resources and links mentioned: Dr. Mona Patel’s website: Dr. Mona Patel on Facebook: Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Laura’s email: Laura’s website: Laura’s podcast: Laura’s Facebook pages: Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura /episode/index/show/toothtalkwithdrmach/id/26916510

Love Your Practice

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