How Dat Built and Exited a Laser Dentistry Practice
At a live event session, Richard C. Wilson introduces Dat for a conversation about scaling, exiting, investing, and mindset.
Richard C. Wilson opens a conversation with Dat about building a dental business, selling it, and deciding what comes next. Dat describes moving from dentistry into consulting and investing, and discusses how he thinks about freedom, evaluating opportunities, and staying healthy enough to use his time. Attendees also ask about choosing a path after training and handling difficult periods.
In this video: Richard C. Wilson (Event host), Dat (Consultant and former dentist)
What they said
- Dat on laser dentistry. Dat says he used business coaching and a clear goal to align his staff. His office focused on laser dentistry and patient time, with no waiting in his office. (at 3:21)
- Dat chose a private sale for more time. Dat compared selling to a dental service organization, which required him to stay two to three years, with a private sale that let him leave within six months. He made a calculation based on the money he could have at age 70. (at 5:46)
- Dat planned income after selling. Dat says he wanted to know what he would do after selling and spoke with CPA advisors about creating multiple streams of income. He also says he overleveraged for a tax play on some investments and learned to allocate better. (at 7:14)
- Dat on explaining a deal. Dat looks for an opportunity that is simple, easy, interesting, and fun, along with good communication. He says sponsors should explain how his money will be used and what he could get out of a deal. (at 9:07)
- Dat on health habits with peers. Dat says his group tracked health measures and challenged each other. When starting a habit, he committed to 30 days and restarted at day one if he skipped it on day 28. (at 12:28)
In their words
"If I skip it on day 28, I will start from day one over again and be happy with it."
"Your smile is the best gift that you can give to anyone."
Why it matters if you are building or preserving great wealth
After seeing burnout and stress among dentists, Dat chose consulting to help them change their habits. His next role kept him close to dentistry while changing what he did each day.
From Richard's exclusive Billionaires.com interviews
Lessons from Richard C. Wilson's one-on-one interviews, as published on each interview page.
- Igor Olenicoff: Learn the business from the ground up. A job at a builders hardware store taught Olenicoff about building materials and techniques. It also built an affinity for real estate.
- Tony Robbins: Think like an owner. His biggest turning point was moving from operator to owner. An operator tries to supervise everything and cannot scale.
- Bobby Castro: Change the strategy to scale. Bobby says that to scale a business, everything has to change. He suggests asking whether the business is scalable, whether it offers a solution and whether it is disruptive.
See the data
Frequently asked questions
When did Dat become a dentist?
Dat says he became a dentist at 36. He says he came to the country at 21 with no money and no English.
How did Dat choose to open his own practice?
After graduating, he worked at three different offices for a year to see which kind of work he liked. He also wanted a practice close to home.
Sources
Quotes are copied from the video captions and checked against the transcript. Timestamps link to the moment in the video. General information only, not legal, tax or investment advice.