Transcript – Dentology Podcast Recording with Simon Chard
Episode released on Monday 20 March 2023
andy___chris:
So here we are again, very good, very good, lovely to be here again, very always very enjoyable to speak to our guest to. Yeah, well today we are. we so pleased, so pleased we have the principle of Lodge dental practice, which he runs with his wife. He’s the founder of Parlor, The Innovative To chat about president of the B, A C. D. I’ve got to take a breath. He last bit, which is an also dentistry dentistry person of the year, Doing so Well. How are you
simon:
Very well, lads, I speak to you.
andy___chris:
An dentistry person of the year? That’s something to keep. that magazine World is as impressive.
simon:
It
andy___chris:
Do they
simon:
was
andy___chris:
give
simon:
a
andy___chris:
you
simon:
nice
andy___chris:
a t shirt?
simon:
surprise. No surprise to receive. Certainly gone straight up on the wall in the practice immediately,
andy___chris:
So I should. So it should. honestly, I’m not entirely sure where we start looking at all the things that we’ve got to get through your well known through dentistry. He’s so young as well. Don’t say that that. Just make feel even better about him. That
simon:
Uh,
andy___chris:
man so much in
simon:
uh,
andy___chris:
such a short time. But you’ve got so much going on. Let’s get back to the beginning before we get into the dental bit. What were your early years? Like? What did life look like for the young Simon?
simon:
Well, the son of two two dentists, so dentistry has been in the blood from an early age. I was like to say that I was brought up with a mirror and probe in the color draw. so I guess I had that in the background, very close family. I’m the oldest of three, so very tight net family with a much bigger extended family around it as well, brought up in Surrey, which is a lovely place to live. Um, just outside of London. I guess the big. The big, seminal moment of my childhood was my sister getting cancer when she was seven, so
andy___chris:
Wow,
simon:
she got austiosacoma in her her leg. so she got bone cancer,
andy___chris:
Hm,
simon:
which came as obviously a huge shock for the whole family, especially my parents and yeahmathat, She was in hospital for a solid six months while they act Le, treated the cancer that was residential with my mom staying there for six months as well, And then she
andy___chris:
Wow,
simon:
had around twenty three operations throut her childhood as she grew,
andy___chris:
Net.
simon:
So that was started on a very somber note. here. I’m afraid, but it is. I think it
andy___chris:
How
simon:
is
andy___chris:
old were
simon:
a
andy___chris:
you
simon:
big
andy___chris:
at the
simon:
part.
andy___chris:
time? Simon? how old
simon:
So
andy___chris:
were you?
simon:
I was nine, So I was two
andy___chris:
Oh so right.
simon:
two
andy___chris:
Okay,
simon:
years
andy___chris:
rights,
simon:
her
andy___chris:
a
simon:
elder.
andy___chris:
very close year,
simon:
So yeah, obviously big shock, and it’s definitely I think shaped who I am As a human, both for positive
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
and for negative, as I think you find with a lot of people who strive and are very ambitious and are sort of constantly going after the next thing and they’re always. If you listen to any other podcast with any other successful individual, you always hear the same pattern of childhood stress, or sort of stressful life
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
events leading to this sort of perpetual
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
Growth and ambition. So yeah, that’s that’s I guess
andy___chris:
But
simon:
part of my childhood.
andy___chris:
Simon, you said for positive and negative. What do you mean by that?
simon:
Well, I mean, I think I don’t think I would be. I don’t think I would drive as hard as I do to achieve everything that I that I do achieve. If it wasn’t for that
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
part of my childhood. It also makes me I guess a bit of people pleaser and a perfectionist, which is a good trait as a dentist, because it means that I always want to make sure that I’m doing things to the absolute top top quality the best that I can do it, but at the same time I’m super hard on myself. Um, as tends to be in situation with perfection is its unachievable
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
and so it creates a lot of tension That’s not always
andy___chris:
And it’s
simon:
positive.
andy___chris:
It’s your own measurement as well, Isn’t by your own
simon:
Yeah,
andy___chris:
standards?
simon:
absolutely absolutely, and so, and also in that sort of people please mentality. I also probably don’t take criticism as well as I could do, which is something that I’ve been sort of working on having that resilient Negative critique which, whenever, like tall popycindro, six
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
four s, I tend me quite a tall pop at the best of times, And so whenever I naturally received that negative criticism which you, you always will do because it
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
always been a certain subsection of population who don’t like
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
it. I haven’t dealt with that as well as I could have done in the past, and is definitely something that I’ve worked really hard on on building over the last. I
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
don’t know. five, seven years Since
andy___chris:
Right,
simon:
my profile in the industries is grown
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
so much.
andy___chris:
Did you play sports school? So that’s wondering if you played sport school.
simon:
Yeah, yeah, I played. I mean, we were a big Rory school. So Roy was the main, the main sport and then tennis, Cricket football. nothing to a particularly high level, but always being
andy___chris:
Hm,
simon:
as passionate about it and yeah, always enjoyed it. Miss it now
andy___chris:
That’s
simon:
to one.
andy___chris:
why I said. I just wondered if you were big as a child. To what you in the rugby, Tom, I thought, or did you sort of like
simon:
A tall
andy___chris:
Grow
simon:
and skinny.
andy___chris:
later on?
simon:
I was tall and skinny, so that I used to get thrown up in the line out, but
andy___chris:
Uh,
simon:
I didn’t have that much weight behind the gate into the tackles.
andy___chris:
Okay, just on the criticism it you were saying about getting better. I’m sure we all can get better at dealing with kind of criticism and feedback. Since your profiles risen, you’re obviously well known through social media. social media, well known not being the nicest place in terms of critismasfeedback. Do you deal with that sort of criticism different than? perhaps, if clinical critic me of your your work, you’re able to differentiate the people who you Really respect and appreciate against the people who don’t have an influence over you. All I know, Trolls on line, said the our souls on
simon:
Not really. I don’t think, because I’m very bad at dis associating my clinical work from me,
andy___chris:
Right.
simon:
and if someone is negative about that in what I view to be unjust way, then I
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
probably haven’t responded to that in the best way traditionally, and I say I’m much. I’m much better, an it now, thankfully, and it’s something that I put a lot of work and time into both as meditation and therapy, and Uh, and just sort of internal dialogue. But yeah, I think I think
andy___chris:
It must be
simon:
it is the nature of the beast. I mean social media,
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
I always say is a double edged sword. It’s got an incredible. It’s been a huge instrument in my career to help build my profile within the industry and also to help build my business. And I mean, I’ve never done a paid marketing at my mental practice. It’s all been done through what I Call an amplified word of mouth, through using
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
through working with influences, and through building my profile on social media.
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
And still today I get all my new patients that arrive, find me through Instagram, even though I’m
andy___chris:
Wow,
simon:
much less active on it than than I was previously
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
so. but but then
andy___chris:
I
simon:
you,
andy___chris:
must.
simon:
you’ve got to take the activity at the same time.
andy___chris:
I say it must be quite hard. I do quite like James Blunt, who sort of embraced in responding to people who are negative to. I think it is a great way of responding to me because it’s not like shuts them down Really does love it exactly exactly
simon:
Yeah,
andy___chris:
So So On business of your parents, you know, we are in business only a dental practice as a young person. Did you always have a flair for business? Was it something that you was drawn to or were you? Did you sort of start out as an out and out clination?
simon:
No, I’ve always had an untreprenerial flare about me and I mean, when I was younger, my brother and I set up a protein fruit smooth company called Blends with Benefits.
andy___chris:
That’s
simon:
That was
andy___chris:
good.
simon:
just
andy___chris:
I like that. that’s good. That’s good.
simon:
that was just one of the ideas that we had. That was before all the sort of protein
andy___chris:
Uh, uh,
simon:
market blew up in the way that it has done. so. there’s been a. There’s been a variety of different entreprenurial Ideas that I’ve got to various different levels of development with.
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
so from that point of view that’s always been there and then also I think, from a marketing point of view, certainly, I remember when I was a dental student, Meg, and my wife, who is obviosly, my business partner at the practice as well would be sitting. I’ve meant to be reviving on. I don’t know anatomy or something like that, and what I’d actually be doing would be sort of searching all the top practices in London and seeing how they had their website and seeing what they did. their marketing as actual. I found out about the Best dentist award was as through those of early searches when I was a student, So I’ve always been interested in that business side of dentistry
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
and and growing a brand. So I think
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
that’s the nice thing about dentistry is that you can you can implement that alongside being a clinician and a wetting a dentist.
andy___chris:
Simon. Can I ask a question? Did you always know you were going to be a dentist? So did these other things, knowing you were going to be a dentist, or did you not want to be a dentist, did these other things and then decide to be a dentist.
simon:
No, so I didn’t, Although my parents are both dentists, like any sixteen year old, you’re very susceptible to the direction of your peers and for some reason this one kid at school said to me, You don’t want to do with your parents. That’s really lame. Don’t do. I and I took that, decided to go into farmerchology, which is my first degree at Bristol, turned up at day one at Bristol, and then My next door neighbor in my halls of residence was a dentist to Crawford Clark, who you guys might know.
andy___chris:
Oh, E’re still good friends with him.
simon:
Yeah, so he was. He was the best man, was the best man at his with both parents
andy___chris:
Okay,
simon:
each other’s kids. So Dom was in the room next door and I saw this amazing community that you had with a dental school and all the sort of interesting stuff that he was doing on the course, practical and size based, and it was that like, sort of really clear, Sort of representation of audentaries all about from seeing Tom go through it in that first term at Bristol, men that I then had a decision to make either drop out and re, apply to dentistry or complete my
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
degree and then go to fast track dentiary, where you miss out the first year and
andy___chris:
But yeah,
simon:
elected to do the latter of those two the rest of history really, and as soon as I got on to the dental course, I think
andy___chris:
Oh,
simon:
cause I’ve
andy___chris:
wow,
simon:
already done my my parting, and my sort of real undergraduate students being
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
at Bristol when I got to King To do my dentistry. It was like a job for me, cause all my mates are working in the
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
city. I was. I was there to work, and I think that naturally led to me sort of driving and excelling at a much faster rate. And I also found my passion. I not really had
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
any real direction until that stage where I thought it, This is me. This is what I’m good at.
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
I was a relatively average student at school. I was relatively average sportsman at school. I never really had something that I was really
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
passionate about. So when when I found Denstree, that was actually the first time that happened.
andy___chris:
But I think it really shines through when you see somebody in whatever walk of life where they’re passionate about it, you can’t help but get carried away with it. and like you say, you’ve clearly found the thing that. as important to you we met an event. It was excel. It feels like it was six months ago. It’s probably about eighteen months ago. And remember, there was me and payment talking And remember you said that you spent most of your twenties saying yes to things, so that you now say no more things in your thirties. Talk talking though the logic for that Because obviously there’s a real kind of opportunity focused decision and it kind of leads
simon:
Hm,
andy___chris:
into the things you’re doing now. But what? you just literally to saying yes to whatever came up, and was the logic there to try and find out more things that might interest you in the future.
simon:
Yeah, absolutely. I’m not going to lay claim to that quote because I’m pretty sure I’ve stolen it from somewhere else. But
andy___chris:
We all do
simon:
but
andy___chris:
re, cycle, re, cycle, Alway feels
simon:
yeah,
andy___chris:
always much better
simon:
exactly
andy___chris:
than stolen here.
simon:
exactly, but I mean, certainly I was trained by a gentleman professor. A bang at King’s He really got me started on this journey of just go for everything and then see what lands And see, and then if that keeps on working for you, they keep on pushing in that direction. So university,
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
That meant going for every every competition, every award, every prize, just trying to just to get that C V going, and to differentiate
andy___chris:
Hm,
simon:
myself from my peers, and then once I qualified, I sort of got in with the B C D at that stage, and that then led to me like going to lot of B c D events And I think what people don’t realize is at this stage I’m not Me now. I’m not super confident. I’m just your average individual going to these events feeling a bit awkward because
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
I don’t know anyone. And then that sort of grew and I started building a network and that led to me getting my first private job straight out of V. T. That led to me being given opportunities to lecture again. I was not a good public speaker when I was a child, and yet now I’m very very confidently a public speaker And so everything, Everything everywhere I’ve got to in my career came from me saying yea, lots and lots of things, And there’s just such a long tail with this stuff, especially in an industry like Dhentitry, where it’s so small and you
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
are. Your reputation is super important. with regard to people intrust you, They know the sort of
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
what you stand for, the qualities and the values that you have. And so I just tried to get out there in as many situations I could do, meet as many people as I could do. show them what I was all about as much as I could do, And that led to a lot of stress and I’m not saying it’s not easy. like when you put yourself out to lecture two or three years out of unity, because you’ve been given this opportunity and you take it that stressful. Firstly because public speaking scary, if you’re not used to doing it
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
a lot, but secondly, actually, because dentistry at that stage especially was not a very friendly place for a young tis coming through, and
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
I got so much trolling for even having the gumption to give a lecture. At that stage. What can I learn from you?
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
You’re so young and I
andy___chris:
Oh,
simon:
always
andy___chris:
wow,
simon:
came. I always came at it with humility and said, Look, I’m lecturing on something that I know a lot of that point with sere and to the basic level, serecindustry and dental photography. two topics that I knew a lot about already, and more than other individuals who are just coming into
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
it. I wasn’t
andy___chris:
m,
simon:
there saying I’m the. I’m the master of eclusion and full mouth reabilitations, But the new answer that was lost on some Nd, so it led to a lot of negativity, So Yeah,
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
I really stand by the say yes to as many things as our twenties as you can. because if you do that, you get that really nice broad base, and then you can start tapering into things that you really enjoy. If you go too narrow too early, then you miss out on the opportunity to find what you really really
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
care about. and then in my thirties,
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
and now have two kids, I’m blessed to have a vast array of opportunities, and if I continue to say yes to everything, then I actually get Ow. and so
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
now I’m very, very much more tapered in on on saying yes to the right opportunities like having wonderful conversations with you gentlemen,
andy___chris:
Ah,
simon:
not saying yes to everything because otherwise it does get a bit much.
andy___chris:
I think that’s really valuable because lots of people will see you for where you are in the profession today and think well, I’ll be like that and then they start mimicking you and wanting that kind of profile in that life without seeing the years that have gone before. in terms of building that position, It’s interesting what you say about kind of going back to that tall popicindrome phrase that when you first started lecturing dental wasn’t a porticualy friendly place back then, but I think now I think it is. I think we see lots of younger dentists Raising their profile. You know, working with some of the brands when they’re not long since the of dental skill. Would you say there has been a significant shift in the time that you’ve been in dentistry?
simon:
Yeah, I think so because it’s not so new any more. I think
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
when we started doing it like me, I don’t know George Ronegortam on social media. It was really new. I was there on Facebook,
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
showing my cases on Facebook than that transition to Instagram. We were very early on Instagram in fifteen, Sixteen, And actually be honest, that shift away from Facebook. Facebook is the really what was? I don’t know if it still live. Not on it anymore, But was the really nasty place where there was a lot of negativity and a lot
andy___chris:
Interesting,
simon:
of a lot of trouble that I’ve not found the same level of Instagram. Really, I don’t know why that is. Maybe
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
is because people follow you and I don’t know, but it was
andy___chris:
Perhaps
simon:
certainly
andy___chris:
older
simon:
worse on
andy___chris:
people
simon:
Facebook.
andy___chris:
on Facebook is interesting when maybe it’s an age thing Interest because they do say isn’tfacebook is for older people. You. Well, I didn’t
simon:
Ah,
andy___chris:
use it, but even
simon:
yes,
andy___chris:
people younger than Myselfinstagram. might just just just shifting diction. It like you. You, obviously still you. You work with me and your wife in the practice. Are your parents still working in the practice with you? They both retired. Now.
simon:
My mom’s retired. my dad still practicing.
andy___chris:
Okay, so how does that work in terms of that dynamic Because you’re also don’t know. Not in the clinic every day, but you’re working with. you know. your your father would have been your mother and father and your wife. How do you create that that clear separation so that you just don’t have this, Continue dents flowing through everything in your in your life,
simon:
I mean, I’ve always really enjoyed it, but it. I feel very blessed to be able to spend those additional hours with the people that I love. Certainly now, sort of, as my dad is probably on his way toward retirement. Who knows when I’ll Tully retire? I’m really really aware and grateful for having time to work alongside because it’s great fun. I don’t know. I mean, I think we all love what we do, and so there’s never any negativity around talking about it too much. I think we all have Our own passions outside of that man, and I have a lot going on outside of dentistry. A lot of shared passions outside of dentistry. And so it’s not really something that we have to think about. It’s not like we get home.
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
We talk about dentistry all evening and then we got nothing else to say to each other. It’s actually, I think I just do it as a value rather than be doin anyway. Naturally having people who understand the new answers and the stresses that come alongside dentistry, I find really really helpful. It’s what I’ve always grown up with. I guess so
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
it’s just normality for me.
andy___chris:
and describe the practice that you’ve got is Rother Lodge, But what sort of shape is that practice? Quite a large practice, isn’t it?
simon:
Yeah, so we were. So my parents bought it six months before I was born. At that stage, It was sort of one, two surgery practice. They grew up to five surgery practice over the last thirty five years Until twenty seventeen. Megan and I bought it from them then and then grew two surgeries on top and brought in sort of a real focus on technology, a real focus on multi disiplenary care. Basiallyonto, bring in specially specialities So that we could cover all the bases for our fairly large patient base. So yeah, now at seven surgery practice, we’ve got about thirty staff. We’ve got peria. we’ve got. No, we do a lot of invisliwe. obviously do a lot of Eric, and a lot of in plats very technologically focus using microscope, C, B, c, T, Basically any way that we can use the latest technology to improve outcomes, efficiencies and the patient journey. In essences, the way I look at it,
andy___chris:
There’s no doubt, isn’t that that digital density is producing much better outcomes. Npredictability. Have you explored yet?
simon:
I mean, I use it with regard to my good friend, Kyle Stanley, is the founder or the clinical director of Pearl A,
andy___chris:
Okay?
simon:
which is radiology, A I, diagnostic support, which is really great. I use a I, with regard to my ceretmachine, that I has deep learning to learn where to trace the margins more accurately, and I’ve dabbled on chackgvt,
andy___chris:
Uh,
simon:
just to
andy___chris:
uh,
simon:
have a little play with it What it’s all about, but I mean, I think at the end of the day we’re always using whether we know it or not.
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
I’m really excited to see how it helps dentistry, I think with something like Pearl, where you’re breaking down that trust barrier to a certain extent with the patient. And actually, it’s not about my opinion, it’s about the computer has output this information. This is
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
my diagnostic human touch on top, that interpret and uses common sense and reason and all those sorts of things, And I think I personally dew that this energy between technology and humans is where were the magic happens. That’s what I always say with Cerectdentustry is
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
Yes, milling unit, put a crown, let’s say, but actually me just finishing it polishing it, adding a little bit of staining characterization. That’s
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
where the magic happens and it’s the blend of those two that I think really works well,
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
and they show that with the radiology, I think when you’ve got a trained radiologist alreadiographer together, that’s where they get the The most predictability of diagnosis.
andy___chris:
Well, I think
simon:
I think.
andy___chris:
I think I think Pearl. I think per one of peals phrases is second opinion
simon:
M.
andy___chris:
isn’t and it’s kind of saying. we don’t want to replace the clinition. We
simon:
Yeah,
andy___chris:
want to sort of support an ad. And I think you’re right. I think that’s where the best of a I will come in. I’m sure it’s going to fit jobs in some areas, but I think in your world, I think it will be there to support you. But when when I was doing the research talk today, I came across a word that I’ve never heard before, which is a tas on’tkowif. You guys know what a tatsu is, but a tatoo is the proper collective now for a group of. And
simon:
Oh,
andy___chris:
it is, it’s a tax to. So if you’ve got a group of dragons, it’s a lovely segu
simon:
Great.
andy___chris:
into. Simon has sat in front of a there. So
simon:
I have.
andy___chris:
you, you don’t even get to use that word. I found. I can’t tell you how pleased I was. I’ve got to use that.
simon:
Uh,
andy___chris:
But so you got you got through.
simon:
yeah.
andy___chris:
You actually got to sit in front of the Dragons on Dragons Presenting Parlor, which must have been incredible. M.
simon:
Yeah, it was. It was quite the experience. Two and a half hours of grilling under the lights with no no breaks on live T. V. recorded. T. V is a pretty intense.
andy___chris:
And that’s the thing that was interested in because I said when we get to see it on television, you know it’s It’s a television program that kind of circles through some great ideas, but you don’t get to see much of what said, because like you say, for two and a half hours and we see, I don’t know. seven or eight minutes or whatever. It would have been. What was that two and a half hour process? Like was it? Is it just grilling for two and a half hours? And did you also feel the edit that was shown was a fair representation? How interesting process went.
simon:
Yeah, so it’s just basically you walk in through the Through the Fate lift, so you get into the lift and then you walk out the other side and then as those doors open you see these five dragon sitting in front of you With just bizarre mean, it was still Ovid times at that stage, so there was no chatting to them before there was no chain them afterwards You literally walked into the lift and then you were. You were there on that set and I watching Dragons Den since I was a kid, So it was just I mean fine, tingling to See it being revealed
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
in that way. You then stand on the x on the floor that youve been told to walk on to, and and then basically just give your pitch. I think our picture is about a minute and a half omeiglike that ninety seconds Nd. Once your picture is done, then they try the product and then the grilling starts and you’ve got no idea which come from Ye got five of them there in front of you, And yeah, it’s intense. I mean, we. We had some dragons that were very much on our side. Like Deborah. Even Peter and Sarah were outside. Took really was not a fan at all. He had his own dental company. I think so. there was a bit of
andy___chris:
Okay,
simon:
potentially a conflict of interest there, but yeah, I mean it was. I was very happy with how we performed. I knew my numbers, which was the main thing that I
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
wanted to knock
andy___chris:
yeah,
simon:
cock of on. So I knew my numbers. I still feel We have an incredible brand in a great proposition, And so I’m very confident. This is the same with all public speaking. Whenever I’m confident about the topic, I’m not scared. It’s what
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
I’m having to talk about someting that I’m not confident on,
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
which is why I was so sure to make sure I had my number styled in, because I’m not particularly mathematically minded individual, so that was where I felt I could be unstuck. But yeah, I mean, we had two offers from the dragons of one from
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
from Tee. They wanted thirty percent of the business, Which we were never going to give them. An. The reality of the situation was, we were asked to go on the show in sort of July, August, twenty twenty, When when the researcher reached out to us and then we filmed the show September, twenty twenty, and then it went on T. v, April twenty, one, So we’ve only been trading
andy___chris:
Oh,
simon:
for
andy___chris:
yeah,
simon:
six for six months when we were on the show,
andy___chris:
yeah,
simon:
so we knew it probably wasn’t the right time to be raising funds, but we also weren’t going a miss out on an opportunity of a lifetime, so
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
we went. Yeah, I mean it’s it’s amazing. given how few people watch real T. B. Nowadays it’s amazing the penetration that Dragons Ten still has because
andy___chris:
Yeah.
simon:
I still have people coming up to me now saying they’ve seen the show and whether that be a buyer from a super market or a dentist or just logged off the street, it’s It’s really interesting to see.
andy___chris:
In a bizarre way, it probably also one is great. P. r, isn’t it, but also provides a bit of authority. in a way with the fact of two dragons were happy to invest. It sort of makes the corporate buyers they got okay, So it was worth looking at is probably a useful bit of just that positive, almost like that background. Isn’t it background noise? That overall gives you a real positive disposition towards it as I think it was a smart move bringing Stephen Barleinbecause. I think that’s opened up a younger audience. I think it’s always been popular with younger people, but I think that was quite smart. so in terms of the inspiration for parlor, because it’s you know, in terms of being good for the planet and planet, positive cycheple bottles, and not using plastic or par oil. All the things that so important you and your family, I see, you spent a lot of time in the water. You love the sea side and the ocean. Was that the kind of thing Sparked Parler. Because quite often there’s that kind of little thing that got you thinking about it,
simon:
Yeah, An you hit the nail on the head. Really always? I’m never happier than when I’m in the ocean by the ocean or on the
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
ocean, and I had my daughter in twenty eighteen, And it was around that time that I was really thinking about my impact on the planet. I was watching Plastic Ocean, The Net
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
Flix documentary I was watching Planet.
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
I was just becoming more and more aware of the impact having on the planet, and specifically the impact the single use plastic was having, so Megan had already A big changes within our own home to switch out single use plastic items for re usable or plastic free solutions. What we could do at that stage, I was on the Tvadvrorll, be, and I think I just got to a point where I was thinking to myself, I’m trying to live my life in this very sustainable way, trying to limit my impact on the planet and on the ocean, but actually, in essence a part of the problem where I’m flogging
andy___chris:
Oh,
simon:
the single use plastic to space Tubes that are used for a month, and then they last forever. I mean the last five hundred years,
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
So every tube of tooth paste that anyone’s ever used still exist somewhere on the planet.
andy___chris:
That’s insane, less mnutsisn’t.
simon:
And
andy___chris:
it?
simon:
and so we wanted to create a solution that that not only solve that problem, which is twenty billion two pace tubes a year by the way, so not only solve that problem, but also gave dentists an option that they could actually comfortably predictedly recommend to that page Ants with no negative impact on the health, and actually using the best ingredient. So it actually had a more positive impact on the aral health, Because all of us as dentists know things like Sodium Laura Self, which is the harsh parmwolbased firm agent found in most two places, actually causes a lot of mouth irritation, a lot of mount ones, and also causes deforestation, so it’s making sensible ingredient based decisions like that that are good for the planet and good for our patients that We wanted to be all about Is parlor. So yeah, basically for those people that don’t know it’s it’s a glass jar with an aluminium lid and we have these little tooth pase tablets which are dehydrated tooth paste with all, as I say, all the ingredients you expect to the dentist, florid, and everything else that we want to prevent dental issues, but none of the unpleasant, unnecessary stuff like artificial flavoring and colorings, S those sorts of things. So that’s where it came
andy___chris:
And
simon:
from.
andy___chris:
I’m and I’m traveling late on this week, so I’m hoping to pick up one of the travel packs that he threw airpult if they’ve got them there, because you’ve
simon:
Yeah,
andy___chris:
got travel packs now as well, haven’t you?
simon:
we do. Yeah, boots have been very kind to pick this
andy___chris:
That’s
simon:
up
andy___chris:
interesting because yeah,
simon:
across. I think we. We thought we were only gotnginto fifty stores, But it turns out that it seems like we’re everywhere now, so we’re in like, Go to Waterloo. The last time we were saw were in Boots. Waterloo were at Temple of Five, So yeah, that’s that’s awesome. I mean, it’s so exciting. I put it on. Linked in that whenever you see a product, I genuinely created that product. Everything about
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
it. Obviously, I worked with all my creative and everything, but I, in my mind, I, creating it and then to see it physically on the shelves. It’s just it’s just such a cool feeling.
andy___chris:
Yeah, must be the ultimate Buz. That’s been like when you, if you write a song and you hear your song song or where it must be like Well I did that. It’s very cool. I mean, Over the years you started, we started different businesses, and in some ways the fact it’s hard is a good thing, because if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. What? What’s the toughest thing you’ve been through From a business perspective? I guess that situation you describe with you with your sister when you were young was a very personal thing. But what about? from a business point, The toughest thing that you’ve been through,
simon:
I mean, in all my businesses, I would say loved
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
Like shutting my shutting. my practice was yeah, brutal and everything
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
but everything that followed during that lock down time. it was. Yeah, it was. it was stressful. It was it was. We had no idea what was going to happen Right. We only had about a week before we were meant to go back to work on B. B. C. that we were going, So there was so much uncertainty and stress at that time. it was you that’s got to be the most challenging with Parlor.
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
I mean, anyone who started to start will know that it is constantly huge spikes crashing Los. We’re always struggling to manage stop levels and running out or too much
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
or something, S gone bad and we’ve got a change. It rejections. acceptance is. Yeah,
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
it’s an ongoing role co of emotions, but
andy___chris:
I was going
simon:
that
andy___chris:
to
simon:
is
andy___chris:
say,
simon:
part
andy___chris:
I was
simon:
of
andy___chris:
going
simon:
a sudden.
andy___chris:
to ask you. what’s it like dealing with the suits in the big corporate that you’ve gone to, You know the boots, and see you on outside Sansburis, or something you know. Be interesting. Was that almost like you had to do a bit of recalabration because they look at something you know in a very different way than you look at it, Because they’re probably looking at margins as much as efficacy.
simon:
Yeah, I mean, absolutely, I mean. so we’re in Sanesburys, weihtrosboots a card. Ow, Ow there, sort of the big, the big four from a retail side of things. And yeah, I mean, that’s been an. I’ve loved it. I’ve loved that experience.
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
Everyone talks about the fact that retailers are really no very difficult to work with. In general, I’ve had wonderful experiences with our buyers. They’ve been really engaged in in what we’re all about. Yes, we have to maintain a rate of sale And they sort of high. Like what? That rate of sale is per store per week, And we have to achieve that and we’ve been doing a fantastic job in doing that, but naturally we’re not going to do the same volumes as your men. I won’t say any names, as on as I get a job, you Big brown tes
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
place.
andy___chris:
yeah, yeah, yeah,
simon:
And so we’re not going to do those volumes because we don’t have the brown penetration yet that they do, but we’re fulfilling. I think something different for the for the retailers in that they have their own s G Ambitions.
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
They have their own sort of plastic free, and an ethical and ethological ambitions, Businesses. And that’s how we help there, I guess is that we’re there,
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
were using the right ingredients, were sorting it from the right locations, putting it in the right packaging that that either always re usable, composstable,
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
or infinitely recicable, And so we’re actually, we’re actually delivering real sustainable solutions, And the problem is The big brands are coming out. We’ve got ecyealltace tubes, and it’s like well, first, the only twelve percent of those are getting recycled according to this year statistics, so that means that basically only one intends getting recycled. If it does get recycled, it can
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
only be re cycled a couple of times before its land anyway, Because a plastic den after a few times and recycling. so it’s going a hit, land,
andy___chris:
Uh,
simon:
fill and get into the ocean anyway. So you’re just delaying the problem to the next generation.
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
And that’s what we’re fighting against. Is that the big brands now That they have to make Echo claims, But the reality is that it’s not as good as they said it is.
andy___chris:
What was that that green washing was? I saw some article yesterday or something about that. They’re going to start putting massive fines on companies that are green washing stuff. I think it’s a car. I just saw a picture. I won’t mention which car case it was just, but it was interesting. They were saying. Yeah, they’re going to start looking at the green credentials because a lot of people do green wash. My wife s very into sustainable clothing and she says You know, when you look and research there so many places that make Grand claims, but in reality there they’re not. They are just green wash and its fascinated. because, because I’m just thinking the fact of those super markets, those retails the differences. They see you as a partner, Don’t they to help you? By the sounds of things, get to their own sustainabilities Is great. Actually,
simon:
Yeah,
andy___chris:
Do you get any preferential treatment as being an ethical challenger brand? Do they give you any additional help beyond who they would buy from other people?
simon:
They do. I mean, we’ve been part of Sanesbry’s Future brands incubator program, For example, So that’s a group of Challenger brand that they’ve had picked that they give additional support to because they know that we have. We’re doing things for the right reasons, But obviously we don’t have the budgets that these huge multi nationals have, and so they
andy___chris:
M
simon:
try and support us in that way. So as I say, I’ve been really impressed with the soup markets on the Season and these big brands. It’s been amazing to see the inner workings of the businesses as well.
andy___chris:
I
simon:
We’ve
andy___chris:
get
simon:
been
andy___chris:
it.
simon:
to a few of their conferences and that sort of thing and I’ve loved it, Hilarius. I’ll literally be in my clonectespecill when we were just pitching them be linet, my scrubs. I’ve quickly change out. Get my sort of age, start up denim
andy___chris:
Oh,
simon:
shirts into another room at the surgery, and then pitched the sanesburies like see if we can land on the shelves. And that’s what my life’s been like for the last. We were doing it again this week. I won’t tell you the brown that we’re geting into, but I’m finishing the clinic at three. I’m rushing up into town to pitch to another retailer.
andy___chris:
That’s brilliant, tho. I mean it’s
simon:
and
andy___chris:
exciting though, Isn’t it so? And
simon:
yeah,
andy___chris:
it must be sort of like, really exciting. I wud ave thought.
simon:
Yeah, I love that. I mean, it’s nice to have that variation it. I mean,
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
I do three days a week, clinical, two days a week, on my sort of
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
extra coricular business activities, and it’s nice to be able to have that variation in life.
andy___chris:
Yeah, which is a very nice leading to in Wales Last year. you were then moved up to the position of president of the B, a C, D. as if there wasn’t enough one you play.
simon:
Uh, yes,
andy___chris:
I know you said very early on that you know you attended B C D meetings, but it’s been a constant thread through your career. hasn’t It’s been really a really important part of your dental life.
simon:
Yeah, absolutely, I mean it’s been there, I mean the story of how with the B, C, D was that I was on dental town dot com when I was a student, which was a very geek sort of four before people used to share cases on Facebook, and an instant it was all on these sorts of forms and someone would post the case and then everyone would discuss it.
andy___chris:
Was that
simon:
So
andy___chris:
Howard Ferrand, was that Howard
simon:
yes,
andy___chris:
ran. Did he
simon:
Ah,
andy___chris:
do
simon:
that’s
andy___chris:
dentaltwasn’t?
simon:
his websiteso.
andy___chris:
a? Yeah, yeah, yeah,
simon:
There was mainly you guys, but couple of you guys on their tip, Crecy,
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
and Sinsmithsn, Primarily, and
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
so I reached out to Tiff, who at that point was showing these aligned bleached bond cases that no one I knew had even heard that Gdps could do aligning and whitening and minim invasibecaus, meticdenstry, this is back in twenty eleven, and I said, If you want come out to King’s and and give us a lecture and everyone’s really excited about this, Like new modern way of doing ecasmticdenstry, because at that point all I thought because meidentially was was either whitening or hacking back tea For porseenvaneers. those were the only two options that you had,
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
and so it was really interesting to see this sort of much more modern approach which obviously is ubiquitous in the market now.
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
so we got to it out out game. It’s amazing We got about two people there on the evening and he basically said Wnttogetinvolve C. D. So I came in as a student ambassador, then got on to the young membership committee,
andy___chris:
Wow,
simon:
Older membership, then on to the board about six. six years ago, Um, and then just gradually made my way obviously now to the top job. But no, it’s been. as you say. I think that you’ve described it perfectly That it’s been a constant thread of
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
network mentors education throughout even careers, and getting my first two private jobs came through connections at the B. C. D.
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
So it’s been there the whole way through and it’s really easy to take that sort of thing for granted. But
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
it’s why I’m so passionate about it now as a president and people ask me. Why? Why? Why do you want president? Why is the B a c D important to you And it’s because I want to make sure that it carries on doing what it’s done for me, because without it I see, would not have been as successful and as enjoy my career as much as I do
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
today. and it’s given
andy___chris:
hm,
simon:
me so much. so it is, in my view, sort of a bit of a charitable endeavor, Obviously is not a paid gig, so in that way, I feel like it’s my responsibility to make sure it’s there for the next generation, because I mean, Look at what they’ve got to deal with these young elected kings, Bars that to the students, and it’s super confusing for them, right like they’re seeing this highlight reel of amazing cases on social media Every day. They’re coming out under trained with very little hands
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
on experience into highly litigious environment where they’re expected to learn on the job. but you can also get sued, so that’s a super stressful scenario
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
and there’s no wonder that the Still a mental health epidemic in our profession and
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
people are still killing themselves, So I think for me, the b c D is, that is the pillar, the beacon for ethical cosmetic dentistry, And it’s really important to me that it continues to offer that support
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
structure to the next generation of dentist as well,
andy___chris:
Wow,
simon:
and to experience dentist as well. I mean, we’re not an academy purely for a young dentist. The educational profile that we provide is from the top top top of the world. So it’s got something Everyone. but I just think it’s
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
really important that it continues to be what it is.
andy___chris:
And I think it’s really friendly environment. You know, I got to come down just for a few hours to where I was When you walk around and you chat to people. It’s like kind of extended family. Everybody wants to be there. and there was a great mixture of you know young people. There was some people nearly your age.
simon:
Uh,
andy___chris:
In fact, there
simon:
uh,
andy___chris:
were the
simon:
Oh,
andy___chris:
elder statesman of the.
simon:
ah,
andy___chris:
You know, That age brings experience other time. But also it’s still. It’s still as working. because I think Frank Spear was The keynote speaker Wasn’t and you
simon:
Yeah,
andy___chris:
know hundreds of people you want to listen to him. So it’s he obviously has something at. I think Susie, Susie does an amazing job.
simon:
Yeah,
andy___chris:
She’s just been around for ever and she just manages to pull the right people in at the right time to do the right thing. Susie is.
simon:
She, she is. We couldn’t do it without No. I mean, I think it’s just I look forward to it with passion Every year. It’s the perfect blend of education and social. I mean, the social is wild and fantastic,
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
and and as you say it is, it is an extended family, but it’s also not a clique. I mean, it’s great that we’ve got every year we have the student ambassadors coming in and they get the opportunity to to interact and to mingle, And it’s very much an open Group and
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
it’s been wonderful to see new people come in. And but yet the people that have come before me still be there and still passing on that. that sort of
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
multigenerational wisdom is really nice to see.
andy___chris:
It’s interesting, isn’t it really? Because I suppose I always think we were when we exhibited the B a C. D. many, many many years. it probably has become more welcoming. Do you say? yea? Not not as to us, but I would think there were. There seems to be way more dentists to go to it than there were before. It was almost like this, this special, as you say, almost like a cleek. Potentially at one time, but it’s so all in compass. I think it’s brilliant.
simon:
I think it started whenever you’re starting something. It’s got to start with a nucleus. You know what I mean.
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
it’s got to start quite tight. But then if you allow it to then it starts to attract more and more, and then
andy___chris:
Yeah, definitely
simon:
it grows from there and I think that’s where we’re at now. I mean we’ve got. I don’t know the exact latest figures of its about six seven hundred members, Which is, and it’s growing every year, And I think that’s really
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
great to see, is that people are still being attracted to this community of like minded individuals who care about what they do. They want to have fun they want, and it’s just a nice place to be
andy___chris:
Yeah, sharing the knowledge and sharing the experience is brilliant. Also, I think you said about how hard Ovid was. I think people now have an appreciation of getting back to those physical environments where you can spend time with people and socialized.
simon:
For sure.
andy___chris:
That’s word important. Given all that you’ve got going on We’ve We’ve had conversations in the past about kind of well being. How did you kind of manage yourself? I know, like you exercise a lot and diets important. But is that kind of routine Structure really important for you to get through the day and do all the things that you do as well. You mentioned before about meditation as well.
simon:
Yeah, it’s vital. the biggest take away I could give to anyone. Listening to this is how regular exercises. I mean, I exercise every single day. I wake up at four forty five in the morning, so that I’ve got the time to get that in the reason being that I’ve got two kids who ave both under five obvious, I’ve got multiple businesses, and so I don’t want to leave anything with regard to how I look after myself. If I’m not functioning in the best possible way for my team members or for my patients or for my family, then I’m not going to be satisfied with myself. So the exercise thing for me is very much about mind set. It’s very much about doing the hardest thing of the day before you even get hit by all the inbound emails and Instagram, and everything else, And that’s why I try and share that on my social media every day, because
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
I want people to see that con Tansy, and to see that it’s been so powerful for me, because it’s been transformational to be honest,
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
And then, yeah, with regard to diet and nutrition, I think you’ve got to feel your our engine correctly if you want to work at high levels of intensity. The meditation I find very very powerful just for creating a bit of space men. I literally diarist into my into my diary, and everyone of my practice knows that at one forty five to two I’m going into a dark room to go and meditate, and they take a make for it, but
andy___chris:
Uh, uh,
simon:
I think it’s really important to say. Well, I’m not perfect. I mean, I’m still often will miss my meditation. It’s very rare that I miss my work out there, because I have it right at the start of the day.
andy___chris:
M, Hm.
simon:
I actually genuinely look forward to it. I mean when I wake up in the morning, I’m not dragging myself to the gym. Most days. I actually really enjoy the feeling while I’m doing The feeling afterwards And so for me it just works quite nicely, So yeah, it’s been really powerful for me.
andy___chris:
Good. I think that word you use consistency. I think that’s the theme that that wins over life, isn’t it? If you can build things into a routine and do on a regular basis, the gains that you get on going are huge.
simon:
Hundred percent. I put on my yesterday discipline over motivation. I think if you’re
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
if you’re trying to use motivation all the time, it’s fleeting and it’s not always there. But if you’ve got that consistency
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
and you know that this is why I work every day I mix up. I mix up the type of work out that I do, But the reason I work out every day is that I don’t want that rest day because I’ll fall out of my consistency pathway. And so by just knowing that it’s going to happen every single day, I don’t have to thin About it. It’s just always that
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
now. Obviously, if I’ve had a really late night and too many gin tonics than, I’m probably going to do something relatively team and it’s not going to be amazing, but the consistency is more important than actually, the quality. sometimes
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
even last a couple of weeks ago. I was ill and I still went to my training session and my trainer was like. What? Even doing here You’re a. But, but we’ve got a little bit done and I felt better for it. So ye,
andy___chris:
M,
simon:
So I look at it,
andy___chris:
C, C. we always finish up in the same way, Simon, we always ask. I guess the same two questions intrigues to what these answers will be. So the first one is, you could be a fly on a wall in a situation. where would you? What room would you like to be in as a flyer, listening down and seeing what’s going on?
simon:
Um, as today In today’s more, Can I go
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
to anywhere?
andy___chris:
whenever, whenever you can roll back in, could have been the beginning of World War One or
simon:
Yeah,
andy___chris:
whatever you fancy, There’s no limitations.
simon:
So I’m a massive fan of stoic philosophy Is part of my my morning routine is reading the Daily Stoic book, which I thoroughly recommend for anyone looking to improve their mind set. But Marcus Aralia is my sort of top
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
up guy, so I would have loved to be sort of in his war room, because he’s such a deep thinker and there’s so much,
andy___chris:
M.
simon:
there’s so much contradiction and just a position with regard to His mind set. But then also he’s a general and he’s a deep thinker, But he’s actually leading all these people into war And just how all that broke down. Actually, in real time, I’ve fascinated to to understand.
andy___chris:
Yeah, we used Marcus Arelias quotes and some of our lectures we. I think he was open. Wasn’t he was opium
simon:
M. Hm.
andy___chris:
if you could, If you could meet somebody. If you were given the opportunity to sit down and have a gin and tonic with somebody and live in a fact or fictional. We don’t anybody fancy out I sit down with
simon:
Well, I won’t. I won’t use Markus again,
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
but I guess the first person that comes to mind is or it’s tough on. Actually, I’m gonna go from Nelson, And just because
andy___chris:
Okay,
simon:
that’s that’s the quote I’ve got on my. That’s the quote I’ve got up on my surgery wall study in my deconroombut. Impossible is nothing.
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
And yeah, I think just to go through what he went through, Um, and to maintain that that level of mental strength is. Every time I read the story, I’m fascinated by it. and
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
you,
andy___chris:
and to
simon:
My
andy___chris:
have
simon:
mom
andy___chris:
such
simon:
is in
andy___chris:
humility
simon:
South Africa. So
andy___chris:
and to
simon:
on,
andy___chris:
come
simon:
omsericasso.
andy___chris:
out with that really,
simon:
Yeah, so
andy___chris:
to come
simon:
he’s
andy___chris:
out
simon:
a
andy___chris:
with
simon:
link
andy___chris:
the attitude
simon:
there
andy___chris:
that he had was amazing, Wlsimwasjust. saying his mom from South Africa. Okay, Where from
simon:
From Coburg,
andy___chris:
Okay? my daughter lives in. One of my daughters lives in Cape Town.
simon:
Beautiful place, isn’t it?
andy___chris:
It s a beautiful place. She lives in an interesting place, which I will tell everybody out another time
simon:
Yeah?
andy___chris:
she’s on. She’s on a charity project, so
simon:
Oh, wow,
andy___chris:
it is quite, is quite scary, but he.
simon:
But as a dad especially,
andy___chris:
Yeah,
simon:
I’ve got all that to come.
andy___chris:
yeah, you wait when they say look, can we go and live in this? Yeah, of course you.
simon:
Yeah,
andy___chris:
It’s funny with child and everybody says I gets easy to get older. I think it just gets different. My mom always used to say that the thing he found was as you get older. She never stopped worrying about us, but there was nothing she could do about it. when you’re little, you sort of control their world, but when you’re fifty five or something, really there’s not much. okay. I think the thing I noticed was the birthday and Christmas presents got smaller, but more expensive.
simon:
Yeah,
andy___chris:
That was the thing
simon:
yeah,
andy___chris:
that was a sin. It’s been a joy. Absolute Vely, your time. you’re You’re not short of things to keep you busy, so we’re grateful for the time this morning and it’s fantastic for fitting us in. Thank you so much. No doubt there’s there’s a blue denim shirt just off screen that yo’re going to hop into and pitch for your next big idea in the next hour.
simon:
Indeed, indeed, but I saw me
andy___chris:
Lovely,
simon:
guys.
andy___chris:
Yes, that is
simon:
Yes,
andy___chris:
Jess.
simon:
right.
