Cassie Kellner [00:00:01]:
Welcome to The Bloom Effect. I'm your host, Cassie Kellner, former chairside assistant turned team coach and founder of Everbloom. This podcast is all about the real stuff. Honest convos, leadership lessons, and the heart behind thriving orthodontic teams. If you're ready to grow, lead and bloom, let's dive in.
Cassie Kellner [00:00:22]:
Welcome to The Bloom Effect. I am really, really, really excited for my guest, Dr. Maggie Law. Maggie, thank you so much for doing this and joining me. Maggie, I, I was thinking actually when I was driving today, like we met via Instagram, which is very millennial of us.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:00:43]:
So millennial.
Cassie Kellner [00:00:46]:
And so we, and then we nerded out on a sauna, and then we realized when we were chatting that we were both high eyes on the disc wheel. So then we were like super nerds when it came to that. And then we realized that our kids are around the same age and we're.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:01:05]:
Around the same age. We both love orthodontics. I mean.
Cassie Kellner [00:01:13]:
So many. So I was, I'm very excited that you're here. I feel like we've never actually met in person, which is wild because I feel like we have. Right. I'm so, so excited. Thank you for doing this. I just, I want to get started with like, who are you? Who is Dr. Maggie Law?
Dr. Maggie Law [00:01:36]:
Okay, so like, what you said. My name is Dr. Maggie Law. I have been practicing orthodontics for 10 years. Before orthodontics, I think it's important to know. I am married to a wonderful guy named Heikal. He's a radiologist. We live in Mountain Brook, Alabama, which is a beautiful suburb of Birmingham. I did not grow up here. I grew up in Woodstock, Georgia. Go dogs. I went to the University of Georgia for my undergrad. And then I also, fun fact about myself, I have an identical twin sister. She is also in the dental field. She's a general dentist in Georgia. So we both went to UGA and then we applied to the dental school in Georgia and then the one in Alabama. We got into both of them and we were like, well, you know, we got in state tuition through the Hope scholarship for undergrad. Let's try something different. You know, UAB historically was a really high ranked dental school with very high clinical requirements. I got a little bit of a scholarship to go there. So I was like, well, let's, let's move to Birmingham. And we both moved to Birmingham, went to dental school. I finished dental school in 2012 and I stayed to do orthodontics there because I was dating my now husband and he Was in his residency. And my twin sister moved to South Carolina to do a one year general practice residency. I knew I wanted to be an orthodontist ever since I was 15. I had my gosh, I know I had braces when I was 15. Clear on top, metal on the bottom. My orthodontist charged $500 more for clear braces on the top.
Cassie Kellner [00:03:25]:
Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:03:27]:
My mom was like, I am not paying for that. If you want clear braces, you're going to use your money. So me and my sister used our babysitting money and no way. Yeah. That's why today I don't charge more for Invisalign or clear braces. I think back to poor, like 15 year old me that was like forking over all my, like babysitting money to have clear braces. So I just tell patients I, you know, I do it for a couple reasons. Number one, if I truly feel like Invisalign is better for your bite, you know, I want to be able to recommend it and not have cost be a factor. Sure. Or if I truly feel like braces are better for your bite. But then there's also that, like, small teenage Maggie that just wants the child to have what they're going to, you know, be able to feel the most confident with while they're in treatment and not have their mom go home and say, well, it's $500 more dollars, so you pay for it. But we actually both had impacted canines. I was 15 and I still had a baby tooth.
Cassie Kellner [00:04:25]:
My goodness.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:04:27]:
Which I laugh about that all the time. I'm like, how did this go, miss? Like, how was I 15 out of baby tooth? But me and my twin sister both did. And so it was braces, gold chains, and my orthodontist was a rock star. I wore braces for right at about a year, which I think about impacted canine.
Cassie Kellner [00:04:51]:
I mean, that's totally. Yeah.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:04:54]:
I never wavered. I always said this is what I was going to do. I remember my orthodontist telling me when I was going to go to college. He's like, college is a four year paid vacation. Enjoy it. And I don't think I. That has always stuck with me, but obviously hindsight's 2020 and I'm like, dang. It really was I, you know, totally.
Cassie Kellner [00:05:15]:
Now that now that we're, you know, now that we're moms and you know, like live this real business life.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:05:21]:
Yes.
Cassie Kellner [00:05:23]:
Oh, my gosh. So, okay, so there's a few things that I really want to talk about because I feel like it's something that we connected on, on so many levels. One is just motherhood and owning a business. And when we spoke last, there was something that really, really stuck with me where you said, I make it to all the things. At least 99% of all the things. Like if there's an award show, if there's, if your kids are, have an event, if like you're there but you're also still a business owner. How, how is that going for you? And why is it so important to make this decision to show up?
Dr. Maggie Law [00:06:09]:
That's a great question, Cassie. So I've got three children. I've got a six year old who just finished kindergarten. I've got a four year old daughter and then I've got an almost 18 month old son. So I've got three kids. They are my pride and joy, they're my everything. And they are the reason why for me, owning an orthodontic practice is the best decision for myself. I'm going to digress for just a second. I was an associate when I got out of school for about 3 1/2 ish years. I had tried to buy an existing office and it didn't work out. Um, most associateships don't work out. And so I quit that associateship when I was six months pregnant with my first. And then I took a whole year. It was really like 15 months from when I quit my job to when I opened my office. So I had this whole 15 month period. You know, I became a mom, you know, went through, you know, the fourth trimester, found an office location, figured out like how to run a business because they don't teach you this in school. All because I knew that I couldn't work for somebody else. There wasn't any practices for sale in my area. My husband was like, Maggie, you can't be a stay at home mom. You will hate it. You will be so bored and you love what you do. I think I just didn't have the confidence. I didn't believe in myself enough that I could start a business from scratch. So had the baby. And then Alfred, that's my oldest, he went me, went, went with me to everything. We toured all these like office spaces. I met with accountants, I met with, you know, contractors. I met with all the people. And here's little Alfred. He just came along with me for everything. And then ultimately the day after his first birthday, my office opened. So he was born March 1, 2019. And then my office, Law Orthodontics, opened March 2, 2020, which opening March of 2020. That's a whole nother podcast I opened and then two weeks later we closed. It was a wild time. I think back now and I'm like, wow, I can't believe all that I have done or all that God has allowed me to go through and succeed and you know, be thriving and successful and happy and joyful with all like the kind of like setbacks that have happened in the last five, five, six years since ever I had my first son. It's been a lot. But owning my own business gives me freedom. I set my own schedule. I'm leaving today to go on vacation. I'm taking all next week off to go on vacation. I work, I see patients three days a week. I have three clinic days. Today's Friday is my, I'm doing air quotes, but it's called my admin day. Usually Monday is my admin day too. I am in the season of life where I wish that I could do a little bit more for my office. But my admin days are usually my like full on mom days. I usually have a sick kid with me. This is like one of the first days this year that I like, I haven't had somebody that like needs something. Normally I'm taking my daughter to gymnastics on Fridays, but her like summer session doesn't start till next week. So this is like a very rare Friday where I'm kid free all day.
Cassie Kellner [00:09:54]:
A little bit of freedom. Listen, I can feel that too. I can so relate on so many levels of the having a sick kid or having to run around or shoot shift. Like you know, obviously my, my business is different. I work remote and I work with clients and, but having to shift things and I, I get it, it, it's real, you know it is.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:10:18]:
And then I know like you, Cassie, when we kind of did the pre interview, me and you are both like the default parent. Yes. Like my husband has a job. He works at a hospital.
Cassie Kellner [00:10:27]:
Yeah, I think.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:10:28]:
And your husband works in the hospital too?
Cassie Kellner [00:10:30]:
Yes.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:10:30]:
So those aren't the type of jobs where you can say, sorry guys, peace out. I need to go to my son's thing for an hour. I'll be back. Sorry, patient's not going to read your scans. So I am the default parent. I do the drop offs, the pickups and go to everything. And for me that is the most important thing. So this was my very first year having a child in school just like you. And a lot of times they don't give you no like two weeks notice.
Cassie Kellner [00:11:03]:
No, I Just got, you know, I'm away for work actually and field day. I really wanted to volunteer for his field day and I'm going to be away and like there's nothing I can do about that. But you know, I wish I would have known. But it's such. It's just all last minute, you know.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:11:21]:
It is. And as soon as I get an email or a text, I immediately like if I'm not at work, I text my front desk, hey, you know, I need to reschedule patients in this little window. And I'm very grateful, Cassie. My office is about eight minutes from my kids elementary school. So like for these little 30 minutes events, it's really only like an hour of time that I need to block out, which you know, is probably. I have three assistants, so I run three columns. Assuming it's fully booked, that's probably, you know, six patients max and maybe one new patient exam. And for me, you know, we text and we offer them a little bit before or a little bit after same time next day. And my team knows that if we're a little bit overbooked the day before, the day after, I mean that's, you know, we need to get them in. And they know that it is important for me to go to these things for my child because if I didn't go, they wouldn't have somebody there. And my husband's job is in a very busy season right now and if he could go, he would. And I would happily like some of these things. They only let one parent go. I would happily not go if he was free. Because I don't have mom guilt that I'm missing things. As long as somebody is there for my child and they feel loved, it does not have to be me. Do I like it being me? Absolutely. Does it have to? No.
Cassie Kellner [00:12:49]:
Right? You know, I really. Oh gosh. I feel like there's no better feeling. I mean I could get emotional on this because like I just am who I am. But again, my son is also finishing kindergarten. I. There's no better feeling. They had like this performance, singing. Actually they called it an informants, not a performance at the school because they're informing you and. And it doesn't have to be perfect. Right? That's the whole thing. Which I loved. Anyway. He came out with his entire kindergarten class and like the joy on his face when he. You could see them searching for you. The joy on your child's face when they spot you is no meeting is worth that for me. Like it's not. I'm I'm not willing to give that away. I. I'm, I'm. I'm not. And this is really important. And, And I love that you said you've been lucky because, one, your team understands, but also, I'm assuming your pat understand. And by the way, there's probably plenty out there that are, like, frustrated or whatever. People are who they are, but if people are very angry at this because I want to go to a performance and I need to shift an appointment or a meeting, then they're not my people.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:14:09]:
Right, right.
Cassie Kellner [00:14:11]:
I. I'm not willing to miss some of these things. You know, my kids are only going to be small and with me for so long. I. I can relate on that on so many levels.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:14:22]:
Yeah. And I agree. I feel like, you know, most of my patients, I feel like they are reasonable people, and I'm sure it has, you know, irritated somebody along the way. I haven't found out about it yet. I'm sure it has. And sometimes what I do if. Is if we do reschedule something last minute when they come into their appointment, we give them a $5 Starbucks gift card and we say, I'm so sorry that your appointment had to be rescheduled. You know, and as soon as you do that small gesture, if they were, you know, they're like, oh, my gosh, you don't have to do this. It just softens everything up. I mean, how many times have you been on rescheduled. Have you been rescheduled by your, like, primary care doctor or another medical provider? And then you. And then you, number one, try to call their office. Nobody answers the phone, and they've, like, left you this weird voicemail that your doctor's gonna be out and you need to reschedule the appointment, then you can't get in touch with them, then there's not an appointment for three months. And you're definitely not getting a Starbucks card.
Cassie Kellner [00:15:27]:
No, for sure not.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:15:30]:
But that's the level of service I wanna provide. Like, I understand that it's inconvenient, but ultimately, that is what is the most important to me. And I'm gonna be unapologetic about that. I posted in the Women in Ortho Facebook group this little conversation I had with my son the other night. He was like, mom, why are you always at my school? I'm like, well, because I love you. I want to be there. He's like, oh, well, you're always there. I'm so, yeah, mom worked really hard so she could be her own boss and. And be there for you. And I like, called it like, orthodontist mom win. And one of my girlfriends who's at Ordinary, she texted me and she also, like, replied on the post. She was like, thank you for posting that. That's a really good reminder. And then we ended up talking on the phone last Friday about something random. And she's like, I never reschedule patients. Like, my kids are always like, mom, why aren't you there? And I'm like, so and so. Like that 20 minute, you know, wire adjustment, you know, is not going to be anything but those, like, pictures that you have from seeing your child. And I get it. I'm not going to be able to come to everything, especially as I get the second kid in school and the third kid in school. But I'm going to do my best to show up. And I also think that other moms kind of look at me like, how is she here? I mean, I live in an era where most moms don't work, but I'm there. But I think they know I work. But I'm able to have the flexibility to come to things. And I sometimes get looks. They're like, oh, aren't you at work today? I'm like, oh, yeah, I'm going back right after this.
Cassie Kellner [00:17:10]:
Exactly.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:17:11]:
I wear regular. I wear like cute clothes to work. So I just kind of. I don't pop in and out.
Cassie Kellner [00:17:16]:
You're like a superhero.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:17:17]:
Yeah.
Cassie Kellner [00:17:18]:
You're like, you go into the office and you're an orthodontist. You go into school and you're a mom.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:17:22]:
And you know, just like you, I pop back out. Business owner hat. Mom hat.
Cassie Kellner [00:17:27]:
That's right. That's right. And. And it's like a wild ride. I also love that you use the phrase default parent because that is really, really hard. It's hard, it's challenging, it's rewarding, it's amazing. It's all the things. Like it's. It's actually a really wild ride. And I only have two. And you know, Charlotte, my daughter, will be going into kindergarten next year. And so, you know, my kids are really close in age. And being the default parent on, on so much of this one, I wouldn't change it. So that's kind of the wild ride is like, I wouldn't change that default parent for the world. But it's also, as a business owner.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:18:17]:
It's a lot, I think next level it is. And I don't think, I don't think I give myself enough credit. You probably don't give yourself Enough credit. Sometimes I'll have conversations with my friends and they're like, Maggie, how do you do it? And for me, I don't think I'm doing anything special because you know, it's really the only option that I have. My parents live in Georgia, my in laws both work and so and you know, you don't get, you don't become an orthodontist without like a can do attitude. You don't become a small business owner and go off on your own like how you did without some like everything is figureoutable, motto, attitude and in grit, you know. And you just, oh yeah, have to make it work. And I think all the time, no offense to the, the guys out there, it'd be great if I was like the, it would be great to be the, the orthodontist and like have like, you know, the, the, the non working spouse that could like be doing all this stuff in the background. And so I think as women that are business owners that are the default parents as well. It, it's a lot that we do. And my days are really full. I read that once, it was like, don't call your days busy. Busy's negative. Call them full because you know, one day you're going to miss these days. And that's what I always remind myself is one day my kids are not going to need me. My business is always gonna be there. And I can always work more when they get older, but I can't work less now or I can't work less. You know, I'm not explaining that well, but you know what I mean. Like I can always add, but I can't go back.
Cassie Kellner [00:20:10]:
So back you can't get these memories back. And you know, I, we talked about this too, you know, but like I heard somewhere and I don't remember where, but I heard somebody say work life balance is like that word is ridiculous. And they said what about work life harmony? Like I'm just trying to harmonize work and my life and my kids and my husband and all of the things outside at the same time. I love that you said your husband was like, you're not going to want to stay home and do this. It's so true. I think I even knew that during pregnancy and I had my first baby in 2019, then I had my daughter in 2020, which was as you know. Right. Wild ride. It was kind of a blessing and a curse because I got to like be home and, and enjoy that pregnancy a little bit more. But the anxiety of COVID and, and Giving birth during COVID I mean, I had to give birth wearing a mask.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:21:17]:
Me too. My first picture with Sadie.
Cassie Kellner [00:21:20]:
Me too.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:21:20]:
Is wearing the mask. And then you can. If you watch the live photo, it's me ripping the mask off and, like, trying to smile. If you watch the live, it's my very first picture holding my baby.
Cassie Kellner [00:21:33]:
I just, like, I have a mask under my chin. It was just so normal. And honestly, I. I also love that you're like, yeah. Looking back, I just am like, whoa. All of it is just like, wow. I can't believe all of this happened. So, like, being the default parent, owning a small business, having small children. I mean, when we first connected on Zoom, I don't know if you remember this, but you were like, rock your baby. Your youngest.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:22:02]:
Yeah.
Cassie Kellner [00:22:03]:
You were rocking him with your foot on his little bouncer to try and get him to go back to sleep. As you're chatting with me, like, that is wild, Maggie.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:22:14]:
I remember that. Yeah. We do amazing things. Yeah. It's definitely been a wild ride, but wouldn't have it any other way.
Cassie Kellner [00:22:28]:
So you talk about being there is important to you. You also have this motto in your practice that I think is really interesting. And I have to be honest, I haven't seen a lot. You have this where you've created a culture where team members actually get to take pto. Like, they get to take time off without feeling incredibly guilty or only taking time off when you take time off or. Right. I mean, how did you get there? Because, you know, and I don't. I'm sure colleagues of yours don't do this. It's. It's not as common. And in. And I personally feel that in this industry, we're up against a lot of industries that are incredibly flexible. So when we hold our team members to this, I. I don't think it's the best, you know, course of action. Tell me about what that. What you do.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:23:30]:
So I think a lot of that stemmed from me being an associate for as long as I was and not being in control of a lot of things and, like, being like, I have to ask off. Like, I hope they say yes. Like, it just, you know, it was. It was just stressful. You know, I've got a doctor's appointment. Are they going to say yes? Like, I felt like I couldn't plan my life for this because I had this job. And so when I opened my office, I decided that, you know, people are going to get pto. An oral surgeon in Alabama was very generous to, like, give me her like employee hand handbook that was like, you know, made off of like Alabama rules. So I really went with her pto. And also for me, I'm like, kiss principal, Keep it simple, stupid. I don't. And it's obviously state dependent, but I didn't want to have to keep track of, well, what's a sick day, What's a vacation day? I just wanted to give my people their days and say, you can use this for what you want. If you're sick, use it. If you want to go on vacation, use it. If you just need a day, you know, off from work, use it. I'm not going to ask questions, obviously, unless it becomes a problem, because I always put myself in their shoes because I have been in their shoes where I have not been the leader of the office. And I want my team to have fun. Most people have to work financially. Most people need the money to work. And you spend a lot of time at work, more so than sometimes with your family. And so I strive to create a culture that is enjoyable to be at because again, most people have to be there. And so my only thing is, if you know that you have a vacation coming up, let me know, put it on the schedule. And because I am a small team, if somebody else has already asked off for vacation that week, that would be the only time. And I tell people that when I hire them, that would be the only time I would like tell you. No, thankfully, that has not been a problem. I read posts in Facebook groups where people are like, my policy is nobody's allowed to take off in the summer unless I'm taking off. And I read that. And for me, I'm like, how selfish are you? Would you want to work for you? I wouldn't want to work for you.
Cassie Kellner [00:25:56]:
Yeah.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:25:57]:
And that's just preference, you know, I think it works for a lot of people. They probably have more production in the summer than I do because of those policies. But ultimately that is not the bottom line for me. The bottom line, it's like the expression, happy wife, happy life, happy team, happy life. Like, I want my team to feel like they're important, they're empowered.
Cassie Kellner [00:26:23]:
Yes.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:26:23]:
And that they, that they are not like dictated or bullied by the office into not being able to live their life as well.
Cassie Kellner [00:26:34]:
Yeah. And. And you live that life. Right. Like these events and these things are really important to you. These vacations with important to you. So you are just kind of leading by example, like you're setting the tone for your team to go, hey, your stuff is also important Just because I'm the business owner doesn't mean you don't get to go on vacation or go to your best friend's wedding. Right. Because you work here, which I think is. Is really important. Have you noticed that that's impacted your team in any way?
Dr. Maggie Law [00:27:12]:
Another yes. And a caveat to that is, too. I also don't cut hours when I go on vacation. So I'm leaving today to go on vacation, and I'm going to be gone through next Thursday. And so, like, when I'm gone, I don't cut hours. If somebody wants the time off, great, they can take the time off. It's not paid. But I'm not going to say you can't come to work because I'm going on vacation. You know, these people are relying on you, and it's a privilege to help these people provide for their families. So I have been very blessed that I have had really good longevity with my employees, actually, since I. We did our little pre interview. Cassie. Oh, I'm so sad about it. One of my, like, assistants that's been with me for, it would be four years in July. My practice has only been open for five. She just found out that they are moving to West Palm beach for her husband's job. So I'm losing my first, like, employee due to, like, like a move, you know? Yeah. So. And she is an amazing team member, but other than that, I've had to fire two people. But people that have come to work for me have. Have stayed working for me. They have kept their position. You know, my TC has had a baby since she's her second baby. When she was at my office, she came back from maternity leave. My current patient care coordinator, who does a little bit of everything, she's pregnant with her second right now. She said that she's coming back after she has this baby also in July. So that makes me feel good that hopefully I am creating a work environment that's enjoyable. They're well paid, they're well taken care of. I'm like, y' all just go take the office credit card and go have lunch today. Because ultimately, you know, I want them to enjoy work. And again, when they're enjoying work and when people respect you when somebody is out on vacation or we're going to be really short staffed in July when my two. When one of my girls is out and then on maternity and the other one moves and I'm. When I get back from the beach next week, I'm gonna start the hiring process, which is my least favorite part about owning a business. But I know my team will step up and we will make it work and everybody will work hard because they know that I don't love being understaffed and I dislike it as much as they do. Always trying to provide for them to make their life easier. But they will. They step up and those. These occasions build resilience. And you know, sometimes when we look, we're like, who? The four of us just did what?
Cassie Kellner [00:30:06]:
Right?
Dr. Maggie Law [00:30:07]:
We did the work of six.
Cassie Kellner [00:30:08]:
Right. I also, that's really important too, Maggie, because I don't think that people are, are connecting enough on that level, if I'm being honest, because let's get real. In an orthodontic practice, whether it's the school buses showed up at 3pm or it's summer and it's wild and you're moving patients around in, cramming everything in, I don't think that people have, have connected enough. And when you don't connect like this and say, hey, you guys, you nailed it today, like, that was really hard. My, like when you go into the bathroom and your hair looks crazy and you're like, oh my gosh, have I looked like this for the last two hours? You know, you know, and, and, and sending the appreciation and setting the tone of, I care about you, I love you. Yes, this is your job, but it's also your career that there's a difference there. And I want you here. There's longevity in this practice because I genuinely care about who you are as a human. Also, when you're a mother and a business owner, I feel that it's, there's a shift there because you have people who are now going out on maternity leave, somebody who went out on maternity leave and is coming back. And you can relate, you can relate to so many of those things. And if these and, and our industry, our teams predominantly are female, if we can relate on that level, that's. Most of them are likely a default parent, then it also helps shift your mindset. You know, I, I think that those things are so important and to be honest with you, I don't think people are talking about them enough.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:31:47]:
Yeah, totally agree with you. And you know, giving our team members grace. And you know, my treatment coordinator, her daughter is starting kindergarten this year, so she's taking the first day of, you know, kindergarten off. Yeah, that's, that's like a no questions asked. Because you know what? I took the first day of kindergarten off for Alfred. I'm going to do it next year for Sadie. So, you know, Practice what you preach. I'm not above my team and.
Cassie Kellner [00:32:20]:
Oh, say that again, Maggie. Say that again.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:32:23]:
I'm not above my team. Anything I ask them to do, I would do myself. Now, I don't know how to do sterilization. I'm not a good scanner, and I'm not good at X rays, but other than that, anything I can do, and they know that about me, I would never ask them to do something that I wouldn't do myself.
Cassie Kellner [00:32:44]:
Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. I love this. I love what you stand for. To wrap this up, Maggie, what has been one of the biggest lessons that you have learned in the past five years at law? Orthodontics?
Dr. Maggie Law [00:33:08]:
That's a great question. I think that this is something that you always hear, but it rings true. Just treat people how you would want to be treated, and then the patients will come. You know, five years in, I'm treating so many people that, oh, you. You take care of everybody on my street. You treated my co worker. It's amazing how your patients will rave about you and advocate for you and patients that surprise you. When you're on my health history forum, I have a spot, like, how'd you hear about our office? Sometimes it's surprising, oh, that person sent this patient. Wow, that's really cool. And so I just think treating people right, making the next right decision every day, I think I have been surprised at how there have been seasons and months where I'm like, kind of like on cruise control, where I'm like, I sometimes even today, like, I'm like, I can't believe I'm a solo business owner. Like, yeah, I have the ability. I do all these things. And again, I think a lot of it depends on your personal capacity.
Cassie Kellner [00:34:30]:
Sure.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:34:31]:
And I truly can't believe, like, if you were to have told me when I was, you know, in orthodontic residency, where I would be now, that I would have started a practice with zero patients. I don't.
Cassie Kellner [00:34:45]:
I personally, at the beginning of COVID like, what's Covid?
Dr. Maggie Law [00:34:49]:
But I don't think I would have believed it. And so I. I think that I'm just. The biggest lesson I've learned is I'm just extremely grateful and ask for help. You know, I have accountants that help me make the right decisions. You know, I have a financial planner that helps me make the right decisions. You know, I use people to get help. Like, I do a lot of, like, Target grocery delivery, Walmart grocery delivery. I have somebody that cleans my house. People that are. I have somebody that does My eyebrows. I got my eyebrows done yesterday. I have people that are experts in other things that I have learned, that I pull them into my life so that something that I don't have to do, just like how people come to my business and they come to me for the expertise in orthodontic care.
Cassie Kellner [00:35:39]:
Yeah.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:35:40]:
So I think I've learned that I can't do it all.
Cassie Kellner [00:35:43]:
Delegate.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:35:44]:
Just have to. Yep. And the more that I practice, the more comfortable I am delegating things. And then also recruiting different systems and tricks. Like the Target grocery delivery is my favorite because they have a couple of my favorite brands that the Walmart grocery delivery doesn't. And I can sit on my phone, I can spend, you know, eight minutes adding things to my cart. I can click buy, and then they show up at my front door.
Cassie Kellner [00:36:11]:
Yeah.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:36:12]:
And I'm not having to park the car, get the kids out, like, and. And waste my time shopping for groceries when I would rather be at home, be present, you know, get the kids early. I've learned that delegating and asking for help is a good thing because Maggie, you know, 10 years ago was very much a I can do it all person.
Cassie Kellner [00:36:36]:
Yeah. And I think kids teach us that too. I mean, we don't have a choice once we have children. Speaking of, I'm doing a grocery order after we get off this podcast. So, like, you don't have a choice. And you find ways to. To delegate and to make your life a little bit easier day by day.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:36:57]:
And I think the last thing that I learned when I first opened, you know, I'm like, a people pleaser. I want everybody to like me. Like, in my head, sometimes I tell myself, I'm like, okay, Maggie, Jesus was perfect and people still hated him. You know, like, sorry for the cough. But I truly remind myself of that when I first started, I used to take it personally when, like, somebody, like, I thought I did a great consult and they didn't sign up for treatment or, you know, something personal.
Cassie Kellner [00:37:26]:
It feels personal.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:37:27]:
It does. But my. Another one of my, like, mottos is, it's professional, not personal.
Cassie Kellner [00:37:32]:
Yep.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:37:33]:
And I have really gotten my thicker professional, not personal skin over the last five years. And what used to bother me, you know, with regards to patients, whether they chose my office or not or whether or not I saw somebody in my neighborhood who they didn't even bring them to come see me for a consult. And they had braces on. It used to hurt a little bit. And now I'm like, there is Plenty to go around.
Cassie Kellner [00:37:59]:
Yeah.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:38:00]:
Orthodontics is a matter of convenience. They probably wanted to go to the orthodontist that was closer to our house. You know what I mean? Like, bother me doesn't bother me anymore because ultimately I know that God provides exactly what I need. And all I have to do is show up and do my best every day and like I said earlier, just make the next right decision. And I think those lessons have really been cemented in my mind over the last five years of private practice, solo ownership.
Cassie Kellner [00:38:28]:
Yeah, absolutely. Maggie, thank you so much for joining me on the Bloom Effect. This is so much fun.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:38:36]:
We'll have to do a part two about something.
Cassie Kellner [00:38:38]:
I don't know how when you open your practice in March of 2020, that's. That's going to be our next topic.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:38:46]:
Yeah.
Cassie Kellner [00:38:49]:
Or giving birth during a global pandemic. I mean, we. There's. There's so many things, and I feel like you and I are so aligned on 100% things. Thank you for spending your Friday and as a crazy working mother like me, spending time with me and doing this, I really appreciate it.
Dr. Maggie Law [00:39:11]:
Oh, I thank you for the invite. And I can't wait to meet you in a meeting. I'm not sure what meetings I'm gonna go to the rest of the year, but, you know, I follow you on Instagram, so I'll see how, where you're gonna be at and hopefully I can give you a hug in real life.
Cassie Kellner [00:39:25]:
Oh, my gosh. I would love it. I would love it. Thank you for joining me on the Bloom Effect, where we keep it real to keep it growing and always keep it team. First, if today's episode sparked something for you, an idea, a shift, or just a reminder that you're not alone, take a second and share it with your team or a fellow ortho leader. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a convo. And if you're loving the show, leave a review. It helps more practices find us and join the movement. And if you're ready to bring this kind of energy into your practice, visit discover everbloom.com to learn more about working together. Until next time, keep leading with heart, Keep building with intention, and keep blooming right where you're planted.
