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“Figure it out as you go” is some of the most common advice given to dental startups.
It’s usually meant with good intentions. After all, no two practices are the same, and ownership comes with a steep learning curve. Flexibility feels necessary in the early days, and many owners pride themselves on being adaptable.
But what often gets overlooked is this:
what starts as flexibility can quietly become a long-term liability.
Over time, “figuring it out as you go” creates invisible costs that show up not just in operations, but in leadership, team morale, and the owner’s own capacity to lead.
When Adaptability Turns Into Instability
In the first year of ownership, most practices are moving fast. Decisions are made quickly. Processes live in people’s heads. Training happens on the fly. Everyone is doing their best to keep up.
At first, this feels normal, even necessary.
But as the practice grows, those informal decisions start stacking on top of each other. What was once adaptability begins to feel like inconsistency. Team members aren’t sure what “right” looks like. Owners feel pulled into every decision. Small issues require constant clarification.
The practice isn’t failing. It’s simply operating without a clear operating system.
And without intention, that early “we’ll figure it out” mindset can quietly turn into:
- Bottlenecks that slow growth
- Frustration from team members who want clarity
- Leaders who are constantly reacting instead of guiding
None of this happens overnight. That’s why it’s so easy to miss.
Why Time Alone Doesn’t Fix This
One of the biggest misconceptions in dentistry is that experience automatically creates structure.
In reality, time tends to reinforce whatever habits already exist.
If systems were never clearly defined, they don’t magically appear later. If leadership expectations weren’t articulated early, they often become harder, not easier, to address as the team grows. And if growth happens before structure, the practice can feel increasingly complex instead of more stable.
This is why some practices feel like startups far longer than they should, even years into ownership.
Not because the owners aren’t capable, but because the foundations were never intentionally built.
The Practices That Feel Different Made a Shift
When you look at practices that feel calmer, more confident, and more sustainable, the difference isn’t that they avoided challenges.
It’s that they made a conscious shift at some point:
- From reacting to designing
- From informal expectations to clear ones
- From “everyone does it their own way” to “this is how we do it here”
That shift doesn’t require perfection, massive overhauls, or starting from scratch. It requires awareness, leadership clarity, and a willingness to replace guesswork with intention.
And importantly, that shift can happen at any stage! Not just in year one!
Why 2026 Is a Chance to Build Differently
As practices look ahead to 2026, many are realizing that working harder isn’t the answer. The opportunity now is to build practices that are not only productive, but also resilient.
Practices that:
- Support their teams instead of burning them out
- Allow owners to lead instead of constantly firefight
- Grow with structure instead of stress
Moving beyond “figuring it out as you go” doesn’t mean losing flexibility. It means creating a foundation that actually supports growth, so adaptability becomes a strength again, not a survival mechanism.
Continuing the Conversation
If this feels familiar, you’re not behind, you’re at a decision point.
This is exactly why I’m hosting an upcoming educational webinar with Stacey Peters of Ideal Practices.
On January 14 at 8pm EST, we’ll have a practical, honest conversation about the patterns we see in successful startup practices, the foundational decisions that matter early, and why those same principles still apply years later.
If you’re planning a startup, navigating early ownership, or ready to stop operating in survival mode, I’d love for you to join us.