Advanced Practice Management: Influence, Growth, and Building Self-Managing Businesses – Dr. Chris Phelps: Ep #541

Joining us today is Dr. Chris Phelps, dentist, entrepreneur, and CEO of the Cialdini Institute. We explore the evolution from clinical practice to scalable, self-managing businesses. Chris shares how his first entrepreneurial breakthrough came from simplifying dense dental school material into condensed study guides—eventually monetizing his problem-solving ability. That same skillset has fueled the creation of multiple companies born from pain points in his own practice.

Listen in to gain powerful takeaways on using behavioral psychology to drive team performance and patient commitment, the transformative power of Kolbe assessments for building high-functioning teams, and how marketing strategy must begin with clarity around the ideal avatar. Dr. Chris Phelps emphasizes that real influence is less about charisma and more about the sequence and framing of conversations—whether you’re leading staff, attracting top talent, or improving patient show rates. This episode is a must-listen for practice owners looking to escape the grind, buy back their time, and lead with strategy—not stress.

Minute Markers:

02:33 – Introduction to Dr. Chris Phelps.
04:51 – What first inspired Chris to become an entrepreneur and problem solver.
06:15 – How information overload in dental school became the catalyst for simplification and mentorship.
08:24 – The value of solving a problem and how each business Chris has started, started from a pain point in his own practice.
10:10 – Balancing building businesses and family, and why you shouldn’t be the only one spinning plates.
12:23 – Kolbe training and it’s instrumental impact for Chris in hiring and his businesses successes.
14:01 – The importance of creating a job that fits a person and their strengths.
17:21 – How Chris’s initial success when starting his dental office was a blessing and a curse.
20:08 – Marketing yourself, your dental practice, and what to do when there’s a labor shortage.
24:06 – The work that Chris has done with Cialdini and principals of persuasion.
26:47 – Two forgotten principals: Liking and Consistency.
30:04 – What Sunrise Dental is, and how they help their clients both expand and exit practices.
34:50 – Why many practice owners are surprised when faced with a decrease in income after exiting practice.

If you like this episode, here are more episodes we think you’ll enjoy:

Ep #539 – Dr. Matt VanderMolen: – Building People First: Creating a High-Performance Dental Practice and Business
Ep #538 – Jake Conway – Scaling Smart: Navigating Growth, Profitability, and Dental Exit Strategies

Featured on the Show:

Dr. Chris Phelps Website | LinkedIn
Sunrise Dental Solutions
The Catalyst for exponential success (The Free For Life Masterclass)
Request the Path to Freedom Newsletter
Request Your Discovery Call

#ChrisPhelps #DentalPracticeManagement #ScalingaDentalPractice #InfluenceinDentistry #Entrepreneur #BusinessOwner #DentalPractice

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Watch full length interviews on David’s YouTube channel by going to www.DentistFreedomBlueprint.com/YouTube. Don’t forget to subscribe to David’s YouTube Channel for more content on maximizing your business, wealth, and creating a financial blueprint to reach your Freedom faster!

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P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are some other ways I can help fast track you to your Freedom goal (you’re closer than you think):

1. Schedule a Call with My Team:

If you’d like to replace your active practice income with passive investment income within 2-3 years, and you have at least 1M in available capital (can include residential/practice equity or practice sale), then schedule a call with my team. If it looks like there is a mutual fit, you’ll have the opportunity to attend one of our upcoming member events as a guest.

2. Get Your Dentist Retirement Survival Guide:

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3. Get Your Free Retirement Scorecard:

Benchmark your retirement and wealth-building against hundreds of other practice professionals, and get personalized feedback on your biggest opportunities and leverage points. Click here to take the 3 minute assessment and get your scorecard.

Want to know more about David and schedule him as a speaker or podcast guest? Go to doctorphelps.com to book David now.

Power Concepts:

“Knowing that what got you to where you are today is probably not going to get you to where you want to go tomorrow.” – Dr. Chris Phelps

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“The solution to spinning a lot of plates is figuring out how you’re not the one spinning them. .” – Dr. Chris Phelps