Extreme Business Video Testimonials - Nick Fahey & Sarah Fitzharris

Speaker: Nick Fahey and Sarah Fitzharris

So we originally started using Chris as a business coach in 2006 when we first bought our dental practise. Obviously, we were very young then had no idea about business. Uh, so we thought it would be sensible, and it has been a very wise investment. We've pretty much used Chris throughout the whole time period. Uh, and we still own the business. I think that it's crazy not to have a business coach if you're going to go into business because we had no lessons at all at dental school about business, we didn't really have the first clue. So Chris has been great in helping us cement what we need to focus on and keeping our foot to the pump and making sure that we are focusing on the business of dentistry, not just the dentistry like Sarah's just said, You don't know what you don't know until you start running a business, and we both come from being associates, thinking that the business owner made a fortune and was very lucky to have us and Chris has helped. It was essential in helping us navigate that initial period of transferring from being associates to business owners, and I'd say that we chose Chris because I've seen him speak. He comes across, I think, as being incredibly authentic, and that's true, Having known him for nearly 20 years, he's very genuine and he's really, really caring. So I think that he will be at the end of the phone or an email anytime you need him, and I think that's a rare thing. We've had other coaches along the way, and he's incredibly selfless. He really does care about his clients, and that means so much. You feel like you've got an extension to the partnership that we're in, because sometimes it can be a lonely place owning a business.

I'm less involved with the extreme business 100 community than Sarah. But one of the great things for me is being able to have an ear open and hear what's going on. And then, obviously they have the boss up front. And if I have any issues, Chris is only just too helpful and kind in the way. He very swiftly responds that Sarah can speak more to this. Yeah, I think the sense of belonging is really important. So you don't feel lonely because it is very lonely being a business owner. Nick and I at least have each other, but I know some people do it on their own. So I think having that sense of belonging and feeling like somebody is there to help you, really. And the other thing is, there's a great group of people, other practises and owners that are involved in the 100 I love that. I'm very social and I love catching up with everybody. And, you know, you get so many different ideas from other and their owners as well. So you meet the whole team on the first day and then you're with the owners on the second day, so it's a really great mix. I've been to London and Bristol, so I would really recommend going to a different group as well. So I think that sense of community is really important and it's very confidential, which is also important. Um, I think Chris is very genuine and is always there. Nothing's too much trouble. I think he's probably exhausted most of the time dealing with all 100 of us. But, uh, he's an amazing guy. He's incredibly genuine and sincere and he really cares about his clients. And that is a rare thing, I think, and business coaches. So we want him to live eternally, obviously.

I think working with Chris, the big difference is you feel always supported and you feel like there's someone at the end of the phone or the email because there is. And that's a really powerful thing, not to feel alone, really. I think he breaks down running a practise into sort of categories that are relatively easy to access and to understand. And he works through each of those with you so that you've got a clear idea of what you need to do. Um, he's very happy to speak to team members, and in fact, he has a team on Day one, which is great because my team love going to Chris. You know, he's always very entertaining on that first day and the second day, but he's a bit more serious on the second day for the owners. Uh, the first day the girls just love Chris. I mean, he he really should be on stage. He has a real laugh with them. He relates very well to nurses receptionist team, uh, which really helps, because sometimes you feel as an owner that they don't always listen to you. So he gets across his message in a really engaging way. And he's very humorous, which I think helps and my team really look forward to going up. And in fact, they kind of fight over who who's going? I would say, I think, as a specialist, it's really nice to have the wealth of knowledge that Chris has got. Um, having worked with many other, um, referral practises specialists because you know, everybody's different and everyone's got different things and different challenges and, uh, different route to market different marketing requirements. Because Chris has just been in the industry for so long and has so many contacts and has worked with so many people, it means that he can give you that 20,000 ft view that would take you a long time to get on your own. Yeah, I think that's an excellent point, because as a practise owner, you're quite myopic. You only see it through your eyes and you don't have a lot of objectiveness sometimes and he can, like Nick says, Step back. And he's got his finger on the pulse of dentistry within the UK within his client group. But also he's in contact with so many dental organisations, whether it's Christie's who's selling and buying. Or it's a dental company who's just come up with a new scanner so practise plan he works with. So he's got lots of contacts that gives a really healthy perspective on dentistry, which I think is really hard. You just don't have that as a business owner, yeah.