FAIL HUMBLY AND FORWARD

By Allison Norris

My professional career began very differently from my dental hygiene school classmates. Immediately after graduation, I met a dentist who was starting a boutique dental practice in Atlanta, and I helped her build it from the start (dirt floors and all). During this time, I also worked to broaden my skill set by embracing each opportunity for growth and investing in advanced continuing education.

I had many achievements and advancements during my time as a clinician. For example, I was asked to spearhead the launch of a medical insurance prescription program which subsequently resulted in becoming a speaker for the company. Periodontists and general dentists began contacting me to train their hygiene teams on the protocols I had developed. I implemented those protocols into their practices while coaching and consulting across the Southeast. Despite my accomplishments, I was still referred to as the “cleaning lady.” I realized that my journey in clinical dentistry needed to end in 2018.

My nonclinical journey began with a dental billing organization. Because my salary decreased when I took the role, I knew I would sometimes have to work longer days. I would often work twelve or more hours in order to attempt to bridge the gap; add a newborn baby into the mix, and I was beyond exhausted. After some time, I decided to take a temporary leave of absence because I needed a mental break. Unfortunately, my temporary leave was made permanent, not by choice, which resulted in my computer being erased by corporate the following day. I lost all of the training and educational materials I had developed for this company. Failing forward made me realize that I didn’t know how to protect my intellectual property at the time. I wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Soon after, I was introduced to the founder of an orthodontic tech startup. I was asked to help launch his company in the Atlanta market. A tech startup sounded so appealing to me at the time. I was given the title of Director of Development, and for the first time in my career, I felt truly respected. Some of my colleagues even referred to me as a visionary. My days were spent sitting in board meetings with investors, developing provider conversion strategies, and viewing real estate properties for the brick-and-mortar locations the founder had considered opening, in addition to performing my normal development responsibilities. I was also offered the Executive Director role at the nonprofit organization that endorsed the orthodontic tech startup. In that role, I launched a podcast, exceeded sponsorship and endorsement goals, and closed strategic partnerships.

I often thought I had made my final career move and had every intention of retiring from the company. After months of meetings, policy and procedure development, compliance research, and recruiting almost 200 dental professionals to build an affiliate program, we successfully launched the company in the Atlanta market. My time and energy, the missed special moments with my family, and all my hard work had finally paid off; until it didn’t. Without warning, in the fall of 2021, the company stopped paying me. They informed me that I could continue working for them but would only be paid a commission from each sale. My husband had quit his job to support my career and stay home with our daughter. We were left with no income, which resulted in us almost losing our home. I felt like a total failure and resigned, hanging my head low while waving goodbye to the people that I had personally hired and trained to work for me. For the first time in my life, I experienced depression.

For two months, I searched for the perfect opportunity. During that time, I was declined multiple times for being overqualified or not the right fit. I felt like a complete failure but began thinking, “if you're going to fail, you might as well fail hard.” I became obsessed with networking on LinkedIn. As a dental professional whose profile was very limited, I was amazed that I could message the CEO of the company I was interested in. The running joke between my husband and I became ‘what CEO are you going to meet today?’ No one could have convinced me that I would be a CEO only a month or two later.

Christmas Eve approached quickly. I had declined all our normal party invitations. Instead, I lay on my sofa, holding back tears while staring at my Christmas tree. It looked so sad without its ornaments. My husband tried putting a few on, but I asked him to stop. There were only a few small presents under the tree for our children. The rest had been purchased by our parents, who were generously helping us during this time. I questioned my worth and ability as a mom, a wife, an employee, a dental professional, a provider- everything.

The new year began, and while I was still filled with sadness, there was a little more hope. Each day got a little better with more hope and more laughter. One day I told my husband, “I wouldn’t want anyone to feel the way I did during my darkest time. I wish I could be the one hiring. I wish I could leverage my connections, skills, and those CEOs I have met on LinkedIn. What if I started a recruiting agency, a nonclinical one!?”

So I did.

I have grown a lot over the past few years, and while I still cry over stress, the stress is different because it is my own. Giving up would have been simple, no one would have blamed or shamed me for it. However, I refused to let any of my setbacks or mistakes control my future. No one can forge your path or create your journey. It’s normal to fail and question yourself and your worth, but no one can control your worth. Your worth is something that’s deep inside your core that no one can touch.

My journey to finding nonclinical success wasn’t easy. My entrepreneurial journey isn’t easy. But my journey became a lot easier when I learned to embrace its difficulties. I used to cry when I failed, but now I embrace it, learn from it, and fail forward. I failed to inform myself about intellectual property, and I now always request a signed mutual NDA before a business meeting. I failed to review my employment contract, and I now highly encourage everyone to thoroughly review theirs. I failed to stand up for myself and my worth, but now I support my dental colleagues that have forgotten their worth and encourage them to remember their value. My mission is to help dental professionals transition into nonclinical careers by becoming the source of hope and truth. By partnering with companies that align with our values of integrity and relationships, we create thriving career paths.

The Dentele Group has now been featured in four entrepreneur magazines, an HR publication, a recruiting software article, and four podcasts. I was asked to speak at a conference regarding nonclinical career paths. My agency was nominated for Top Talent’s Recruiting Agency of the Year and Top Startup Agency to Watch in 2022. The Dentele Group not only gives others hope, it saved me.

About the author:

Allison is the nonclinical career matchmaker, Founder and CEO of the Dentele Group, and host of the series ‘Tooth be Told. She used her experience and connections in the dental industry, combined with her strong entrepreneurial instincts to launch the fast-growing startup. Her vision is to be the source of hope and truth for candidates by becoming the "go-to" source of talent in the dental industry.