WEBVTT 00:00:10.119 --> 00:00:12.599 Welcome to Bite Size Dental Marketing. My name 00:00:12.599 --> 00:00:15.240 is Ian and I am your host today and I'm joined 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:21.719 by the lovely Dr. Rima Arnook. Dr. Rima is one 00:00:21.719 --> 00:00:24.260 of the most amazing stories that I've heard in 00:00:24.260 --> 00:00:26.780 terms of dentistry, coming to America from Syria, 00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:29.940 starting two dental practices, going into business 00:00:29.940 --> 00:00:33.140 with her family, which a lot of people, Doc, 00:00:33.159 --> 00:00:35.600 many times say, don't go into business with your 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:39.060 family, but somehow you did it incredibly. and 00:00:39.060 --> 00:00:41.240 I've invited her to come and talk to us today 00:00:41.240 --> 00:00:44.719 just to hear more about her story, to share some 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:47.359 insights for the younger generation of dentists 00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:49.399 that are either thinking of coming to America 00:00:49.399 --> 00:00:51.759 or that are starting their own practices, what 00:00:51.759 --> 00:00:53.939 she's learned, and also what it's like working 00:00:53.939 --> 00:00:56.600 with a family. So, Dr. Rima, I want to say thank 00:00:56.600 --> 00:00:58.520 you so much for making time today to come and 00:00:58.520 --> 00:01:01.439 talk to us. My pleasure. Of course. So, I want 00:01:01.439 --> 00:01:04.280 to start at the beginning because, as I said, 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:06.980 one of my favorite things about you and about... 00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:10.900 working with your practice is the fact that you 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:14.319 have a unique story that is not just, it doesn't 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:17.079 happen overnight. This takes a lot of dedication, 00:01:17.379 --> 00:01:20.140 a lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice, which 00:01:20.140 --> 00:01:21.939 I know you had to go through. And I would love 00:01:21.939 --> 00:01:23.620 to hear if you can take me through the story 00:01:23.620 --> 00:01:28.700 from why you went into dentistry to deciding 00:01:28.700 --> 00:01:31.620 this is the dream I want to follow, moving to 00:01:31.620 --> 00:01:34.540 America, starting your businesses. So I will 00:01:34.540 --> 00:01:36.799 sit back and I will let you tell your story. 00:01:37.069 --> 00:01:40.790 Thank you. So I was born in the United States. 00:01:40.870 --> 00:01:43.329 My parents were in the United States. My dad 00:01:43.329 --> 00:01:46.150 is an electric engineer. He went to school here. 00:01:46.370 --> 00:01:50.349 And then my mom was so homesick. So we had to 00:01:50.349 --> 00:01:53.890 move back to Syria against really my dad's will. 00:01:54.329 --> 00:01:58.109 And I grew up in Syria. I graduated as a dentist 00:01:58.109 --> 00:02:01.790 from Syria. And then I got married to my best 00:02:01.790 --> 00:02:04.280 friend since we were in... First grade. We've 00:02:04.280 --> 00:02:06.560 been together since we were six years old. We 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:08.860 lived in the same town. We went to the same school. 00:02:09.580 --> 00:02:12.099 And then we both went to dental school in two 00:02:12.099 --> 00:02:16.240 different cities. We got married and I came back 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:19.120 to the United States because of our upbringing. 00:02:19.979 --> 00:02:24.419 My dad really was always talking about the United 00:02:24.419 --> 00:02:26.960 States and the opportunities you can have. If 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:28.860 you want to better yourself, if you want to learn 00:02:28.860 --> 00:02:31.780 more, if you want to do better, you have a chance 00:02:31.780 --> 00:02:34.310 to always do better. So it was like I did in 00:02:34.310 --> 00:02:37.090 my head. So we came to the United States and 00:02:37.090 --> 00:02:41.270 then we went again. We had to study again because 00:02:41.270 --> 00:02:43.830 we need to be licensed in the United States. 00:02:44.050 --> 00:02:47.009 So it was very difficult, that cultural shock. 00:02:47.129 --> 00:02:51.270 I know my sister is a doctor as well, and she 00:02:51.270 --> 00:02:53.949 had moved to the Netherlands and went through 00:02:53.949 --> 00:02:56.409 a similar process. So how many years extra, what 00:02:56.409 --> 00:02:59.500 did you have to do when you came over? Yeah, 00:02:59.560 --> 00:03:01.860 it took us an extra three years. We came here, 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:05.740 we all speak very good English. We had very little 00:03:05.740 --> 00:03:09.960 money. And then I was pregnant with our oldest 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:15.000 daughter. So it was quite a struggle. It was 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:18.060 not easy. We had no family here. So we basically 00:03:18.060 --> 00:03:22.740 became closer because I only had him, he only 00:03:22.740 --> 00:03:24.879 had me. And we had to figure everything out from 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:28.360 the language to... He worked with Dominus Pizza. 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:33.379 And I used to wait for him for just the tips 00:03:33.379 --> 00:03:36.460 so I can keep him on the side so I can buy stuff 00:03:36.460 --> 00:03:39.360 for Miriam. So it was difficult. And then we 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:42.419 had to work so hard to learn the English, the 00:03:42.419 --> 00:03:45.680 terminology, because we had very little English. 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:48.960 And the culture, the cultural shock. You know, 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:52.539 you're with no friends, no family, and then you 00:03:52.539 --> 00:03:55.539 have to learn the rules. It was a lot. It's a 00:03:55.539 --> 00:03:58.620 whole new beginning. It's a whole new beginning 00:03:58.620 --> 00:04:02.680 that you needed to take on together. Yes. Yes. 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:05.099 And I think this is the story of every immigrant. 00:04:06.620 --> 00:04:09.520 Everybody has a story to tell. I'm not the only 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:11.819 one or my husband. We're not the only people. 00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:14.560 So it's really hard. But that actually, doctor, 00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:16.279 that's why I wanted to talk to you because I 00:04:16.279 --> 00:04:19.180 feel that the immigrant story of America is what 00:04:19.180 --> 00:04:23.019 built America. That is people like you that takes 00:04:23.019 --> 00:04:26.410 that leap of faith to, To say, I'm going to go 00:04:26.410 --> 00:04:29.490 and create a future for myself in this foreign 00:04:29.490 --> 00:04:32.649 place. I mean, that is what America, in my opinion, 00:04:32.670 --> 00:04:35.009 as a South African, that is what America was 00:04:35.009 --> 00:04:38.490 built on. And reality is, it's a great country. 00:04:40.410 --> 00:04:42.990 If you work hard and you're very persistent, 00:04:43.189 --> 00:04:46.949 like you really want to do it, you have a chance. 00:04:47.110 --> 00:04:49.730 Anybody in this country have a chance to build 00:04:49.730 --> 00:04:53.649 a business or to follow their dreams. You can 00:04:53.649 --> 00:04:55.470 follow your dreams. You can achieve your dreams. 00:04:55.689 --> 00:04:58.050 But you have to be very persistent. You have 00:04:58.050 --> 00:05:00.670 to respect the rules. You have to understand 00:05:00.670 --> 00:05:03.009 you're not in your country. You have to adapt. 00:05:04.069 --> 00:05:06.730 Adaptation is very important. I see a lot of 00:05:06.730 --> 00:05:08.730 people who don't succeed because they don't want 00:05:08.730 --> 00:05:10.449 to adapt. You know, they don't want to adapt 00:05:10.449 --> 00:05:13.300 to that. to the rules of the country. They want 00:05:13.300 --> 00:05:16.720 to adapt to the culture. You have to blend with 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:18.540 the culture. You have to understand and take 00:05:18.540 --> 00:05:20.620 what's good for you. So I think... Because at 00:05:20.620 --> 00:05:22.959 the end of the day, your business will be created 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:26.139 in that country now. It is not... You now need 00:05:26.139 --> 00:05:29.079 to assimilate, as you were saying, to play to 00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:31.079 your crowd, if I can put it that way, because 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:33.560 you're trying to build a business. Right now... 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:36.680 I feel I was born in Glendora. I was raised in 00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:38.899 Glendora. And I still love my country. I still 00:05:38.899 --> 00:05:41.060 visit. And I still have the culture at home. 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:43.180 We keep the culture. But you have to feel you 00:05:43.180 --> 00:05:47.060 belong. And you have to be very persistent. I 00:05:47.060 --> 00:05:50.300 never give up. Never. You never give up. Because 00:05:50.300 --> 00:05:53.660 as you were saying, I think that the scary part, 00:05:53.740 --> 00:05:58.199 especially as you said, which many immigrants 00:05:58.199 --> 00:06:01.089 and even... Dentist immigrants that are coming 00:06:01.089 --> 00:06:03.529 over to America have this thing of not everyone 00:06:03.529 --> 00:06:05.470 comes in starting with money or having this bright 00:06:05.470 --> 00:06:07.269 future ahead of them. As you said now, you had 00:06:07.269 --> 00:06:09.490 to come in with your husband with not a lot of 00:06:09.490 --> 00:06:11.589 money, with not speaking the language very well. 00:06:11.810 --> 00:06:14.730 But yet you carved this path forward for yourself. 00:06:14.930 --> 00:06:18.160 And I would love to hear how. You told me the 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:20.860 story about how at the dental trade shows, you 00:06:20.860 --> 00:06:23.220 would have your two daughters with you because 00:06:23.220 --> 00:06:24.860 you couldn't leave them at home because they 00:06:24.860 --> 00:06:27.240 were still too young. So you're trying to build 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:29.519 this business. You have the two babies on your 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:32.319 sides and you're creating this business. Can 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:36.420 you tell me a bit about the story of how when 00:06:36.420 --> 00:06:39.639 you did your extra three years, you're now ready 00:06:39.639 --> 00:06:42.339 to be a dentist in America. What was those first 00:06:42.339 --> 00:06:45.430 steps that you put in place? to start getting 00:06:45.430 --> 00:06:48.069 your business off of the ground uh the first 00:06:48.069 --> 00:06:51.430 thing we we were not able to have or all our 00:06:51.430 --> 00:06:54.170 kids at the same time so we had our kids spread 00:06:54.170 --> 00:06:57.750 so much like we have five years between our oldest 00:06:57.750 --> 00:06:59.509 daughter and the second daughter and we have 00:06:59.509 --> 00:07:01.910 eight years between the second and the third 00:07:01.910 --> 00:07:05.709 because i couldn't be a devoted mom and that 00:07:05.709 --> 00:07:09.189 was my biggest problem like my biggest agony 00:07:09.189 --> 00:07:12.290 was the guilt feeling guilty because we don't 00:07:12.290 --> 00:07:14.949 have family here We don't have a support system. 00:07:15.050 --> 00:07:19.490 So we only have each other. So that was the most 00:07:19.490 --> 00:07:23.149 difficult part. And then, of course, you can't. 00:07:23.149 --> 00:07:25.350 That's why you're saying playing business owner 00:07:25.350 --> 00:07:27.810 and needing to start the practices and all of 00:07:27.810 --> 00:07:30.970 that and also being a mom is too. I mean, starting 00:07:30.970 --> 00:07:32.970 a business and being a mom is probably two of 00:07:32.970 --> 00:07:35.329 the hardest things that you can ever do. in your 00:07:35.329 --> 00:07:37.370 life from at least experience from what I've 00:07:37.370 --> 00:07:40.230 spoken to my mom about. So I can imagine that 00:07:40.230 --> 00:07:42.430 must have been very tough. It's very hard. But 00:07:42.430 --> 00:07:45.569 my husband, truly, he's my biggest support, my 00:07:45.569 --> 00:07:49.449 biggest fan, my biggest cheerleader. He's my 00:07:49.449 --> 00:07:53.009 best friend. I owe him a lot. He empowered me 00:07:53.009 --> 00:07:56.610 a lot. He always was there for me when I fell 00:07:56.610 --> 00:07:59.980 down or when I felt guilty and vice versa. Like 00:07:59.980 --> 00:08:02.199 you wake up in the morning when you see the other 00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:04.660 person is not feeling well, immediately you become 00:08:04.660 --> 00:08:08.660 very strong. You're ready to go. And then vice 00:08:08.660 --> 00:08:12.240 versa, you know? So this was very helpful. Yeah, 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:14.600 we had our parents come and help us a few months 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:18.620 there. But basically, I really owe it a lot to 00:08:18.620 --> 00:08:22.360 him, to his support. Because I like me now more 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:26.139 than me if I was not working. I owe a lot. I 00:08:26.139 --> 00:08:28.879 owe a lot to my work. And you're touching on 00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:31.860 a point here that I think is the next question 00:08:31.860 --> 00:08:35.320 that I wanted to go into with you is for dentists 00:08:35.320 --> 00:08:38.120 starting out and for startups. We work with so 00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:40.679 many startups and some of them make it, some 00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:42.419 of them fail. And one thing you started said 00:08:42.419 --> 00:08:45.279 is not giving up is one point that I heard there. 00:08:45.379 --> 00:08:47.379 And I love the point that you made about having 00:08:47.379 --> 00:08:49.840 your husband or having a husband, wife, a support 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:52.259 structure. Some you need to find someone that's 00:08:52.259 --> 00:08:55.379 going to be with you. Is there any other? things 00:08:55.379 --> 00:08:57.379 that come to mind for you as you think of your 00:08:57.379 --> 00:09:00.639 journey from starting the practices that you 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:04.100 did what really helped you in those early days 00:09:04.100 --> 00:09:06.440 that you would say to to a younger generation 00:09:06.440 --> 00:09:08.679 you know as a student and you you have to study 00:09:08.679 --> 00:09:10.940 again when you come at like you are a dentist 00:09:10.940 --> 00:09:12.960 at your country and you and you come here you 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:16.360 have to really associate with people who had 00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:18.740 that path before you and you will always find 00:09:18.740 --> 00:09:21.000 them you will always find them from going to 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:23.460 church from friends from somebody and you have 00:09:23.460 --> 00:09:25.860 to be very open -minded and listen to their story 00:09:25.860 --> 00:09:28.000 you will find people that will not help but you 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:30.379 will always find someone who will help you know 00:09:30.379 --> 00:09:32.659 because they will help you with the path like 00:09:32.659 --> 00:09:36.480 go to this school do this course uh they you 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:38.399 know that the connections are very important 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:41.440 and you never give up you have to do your own 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:43.940 work as well but getting involved in the community 00:09:43.940 --> 00:09:47.240 and and yes finding people finding people that 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:49.710 are going through the same struggles as you or 00:09:49.710 --> 00:09:52.169 that are trying to do the same thing yes so at 00:09:52.169 --> 00:09:57.450 our office i always i always hire um dentists 00:09:57.450 --> 00:10:00.169 foreign dentists from any country uh they're 00:10:00.169 --> 00:10:03.370 so bad as dental assistants they do a horrible 00:10:03.370 --> 00:10:07.429 job and uh i'm very patient with them i don't 00:10:07.429 --> 00:10:09.789 hire them depending on them that they're going 00:10:09.789 --> 00:10:12.470 to give me in return that best assisting and 00:10:12.470 --> 00:10:16.509 you know but i want them to be in touch with 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:21.259 The technology, the new stuff that we have at 00:10:21.259 --> 00:10:25.500 the office, dental terminology. And then my kids, 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:27.639 they always help them with their applications 00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:32.059 because it's very rewarding when you see those 00:10:32.059 --> 00:10:34.700 people going to dental school and you're part 00:10:34.700 --> 00:10:39.240 of their journey. So this is like, yes, we have 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:42.620 a lot. We have a lot of people like who did that, 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:45.679 who did that. I think it would be a good idea 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:47.620 for you to talk to them because it helps other 00:10:47.620 --> 00:10:49.879 students listening to their story. It helps other 00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:52.320 people. You have to connect yourself with somebody 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:54.799 who went through the journey before so they understand 00:10:54.799 --> 00:10:59.580 your agony. So that they can help, yes. A problem 00:10:59.580 --> 00:11:02.740 shared or a difficulty shared is half. And they 00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:06.360 need to be very flexible, willing to learn, to 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:11.779 adapt, and very persistent. I insist on this 00:11:11.779 --> 00:11:14.500 one. Don't give up. Don't give up. You're going 00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:16.120 to fail, you're going to fail, then you're going 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:18.299 to go up, then you're going to go down. It's 00:11:18.299 --> 00:11:20.580 like a roller coaster until you achieve it. I 00:11:20.580 --> 00:11:23.659 love that. Yeah, and once you achieve it, this 00:11:23.659 --> 00:11:27.360 country is a great country. You can do, if you 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:31.360 really want to be whatever you want to be, the 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:33.940 best artist you can be, the best dentist you 00:11:33.940 --> 00:11:35.940 can be. I remember on the grand opening of our 00:11:35.940 --> 00:11:38.379 office, so this will be our second office in 00:11:38.379 --> 00:11:39.899 the United States, and I'll go back to that, 00:11:40.019 --> 00:11:43.120 but at the grand opening of... Foothill Family 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:46.179 Dental Group. I remember I told everybody, I 00:11:46.179 --> 00:11:48.919 don't know how I said that. I said, this office, 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:52.000 one day it's going to be number one England door. 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:54.059 And everybody looked at me because I started 00:11:54.059 --> 00:11:57.059 from scratch. I had no patience. I did not buy 00:11:57.059 --> 00:12:00.419 a practice that's already running. And it's in 00:12:00.419 --> 00:12:04.440 a medical building, no exposure whatsoever. I'm 00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:07.039 on the fourth floor. No one will know there's 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:09.419 a dentist in the office. I was scared to death. 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:13.000 Like I was so scared. And I remember saying, 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:16.399 this office, it's going to be number one in Glendora. 00:12:16.580 --> 00:12:21.019 And I believe we're top dental office in Glendora. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:23.879 We might not be number one, number one, but I 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:27.279 mean, I know we are a top notch office. I know. 00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:29.879 So you have to be giving yourself. You need to 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:31.299 know where you're heading. You have to have a 00:12:31.299 --> 00:12:34.279 goal. And you never, never size down your goal. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:36.960 It has to be a big goal. And you have to keep 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:39.139 going after that goal. No matter what. You have 00:12:39.139 --> 00:12:41.750 to keep going. It's a complete struggle. Yes. 00:12:42.110 --> 00:12:45.830 But the good is in that too. And some of the 00:12:45.830 --> 00:12:49.190 good, if I think about you, and I, of course, 00:12:49.190 --> 00:12:53.929 know your family by now, and it's amazing to 00:12:53.929 --> 00:12:57.809 see how I hear you speaking a lot about your 00:12:57.809 --> 00:12:59.889 daughters, about your husband. What makes your 00:12:59.889 --> 00:13:04.950 dental practices is the fact that you have this 00:13:04.950 --> 00:13:09.169 dynamic. And amazing how both your daughters... 00:13:09.710 --> 00:13:13.830 went into dentistry as well. You have three daughters, 00:13:13.990 --> 00:13:16.429 correct? And the third one is going to dentistry. 00:13:16.769 --> 00:13:20.809 See, so I mean, that is incredible. So what we're 00:13:20.809 --> 00:13:24.230 always taught or what you always hear is don't 00:13:24.230 --> 00:13:28.090 go into business with family or friends. And 00:13:28.090 --> 00:13:32.710 somehow, Rima, you cracked that code. Can you 00:13:32.710 --> 00:13:36.389 tell me a little bit about that journey of all 00:13:36.389 --> 00:13:39.049 three of your daughters also going into dentistry? 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:43.080 You now working with two of your daughters full 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:45.580 time in both of your practices. What has that 00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:47.600 experience been like and what message do you 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:50.759 have for people saying, I can't even imagine 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:54.320 going into business with my family? You know, 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:57.639 in parenting, you have to lead by example. There's 00:13:57.639 --> 00:14:00.600 no talks. Talking and giving lectures doesn't 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:03.240 work, in my opinion. Anything you want from your 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:05.159 kids, you need to do it yourself. So it's very 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:07.120 difficult because you have to discipline yourself, 00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:09.860 re -raise yourself. Before you raise your kids. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:13.740 It's a difficult process. But that's what happened 00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:16.240 with the girls. Because I believe they did see 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:18.460 a passionate mom. Very passionate about what 00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:21.740 she does. So I think that was a good example. 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:24.759 You know, I never asked them. But I'm thinking. 00:14:24.899 --> 00:14:28.700 Because they keep writing things for me. Like 00:14:28.700 --> 00:14:32.379 they leave notes for me. You are a role model. 00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:35.919 Thank you for always working hard. Like they 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:38.100 leave notes for me in the bathroom. when they 00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:43.139 see me overwhelmed or tired. So I know that I 00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:45.240 did lead by example. That was number one because 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:47.960 we never asked them, neither me or my husband, 00:14:48.059 --> 00:14:50.320 to go to dance. Everybody thinks we pushed them 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:52.759 because we want someone to take over the business. 00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:55.320 On the contrary, we really wanted to sell our 00:14:55.320 --> 00:14:59.500 practices and enjoy our life together now because 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:02.960 we worked so hard. We were not planning at all 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:05.200 on kicking the practice. But then Maryam joined. 00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:08.840 And she joined as a dental hygienist. And when 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:11.620 she worked with me, she said, are you going to 00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:14.860 be my boss all the time? I said, basically, yes, 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:16.740 because the hygienist, they have to work under 00:15:16.740 --> 00:15:19.519 a dentist, right? But this is your office. You 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:22.820 can be your own boss. She said, no, no, no, no, 00:15:22.899 --> 00:15:25.080 no, no. I don't work well like that. She went 00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:27.899 back to dental school. So now she's a hygienist 00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:31.220 and a dentist. And she's one of the best dentists 00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:35.710 ever. She's a very good family dentist. She's 00:15:35.710 --> 00:15:40.730 awesome. She's there. She knows everything about 00:15:40.730 --> 00:15:43.769 it. She's really good. She keeps learning. And 00:15:43.769 --> 00:15:47.409 then the second one, Yara, I never knew she was 00:15:47.409 --> 00:15:49.370 going to go to dental school until she came home. 00:15:49.409 --> 00:15:53.289 She said, I applied. No, before she said, I applied. 00:15:53.389 --> 00:15:57.870 She said, I'm taking my DAT. I'm, what? So that's 00:15:57.870 --> 00:16:00.009 how they went to dental school. No one pushed 00:16:00.009 --> 00:16:03.710 them. When they joined the office, that was very 00:16:03.710 --> 00:16:07.480 difficult for me because My patients, my patients, 00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:10.899 they are like everything to me because every 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:14.480 patient is very precious to the office. That 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:17.179 office started from scratch and it took a lot 00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:20.360 of hard work from us as a family. We've been 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:24.039 to every health fair in the community, to a lot 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:26.919 of the schools in Glendora. We worked so hard 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:28.779 on building the practice from patient number 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:32.820 one. So giving those patients to Marion first 00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:35.889 was the most valuable. difficult thing I've been 00:16:35.889 --> 00:16:38.509 through. Because what I did, I did hand her the 00:16:38.509 --> 00:16:41.750 patient from A to Z. And I pulled myself away 00:16:41.750 --> 00:16:44.850 from the floor 100%. And I told her, if you don't 00:16:44.850 --> 00:16:47.529 take care of my patients, you're out. And she 00:16:47.529 --> 00:16:51.629 had to work for three years. I'm your mom, but 00:16:51.629 --> 00:16:55.710 I am your boss. And if you need to do a good 00:16:55.710 --> 00:16:59.169 job, you need to do a good job. And I see that 00:16:59.169 --> 00:17:02.289 all the time. She had to work somewhere else 00:17:02.289 --> 00:17:05.619 for three years. And for her, she started one 00:17:05.619 --> 00:17:08.319 day with me a week before I handed her the patient. 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:11.720 And she was up to it. She really was up to it. 00:17:11.859 --> 00:17:15.140 When I replaced her for her maternity, my patients, 00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:18.700 who I gave to her, they told me, we love you 00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:21.680 and everything, but she's faster. She's more 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:24.819 quick. She's more like, no, no, no, we want her. 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:30.119 I say, okay. So that was like the turning point 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:34.240 is me accepting that they're the bosses. They 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:36.480 are taking care of the patients. Their support 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:39.980 is now. And I love one thing that you touch on 00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:43.700 that I really like, that I speak to many of our 00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:46.779 clients about so many times. And you've touched 00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:49.839 on it a few times now in surrounding yourselves, 00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:52.420 finding support, and talking about the community. 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:58.279 Can you share with me the importance of community 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:02.640 involvement for a dentist trying to build their 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:05.200 business? Because you said now how important 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:08.299 it was to you. What is your message to other 00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:11.099 dentists in getting out in the community, being 00:18:11.099 --> 00:18:14.380 involved in, as you said, the trade shows, the 00:18:14.380 --> 00:18:19.759 fairs, the schools, the luncheons? What has that 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:22.619 meant to you? So I'm a big fan of Glendora because 00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:25.579 we live in Glendora. And then our daughters, 00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:28.140 my daughter went to school in Glendora, our youngest 00:18:28.140 --> 00:18:31.240 daughter. When we moved to Glendora and then... 00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:34.819 Now our granddaughter goes to the same school 00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:37.799 that my daughter went to. So in Landora, you 00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:40.500 feel the stability. You feel the sense of the 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:44.539 community. You feel like from now my daughter 00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:46.779 went to the same school. Now I'm going to my 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:49.339 granddaughter's activities and I see the teachers. 00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:53.380 I see, you know, so it is, you have this sense 00:18:53.380 --> 00:18:55.900 of belonging. You do belong to a strong community, 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:58.480 but you cannot belong if you don't interact. 00:18:59.979 --> 00:19:02.759 I do everything in Glendora. The only thing I 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:06.859 do in Glendora is to go to the mall. I do everything. 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:10.759 I like to connect to the businesses in Glendora. 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:15.019 So I go to the gym in Glendora. My daughters 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:17.420 go to school in Glendora, dry clean in Glendora. 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:19.980 So this is one thing. The other thing is you 00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:23.140 have to be out there. People don't know about 00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:26.119 you. And we are from the old generation where 00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:28.839 we did not depend a lot on social media. Like 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:31.039 the new generation now, they depend a lot on 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:33.619 Facebook and Instagram and everything. But I'm 00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:37.640 from the old generation where we had social interaction 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:40.319 to build your practice. You have to see people 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:42.559 in person. How are they going to know about you 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:44.680 when you are on the fourth floor in a medical 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:46.920 building? That's all doctors. There's no dentist 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:48.960 in the building and you are there. And how are 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:50.740 the people going to come to you? They don't know 00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:54.140 about you. The only way in my life. I wasn't 00:19:54.140 --> 00:19:56.480 a big believer until now. Now I believe how important 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:59.279 social media is. media is but when i started 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:01.799 the office 12 years ago or 13 years ago i said 00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:04.740 it has to be me they have to see me i have to 00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:07.460 see you i will go me and my husband and the kids 00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:11.440 we have a canopy and waters and we put our flyers 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:13.759 and business and we go to all activities not 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:17.039 only health any activity in glendora in the village 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:19.440 downtown glendora we go and then the kids will 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:21.940 take the toothbrushes to businesses maya she 00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:24.880 was eight years old she goes and she tells people 00:20:25.390 --> 00:20:27.589 My mom is a great dentist. You need to go and 00:20:27.589 --> 00:20:29.630 see her. You can go and meet her at the booth. 00:20:30.390 --> 00:20:32.730 Oh, wow. Yeah, something like that. And then 00:20:32.730 --> 00:20:35.809 the people were so happy to see me. Like, you're 00:20:35.809 --> 00:20:38.509 the dentist? Talking to them, giving them my 00:20:38.509 --> 00:20:41.849 business card. I'm not sending someone to represent 00:20:41.849 --> 00:20:45.930 me. I love that. I love that. I speak to all 00:20:45.930 --> 00:20:48.029 of our clients about this so often. And I know 00:20:48.029 --> 00:20:50.049 you're someone that has done this exceptionally 00:20:50.049 --> 00:20:53.759 well. Because... you do have the newer generation 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:55.940 as you're saying especially when dental marketing 00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:58.720 the traditional side of website social media 00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:01.500 paid media and these things when that is not 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:03.539 work that the months that that does not work 00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:06.180 because it does this it's not always just going 00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:09.039 to do this and what you need to do then exactly 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:11.519 to what you're saying is these are all different 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:15.460 factors and different playbooks That is going 00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:17.640 to help your business grow. Yes, you need the 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:19.519 website. You need social media. You need these 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:21.700 things because that's going to help you online. 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:25.259 But think how powerful it is. If they meet you 00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:27.759 in person, they then go and look at your website. 00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:29.900 They then go and look at your reviews and they 00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:32.059 say, I actually met this doctor. And that's why 00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:34.980 I always say, get out into the community, go 00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:37.119 and speak to people. I love what you just said 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:39.259 with the kids going, giving the toothbrushes, 00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:42.250 because that is how you build connections. that 00:21:42.250 --> 00:21:44.410 is the personal connection yes because when they 00:21:44.410 --> 00:21:46.390 see you in person you can't fake you can't change 00:21:46.390 --> 00:21:48.009 you can't like this is you they're seeing you 00:21:48.009 --> 00:21:49.890 in person right if you want to put a photo you 00:21:49.890 --> 00:21:52.990 always make yourself look very good before it 00:21:52.990 --> 00:21:55.470 goes on social media right but when they see 00:21:55.470 --> 00:21:57.670 you in person they're talking to you and then 00:21:57.670 --> 00:22:02.670 i think they they they need to feel that you're 00:22:02.670 --> 00:22:07.250 you care you care you genuinely care they interact 00:22:07.250 --> 00:22:10.240 with you they feel that genuine care and this 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:13.319 is number one i don't care what now the dentists 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:15.619 know the new generation how good they are they 00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:17.740 might be the best with their quality and blah 00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:20.160 blah blah they don't care you need to have empathy 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:23.480 and care basically this is the theme of our office 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:28.339 so we have this everywhere like a sticky notes 00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:30.859 to remind each other empathy and care when your 00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:32.859 patient walks through the door toward the end 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:36.119 believing in you they're vulnerable they're on 00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:38.920 the chair and you are They're vulnerable. You 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:42.240 need to have empathy. And they have stories at 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:44.759 home. Some of them might lost a kid. Some of 00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:49.079 them, maybe they have cancer. Maybe some of them, 00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:52.759 they're divorcing. Or not everybody come and 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:55.759 living this happy dandy life and have in their 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:58.400 pocket $10 ,000. You know, we need to have empathy, 00:22:58.619 --> 00:23:01.000 work with them, work with their needs. Listen 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:03.359 to their story. They have a story. You need to 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:07.500 listen. Connect. So you can help them. You cannot 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:11.240 just have a plan. Okay, you need one, two, three, 00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:12.880 four, five. I'm going to do everything on you. 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:16.799 You're not talking with a robot. No, 100%. And 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:19.880 that's spot on. That's spot on what you're saying 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:23.380 there. I completely agree. Dr. Rima, I so appreciate 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:25.660 you coming on and sharing your story with me 00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:27.680 a bit. I think it's such a beautiful message. 00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:32.740 The themes of what you've shared today, not just 00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:35.910 the stories you told about you coming to America 00:23:35.910 --> 00:23:38.650 and your advice to other immigrant dentists that 00:23:38.650 --> 00:23:41.109 want to come over, but your story of finding 00:23:41.109 --> 00:23:45.049 support and being true to yourself, surrounding 00:23:45.049 --> 00:23:46.970 yourself with your community, being involved 00:23:46.970 --> 00:23:49.990 in your community, setting those big goals and 00:23:49.990 --> 00:23:53.549 going and going and going until you achieve them. 00:23:53.609 --> 00:23:55.910 I just love your story and thank you so much. 00:23:56.359 --> 00:23:58.940 for coming today to talk to me. It's truly been 00:23:58.940 --> 00:24:01.799 a blessing. Thank you for having me. Thank you, 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:05.180 Ian. Okay. And that was your bite of dental marketing. 00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.000 Thank you so much.