Expanding Beyond Dentistry

Speaker 1 0:42

Welcome everybody to the Beauty of Breathing podcast . I have a very special guest with us today , my good friend Elijah Desmond . Thank you so much for being with me today .

Speaker 2 0:50

I'm happy to be here . Thanks for having me .

Speaker 1 0:52

Before we start , I want you to introduce yourself , tell people who you are , what you do .

Speaker 2 0:58

Wow , all right . So my name is Elijah Desmond and I am a proud father of two and husband of one . I'm a dental hygienist , I'm a serial entrepreneur and I'm not afraid to lose . So I've created a whole lot of things and celebrity dental DJ , traveled the world DJing and now back into speaking and love kids , saving kids' lives and , yeah , I just love being my authentic self . Thanks for having me .

Speaker 1 1:30

I mean seriously . What do you not do , is the question , and that's exactly what I want to talk about today . In Brazil , the verb to be has actually two different words . Here you say I am In Brazil . There's two different words that mean different things within the same verb to be . So , follow me , I can say I am hungry and I can say I am Renata , and they mean two different things , right , because one of them really defines me and the other one says what I am right now . For example , I used to say I am a dental hygienist , but I can say I am a mother , I am a child of God .

Speaker 1 2:19

However , how do we go through life without making what we do define us ? In dentistry , especially dentists , they give up so much of their lives for their dream to become a dentist , and I noticed that they have such a hard time getting away from that because they've invested so much , and you are the one person who does so many different things . You're always finding something to challenge yourself , and I truly believe that that's how you grow as a person , that's how you grow as a human , that's how you serve more people and that's how it makes you more prosperous , and you can only overflow into other people's lives if you are prosperous in that way . So what message do you have for business owners out there to not let whatever they're doing right now define who they are ? And how do you give them advice to not be afraid to go out out of their career to to do something else ? If they , you know , if dentistry is not in their heart anymore , how do they get out of there ? How do they ?

Speaker 2 3:37

expand , absolutely . So first off , I'm going to tell you we're in the best profession ever . I I believe that dentistry is by far the best industry to be in . I also want to tell you that if you are a dentist or you are a hygienist or whatever you are , you have the ability to do whatever you want in our industry because you have those credentials , you have the experience , and so now all you have to do is take what you know and apply it other ways .

Speaker 2 4:04

So I have started over 20 businesses and I've helped people start hundreds of things in dentistry . And what is a thing ? Being speakers , being consultants , being authors , giving them the stage and making them an influencer , helping people monetize what they already know . So I guess you know I started this group , trapped in an Op about eight years ago because I felt trapped in a clinical operatory and I was not in there long , even though I still hold an active license in Hawaii . I was not in long . When I say I wasn't in long , I worked for somebody for 10 months and then I started a business , a staffing agency .

Speaker 2 4:44

It was my first business in which I successfully sold . A lot of the businesses don't end up like successes , by the way . I failed on about seven businesses miserably . But I started a business right away because I couldn't stay working clinically forever . I just was busting at the seams Like , if you can imagine , you know me well Can you imagine me staying in one room all day long ? How about jumping to three different rooms ? Can you imagine that ?

Speaker 1 5:10

No , oh my goodness . And it's crazy because , as a hygienist , we know how much time and how difficult it is for us to go through that process in 10 months only and you said I can't do this , that process in 10 months only , and you said I can't .

Speaker 2 5:24

Yeah , I was , yeah , I was done , I couldn't , I couldn't do it . You know , I believe that rules are made to be broken . I don't like to follow rules . I am not hireable . Now there's some people who are still doing the same thing and they're their own boss . But I just want to tell you that there's so many other things outside those four walls and you have the ability to do everything , and it's scary at first . I mean , a long time ago , I was nervous knocking on doors and handing out business cards . I'm zero nervous now .

Speaker 1 5:53

Because , we have nothing to lose , right ? One of my mentors says you mentioned failure . One of my mentors says there's no such thing as failure . You either win or you learn .

Speaker 2 6:04

Yes , absolutely , and I believe that the failures are what you learn the most from . I believe in little failures . I don't believe in big failures . I can pick up all of those failures , put them together , and now I'm so far along . I , at one point before the pandemic , I literally had 14 different income streams LLCs .

Speaker 2 6:22

Incredible I have two Wow Now and I wrote the book . It was made bestseller called Serial Entrepreneur from Startup to Success . I did it in 2018 . At the time , I think I had 11 or 12 businesses . Now , if I were to write another book , it would be called how Not to Be a Serial Entrepreneur . I think it's okay to do multiple things , but if I were to tell my younger self what to do different , it would be just do less . So it's okay to do two or three things , but doing so many things is crazy . But the thing that saved me was that I was doing so many things Because when I had this thing called the pandemic happen , I have multiple income streams coming in . Guess what ? Half of them got knocked all the way out , including my biggest income stream , which was smiles at sea . But because I had multiple forms of income , I was able to survive it and now I can tell people about it and be vulnerable and authentic and share with people so they can spend time .

Speaker 1 7:24

That is incredible , One of the things that I have learned going through this , because I have zero business training and all of a sudden , you know , this thing fell in my lap . I was a dental hygienist for about 10 years and then I started myofunctional therapy , which was a calling . I feel so blessed to be able to help people breathe better and sleep better and feel better . And then we started Airway Circle out of the blue because I needed to have the connection with other professionals . We can't do what we do by ourselves .

Speaker 1 8:00

Going into that , I'm gonna ask you what can you give as advice in terms of networking , Because I don't believe that I would be where I am today if it wasn't for the networking potential and the networking events that I have attended . You were one of the first ones that reached out to me and helped me so much in the beginning , when I had no idea what I was doing . I'm still learning every day , but what do you give as advice for those early young entrepreneurs who want to start something else on the side ? How important is to be able to sit on the right table .

Speaker 2 8:42

Yes , absolutely . You have to be in the room . So you have to show up . Number one there's a lot of people out there that say I don't have time , I'm doing this and that and they want change , they want growth , but you don't show up . So , number one , show up . And show up where dental professionals are . That are where you want to be . Show up and meet the people , these people that have did major things , big things . They're still human . They will talk to you , they're happy to talk to you , but you have to be in the same room with them . And , ultimately , when you're in the same room , you end up getting invited to the right table and I remember introducing you to Glenn .

Speaker 1 9:17

Yes , that's why I'm here , Because and I remember introducing you to Glenn yes , that's why I'm here , because of Elijah Dr Glenn Bo invited me to come out last year and again this year to the Dental Podfest and it's been absolutely incredible .

Speaker 1 9:27

And here we are recording a live my first live podcast in the Dental Podfest . So if you are in the dental field and you're not here , you're missing out that room out there . If you are in the dental field and you're not here , you're missing out that room out there . It is filled with opportunities for you to grow , for you to get out of your shell , for you to improve your business . And they're talking about marketing right now , and I'm so sad that I'm missing , because marketing is one of my biggest dreams and you have the queen of AI walking right by us right here . There's so many changes and you have to keep up 100% investing . This is not money that you're spending . Investing into being in the same room is so freaking important . And one extremely important thing about networking networking is not about where you're going to get from the table .

Speaker 2 10:11

Yeah , oh , my goodness . So let me speak on that . I'm going to tell you that 2015 , 2014 , when I was coming out as an entrepreneur , I would give to people , I would network with people , thinking I was going to get something back in return . My heart got broke so many times , it's not even funny . So I started giving purely . And when I gave purely , that means that I'm giving and I'm helping and I'm serving . I don't need nothing back .

Speaker 2 10:40

And what's insane is , 10 years later now , all of those people that I've built relationships that I didn't even ask anything for . I created one thing , and it was dental pitch brokerage . Now I'm selling businesses primarily dental practices , but regular businesses in the dental industry as well . But , what's crazy , I didn't realize at the time what I was building and the relationships that I was creating was going to be for something way bigger . And so now I'm literally helping people make many millions and tens of millions of dollars , and I had no idea what that journey , all that giving , was going to do . Now I can continue to give and serve people and help them to sell their dental practice , to sell their business , and that all came from giving purely , and I'm still giving .

Speaker 2 11:17

I'm giving them the retirement of their dreams , essentially , their exit of their dreams .

Speaker 1 11:22

If there's something that I have learned from you and Glenn , is that if you want to prosper in life , serve . The more people you serve , the more prosperous you're going to be , because it's the main reason why we are here we are called to serve . With whatever we have been , all the experiences that we have been throughout our lives , I do believe that God allows us to learn from those so we can go out and rescue other people and help other people . You know , it's not about us , it's about Him . So you guys have been the most given , the most kind people I have ever met

Achieving Success Through Abundance Mindset

Speaker 1 11:58

. There are so many people in the field that they learn something and they immediately feel I can't share this , I can't share this . I found a gold mine . I can't share this , it's only mine . What happens when you hold on to things ?

Speaker 2 12:12

Yes , absolutely . I mean , when you hold on things , I mean you don't get the joy of sharing with other people . Number one what you just explained is a scarcity mindset . I have an abundance mindset , so there's so many people out there that have had businesses or did things like me and what I do is I embrace those people . They're a little scared and they're going and they won't share .

Speaker 2 12:30

I've always shared . I've given the blueprint because there's so much to go around . An abundance mindset is everything . One plus one to me doesn't equal two , it's 11 . And I don't think one minus one equals zero . And ultimately , I believe in the power of alignment , the power of joining together . I believe iron sharpens iron . I'll tell you that , at the end of the day , there are majority of people that have a scarcity mindset . I have the polar opposite and I'm never going to change .

Speaker 1 12:58

And listen to that . So , for , for those people that are out there , they're barely starting a business and they're looking at Elijah and they're looking at Dr Glenn and they're saying there's no way I could have a make millions , there's no way I could ever get out of what I'm doing and and and be so prosperous in so many levels and I'm not talking about financially only , but having a successful , strong family . I mean , whenever I see you with your daughters and your wife , my goodness , how many people want to have you know , family is the base for everything , uh but , but different businesses and spiritual growth and all of that . How do you , um guide people into saying is this for everybody ? Where you're living right now , elijah , you were a hygienist for 10 months . Can anybody else achieve this ?

Speaker 2 13:46

Can they achieve it ? Yes , do you want to achieve it ? I don't know . My level of my version of success , by the way , is defined not by money , by family and by health as well as financial , and some people are way more heavily weighted in the family , or some are in the financial , some are in the health . It's hard to find a balance , and that balance is not always 50-50 .

Speaker 2 14:09

There's different seasons for everything , and really for me it's not . Can anybody do what I'm doing ? I think it's more like can you do what you dream of doing ?

Speaker 2 14:19

And I think the answer to that is yes . I know the answer to that is yes , but you have to make a change . Most people are not happy . They're not happy with their body , they're not happy with their money , they're not happy with their family . But you do have the ability to be , but you have to take the first step to doing it , and I'm not afraid to take those steps .

Speaker 1 14:37

Incredible . All right Give everybody as we close today . This has been an incredible talk and you guys are going to listen more on Beauty of Breathing , a little bit more of business growth and personal growth and family you know , raising families instead of just airway stuff Because I want to add everything that Renata is into this and I can keep sharing everything that I'm learning throughout my life , because I know that all of this can serve other people . So , as we close this , can you give all these entrepreneurs out there three main tips . What can they do today ? Simple steps to get to their next level . Of course , very important that if you are here , you're never going to be able . If you're on the first step for those who are listening you cannot all of a sudden jump to step number 10 . You have to go one at a time so you can get there . But what are three main tips that you can give people that they can go ahead and start doing today to grow in all aspects of their lives ?

Speaker 2 15:37

Absolutely . Tip number one close mouths , don't get fed . So you have free resources such as Facebook , instagram , youtube . Be active so you can have a dream , you can have an inspiration , but if you keep it to yourself , you're ultimately harming yourself . So close mouths , don't get fed . Open your mouth , type on your keyboard , get on podcasts , show up to events , but close mouth , don't get fed . You have to tell people what you have and when you exist , and there's three platforms for that .

Speaker 2 16:04

That's number one . Number two invest in yourself . You have to invest in yourself . I told everybody in the room on stage I am 371 years wise , why I am not afraid to pay for a shortcut . I bend time with money . I am not afraid to pay for a shortcut .

Speaker 1 16:18

I bend time . With money , I bend time .

Speaker 2 16:19

And this is since the beginning of time when I didn't have money . I put that on a credit card .

Speaker 2 16:24

I knew eventually I was going to go get the bag , go get the money and then I would pay it back . But ultimately you have to invest and stop being afraid of investing in your future . Bend time . That's how I'm 371 years old . That's tip number two . Tip number three is be your authentic self . Be your authentic self . You don't have to fake it for anybody . Your people are going to find you . Your tribe is going to find you . You're going to be doing what you absolutely love , right , and you're going to be ultimately not working anymore because you're doing what you love . You're being true to yourself . Your authentic self and your people are going to find you .

Speaker 1 16:57

That has been an incredible talk . Thank you guys so much for listening . Thank you , elijah , for being here , and I know that we're going to keep serving people and meeting each other in all these events that we go to . Let's keep doing it , brother .

Speaker 2 17:08

All right , let's do it . Thank you , bye .

Speaker 1 17:10

Bye-bye .