As the founder of Grand Lake Dental, Dr. Karl Jobst, DDS, has established a dental practice that is able to provide patients with the greatest level of care through the use of the latest procedures and most recent technological innovations. Dr. Jobst founded what would eventually become Grand Lake Dental in 1998, and in 2010 the clinic underwent new construction that added the latest in dental technologies and enabled the doctor to provide only the most exceptional care possible through his state-of-the-art clinic in Grove, Oklahoma.
One of the most credentialed dentists in the state of Oklahoma, Dr. Jobst completed his undergraduate work at Missouri State University before moving on to the University of Tennessee College of Dental Medicine, the school from which he earned his degree in dentistry. Since his graduation from dental school, Dr. Jobst has consistently pursued additional opportunities in education, having completed post-graduate programs from both the Las Vegas Institute and the University of Southern California.
Dr. Jobst is only one of a few dentists in the state permitted by the Dental Board to administer IV sedation, and his fellowships from the Academy of General Dentistry and the International College of Oral Implantology place him in select company among dentists in the state of Oklahoma. His efforts in pursuing these additional certifications and his dedication to continuing education earned Dr. Jobst official recognition from the Oklahoma Dental Association in 2008. With Dr. Jobst’s impressive education and experience, Grand Lake Dental has become one of the foremost providers of dental care in the area.
Where did the idea for Grand Lake Dental come from?
Ever since I decided to pursue a career in the field of dentistry I knew that I wanted to be on the cutting edge with regard to the latest innovations in the field. I realized that the best way to ensure that my patients would have access to only the best level care would be to open a practice of my own. As our client base grew, we continued to invest in the latest technologies so that our patients would be the ones who would benefit.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I typically arrive at the office very early so I can go over the procedures that are scheduled and review each patient’s history before they arrive. I discuss the schedule with my staff and make sure everyone is informed of their respective responsibilities for the day, and then we begin seeing patients. I am fortunate to have an incredible staff that allows me to completely focus on the care that patients receive, and at the end of the day we conduct our daily review and begin preparing for the next day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
For me, collaboration is the key. I may have a seedling of an idea in my mind, and it begins to grow and take shape as I continue to discuss it with members of my staff. I have tried to create an atmosphere in which everyone feels comfortable making their voice heard, and we always value the thoughts and ideas we share with one another.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
There have been so many advancements in dental technology that make it possible to perform procedures in a minimally invasive manner. A lot of these procedures used to require a lot of recovery time and could be quite uncomfortable for the patient, but there have been some recent developments that have made these procedures so much simpler and less invasive.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I have never allowed myself to become complacent and I never will. There is always so much more that can be learned and there are so many ways to improve yourself, so I want to make sure that I am always working to become a better dentist than I am today.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
I do not believe that any job is a bad one, but I learned at a very early age that I would prefer to be my own boss. I also learned how frustrating it can be for employees to feel like their voices are not heard, so I have always encouraged my staff to feel safe in expressing anything they believe could improve the business.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
I am very proud of what I have accomplished, but I think I would have started constructing the new clinic sooner than I did. It was safer to wait, but we could have reached a lot more patients much sooner.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I ask for feedback from my patients and staff every single day. The best way to improve upon something is to make sure you understand the different perspectives that people have.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
We do offer the most advanced procedures available and use the best technology in the field, but it really comes down to how we treat our patients. Our patients know that we all truly care about them a great deal, and I think they appreciate that.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I am fortunate in that I cannot claim any significant failure, but the closest thing I can think of is that I failed to expand my business when I first had the opportunity. I waited, but I wish that we had gone forward with expansion much earlier.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
My expertise is in dentistry, so my business ideas may not be suited to most entrepreneurs. I will simply say that entrepreneurs should know that successful business ventures are the product of continued hard work.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
One of my assistants has a daughter in the Girl Scouts and was helping her sell cookies at the office. I bought $100 worth of them for the office break room and the staff has really appreciated the opportunity to point out the irony of a dentist providing access to so many sweets.
What software and web services do you use? What do you love about them?
The billing software we use is excellent, as there are a lot of complex factors relating to insurance that it really simplifies. Our scheduling software has really eased the burden on our staff too.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
I just read a book by Ed Catmull of Pixar called “Creativity, Inc.” It was very insightful and would be beneficial to any entrepreneur who is looking to foster their own creativity.
What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others?
I have an interest in flying, and ever since reading “The Right Stuff” I have followed the work of John Glenn. I also enjoy Sir Richard Branson’s insights on the need to constantly improve as both an individual and as an entrepreneur.
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Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.