20. The Pursuit of Happiness: Are Dentists Ever Truly Satisfied?

Success, money, growth—why does it always feel like more is never enough? In this episode, Chase and Ryan get real about the never-ending chase for happiness in dentistry.

Dentists spend years grinding to build their practices, hitting financial goals, and scaling their teams. But once they reach those milestones… then what? Why does it still feel like there’s always another mountain to climb?

They dive deep into:

• Why financial success doesn’t guarantee happiness
• The struggle between ambition vs. contentment
• How to stay present and grateful while still pushing for growth
• Why dentists (and business owners in general) always move the goalpost
• Personal stories of hard lessons learned in pursuit of “more”

Chase even shares how finishing an Ironman changed his entire perspective on gratitude, mindset, and pushing through discomfort.

If you’ve ever thought, “Once I hit this number, THEN I’ll be happy,” this episode is a must-listen. Success isn’t just about numbers—it’s about enjoying the journey.

👉 Tune in now and learn how to balance ambition with true fulfillment.

LINKS:

• https://www.thedentistsshow.com

Episode Minute By Minute: 

• 00:00 - Welcome to Chandler, Arizona (and some city pride)
• 02:00 - The growth of Chandler Dental—why two offices isn’t working
• 05:00 - The constant “chase” for success in dentistry
• 07:30 - Why hitting financial goals doesn’t bring lasting happiness
• 10:00 - Finding contentment while still being ambitious
• 12:30 - The importance of celebrating wins (instead of always moving the goalpost)
• 15:00 - Chase’s Ironman story—how gratitude pushed him through
• 18:00 - The power of perspective in tough moments
• 21:00 - Can you be both happy and stressed at the same time?
• 24:00 - Why your mindset determines whether you enjoy life (or not)
• 27:00 - Actionable takeaways to bring more joy into your dental career