Interview with Author & Leadership Expert Dr. Bruce B. Baird
Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Bruce B. Baird is a 1980 graduate of the UT Health Science Dental school in San Antonio. After graduation he spent 4 years in the U.S. Army in Korea and at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio. After leaving the service he built a scratch dental practice in the small town of Granbury Texas. Over 38 years he grew the practice into a multi doctor multi-million-dollar business with revenues in 2019 of over 5 million dollars.
Dr. Baird has lectured across the U.S. and Internationally for over 30 years. His topics include leadership, cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, communication skills and the business of dentistry. He taught at the Implant preceptorship at the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School in San Antonio and to the seniors at Baylor Dental School.
He founded Productive Dentistry Academy 18 years ago which has grown to a world class organization with doctors from all 50 states and 19 countries attending their workshops. With his partner Victoria Peterson they have grown the company to 32 employees providing seminars, coaching, and marketing to thousands of dentists across North America.
In 2011 Dr. Baird founded Comprehensive Finance Inc. a company that helps businesses across the U.S. do their own in-house financing. They have helped originate over 300 million dollars in financing across multiple industries. They rapidly became one of the largest financial tech companies in healthcare. CFI was sold in June of 2021 to AKKR one of the largest private equity firms in the world. Dr. Baird has continued with the company as a key opinion leader and investor.
Dr. Bruce B. Baird is a coach, mentor, podcaster, international lecturer, keynote speaker, author, and serial entrepreneur. He has successfully started multiple successful businesses across different industries. He is known for his relatable and down to earth speaking style.
Can you share with our readers how you started your company and the mission behind it?
Being a serial entrepreneur I have built multiple businesses either to help my chosen field of dentistry or to help patients have better access to care.
During the pandemic many people lost their jobs and livelihood, how did your company adapt and pivot during this time to be what it is today?
My companies stood out through reaching our clients personally. I did 57 webinars to our clients over a 3 month period to offer guidance, suggestions as well as concrete things they could do daily to offset the effects of the pandemic on their lives and their businesses.
If you could go back and talk to your younger self what would you tell him and why?
I would tell him to pace himself and add balance to your life. I had a tendency to engulf myself in projects that took me away from my family, friends and my own personal fitness.
Please tell us about your new book.
My book Legendary Leadership is a book that exposes the good, the bad and the evolution of myself into becoming a leader. Legendary Leadership is something I learn everyday and is more of a journey than a destination. It’s a story how ordinary people can become uncommon leaders in every aspect of their life.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now?
I am currently working on a golf sports bar and restaurant franchise called Mulligans Golf based out of Granbury Texas. I am also starting a Franchise for Dentists called SAME DAY SMILES which allows them to streamline their ability to offer cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry in a timely and economical way to their patients. The company offers training in the latest digital and printing technologies in the world increasing predictability and decreasing costs.
Where do you see yourself and your career going in this new year and in the future?
I am planning to continue leading my businesses to take better care of our clients and to build new leaders every day.
How can our readers connect with you on social media?
