018: Why Associates Leave: The Real Cost of Debt, Disconnection & Broken Mentorship | Dr. Jeff Grove

In this deeply honest part-two conversation with Dr. Jeff Grove, we pull back the curtain on one of the most emotionally charged topics in dentistry today: associateship—what works, what fails, and why so many docs on both sides feel frustrated, misunderstood, or burnt out.Jeff built his career from owning a single thriving practice with multiple associates… to leading 10 dental offices as clinical director and board member… to coaching dentists today through the realities of leadership, identity, and the messy middle no one prepares you for.And he doesn’t hold back.Jeff shares the raw truth about why his earliest associate relationships were magical—and why everything shifted when he scaled. He breaks down the biggest mistakes leaders make when hiring and developing associates… the emotional and financial pressures young doctors face… and how debt, fantasy, comparison culture, and misaligned expectations are quietly eroding confidence and trust across the profession.We also dive into something almost no one in dentistry talks about openly:money shame, conspicuous vs. inconspicuous wealth, identity shifts, and the grief that comes with realizing your career and life don’t look like the fantasy you once held.If you're an associate who feels behind, an owner who feels frustrated, or a leader trying to figure out how to build real connection—not just contracts and coverage schedules—this episode will hit hard in all the right ways.You’ll learn:Why the best associate relationships happen when senior doctors are boots on the groundWhat Jeff could NOT scale (and why it led to associate turnover)The role of debt in shaping urgency, decision-making, and conflictThe growing gap between associate expectations and owner realitiesHow social media is amplifying comparison, imposter syndrome, and impatienceWhy mentorship—not money—accelerates a young doctor’s careerThe difference between conspicuous and inconspicuous wealthHow identity, ego, and emotional development shape our career choicesWhy every associate needs peers, mentors, and people they can pour back intoA powerful perspective shift: “Where was I five years ago?”This episode is honest. It’s grounding. And it gives associates and owners permission to be human again.🔗 Connect with JeffWebsite: https://ascensiondentalcoach.com/LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-grove-09297161🔗 Connect with meLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/ Website: https://courageandjoyatwork.com/ The Empowered LeadHERship Experience for Women in Dental: https://leadhershipexperience.com/ Phone: 616-682-6222