Leading with Love: Anne Duffy’s Journey of Empowering Women in Dentistry

Anne Duffy  00:00 

You know, it’s just it’s really the journey. So I think you have to enjoy the journey and, you know, and be positive about, you know, and have an have a mission there, right? I mean, you have, it has to be bigger than to me it has to be bigger than money. 

 

Shawn Zajas  00:12 

The future of dentistry belongs to the innovators. Welcome to innovation in dentistry. I’m your host, Shawn Zajas. And I believe that the future of dentistry is going to be unbelievably great over the next decade in two decades. But the question isn’t that the question is, are you going to be part of what makes dentistry great? Okay, so today, I could not be more excited to have the honor and privilege to be with Ann Duffy, you are famous in the world of dentistry and and before I set you up, let me just say, thank you so much for letting me interview you today. 

 

Anne Duffy  00:58 

Hey, it’s my pleasure. I’m excited. I haven’t seen you for a while in person. So this is going to be a fun conversation. 

 

Shawn Zajas  01:05 

So an innovation in dentistry. I mean, that can mean so many different things, right? There’s like innovations that happen when it comes to technology. There’s innovations that happen when it comes to clinical. And both of those impact dentistry. But before any of that happens, there’s some person that has some mindset or beliefs that says Why not meet, like, why can’t I step up? And pioneer positive change? And that’s absolutely what I’m obsessed with, because I believe the next decade of dentistry is going to be amazing. But my question isn’t, is it going to be great, the question is, are our listeners going to be part of what make it great? Or are they just going to stay on the sideline watching people like you, even with what you do with dental entrepreneur, woman, it’s like you don’t know the women you could meet that don’t show up at your event. You don’t know the synergy that could happen. You don’t know the breakthrough this that could happen. Because let’s just be honest, some of the women are still on the sideline, wondering if it’s their time, wondering if they’re ready. And that’s why I love sharing stories from people like you, that just went for it. And that’s what I want to hear about. So tell me and how did you even get into dentistry? 

 

Anne Duffy  02:21 

Oh, gosh. Well, like a lot of women in at my age in my age group I went to the dentist every six months, when I was a kid and I was in high school. I wanted to go to Ohio State. That was my number one I wanted to attend Ohio State and I had to have a good reason. I was one of five kids. And I went to the dentist, I’ll never forget that day in the dental hygenist the dentist came in. He said I think you you should be a dental hygienist. You’d be really good dental hygienist and I was like, Oh, well, how bad and Ohio State has a program. So mom and dad. That’s what I wanted to do. And I went to Ohio State and I practiced. You know, I graduated dental hygiene. It was not that I love teeth. And I had a major, you know, problem and all of that. It was just it looked like a fun occupation at the time. And yeah, I just went for it. 

 

Shawn Zajas  03:10 

Okay, so when like, when is this like were you a practicing hygienist? Because I don’t think you’re practicing now. Right? Am I? Am I correct? 

 

Anne Duffy  03:17 

Oh, no. I mean, this was like I was I’m gonna say I was 17 because I went to college. And my birthday was, you know, I was 17 when I started college. And so I spent 17 Or well, probably Yeah, 17. And no, I and it was really funny, Shawn because I remember coming home after my first year at Ohio State. So you go and you take all your prerequisites, right? And so I just remember coming home and saying, This is just not for me, I don’t think I want to do dental hygiene because I want to do social work, I want to do something that’s going to really matter and in people’s lives and it just felt like cleaning teeth and you know, just and honestly, science wasn’t my, my strong suit. Even though I did really well in college, my first year and I was one of the you know, 10 gals that got into the AD of some class of dental hygienist that summer. So, right when I’m saying I want to do social, you know, do something in the social fields. I got into dental hygiene. And so then, you know, that just took me away took me down that path. So I was just getting ready to change career paths and got in and went went for it. So I was a you know, I sophomore year I started dental hygiene school Ohio State so that it’s a four year program there. So you know, most of my my colleagues in dental in dental hygiene school were already juniors in college when they started so I was a sophomore. And it was fun. 

 

Shawn Zajas  04:43 

So you become a hygienist and there you are. You’re working for a practice. Like what was your journey in dentistry? Like did like, is that something that you did for like a decade or two and you were just kind of happy with it. Like, what was that journey? Like? 

 

Anne Duffy  04:58 

Oh my gosh, okay, so I met my husband Tom. My, the summer before my last year at Ohio State and his he was a year ahead of me. We fell in love. I walked into a bar, he stood up. That’s it. Next thing I know, you know, we were, you know, planning a future together. So I started was when I graduated hygiene. Oh, this is you I was this is a fun Shawn. I love it because I was looking at your your prompts for this this interview. I’ll never forget when I finished dental hygiene school instead of finishing my student teaching, which was so easy. I decided to go to Europe for nine weeks with my girlfriends and we backpacks and all that kind of stuff. While I was there, I found out that I flunked my boards. I flunked my national boards. And I was like, I was so devastated. I’m like, Oh, my gosh, I couldn’t believe it. So and I think there were two grab two girls in our class. It’s like out of 80, that one for national boards. And I never told anybody. I told Tom I told my mom and dad, I was so embarrassed when I had to go come back from Europe. Take the board, I’d walk in front of all the Dental. The dental students were taking their boards at the same time. And I dated a lot of them. So I was like, I was so mortified. It was like, Oh, the walk of shame, the walk of shame. And that is a pinnacle part because you were saying something like, what are the lows of your career? That was a low, but I look back on it. And it never occurred to me not to take the board again. You know, well, I flunked but okay. I’ll take it again. And I took it in my past. And from that moment, Shawn, Tom and I, well, Tom, and I got married, you know, maybe a year later, we known each other two years, got married, worked a year in dental hygiene. I had a great start to my career, I worked for a periodontist. He taught me everything. Then I ended up going to another dental practice that were for dentists. I was the only hygienist and I remember my operatory was in the basement. And that was when I lived in Dayton, Ohio. Delco had just put in a dental plan. So all the patients I saw had never had their teeth cleaned before they were all smoking a couple packs of cigarettes. I’m the only hygenist I remember having one set of instruments. I mean, I don’t know it was crazy. But I learned from the periodontist how to how to the craft of my profession. And I learned my speed from working with these four Doc’s right. And so and that just started our started our marriage, our career in hygiene. And from there, we moved 10 times before we got to Charlotte, North Carolina. So I took seven more state boards, because back in the day, Shawn, you had no reciprocity. So every time we moved, I would have to face taking another board, two day test one day clinical one day written and seven other states. So I mean, I literally so I, the thing is bounce that I look back, I think, gosh, I have a lot of grit, because I not only got to get the kids settled and all that I still I just said it for another board that I mean, I didn’t have a lot of confidence, and I was just gonna breeze through it, right. And so we landed in Charlotte, so I always worked one to no more than two days a week after we had kids. And, and then maybe sometimes it was a three hours a week or on a Saturday morning, depending on where we were living and what I was doing and what baby was just born me out, you know, and landed in Charlotte 31 years ago. So it was the last state board had to take a Chapel Hill two days, get my head to find my patient, get my blah, blah, blah, pass that. And I’ve been working ever since I literally just retired after 46 years of dental hygiene. I was in the trenches, 46 years. I loved my career, and I still do I miss being in the operatory. So I always had my hand in so to speak. And yeah, I’ve got seven state boards and I’ve worked since the day I graduated dental hygiene. 

 

Shawn Zajas  09:02 

Yeah. It seems like you probably could have come up with a course on how to pass your dental state board.  

 

Anne Duffy  09:09 

Yeah Katrina Sanders and I have a lot in common. She runs the course. I you know, I could probably I don’t know what it is I you know, I think back on and it’s like just I knew pretty much but I’m also one of the other Pinnacle parts of my career was when we moved to it was our third move to Jacksonville, Florida. And I remember going to, you know, like a seminar that I read up about in the town has it wasn’t working. I don’t think I had taken the board yet. And I met a periodontist that was renowned in Jacksonville, Florida. And he was the father of Periodontology, in Jacksonville and in the southeast, and so they saw something in me they hired me on the spot and that was an office with four periodontist and probably I want to say 15 hygienist and they would not let you ask Don’t have your own patient load until you assisted for six months. So that’s the other thing that I think gave me that confidence. I mean, I think I’m an excellent hygienist and I felt like I always did a great job. But I learned on the street, if you will, you know, you when you think you’re gonna learn everything in school that is, you know, obviously, we know that we have to be lifelong learners. And so, you know, I think it was taking the board, but I was confident in my skills. And I knew that, you know, it was like riding a bike every time I, you know, take off a little bit of time, have a baby and go back. So, you know, it was it again, clinically, it had been it’s been a fabulous career. And that was two years ago, I came back after COVID I didn’t want that to end my career. So I came back and, you know, I still go to the same dentist here in Charlotte, North Carolina. He’s He’s the, you know, an excellent clinician, you know, we come we come together, he’s like a brother to me. And I, you know, we, you know, I’m, I’m always been an Erin Brockovich, I’ve always been somebody that has fought for the young. The young people go, if I go in for a raise, I’m gonna go to get a raise for everybody. And I’m going to demand it, you know, oh, gosh, I was, I’ve just pretty much fight for the little guy. And that hasn’t changed. 

 

Shawn Zajas  11:18 

Well, so I can tell you absolutely love dentistry, and you’ve loved being a hygienist. Now, I know dentistry is difficult. And I’ve heard from certain hygienist that, you know, just the physical toll. I think it would just be refreshing even for you just to tell me so our listeners can hear like, what was it about hygiene that that you I don’t know, that you love like, because I think it’s just sometimes even in expressing the gratitude of this is what I loved about the profession, that can that message can just be so refreshing. 

 

Anne Duffy  11:49 

You know, I’ve thought about this a lot lately, because I do miss it. This is such a great profession. Well, first of all, I love people. So you know, I’ve done Strength Finders, my number one is Woo, which is Winning Others Over so a new person comes in every day, I can’t wait to see that new person to find out where they are, where they work, what they do, how they got there asking interview questions, right? I loved that part about it. Because you in dentistry, and especially in hygiene, because we have time to speak to our patients and have that conversation. All different career paths, all different backgrounds, you learn so much about the world. Through dental hygiene, a lot of people don’t realize that because if you’re a nurse, in a in a dental office, in a doctor’s office, for instance, you’re gonna take blood pressure, you can do a few things, you’re gonna get out the room and go something else we are with that patient for an hour. We know the patients, and then we know their kids. And then they I mean, you know, this office, I was I think 27 years at, in particular. And so then I saw the kids kids, and, you know, their parents and all my neighbors. I mean, it was it’s very social, socially. And I love clinical, I think because I felt very confident my clinical skills from the experience that I had working. And I had like that this the first and the third practice I was in the docks poured into me clinically. So we would always have a conversation. And I you know, if you’re listening in you’re, you’re a doctor when you get it. hygienist pour into them, teach them. That’s how I learned to love the profession. It wasn’t necessarily on my own as much it was from what I learned, you know, in the process of, you know, the front to the back and, and all of that. But just the people, I love the people, I love working on a team, I love going to the office, I hated when the alarm went off. When I did retire was glad it didn’t go off at six o’clock anymore. On Tuesday mornings, I worked five hours a week, the last two years of my career. But, you know, just once I got to the office, I was lucky to work with some just super great women. And in the doc, you know, he he’s a man. And he was great. And yeah, so all of that and the hours are good. And then you know the thing about hygiene, which is different than when you start your own business, you really don’t think of it after you clock out, if you will, you know it’s you go in you do your job and you come home other than like, you know, continuing to add and things like that, but that’s the that’s the easiest part of my career is clinical hygiene. I will say that, hands down, hands down. 

 

Shawn Zajas  14:26 

And you had a chance because of moving really to change choose not to keep doubling down on hygiene and yet you did like you kept choosing it as a profession every single time. Like once again, I’m going to take the board’s pass them and then enter into practice. Not knowing what that culture is going to be like what that leadership is going to be like if there’s if there’s a fit. Were there ever some practices that the during a movie You realize like, Oh, this isn’t a fit. And it seemed to find a different practice. Like, did you ever move within that town or city simply because that things weren’t a fit? 

 

Anne Duffy  15:10 

You know, it’s funny you ask that No, except when I came to Charlotte, because the job I first started with her here in Charlotte, and I was only there about six months, it was a Monday, Tuesday. So I’m very fortunate, you know, I didn’t have to work full time. So that’s one of the reasons why my body held up. And, and why I love the profession, because I have friends that have done it, you know, four or five days a week, and they’re exhausted, no, I had the break. So I worked Monday, Tuesday didn’t work with the kids. Because when you have three kids, and my and my husband was traveling everywhere. So you, I like Tuesday, Thursday, but I’m just say, if you’re listening this, you’re gonna have kids, it’s a great profession for that, because you can actually make a good salary. And you can have your time tuesday, thursday, because if the kids or if somebody’s sick on Monday, we didn’t get into school on Tuesday, and then you can be home with them on Wednesday, so they can really get better. And then you can get get them back to school on Thursday. And it just really worked for our family. And so that’s the only reason I ever changed. I think, I looked for different reasons to work. And to find a job shop, I liked convenience, I wanted to have it very close to home. I want a nice office. I mean, I always worked for great dentist, I didn’t always work for dentists that poured into me. So that was kind of a missing in my even my last, you know, my last job of 27 years. That’s why I stepped out of the operatory when I needed to. And there’s a reason behind that as well. And just poured into myself. So I didn’t expect to have, you know, there’s so many great, you know, doctors that take their teams to like all the different seas and they go to the Hinman and the Chicago midwinter and they do all these things. No, I never had anybody do that. So I would say if you have career goals, it would have been easier for me to work for somebody that was, you know, maybe on the speaking circuit, and really taking care of his team and leading the right way. I think doctors and dentists, they they still are lacking the leadership roles, and they don’t exactly know what to do. Hence, that’s why I’ve started other, you know, paths in my career just to address those issues that I found, needed some help. So, you know, I think that’s, I hope that answers your question there. But I, I really liked convenience, so that I could get there and back and get the kids and, and, you know, have a nice atmosphere to work in and having great patients. So I was lucky in that regard, too. 

 

Shawn Zajas  17:43 

So and you just said, that’s why you kind of took different directions in your career to help meet those needs? Did you always know that there would be something more for you in the industry of dentistry? And then like, did you also know early on that you, you were a leader, or you had that least that capability to be a leader? Because it seems like you are just naturally flowing in these strengths and these gifts and you inspire and you lead and you’re literally changing dentistry through what you’re doing through dental entrepreneur women? Like was this something that if I don’t know, 30 years ago, if someone would have said, Hey, this is what you’re going to be doing? And this is the impact you’re gonna make? Would you have easily believed them? Or would that have been something that would have surprised you? 

 

Anne Duffy  18:31 

Oh, surprise me. I mean, you know, a lot of people have visions for where they’re going Shawn. So for me, it was just basically saying yes, in the opportunity that I saw in front of me. And leadership has been a thing as I’ve been interviewed for quite a few. In fact, Ohio State just did a big interview on me, which was so so ironic coming full circle, right? I always was a leader. I’m the oldest girl of five kids, there’s that there’s that I was the oldest granddaughter of you know, my my grandparents. So there’s that. I look back and you know, all through, you know, grade school, I could see that I was kind of a leader in the class. And then in high school, like I was captain of the drill team with 55 members and I was always one best captain and I never sought it out. But when I look back on it, I think I had skills that you know, lend itself to being a leader. So fast forward. I’m in Charlotte, I’m working two days. I’m wasn’t even working at this point. So and this is where you have to really rely on faith, if you will. Tom came home from work. So we’ve been there two years. I hadn’t taken the board yet. I’m having fun. I’m being a corporate wife. He’s got a big job. I’m like, I’m loving one playing tennis. I’m having lunch. I’m taking the kids. I’m doing all this stuff. I’m having so much fun. And he comes home he says you can just quit his corporate job because he He didn’t want to move the kids anymore. At that point, our son was our oldest was in eighth grade. And so I thought that was a great idea. I thought we’d be millionaires right away, because he’s so smart. And you know, he’s in the chemical industry, and oh, my God, this is gonna be so easy. Oh, yeah, go do it. And about maybe, I don’t know, at that point, then I decided to go ahead, get the get the board. So I got my board, I was working two days a week. No goals for anything. I mean, I didn’t have a goal for this big, long career. I just, I’m one of those people that does one day at a time. And I know I’m very happy where I’m at in the day. And during that, that in the day. And so he comes on, we started just like when we were broke, he went through all his venture capitalist money, he went through all of our savings. I mean, it’s not hard to it’s not easy. Yes, it’s very hard to start a chemical business from scratch. And so then I’m like, well, golly, I got to make more money, or we can’t, we got to take the kids out of we were, we’ve all the kids are in Catholic school, Tom and I were basically raised in the Catholic schools were like, Oh, my God, this is got to do something. And that’s when I started my first side gig. So Dr. Laura Brenners, listening, you know, side gigs are important. Because I didn’t, I couldn’t work four days a week, because I, somebody’s got to take the kids to soccer, and it just wouldn’t have suited me, I would have been miserable. So I got my first side gig. And then the rest is history. So one side gig led to another led to another led to another and I never sought them out as much as I said, Yes. And that’s how I ended up being where I’m at today. 

 

Shawn Zajas  21:40 

That is so crazy. What you’re saying about not not necessarily trying to make them happen. But saying yes. Now I think what might be glossed over in that and is that you have the presence, to recognize, and the ability to bet on yourself when that opportunity does come. Because I do believe Opportunity Knocks as the saying goes quite often. But a lot of people don’t see it as opportunity. They either see it as I don’t know, distraction or or again, they process it through that grid of I’m not ready yet. The time is not right. Which means I can’t guarantee I’m not going to look like an idiot, or I’m not gonna look like a fool. Or I’m not gonna embarrass myself trying something publicly when I’m not qualified, like every single thing that could happen when it comes to impostor syndrome. So when these opportunities come your way, is this something you’re having to grapple with? Like, oh, wow, like, Can I do it? Are you just so excited for the opportunity that you just rise up to the plate? Like, what what was your inner game during these times? 

 

Anne Duffy  22:54 

You know, I don’t even know I, I remember before I actually took the board in Charlotte, I went and interviewed for a pharmaceutical rep. I thought, well, I don’t want to take another board. I’m done with boards. I’m just gonna go take it. And I didn’t get the job. It’s the only job in my whole life I didn’t get I couldn’t believe it. I was like, what? I didn’t get the job, I think because I went in and I said, Well, I only want to travel, you know, one day a week. I because now I tell anybody, anybody that’s that’s interviewing for a job. I said, just go for it. And then you have the opportunity to say, No, thank you. Right, but you go for full gusto. So I wouldn’t have halfway for that. And so that’s when I said I gotta take the board again, because again, the money was there and the time the commitment was there from a time time commitment standpoint. And and so then when you’re desperate Sean, you really say yes quite easily. So we had been using a product it was Oxi Fresh and to your you know, you’ve got the toothbrush, which I love. And that’s very, it would have been in line with my oxyfresh business but I fell in love with the products and the clinical aspect. I couldn’t believe that nobody knew about Oxi Fresh and chlorine dioxide. And that’s a very similar ingredient as closest to but it eliminated excuse me, the sulfur compounds and, and it eliminated halitosis. I mean, it’s amazing. Nobody knows about this. And so when I needed to earn more money, I said, oh, I’ll just build my Oxyfresh team. It was a network marketing company. I was you know, I was never going to do Mary carry that stuff. Even though people thought I’d be good at it. I’m like, No, I’m not into it. But when push comes to shove and I can earn more money and I have a flexible schedule. I said I’ll do that. So that’s how I got started and I was very successful. I didn’t think that I wouldn’t be but I also worked really hard at it like you know they don’t they call it network marketing for a reason you have to work it and I was so scared that I was going to be I was scared I was going to be poor and and the riches to rags is hard. You know, we lived a really nicely lifestyle and then being broke, I was just scared to death. And it probably still hits me now. But I don’t want to be in a nursing home, I want to remote control. And I don’t care. I like it to color TV. Other than that, that’s all I need in a nursing home. So I’m pretty easy going now going forward for the rest of my life. But it was something that really, really was scary to me at the time. And so I was I’m sure I was just determined I wasn’t gonna give up. And, you know, network marketing is easy for me because I love people. And I had meetings and I had the I actually had the biggest team of female dental professionals in the company. So I got that. And then during that time, my side gigs, I think are interesting. I met a guy at a trade show floor schlepping dental entrepreneur, going up against dental economics, which was, you know, David and Goliath. And I thought, you know, I liked him because he was a great guy. And I thought maybe I could get him an Oxyfresh at the time. And lo and behold, he calls me back a couple months later, he says, Hey, would you come on BART Board? We’ve switched gears as dental entrepreneur, the business Business Beyond the Classroom, and we’re gonna go to all the dental schools, and would you sell advertising for us? So again, I go, yes, because I can do that. At home. He bought me my first computer, it was in our bedroom. I mean, I look back on that shot. And it was awesome, because the computer was in our bedroom. So the kids never had their own computer. I mean, our kids are older, right? So they always, they were always, you know, in our room, doing papers coming out trying to go to sleep, and it’s 11 o’clock at night. But they didn’t have that opportunity to have their own computers or their own iPads or phones. And, you know, our kids were lucky to get we were lucky to parent kids that didn’t have all that stuff, right. So I did, we were very successful. Like, right off the bat, we had, you know, great sales and that was twice a year so I got to travel a little bit. And then he traveled with the Oxi Fresh, those two things. And then he also started my own fresh Breayh Center, because I thought the products were so good limiter and my own patients. My boss gave me the back office, you know, blah, blah, blah, all of that. So all of that. Yeah, led up to where I’m doing today. So Oxyfresh imploded on itself. They didn’t pay anybody anymore. So I had more time to focus on dental entrepreneurs. So I was working two days a week and I was building Dental Entrepreneur. Recently, two years ago, we we rebranded to Dallas for the future of dentistry so that I was getting tired about the schools and they don’t go right into their own, you know, practice right away, they go into the the DSO, which is a good thing. And so, you know, I had more time for that. And then with Dental for woman, I just heard so many things about women not getting the same money, the same job opportunities, the C suite, I was really tired of hearing, the night the speaking engagements. And if they did, they weren’t getting the same money as a man was getting and they were complaining. And one day I just a good friend of mine in the marketing and marketing arena of a big company, who I love she was dear friend was crying when I called her on a Thursday and her boss told her Her smile was insincere. And that was it. And I may have mentioned this before to you, but that’s it. I was so mad. I really just said that’s it. So I am starting something. I’m starting a magazine to highlight the amazing women in dentistry. They’re so cool. They’re amazing. They’re smart, they’re beautiful. They love caring. They love beauty. They’re amazing. And we need to we need to start something. And that’s really how I started Dental Entrepreneur Woman to were on a phone call that afternoon. And I called it down for a woman because I already had an entrepreneur. And that’s how simple it was. There was no long term plan. I hung up the phone, so I’m an activator. So you know, I just I don’t give it any thought. I mean, I mean, how hard can it be? I’ve already I’ve already got one magazine, I just do another. But it’s turned into a big movement. Now. So yes, yes, it has. It’s another magazine. Now it’s like, you know, crazy. 

 

Shawn Zajas  28:50 

Well, I love that mindset of I’ve already like I’m already doing one, why not another like just don’t give it a second thought. I think there’s something so profound about that. Because then there’s also like on the dental side, right? Like if you’re a dentist, and you’re more engineering minded, possibly. There’s that whole analysis through pro prowess, 

 

Anne Duffy  29:11 

right? Yeah, paralysis analysis to paralysis, I guess. Yeah. 

 

Shawn Zajas  29:15 

Where you, you end up getting debilitated. Yeah. Because you, you can’t analyze it enough to get certainty. And that’s why I love looking at entrepreneurs and trying to figure out almost break them open and see like, what is their operating system like? And you hear like Jeff Bezos is fine, saying yes or no to a decision based off of 70% clarity. So he’s fine with 30% Not knowing that’s enough for him to be like, that’s enough. And some people might be like, oh, yeah, I’m kind of wired the same way. It’s like, well, maybe you are but most people when they say that, if you dig deeper if they’re actually looking for like 95% 

 

Anne Duffy  29:55 

and especially in dentistry, right, because the dentistry begs for perfection. 

 

Shawn Zajas  30:05 

Oh, sorry. Yeah, it just, it’s all right. Just pause. And I was like, Alright, so what? What did you say? What did I miss? 

 

Anne Duffy  30:11 

Especially in dentistry So I think, you know, I think if you’re a dentist and you become an entrepreneur, you’re actually an entrepreneur just happen to be a dentist. Because a dentist, the true dentist needs to be perfect. I’m sorry, we say progress, not perfection. And of course, you nothing’s perfect. We know that right? But that’s a mindset that and I agree with you innovation is all about discovery. And saying yes, and finding answers. This doesn’t work. I mean, you think about all the, I don’t know, all the times that, you know, somebody tried to figure out the light bulb, it wasn’t the first time that it works, it takes millions of times to get something right. And I you know, it’s just, it’s really the journey. So I think you have to enjoy the journey. And, you know, and be positive about, you know, and have an have a mission there. Right? I mean, you have, it has to be bigger than, to me, it has to be bigger than money. Now, a lot of people and that might, that’s just me, I mean, a lot of people start their business, they just want to make more money, and they can’t do it in the corporate setting. But I think especially for women, you know, you I don’t know how you’re feeling when you’re talking to all your in your all your interviews, but I think women have a heart for the heart for businesses a little bit different. 

 

Shawn Zajas  31:23 

Yeah, no, I love that. Um, I imagine you had a really interesting perspective as well. And because here you are, it sounds like you’re such a supportive wife, you’re believing in your husband, he wants to make the right decision for the family and not keep uprooting to have someplace you guys can call home, lay down deep roots. And you’re thinking, well, he’s amazing, He’s great. He’s just going to be successful on his own, it must have been a really interesting, dynamic a for you to witness that transition from corporate to entrepreneurial risk, startup risk. And then at the same time, the second you start your side hustles. Now both of you are playing in this entrepreneurial startup playground together, getting to, I don’t know, kind of have each other’s back and encourage each other inspire each other. That must have been some really trying times. But really rewarding, like, like, can you remember? Am I way off? Or is that kind of true? You’re right 

 

Anne Duffy  32:27 

on? Oh, no, I the trying times poor Tom, every six months, I would I would just say, Honey, please go back to corporate I love I can’t take it. I didn’t sign up for this. I don’t want to do it anymore. And so he would listen, he’s so sweet. I know, we, you know, honestly, there were times in the middle of the night, we would be holding hands and just pray two o’clock in the morning, like, oh, my gosh, and God always provided Shawn, I mean, I could cry Tom and I could cry the times when like, we don’t even know where we had some we had dear friends of ours, that just called us up out of the blue and said, We’re going to pay for the kids tuition this year. And to accept that, and to have somebody do that for us. First of all, it’s humbling, especially for Tom because he was on the corporate rise, he you know, he was very highly thought of in Monsanto and the other big companies. And we were always getting promoted. So it was always like, really fun moving. And then just the humility that he has gained through all of these, these ups and downs of entrepreneurs, because if you’re a true entrepreneur, it’s a roller coaster, there are times when you know, you think you’re gonna get a big project or a big contract. And you know, oh, gosh, you’re not getting it. BASF is getting it. What? So, but we never gave up. I’m so proud of Tom, I always feel like I’m more of his sidekick. Because, you know, I never really think of myself as I hate to say I never think of myself as being the first person have to pay the bills. And that is again, a mindset for women. So if you’re listening to me, that’s not how it is anymore. We’re equal partners, but I never really had that monkey on my back. I always, you know, kind of lends itself to him, but back to people helping us along the way. They did. And it was it was so beautiful, because it’s helped us understand how to help people. I would never have thought of paying sup three kids tuition, which was about $10,000. And this is 25/30 years ago, to just say we want to do that for you. Right. And that happened every time we were at wit’s end and had nothing like a $2 to put in my gas tank, which I remember that that was a fun night. And nowhere else to get money. I mean, it was like, you know, and we were living in this beautiful neighborhood. We still live here. It was a joke that we will have a trailer on the back of the nothing against trailers. I mean, but I thought we’re rent the house, not leaving this property. But I think faith, just the faith and the fact that we were strong in our faith together. Because that’s people say, Well, how are you guys marry so long? And you really love each other? You know, we just celebrated 48 years last week or two weeks ago. Yeah. And I was like, how do you do it? Well, you know, we have faith at the center. God’s always been at the center from day one, our first date, and I could we could not have done it without that. That solid foundation, and then, you know, just we’re doing it, we’re doing it, but we and we love what we do. We’re probably I don’t know, if we’re gonna retire. I think we will retire someday. But you know, I’m going to be 70 in October and Tom’s 71. Yeah, I know. Yeah. That used to be old. It’s not old anymore. Right? 

 

Shawn Zajas  35:48 

You look unbelievable 

 

Anne Duffy  35:51 

Well, you know, I everyone’s people will say that, but I think there’s some kind of filter on Zoom. I don’t want this good in real life. But there’s some filter on zoom that I think I’ve got going for me, but anyway, I 

 

Shawn Zajas  35:59 

have I have met you in real life. Oh, you are studying in real life? You’re an icon. So sweet. Anti Aging. Yeah. 

 

Anne Duffy  36:07 

Well, thank you. I think it’s also you know, the verb for life and, and my faith and, you know, that’s how I start my day, every every day, if I can be, you know, we started with maths and then you know, reading reading first get up, read the paper, have coffee, go to maths, come home, do a little exercise, and, you know, get to it. So it’s, it’s been a lovely. We’re, we’re a lovely duo. We’re a lovely duo. Yeah. And it’s not hard. It’s not hard. 

 

Shawn Zajas  36:41 

Duo you can’t say duo? Because I just think of do? Oh, I don’t know. Oh, brand. Actually, 

 

Anne Duffy  36:48 

it’s been so much fun. I mean, I never had any idea that do it turn into be like, you know, we just do it, we’re gonna do it together. Let’s go. You know, I mean, we’ve just had more fun with with that. And divine about it. I mean, again, you know, I just came up with it that after it was 430, on the phone call at 530 I came up with DEW and then the rest is history, you know, it’s like, Okay, keep it going. 

 

Shawn Zajas  37:10 

Okay, so there’s two places I want to go. I’m trying to remember, I will remember one of them. But before we go to any of those, I just need to say like you exude like gratitude and grace, like there’s such a gratitude about the way that you approach life. And then there’s such a grace that just surrounds you. And I just wanted to recognize that like, and it’s just a it’s a beautiful thing, when someone is living aligned, fully aligned to who they are and who they’re called to be. Because they just get to effortlessly shine light. And that that is you. So thank you for being true to yourself. Because I know that takes so much courage. So yeah, you give you blessed so many people because of that. So like, seriously, thank you. 

 

Anne Duffy  37:58 

You know, I think that’s really sweet, Shawn, I appreciate that. But I think you know, I did this Strength Finders is a big deal for me, because that’s our base with the with Do you know, we have our retreat, we we, we base it on Strength Finders, and I took it at our church. So this was 14 years ago. And when I took it, it was oh, this is going to be my God given talents. And when I actually then I studied it, and I facilitated all these young and an older women and men, you know, throughout the last 14 years at church, but it’s not as spiritual tests. It just happened to be that the guy that founded Strength Finders in the Gallup assessment happened to be a devout Christian. And so he believes their God given talent. So when you find those, so I don’t take a lot of credit for this because basically, I’m not I’m also have positivity. How lucky is Tom, that he’s an entrepreneur and his wife is very positive. So I can almost turn anything into like, Oh, it’ll be okay. No worries, we’ll be fine. It’s fine, whatever, you know, and so it’s God given I honestly God and, and I’m very thankful for that. Because I think that really comes in handy when you’re married to an entrepreneur and entrepreneur yourself, you can actually not stay down too long. You know, you can, you can get up. All you need is one good phone call or you know, and I am grateful. I’m very grateful. I’d have everything and you know, it’s been a good run. So you know, if something crazy happens, which is going to eventually I mean, we’ve been through a lot trust me. I mean, it’s not like this has all been roses and butterflies and all that. It’s it’s really how we’ve handled it. And I think for anybody, everybody’s got something and some things are are horrific, but it’s how we handle it. And I feel blessed to have gotten through a lot of this stuff, you know, pretty much unscathed. Still still plugging along. 

 

Shawn Zajas  40:05 

Okay, so I was thinking like, again, because this, this podcast is really, for those that are on the sideline. I mean, anyone in the game, this is going to encourage them to keep staying in the game. But I was thinking about it the other day cuz I was talking to a dentist, and he’s like, Sean. And I feel like what you’re saying backs us up. When you’re a dentist or a hygienist, you have an amazing plan B, which is your clinical demand your clinical skills, if you want to start a side hustle. Or if you want to do something else, you have almost that safety net of I can provide value, there’s a need for me in the marketplace. So if this little venture doesn’t work, you don’t have that same risk, because you can kind of just plug in to an existing structure where you can make money because your skills are very, very valuable. And I think that, like the flexibility of hygiene allowed you to really get to express your creative, entrepreneurial, you know, pursuits, especially when those opportunities came. So yeah, I think hygenist even specifically, like have that ability and that that’s really valuable. So I just wanted to kind of point that out.  

 

Anne Duffy  41:24 

I totally agree with you. I mean, you know, it’s like, well, one of my patients said this, when I was crying to her, one day when we were like, like floundering, like she was and don’t worry, you’re never going to be poor, you might be broke, but you’re not going to be poor. And to your point. Dental Hygiene is a profession. And dentistry is a profession. So you can always lean back on that you can always you can revert back. I mean, I could have gotten I could have done four days or five days a week, I could have done that. I if push comes to shove, you better believe it. But you know, what, what motivates you more, is able to be able to do your own thing and have your side gigs and have make the decisions or go back and do four or five days a week. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s great. I probably would have enjoyed that as well. I don’t again, I hear about bodies with the hygienists that are doing that now are smart, they’re getting they’re going to the chiropractor, they’re getting massages, you know, I mean, I need to go get a massage. I don’t do that very often. But there are ways now to get through, you know, the ergonomics. We’ve got, you know, Stephanie Bots, and we’ve got Katrina Klein that are, you know, talking about ergonomics and all those things. So, yeah, but it’s a nice safety net, to your point, Shawn. 

 

Shawn Zajas  42:39 

Okay, so I want to zoom in on the genesis of Dew that moment. What year is this? 

 

Anne Duffy  42:45 

 

Shawn Zajas  42:48 

Okay, so you’re on a phone call. And you end up hanging up, the phone call ends and the emotion you feel is anger. You are indignant, you are upset. And I tell this the people, sometimes all you have to do is follow the pain. And the pain will show you what you need to do where you need to go. It’ll almost be like that plumb line, because you’re just like, This is outrageous. I need to do something about it. Yeah. And I absolutely love that. So that’s why it’s like, even between the lines right now of what we’re talking about. I hope our listeners are like, man, what is it that I feel? So overwhelmingly, there’s that fire in my belly, that I need to do something about this? And yes, the time is now. It couldn’t be more perfect. I just love that you had that foresight to just be like, Look, this is unacceptable. I’m gonna do something about it. Why not? Me? And you? Yeah, just stood up and lead and the rest truly is history. Do is so inspiring. It is. So what have you learned if you could distill maybe one takeaway in this journey of yours over the last 3040 years? What was like a mindset you either had to embrace or a mindset you had to shed in order to get to where you’re at? 

 

Anne Duffy  44:12 

Oh, let me think about that. I think, you know, if not me who? If not, now when? And then I’m fed by the amazing women that join us. Because so often someone will say, Oh, I I never heard of you or I didn’t know this was available or oh my gosh, it’s so wonderful to have women that you can talk to that you actually that we abide by the principles of no security mentality of we are based on love, right? I mean, and everybody’s welcomed to sit at our table. And, and just thank you. So I mean, I am fed by that I’m fed by the women that have joined us, and I love the men Other guys want to be dudes? They can’t they’re dudes, you know, you we’ve got like 75 Now that that’s a man that supports a woman in dentistry as we talk. And so, you know, I do think thinking back though, there’s got to be a reason for you. Because you have to always give something up. If you say yes to one thing, you’ve got to, you know, make room for throw a few things out in your life to be able to do this. So that takes passion. And it takes you know, and to your point, you got to get kind of mad at some sometimes, I mean, with whole Oxi Fresh in the beginning, and that is I couldn’t believe that people didn’t know that this would help them with their halitosis, because they were going to the gastroenterologist, they were going to all these doctors, and all they need to do is use chlorine dioxide toothpaste, I mean, their teeth, believe it or not, they had beautiful healthy gums. And so I just was outraged at that, that they needed to know more about that. So it’s you have to have a driving force. Again, it’s got to be bigger than you. And, and then now for me, it’s also like, I need to lead the way and being a business woman because if DEWs aren’t successful, and we call it a dental entrepreneur, woman, because I had to an entrepreneur who had nothing to do with being an entrepreneur, my take on women are that all women are entrepreneurial, because all women will, if there’s a pain point, they’re gonna find a solution. And they spin templates. And they can do it and they can be wearing heels and they’ve been dancing backwards, but they’re spinning in, they’re not dropping any, that is a dental that is an entrepreneur. And I think women love that. And they do that very well. So again, you know, it’s just that you got to have something that’s going to, you can’t quit. Because you know, Shawn, is your entrepreneur, with this podcast, in this interview, the thing that you’re doing right now, which is so cool, you can’t quit. And you have to see it through and keep going and one foot in front, and then you need your community. Because, you know, when you’re having a struggling and you’re having a tough day, the last person I want to go to, we’re not the last person because I do share all that stuff with Tom, but he doesn’t really listen to me like a like a do is gonna listen to me that is a woman in the trenches. So that’s why they call call, call or do call somebody, they’ll listen to you, from the beginning to the end. And if the sports you know, if a basketball game comes on, there’s, you know, that doesn’t sway them, they’re going to listen to everything you’re saying. And so I think that’s when it comes to community, then we need our community, people that are kind of in the same trenches that we’re in, and the same mindset and, you know, family, you know, that the circle, family life, balance all of those things. And I think women get each other. I think that’s really something that I found, and honestly, I’m not a sorority girl, I never joined a sorority at Ohio State. I mean, they were fine. I liked them. And all my roommates were in sororities, I just I just didn’t have the opportunity to do that. But hence, I don’t there’s no, you don’t have to sign a release form to join to you like, again, you want to be part of our community. Yeah, just come in and gonna have scarcity mentality. No judging, be nice. 

 

Shawn Zajas  48:17 

Which leads me to if you are listening, and you want to be part of do Where do you want people to go? 

 

Anne Duffy  48:22 

Well, they can find out about do by just going to the website, I mean, it’s dew dot life, Li Fe, we tried to get do.com and Darden mountain do have that and it was so expensive to buy from them. So yeah, do dot life and they can find out anything they want there. And then you know, I love my gig is I love jumping on the, on a call with somebody just like what we’re doing here and find out you know a little bit about them and where they’re going where they want to go and who do I know that might be able to help them on that path. Because I’ve had a lot of people that have helped me. And, you know, that’s, that’s another I have a sweet spot in my my heart is to, you know, help, you know, help young women and also women in their 50s and 60s and all of us that are you know, on the other side, you know, it’s it takes all of us, you know, we hope, you know, give a hand down and push up. And mentoring and mentoring. They go hand in hand. I don’t care what your age is. I’ve been mentored by so many young, amazing women and men in that profession. That age has no bearing on on that. what side you’re on. 

 

Shawn Zajas  49:30 

Amen. Okay, so And last question. As we are running out of time, I could interview you all day. So here you are. You’re walking down the street and off in the distance you see 17 year old man and you know you have one moment to communicate a brief sentiment. What do you share? 

 

Anne Duffy  49:49 

Oh, I would say to myself, keep leading with love. Just keep leading with love. And it all falls into place. Amen, amen on that, but also find out your strengths, find out what you’re good at, and then build on that. Because then you’re on rocket fuel, then you really will have a life of, of, of happiness, I think and fulfillment because at the end of the day, we all are looking to be fulfilled and what we’ve accomplished, and and where we’re going. And I think, you know, I hope I hope I have that sentiment it the very last breath I take. 

 

Shawn Zajas  50:32 

Well, and it has been nothing short of a pleasure. Like it’s so easy to honor you as an innovator as someone that is literally pioneering positive change in dentistry. I love the light that only you can shine. And I love just that impact that you’re making know that I’m 100% in your corner. And I just want to say thank you so much for letting me interview you today. 

 

Anne Duffy  50:54 

Oh, Shawn, thank you. It was an honor to be your guest today and I wish you nothing but the best. I know you’re making a big difference in our industry and beyond. So thank you, Sean. 

 

Shawn Zajas  51:05 

Thank you. Thanks for listening, and be sure to follow so you never miss an episode. To learn more about what’s going on in dentistry. Check out innovation in dentistry.com