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The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger
What does it mean to become an Orthopreneur? Hi there! My name is Dr. Glenn Krieger and I believe that in today’s competitive world, the orthodontic and dental communities should be collaborative. And I've created Orthopreneurs so that we can move towards that goal together. Orthodontists are smart people. You’ve accomplished a lot to get where you are, but chances are you never got a formal education in how to run the most effective and lowest stress practice possible. Don’t sweat it! Because we’ve got your back... Being an Orthopreneur means that you’re a part of a community. A community that brings peers together to become the best clinicians and the best business owners they can be. Becoming an Orthopreneurs means you never ever need to practice alone. Join the FREE Facebook group by simply applying:https://www.facebook.com/groups/OrthoPreneurs
The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger
Letting Go: The Key to Business Freedom w/Jeremiah Sturgill
In this episode, I talk with Dr. Jeremiah Sturgill, a down-to-earth orthodontist from Johnson City, Tennessee, who’s built one of the most impressively scaled, efficiently run, single-owner practices in the country. But what makes Jeremiah stand out isn’t just the growth—it’s the way he’s done it: with humility, grit, and a relentless focus on investing in people and systems.
We dive into how he transformed a modest, well-run legacy practice into a multi-location, multi-doctor machine—while still making time for real estate ventures, short-term rentals, and even a boutique marketing firm. You’ll hear how he staffs a 15-chair main office with surgical efficiency, manages a rotating team across three locations, and still finds the time to build custom homes with a team of craftsmen who love what they do. If you’re looking to scale, stabilize, and stop micromanaging, this is a masterclass.
QUOTES
“You will never get fired for making a mistake. You will get fired for not owning it and blaming someone else.”
— Dr. Jeremiah Sturgill
“You can’t control everything. You can try your best, but when you strangle your business, you kill its potential.”
— Dr. Jeremiah Sturgill
Key Takeaways
Intro: Wagon Wheel, small towns, and big growth (00:00)
The 16-year-old decision that led to ortho (01:35)
How he grew a standard practice into a national standout (03:41)
Practice structure: 3 locations, 17–18 doctor days/week (05:03)
The secret: efficiency, not just scale (06:02)
His “open-hand/closed-hand” culture system (08:06)
Toxicity vs. mistakes: the cultural line in his practice (09:26)
Why age doesn’t predict maturity—and why gratitude matters (10:58)
Office “cultural anchorage” and scaling team values (13:51)
Comparing small vs. large teams: impact, culture, and coverage (15:19)
How humility and faith ground his leadership approach (17:27)
Real estate beginnings: realtor at 18, flips in dental school (19:41)
Short-term rentals, storage units & the road to REPS (21:45)
Why doctors must partner with experts in real estate (23:11)
His custom home design firm—and love of elite tradespeople (29:24)
Boutique SEO wins: 30% increase in new patient exams (28:10)
Launching GoUnicornStrategy.com for ortho marketing (30:51)
Final thoughts: relationships over returns, every time (33:29)
Additional Resources
If you’ve ever wondered how to grow a thriving ortho practice without burning out or losing your culture—Jeremiah's story proves it can be done. It’s not luck. It’s leadership, systems, and people-first thinking.
👉 Listen now, and if you're curious about his marketing firm or real estate approach, visit GoUnicornStrategy.com
or shoot him a message.
Register for Ortho Vanguard: https://www.opvanguard.com
- For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/
- Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/