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/