Dentists often use change and transition interchangeably, but they’re very different.
A change is situational. It’s the external event—the sale of a practice, a shift in team structure, the step into retirement.
A transition is psychological. It’s the inner work required to accept and adapt to that change in a healthy way.
I’ll never forget when a retiring doctor asked me, “Who will I be when I am no longer Dr. ______?” The sale of his practice was complete, but the deeper transition—his identity and sense of self—had not been addressed. Without that inner work, the change remained incomplete.
This is often the missing piece. If you sell your practice but stay on under new leadership, what happens when you are no longer the “boss”? If your team changes, how do you handle the shift in roles and authority? The transaction may be finished on paper, but the emotional journey is still unfolding.
Healthy transitions require more than contracts and timelines. They demand reflection and support. Pay attention to your emotions. Include your spouse or significant other in the process—they, too, are living this change. Seek resources: books, courses, coaching. These steps reduce stress and make the move productive, smoother, and ultimately more fulfilling.
Jameson Wisdom
“Ironing out the logistics is only one part of the whole.”
Practice Reflection
If you sold your practice tomorrow, what part of your identity would feel hardest to let go?
How would that shift affect your family, your team, and your own sense of purpose?
Who could you lean on to help you process the emotional side of change?
What’s Next
In Part 3, we’ll explore the three stages of transition—Endings, the Neutral Zone, and New Beginnings—and how to move through each with clarity and confidence.
