Dr Mumta Jilka: And I think that was probably the biggest lesson. Mean you had that day, wasn’t [00:00:05] it? When our accountant sat us down and I remember just sitting there thinking, how [00:00:10] have we got here? Obviously now I know how we got there, but how are we going to [00:00:15] get back? And I think that was when it was like make or break. So you put [00:00:20] it’s almost like fight and flight mode. Like we were put in that situation. It was like, and you feel it because you’ve [00:00:25] got all these staff members to take care of, all these building costs, all these entities, and you’ve got a reputation [00:00:30] and it’s the reputation amongst like, you know, running the show and stuff. So it’s an immense [00:00:35] amount of pressure.

[VOICE]: This [00:00:40] is Dental Leaders. The [00:00:45] podcast where you get to go one on one with emerging leaders in dentistry. Your [00:00:50] hosts Payman Langroudi [00:00:55] and Prav Solanki.

Prav Solanki: Damn it, Monty. [00:01:00] Welcome to the Dental Leaders podcast. And I think this is long overdue. And [00:01:05] what we’re going to do is just shoot the breeze, see where the conversation takes [00:01:10] us. And you guys between yourselves can decide who’s going to speak [00:01:15] when. Yeah. And I think it’s going to be really interesting. But what I want to get [00:01:20] down to, first of all, is before we talk about your Dental journey and Abbey House and [00:01:25] dentistry, I want, first of all, for [00:01:30] you to talk to me about your backstory, where you grew up and what your [00:01:35] childhood was like. Okay.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah. So, um, my [00:01:40] backstory is so I was, uh, born and raised in Leicester. Um, [00:01:45] my parents owned a corner shop, and, um. Yeah, we just, [00:01:50] uh, my childhood was really just working with my mum and dad in the shop. [00:01:55] Um, I’ve got one younger sister and two younger brothers. Um, and it just used to be every [00:02:00] day you just help dad do paper rounds, load the shelves, talk to customers, [00:02:05] is that kind of stuff? Um, and, uh, I guess [00:02:10] that’s kind of where I started to develop kind of this entrepreneurial hunger, [00:02:15] maybe, like, I really enjoyed it. I love talking to customers, hearing [00:02:20] their stories. Um, and then. Yeah. And then, you know, dad always taught us that, you [00:02:25] know, you need to work hard. All the rest of it. My mom was having dental issues, but she’s a really beautiful [00:02:30] woman. And, uh, I guess that’s when I really felt it was like, oh, my God, someone helped my mom. [00:02:35] And then I just thought, I’ll just go for it myself.

Prav Solanki: So interestingly, I grew [00:02:40] up in a corner shop. And did you just a few questions [00:02:45] around that. Did you grow up living in the corner shop? Was your house at the back and upstairs? [00:02:50]

Dr Mumta Jilka: Upstairs. So we lived in a flat. There were 18 of us in one flat. 18, 18 [00:02:55] one eight. Wow.

Prav Solanki: Extended family.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Extended family was my grandma, [00:03:00] my granddad, and then my dad. His brothers, wives, kids, dog, [00:03:05] everyone.

Prav Solanki: And so when it came to working [00:03:10] in the shop, who decided who was going to do the shift or work, or did you just all [00:03:15] muck in as the family? How did that all work out?

Dr Mumta Jilka: So, um, we had [00:03:20] a few shops. Um, so each brother, each of my, like, my dad, my uncles, they all had [00:03:25] a shop each. Um, but we all had to just muck in. It was like whatever was needed. That’s where you were. [00:03:30] Even the kids mucked in. Even if it meant, you know, selling tobacco, even though [00:03:35] you weren’t old enough to sell tobacco, you’d sell tobacco.

Prav Solanki: It’s funny. I’ve got a story for you. [00:03:40] So when I was in the shop one day. Right, someone came in, and I must have been 11. [00:03:45] Yeah. And, um, they said I’d like to buy a bottle of Bell’s right. Whisky. [00:03:50] And I looked at him, goes, you’re not old enough.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Prav Solanki: Right. That’s an 11 year [00:03:55] old telling someone they’re not old enough to buy a whisky, right? And I would serve I would sell Belle’s whisky [00:04:00] to a 25, 50 year old or whatever. Right. And I find [00:04:05] it bizarre. Now that was telling someone they couldn’t buy it. Do you have similar stories?

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah. Yeah, exactly [00:04:10] the same. I used to have to stand on, you know, those cases of Stella. I’d have two cases [00:04:15] of Stella. I’d stand on that, and I’d be serving you. And I’d be asking you for your ID, even though I’m, like, way underage. [00:04:20]

Prav Solanki: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, just.

Dr Mumta Jilka: You did it, isn’t it?

Prav Solanki: Absolutely. Did you go to Cash and [00:04:25] Carry on the weekend? Oh my gosh.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yes. Cash and.

Prav Solanki: Carry. Pushing those big trolleys.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Pushing those big trolleys. [00:04:30] You know I must have developed biceps then as well.

Prav Solanki: Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah.

Dr Mumta Jilka: How crazy. [00:04:35] Like, you know, it’s crazy.

Prav Solanki: It’s it is. But what do you think that [00:04:40] has taught you about the way you deal with patience? [00:04:45] Because I, for one, feel that the reason my communication [00:04:50] skills are as good as they are is because I actually developed them in the shop [00:04:55] talking to people. I could talk to an 85 year old lady. I could talk to a little [00:05:00] kid. I could talk to a middle aged adult. Right. And I feel that those [00:05:05] skills were developed, actually, and nurtured as a child. That emotional intelligence [00:05:10] piece? Yes. What about yourself? What do you think you got from working [00:05:15] your sort of youth in the in the shop?

Dr Mumta Jilka: Just exactly what you’re [00:05:20] saying. So, you know, talking to children, talking to 70, 80 year olds, middle [00:05:25] aged people like you. Just. I was just developing skills and you had to, like, you had [00:05:30] to wow the customers. You had to talk to them. And, you know, you kind of develop this natural [00:05:35] kind of curiosity towards the people. So I think even in dentistry today, when [00:05:40] someone walks through that surgery door, I will still talk to them as if I’m in the [00:05:45] shop and just, you know, I keep, you know, very, um, keep it very humble, you [00:05:50] know, And I think that you can talk to people from all paths of life. It’s it’s taught me [00:05:55] so much just being in that shop at the time, I hated it. I couldn’t I couldn’t run away fast enough from it. Yeah. [00:06:00] But as I’ve got older, it’s like you end up utilising those same skills then more so [00:06:05] than what you’re doing learning nowadays. It’s crazy. Yeah.

Prav Solanki: Um, did [00:06:10] you ever have any, um, like, dark [00:06:15] moments in the shop and any tough times, so. I I’ve [00:06:20] got one moment, and it’s when somebody came in and beat my dad up, and I was stood there watching [00:06:25] him getting beat up. Yeah. Um, because the [00:06:30] guy wanted the money from behind the till. Right. Did you ever have any, like, bad moments [00:06:35] in the shop and stuff like that? Yeah.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Ours was when we got broken into. Um, [00:06:40] and I remember, um, so we were getting ready. It was on a Saturday. [00:06:45] We were getting ready to do a paper round. And my uncle took me, So in our family [00:06:50] just depended on who’s doing what. So whether it’s your uncle taking you to the shop or your dad, you just went [00:06:55] with someone. And I remember driving up at the time. And then we saw that the shop windows had been broken into. [00:07:00] And at that time, I just felt really [00:07:05] scared. But also, why would someone do this? And more so seeing my uncle’s [00:07:10] face like, oh my gosh, we’ve got to run a busy day. Half the stuff’s gone. How [00:07:15] you know, how are we going to get this repaired? And I think you just felt like [00:07:20] you got back handed a bit. The rugs were taken off from under your feet, [00:07:25] and I felt it more for my family. I was just thinking. They work so hard. How is this [00:07:30] fair? And, you know, there was this concept of this is what happens, you know, when you’re working in this type [00:07:35] of a reality, this stuff is what can happen. So when you go to school, you make sure you work hard [00:07:40] so you don’t have to have days like this. And I think that that kind of philosophy has [00:07:45] been kind of ingrained into my head. I mean, it could happen to any of us, but it was a it was a moment [00:07:50] for for us. Definitely. When something like that happens, it can just shape you as a person, makes you [00:07:55] a bit more resilient. It does, isn’t it?

Prav Solanki: It does.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah. Do you have that? Yeah. Oh my gosh. I mean to see [00:08:00] that.

Prav Solanki: A lot of fear as well right. The crikey this can happen. And the message my dad [00:08:05] always said to me is I don’t want you to do this.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yes.

Prav Solanki: To get a proper education. I want to go [00:08:10] to university. And I want you to have a better life.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Prav Solanki: Than I did. Yes. [00:08:15] And this is why I’m doing what I’m doing. Did you have any kind of messages from your folks in terms of.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah, exactly [00:08:20] what you were saying. It literally was. You know, we don’t want you to be doing this. You know, it’s [00:08:25] very labour intensive. Long hours. You know, you’d open at seven, finish at nine, you’d have your dinner [00:08:30] at nine and you wouldn’t even see my dad. Parents didn’t really spend any time with us because we were just working away. [00:08:35] And it was like, just do this one thing. Make sure you study hard, make sure you get an education, and then [00:08:40] live a better life to what we’ve done. And it’s quite funny now, like when I, when [00:08:45] I go home and I spend time with my folks, and you almost feel like you’ve the [00:08:50] you’ve taken that baton to the next level, and then you want to say to your kids, you take it to the next level, [00:08:55] like whatever all of us have collectively endured, you [00:09:00] guys take it to the next level.

Prav Solanki: What is the next level?

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah. You know, I [00:09:05] guess maybe the next level is just [00:09:10] being better and like being good for [00:09:15] society, but also for your own family. Like we struggle to have time with our family. Even then, I’m [00:09:20] struggling. I try to keep the balance, but even then it’s like family time. You know, [00:09:25] maybe they have a bit more of a balance. Maybe there is no such thing as balance, I don’t know.

Prav Solanki: So I was [00:09:30] talking to Amit earlier, right. And we were talking about what is success, [00:09:35] the definition of it. Right. Um, and, you know, I mean, it was talking [00:09:40] about his future in the business and further growth, [00:09:45] further ambitions and what that could look like. Right. And [00:09:50] so you just mentioned take it to the next level. Maybe [00:09:55] our kids can take it to the next level. Yeah. What does that actually mean. Because sometimes I think about it I [00:10:00] look at my children. Right. I don’t want them to have my life. No, I don’t want [00:10:05] them to go through the the long hours, the pain, the. I don’t want them to [00:10:10] own a business. Yeah, maybe part of me does want them to be entrepreneurial. Do you know what I mean? But [00:10:15] I want them to have an easier journey than me, right? And so, I mean, [00:10:20] you say sort of like we’re going to do this and we’re going to do that, and so on and so forth. I’m just saying [00:10:25] we want our kids to take it to the next level. Is that like taking [00:10:30] Abbey House and doing ten x what Abbey House do? Is it a financial thing? [00:10:35] Is it actually giving them the ability to not [00:10:40] have to go through what you’ve done in terms of the the stresses [00:10:45] and strains of running a practice will probably go on to talk about 2024, [00:10:50] which was a terrible year for you guys, right? In terms of the amount of stress [00:10:55] you guys went through. And clearly you wouldn’t want your children to do that. I [00:11:00] think what is the next level?

Dr Mumta Jilka: See, I think tough times make [00:11:05] you.

Prav Solanki: The.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Do. Um, but I guess it’s really for them to [00:11:10] live the life they want. I think I think it’s not what I. [00:11:15] It’s almost more what they want to do, that they are living the life [00:11:20] of, of their dreams, that they are succeeding in whatever venture they kind of go for. [00:11:25] I mean.

Prav Solanki: But but then is it is it financial or non-financial? And [00:11:30] I’m it from your perspective, what does that look like?

Dr Amit Jilka: It’s not it’s non-financial. I [00:11:35] think you get to a point where you have what you want in life and you’ve achieved what you wanted from [00:11:40] a financial perspective, so that additional revenue or income is not going to change your lifestyle. [00:11:45] Um, for us, you know, I feel like we’ve got this opportunity that we’re [00:11:50] delivering good dental care, we’ve got a good team, and we’re good at what we do, that why not do more [00:11:55] of it? So, you know, for us, the next level for me is to, you know, we’ve got four practices [00:12:00] now. And I think we want to expand that into a few more.

Prav Solanki: Which is the next level for you. [00:12:05] But we’ll go back to my original question, which is your children. You talked about going back [00:12:10] home. Yeah. And you see where your parents came from? Yeah. And you [00:12:15] took it up a notch. Yeah. Right. You escaped?

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yes.

Prav Solanki: From the shop [00:12:20] environment. Right. And what you’re saying is that maybe your children will take things [00:12:25] to the next level. Yeah. What does that actually mean?

Dr Mumta Jilka: So [00:12:30] I guess for me, what that would mean is that they [00:12:35] have developed a life that they are financially secure. [00:12:40] Um, they have developed a life where they have they can choose [00:12:45] how they want to spend their time. You know, I’m going to work X amount of hours. I’m going to spend this [00:12:50] much time with my kids, but just enjoy life. I think that, I mean, we all met [00:12:55] at some point material things like, you know, the finances and it’s really important. You can’t run [00:13:00] away from those things. I think you need this kind of stuff. Um, but I do want them to [00:13:05] be really happy and, like, you know, just for me, it’s family will always [00:13:10] be spending time with your family and, you know, stuff like that. But, yeah, it’s hard [00:13:15] to say, isn’t it? It’s really hard. It’s a really deep question, this one.

Prav Solanki: But I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you where I’m going [00:13:20] with it. Right. Is because you guys have done so well financially [00:13:25] and you’re still in your journey, [00:13:30] so to speak. So more is to come. Yeah, yeah, we all agree on that right? [00:13:35] So the harder you were, the more you do and the more you [00:13:40] generate in terms of your family wealth.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Prav Solanki: Okay. You’re setting [00:13:45] your children up to be able to choose, right? [00:13:50] Which is what our parents did.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Prav Solanki: Yeah. Maybe they just pushed us into education. [00:13:55] Yeah. You know, paid for a few things at uni, whatever they could afford. Right. And you [00:14:00] guys are now taking that to the next level. Right. Um, [00:14:05] do you have any concerns or worries about that, or [00:14:10] do you ever talk about that at all?

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah, I think we’ve discussed it a few times, isn’t it, that [00:14:15] what our kind of origin story is made us into this place? Our own children [00:14:20] have already lived a very comfortable life. And so what is [00:14:25] going to be their drive and what’s going to push them to achieve? And and we all know working [00:14:30] is important. You know, we don’t want our kids not wanting to work. No. [00:14:35] You want them to be able to work and to be independent, but then ultimately, you don’t want them to go through [00:14:40] what we are. You know, where, you know, one year we’re doing really well, and then the next year you’re not doing [00:14:45] very well financially. And it’s an up and down game. You just want them to be stable so they don’t go through the stresses [00:14:50] that kind of our parents went through and what even we’ve been through. So, you know, it’s not [00:14:55] always a happy story is it? You know, I.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Think it’s I think it’s inevitable. I don’t [00:15:00] think anyone’s life is like a straight I think it is peaks and valleys, you know? And I [00:15:05] just want, you know, you want your kids to grow up, to be able to get through those peaks and valleys. [00:15:10] And maybe we underestimate them. Like, maybe they will be fine. You know.

Prav Solanki: You want them to be able to handle [00:15:15] the stresses, right? Because sometimes I think as a father, I mollycoddle my kids. Yeah. [00:15:20] And I sort of think about actually, you know, one day I won’t be here. Yeah. And I want them to [00:15:25] be able to do that by themselves. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. So question for you. I’m it whilst [00:15:30] Monta was growing up in Leicester working in the corner shop. Go [00:15:35] into cash and carry telling people the car have cigarettes. What were you doing? [00:15:40]

Dr Amit Jilka: Sounds like a typical Indian story now because you two have already told my story. So. So [00:15:45] yeah. Surprise, surprise. I also grew up in a shop as well. Okay, a corner shop. And it was [00:15:50] actually a corner shop. Yeah. And we lived above that in a flat, and it was five [00:15:55] of us. Where was it? Two brothers in Bournville, Birmingham. Okay. Um, but it was [00:16:00] a flat, but it was a three roomed flat. So our lounge [00:16:05] was also our bedroom, which was also our dining room. So [00:16:10] it was a very close, close kind of, um, family upbringing. Um, [00:16:15] and I look back in those days and think that that’s why we as a family are so [00:16:20] close, because, you know, we did literally everything together. Um, at the same time, my dad [00:16:25] was an accountant, so he would go to work and my mum would be running the shop by herself. Pretty [00:16:30] much. We were too young to help run the shop, and it was my eldest [00:16:35] brother that kind of took the role of what mum was doing at her shop, um, and pretty [00:16:40] much ran the business with my with my mum while going to school. Um, so his upbringing was probably, [00:16:45] you know, more difficult than mine because, you know, I was very much brought up by my [00:16:50] two older brothers and my parents at the same time.

Prav Solanki: Um, what was the age difference between you and [00:16:55] your brothers?

Dr Amit Jilka: My eldest brother’s five years older than me. Okay. And then my middle brother is only a year older than me. [00:17:00] But I think they all saw me as, like, the baby of the family. So they kind of really, really looked after me. Um, [00:17:05] but we didn’t have a shop for, you know, we had a shop for about eight years. Um, but unfortunately, [00:17:10] my, my dad had a lot of medical problems, and so he was [00:17:15] diagnosed with cancer in his leg, um, in the kind of early 90s. So I [00:17:20] remember for a good, good year, we were just going back and forth as a six and seven year old to the hospital [00:17:25] to see him. Um, you know, he wasn’t given long to live at the time. [00:17:30] And, um, they did eventually save him and they replaced his, [00:17:35] uh, one of his bones, his right femur with a titanium bone. So he [00:17:40] was kind of okay then. But I think the pressures of the finances and everything meant that eventually, [00:17:45] you know, we made that decision to sell the shop. And then my dad got got another [00:17:50] job while my mom became a care home assistant.

Dr Amit Jilka: Um, at that point. And [00:17:55] so, yeah, my, my kind of life has kind of been brought up from the shop and then, uh, through, [00:18:00] um, some of my, my dad’s illnesses and, you know, unfortunately, that [00:18:05] leg then eventually became infected, um, probably [00:18:10] a month before my A-level exams. Um, and we were told [00:18:15] he’s got 24 hours to live. And the decision that we had to make as a family was, [00:18:20] you know, do you want him to live? Um, and we can try [00:18:25] and save the leg or we can cut the leg off, and, um, potentially [00:18:30] there’s a chance he might live. And so as a family, we’re just like, yeah, just cut the leg off, you know? [00:18:35] And thankfully, he survived. And, uh, and he came out of that, [00:18:40] um, with, you know, in a wheelchair after that. And, uh, I kind of went [00:18:45] into I remember my dad saying, you know, how’s the A-levels going? How’s the A-levels going? I was just like, this [00:18:50] is the last thing on my mind. Um, but I’ve always been that character that just works right at the end. [00:18:55] So, you know, I can.

Prav Solanki: Cram for exams.

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah. Like, you know, very much ADHD kind of characteristics [00:19:00] that I just cram everything at the end. Um, and so for me, the A-levels. Yeah, [00:19:05] it wasn’t even I wasn’t even stressed about that because I just knew I’d do okay with that. Um, [00:19:10] so yeah, I mean, so you kind of go through that and then, um, you [00:19:15] know, after that, my dad, dad didn’t work after that. And so as a family, we were financially, [00:19:20] you know, we were struggling. I’d say we were struggling. So, you know, we sold, um, [00:19:25] like I said, the shop was gone at the time and my brother at the time had [00:19:30] then gone to America. Um, and was was kind of helping with the finances. [00:19:35]

Prav Solanki: So what was he doing in America at the time?

Dr Amit Jilka: Um, he was um, he was [00:19:40] working for PwC. So he was he had a good job. Very, very good job. Yeah. [00:19:45] Um, and he kind of again supported me through university, um, financially as well. [00:19:50] And so, like I said, I’ve just been very well looked after. Um, yeah. [00:19:55] Yeah. I think that’s that’s it really. I mean, you know, I got to fifth year, if you remember, you [00:20:00] were there, you know, fifth year of dental school and again, um, six weeks before the final exams, [00:20:05] again, dad goes into hospital 24 hours to live, you know. Got [00:20:10] your final exams coming up. And again, you’re told this is the last time you’re going to see him. Go and say bye [00:20:15] to dad. Go down. You know, I think, you know, was my girlfriend [00:20:20] at the time. And she came down as well. And the friends came down and, you know, and again he survived. And [00:20:25] so, you know, each and every time, my dad’s kind of been at that point of, you know, going he’s [00:20:30] always survived. And so I look at my life and think, I always think we’re going to get through it. And [00:20:35] you can see how the practices are run. You can see how I run the family, how I speak [00:20:40] to people.

Dr Mumta Jilka: We live on the edge, keep.

Dr Amit Jilka: Falling off the edge.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Getting back on.

Dr Amit Jilka: And if I’m not on the edge, I’m not [00:20:45] comfortable. I have to be on the edge because I’m so used to being on the edge that everything’s going to be [00:20:50] okay. Yeah. You know, um, so that’s it. That’s that’s effectively, you know, we’re [00:20:55] all got here today. And what keeps me going is that, you know. Yeah, you could say that Abbey House Dental [00:21:00] has achieved a lot and this is it. And this is enough and it is enough. Of course it is. [00:21:05] But I’ve got to be on the edge. I’ve got to keep moving and I’ve got to keep growing. And I think it’s a personal [00:21:10] thing that I have to do this.

Prav Solanki: But it’s the way we’re all wired differently. This is what I say. We are all [00:21:15] wired differently. We’ve got so many neurones flying around our bodies and [00:21:20] every one of us are connected differently. Um, and, you [00:21:25] know, whatever it is, whatever drives you, whether it’s your, you know, your upbringing and [00:21:30] your and your dad’s sort of last chances or, you know, the shop for [00:21:35] yourself. Um, it’s what shapes us to what we are, right? [00:21:40] Um, so fast forward, actually, I’ve got one more question for you on it, which is [00:21:45] being the baby of the family. Being the youngest child.

Dr Amit Jilka: Um.

Prav Solanki: Were you mollycoddled. [00:21:50] Were you were you the favourite?

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah, yeah, I was, [00:21:55] you know, parent’s golden boy. Like I said, that my brothers helped raise me. My parents [00:22:00] helped. Everyone just looked after me. And mum was the eldest in the family. And so it’s a very interesting dynamic [00:22:05] when we’re in each other’s families because, you know, mom is like the leader in her family. And when I go to my house, [00:22:10] everyone’s looking after me and buying me stuff. And so, you know, I’ve I’ve had a very lucky life in that respect [00:22:15] that I’ve been just thrown so much love and very little responsibility.

Prav Solanki: So [00:22:20] what’s it like when you go to each other’s in-laws, shall we say? Is it a very different [00:22:25] experience to both of you in terms of.

Dr Amit Jilka: It’s a complete contrast, isn’t it? You know, very, very contrasting. [00:22:30] It’s very yeah, it’s a.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Lot more chilled out. So I’m [00:22:35] the baby now. So I take full, full privileges with all of that.

Dr Amit Jilka: So yeah, I think [00:22:40] because the family are a lot more intense because we’ve been through. Yeah. High pressure situations. So [00:22:45] you know, whereas families are a lot more chilled out. Isn’t it so. [00:22:50] Yeah.

Prav Solanki: So fast forward you both get through school. [00:22:55] You I’m assuming you both did really well in your exams. Were you? So you were a crammer [00:23:00] like me. Mhm. Um, so I would smash it right at the end and [00:23:05] do really well. Um. Kind of always knew I’d do that. I’m assuming. [00:23:10]

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah. Yeah. Same. Same. Yeah, yeah. Um, you know, a couple of weeks before the final exams, [00:23:15] um, I turned my days around, weirdly enough. So I would kind of sleep during the night. During [00:23:20] the day and start at like 10 p.m. and work through the morning. It’s just the way I thought was [00:23:25] the best and most efficient way of working with no distractions. And you know, so I would literally finish [00:23:30] studying and the exam would be at 9 a.m. and I’d been up that whole evening fresh in the mind and [00:23:35] just, you know, you figure out what works for you.

Prav Solanki: Don’t you? Right. Yeah. What about yourself? Were [00:23:40] you were you a crammer? No. Were you were studying all the time? Yes. Yeah. Because I [00:23:45] am a student.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Obviously. Naturally. I can’t, like, cram like this [00:23:50] man can. So I have to actually work consistently. Consistent. [00:23:55] Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I my stress levels need to be like this for me to function. [00:24:00]

Prav Solanki: And were you a model student? Yeah, I think I was, I was hitting the marks, [00:24:05] the grades, teachers, pet teachers.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Prav Solanki: All that sort of stuff. Yeah, yeah. [00:24:10]

Dr Mumta Jilka: I’m so boring. This is just how I am. Yeah.

Prav Solanki: So why dentistry for both of [00:24:15] you? What? What drove you both to have you. You must have discussed this, right?

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah. [00:24:20] So I think for me, it wasn’t I wasn’t one of those, like, young ones that had a long term [00:24:25] plan to be a dentist. Mhm. Um, mine kind of came through the frustrations. I was [00:24:30] feeling like my mom was having a lot of dental issues at the time. And I remember because when you were [00:24:35] in a shop, you just think, well, why can’t someone just be open? Like why can’t someone just help? How can it be so complicated? [00:24:40] And I saw my mom just kind of go down, down, down in her confidence. And, [00:24:45] um, at the time, I was like, you know what? I’m just gonna do it. And at first, [00:24:50] my grades were not great. But then when I when I focussed on it, when I knew that [00:24:55] this I’ve got to get into dental school, I was like, okay, let’s just start pacing my work, getting into [00:25:00] it. And I’d probably say that was kind of my drive at the time. But [00:25:05] for you, I think you just knew it from the minute you came out, didn’t you?

Dr Amit Jilka: I [00:25:10] think you forget the story that you used to study for her GCSEs while [00:25:15] serving customers, and she’d fall asleep reading a book on the counter. That’s [00:25:20] what your mom said, isn’t it? So, you know, we’re very different to. We where like, everything was done for me so I could study. [00:25:25] And, you know.

Dr Mumta Jilka: I never had that right. I had literally, like you were saying it would be between [00:25:30] customers. Like I’d be serving and reading, you know, Krebs cycle in biology or something, like [00:25:35] I’d just.

Prav Solanki: Be them weighing out bonbons and.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Prav Solanki: That’s right.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah. [00:25:40] Oh my.

Prav Solanki: Gosh.

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah yeah. No. For me it was my mom. My mom was the biggest influence in [00:25:45] doing dentistry. She’d known a few people that had made a success in dentistry. And, um, [00:25:50] so from a very early age, she wanted one of the kids to be a dentist. And so [00:25:55] I didn’t really know anything about dentistry, if I’m being honest. But my mom said, you need to do dentistry. And so [00:26:00] I think I was the only one at the. And my two brothers are very clever as well, but I was the only one that [00:26:05] got the grades that would enable you to get into dental school. So that was it. I was just on that [00:26:10] path for whatever mom said. I did so.

Prav Solanki: So so it was never Medicine or anything like that?

Dr Amit Jilka: No, [00:26:15] never. I mean medicine. Um. My best friend and me were kind of studying together, [00:26:20] and he wanted medicine, and I always was dentistry. And I did have thoughts about joining [00:26:25] him as well. And, you know, we both went off to university together, and it was always dentistry because I had this [00:26:30] kind of business mind as well. And I felt that dentistry, as I researched it more, fitted my [00:26:35] personality better.

Prav Solanki: How did you both end up at Sheffield? Because at some point [00:26:40] you applied for was it five options? Yeah, [00:26:45] it was it.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah. Something like that. Yeah.

Prav Solanki: That’s it. Yeah, I can’t remember. I think it was about, I think it was five in [00:26:50] my day. Maybe it might have been four or whatever. Yeah, yeah. Um, and for [00:26:55] some reason you both picked Sheffield, [00:27:00] right? And neither of you knew at the time that it would completely pave your future. [00:27:05] In fact, had you not both picked Sheffield Abbey house wouldn’t be here, right? [00:27:10] Yeah. So how did that happen?

Dr Mumta Jilka: For me, [00:27:15] it was the furthest place from the shop. That [00:27:20] was. That was the logic behind it.

Prav Solanki: Right.

Dr Mumta Jilka: So I remember my dad was like, just stick [00:27:25] to Birmingham, go to Birmingham. And I was like, I could go to Birmingham. But that’s still too close to Leicester. [00:27:30]

Prav Solanki: Did you apply to Birmingham?

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yes.

Prav Solanki: You got it.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah. Got it, got it, got it. So it was between Sheffield [00:27:35] and Birmingham right. I got Liverpool as well and it was like between them. But Liverpool was a bit too far right. [00:27:40] But Sheffield I was like no one knows. There are no you know, [00:27:45] none of my lot there. I’m going.

Prav Solanki: So there’s nothing to do with the course being better or [00:27:50] anything like that. It was just like, I want to get as far away. None of my lot there. I’m going there.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah, [00:27:55] yeah yeah, yeah. So that no one can ring me and be like, can you just go on the tills?

Prav Solanki: You [00:28:00] couldn’t come back to do a weekend.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Couldn’t come back to.

Prav Solanki: Do a weekend. Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

Dr Amit Jilka: Mine [00:28:05] was that I applied to all four um Cardiff, Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham. [00:28:10] And I’ve got places in all of them. But it was my mum again. She was just like, we need [00:28:15] you to become more independent. And because I was that kid that was very well looked [00:28:20] after. Um, we went to see all the universities and I wanted to stay in Birmingham [00:28:25] personally. I wanted to stay in Birmingham. I wanted to stay in Birmingham. Yeah. And it was, it was my mum and [00:28:30] my brother that said, no, you need to go away from home. These five years will do you good and.

Prav Solanki: Push the baby.

Dr Amit Jilka: Away from you. [00:28:35] Yeah, yeah, yeah. Which led me to mum. Yeah.

Prav Solanki: So how did you meet?

Dr Amit Jilka: First [00:28:40] day of dental school, wasn’t it? First day at dental school was like a [00:28:45] gangster girl from Leicester.

Prav Solanki: Is that right?

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah. I was probably a bit more posher, [00:28:50] wasn’t I? Yeah, with his backpack. Yeah. I [00:28:55] wouldn’t say I was shy, but I was a bit shyer than.

Prav Solanki: You were on the first day.

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah. Pretty much. Yeah.

Prav Solanki: Um, what [00:29:00] was it, an event? Was it a party? Was it a freshers week thing?

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah, it was like [00:29:05] a freshers week thing. When they introduce you to all the other students in the year. Yeah. So we were [00:29:10] just all pulled into one room and you just had to introduce yourself to everyone.

Prav Solanki: All the Dental students in one room? Yeah. [00:29:15] You can’t have all said hello to everyone. Or did you?

Dr Mumta Jilka: No we did. It was. We [00:29:20] did. We went kind of around it.

Dr Amit Jilka: It was like we kind of did, I think. I think a few people you just connected with more. Isn’t [00:29:25] it so you know.

Prav Solanki: So you at some point said hello to one another. [00:29:30] Yeah.

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah. And I think instantly we were friends, very close friends for straight away within a week [00:29:35] weren’t we? Very very good friends.

Prav Solanki: Did you live near each other?

Dr Mumta Jilka: No.

Dr Amit Jilka: No.

Prav Solanki: So you weren’t [00:29:40] in the same halls?

Dr Mumta Jilka: No. So he was in halls? I was in self-catered.

Prav Solanki: Okay.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Uh, apartments. [00:29:45] So, uh. But no, we just became really good friends, isn’t it?

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah. [00:29:50] Yeah. And then. Then. Yeah. I asked her out in second year university. Wasn’t it?

Prav Solanki: Took you [00:29:55] a year?

Dr Amit Jilka: Took me a year. Yeah. She rejected me. And then I asked her out again. Rejected me. And [00:30:00] then we were together secretly for a bit, weren’t we? Uh. And then you dumped me again.

Prav Solanki: What do you mean? What do you mean, [00:30:05] secretly?

Dr Amit Jilka: You know those that Asian thing where, you know, you don’t tell anyone, but everybody knows. So [00:30:10] all our friends knew that we were going out, but we weren’t officially a couple.

Dr Mumta Jilka: All [00:30:15] I was saying was, I just need to get to know you, like, you know, a little bit more.

Prav Solanki: So [00:30:20] that first day, just just do that again. How did he say hello to you? That’s [00:30:25] terrible. And [00:30:30] so what did you think on that first day? Can you remember. Can you [00:30:35] take yourself back to there? Like, did you like.

Dr Mumta Jilka: I just thought this guy was really shy. [00:30:40]

Prav Solanki: Simple as that.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Simple.

Prav Solanki: Simple as that. And what did you think?

Dr Amit Jilka: This [00:30:45] girl’s really confident. She’s very much in your face, [00:30:50] so. Yeah.

Prav Solanki: So was it. Was it a love at first sight thing, or was it. Actually, [00:30:55] we’re just.

Dr Amit Jilka: Definitely attraction at first sight, wasn’t it? Yeah, yeah, for.

Prav Solanki: Both.

Dr Amit Jilka: Of you.

Prav Solanki: Yeah.

Dr Amit Jilka: I’m glad [00:31:00] you both. You know, I had to really convince mom to, like, really, really hard to even [00:31:05] consider me as a partner. Yeah. So, you know.

Dr Mumta Jilka: We were really [00:31:10] good friends. Like really good friends.

Prav Solanki: Was it love at first sight?

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Dr Amit Jilka: No it wasn’t. [00:31:15] Come on. No. It wasn’t.

Dr Mumta Jilka: It was a bit later. Yeah. [00:31:20] I think when I got to uni, I literally was so focussed on freedom and just [00:31:25] enjoying, like the course, the uni friends, the life that [00:31:30] it wasn’t really on my radar.

Prav Solanki: Yeah, I get that, I get that. But you met each other, you hit [00:31:35] it off, you became mates.

Dr Mumta Jilka: 100% trusted him. Like, I was like, if I go out, whatever. [00:31:40] If he’s there, I know I’m gonna be okay. Like, he was, he was. He was my go to guy for sure. For [00:31:45] everything.

Prav Solanki: And so what was that first year like? Were you both out partying [00:31:50] hard? Were you working hard? Were you doing a bit of both? Were you supporting each other in the.

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah. [00:31:55] Monster again was very studious, worked really hard, and I’d been so used to cramming and doing [00:32:00] things last minute. Um, but that doesn’t really work in dental school because there’s so much [00:32:05] knowledge that you have to accumulate. So I didn’t appreciate how much work was involved. So I did fail, [00:32:10] um, half the modules in that first year. I had to retake, um, and [00:32:15] retake them in the summer, and luckily I passed and got through into the second year, and so I [00:32:20] could continue seeing all the new friends that I’d made. Um, and then second year on, [00:32:25] I took it very seriously. And then I made sure I was, you know, in the top five in the class. But [00:32:30] yeah, it took me, it took me. I always say that year was very, very good for me, that I failed [00:32:35] because it really it was very important. Even my mom says it, that, you know, the fact that you failed in that year [00:32:40] led you to work harder in those later years. So it was a wake up call for me.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Talent [00:32:45] only gets you so far, right?

Prav Solanki: Yeah. Yeah.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah. Discipline.

Prav Solanki: What were you doing? Spending your time? Just [00:32:50] enjoying yourself.

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah, just. Yeah. Just what a typical first year does, you know, going [00:32:55] out regularly, drinking, you know, heavily. The usual. Really. It was [00:33:00] just a bit too much, you know.

Prav Solanki: So then obviously you asked.

Dr Amit Jilka: And that [00:33:05] may be a reason why I didn’t, you know, you didn’t want me in the first year.

Prav Solanki: So [00:33:10] so he asked you out in the second year, was it or was it before that [00:33:15] he asked you out and you said no. Second year and you said yes or no?

Dr Mumta Jilka: I said no.

Prav Solanki: Why? [00:33:20]

Dr Mumta Jilka: Because at the time, again, I was thinking [00:33:25] that he’s just.

Prav Solanki: A friend.

Dr Mumta Jilka: A friend, and he [00:33:30] has this, you know, fun lifestyle. And I’m more of a, you know, studious, [00:33:35] working hard. And then the other thing was, I didn’t want my dad to think, you know, she’s gone [00:33:40] this far, and she’s. And I didn’t want it to interfere with my education. I was just, like, so focussed that I wanted to do [00:33:45] well and I wanted to work hard.

Prav Solanki: Was your decision focussed around what might my dad think?

Dr Mumta Jilka: No. [00:33:50] Well, maybe a bit, but like. Yeah, because you do, right? Like, [00:33:55] of course you do. My dad is like my world.

Prav Solanki: Of course you do.

Dr Mumta Jilka: He’s my everything. And then, like, [00:34:00] you know, enters a new man. But I [00:34:05] guess for me, really, I think I wasn’t in the right headspace. I was just wanting [00:34:10] to be a bit independent and live my life. But then also, he was my friend and I didn’t want that to [00:34:15] change, like we were such good friends. Um, but [00:34:20] then. Yeah, slowly, you know?

Prav Solanki: So what happened? He asked you again?

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah, he did the conversion, [00:34:25] I guess.

Prav Solanki: Did he party for three months, send you an SMS or something? Three months [00:34:30] later. Are you still interested in.

Dr Mumta Jilka: No. He did. He. You know, he was really Dental [00:34:35] conversion. Yeah.

Prav Solanki: He did.

Dr Mumta Jilka: He was like day [00:34:40] one, send sms, day two. Send Anita. No.

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah, actually [00:34:45] it was it was one of my close friends that convinced her to go out with me again. So, um, [00:34:50] and once you.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Were all at it.

Dr Amit Jilka: Then once she was convinced, then you.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Need to get with this guy.

Prav Solanki: Yeah. [00:34:55]

Dr Mumta Jilka: So then that’s what.

Prav Solanki: So what? So what was the secretive part? [00:35:00] Is this a parent thing? The secretive part?

Dr Amit Jilka: No, no. I mean, yeah, for her side, it was because, you [00:35:05] know, her parents are the.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Eldest, the first daughter in the family. The eldest. My [00:35:10] dad’s really strict. Yeah. But then also, you know, I needed to [00:35:15] make sure I got an education.

Dr Amit Jilka: My side was very, very open and close family. So, you [00:35:20] know, I’d be saying I’ve asked mum and she said no, you know, I’d be telling my mum and dad this. So [00:35:25] it was a complete contrasting families like we said. So yeah. You know, my parents [00:35:30] only found out.

Dr Mumta Jilka: When you approach them.

Dr Amit Jilka: After graduation. Oh, [00:35:35] really? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So they didn’t know we were a couple until graduation, [00:35:40] wasn’t it? So.

Prav Solanki: So come graduation time, what did [00:35:45] you.

Dr Amit Jilka: On graduation day? I went to my dad and I said, uh, you know, [00:35:50] let’s celebrate. Let’s go for a meal as two families.

Prav Solanki: How did you know Mum or Dad to approach [00:35:55] him?

Dr Amit Jilka: You see the pictures, don’t you?

Dr Mumta Jilka: No no, no. So one day, what happened was my [00:36:00] parents came to my flat. Yeah. I can’t believe this is all being exposed on this podcast. [00:36:05] And, um, my mum had brought food and stuff, and then Ammit and then one [00:36:10] of my other good friends. They were both. Both the boys were there. And, um, so I introduced I said, oh, this is [00:36:15] this is me. This is, you know, so and so. My parents are KKK. And then nothing else came [00:36:20] of that. Graduation day came, and then Ammit just casually walks up to my dad, and my [00:36:25] dad is like, you know, if you watched EastEnders, he’s like, Grant Mitchell. Like, he’s a, you know, he [00:36:30] walks up to my dad and he’s like, uncle, why don’t we go for a meal to celebrate? And my dad just looked at him like, [00:36:35] who is this? Like, how is he just approached me. And then I remember in the car journey home, my dad goes, [00:36:40] is there something you want to tell me? And I was like, ah.

Prav Solanki: Maybe wicked.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah. [00:36:45] That’s how.

Prav Solanki: It happened. That’s how it happened.

Dr Mumta Jilka: That’s how it happened.

Prav Solanki: Amazing. Amazing. [00:36:50] And then. So where did you both go in your journeys after that first jobs. [00:36:55]

Dr Mumta Jilka: So yeah, I went to work in Wolverhampton. So, [00:37:00] um, that was uh, I did my bit in Wolverhampton. [00:37:05] Then I found another job in Wolverhampton. So that was there for about four years. And then [00:37:10] you did a solo training and stuff, didn’t you?

Dr Amit Jilka: Yes I did. In Birmingham and just lived [00:37:15] back at home. And then I did, uh, Max sax then for a year in Birmingham. And so I just yeah, [00:37:20] stayed at home at that point. And mum was living in Birmingham in a flat. So, you know, we saw each other quite often [00:37:25] then, didn’t we. And we got married two years after graduation.

Prav Solanki: Okay.

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah. [00:37:30] After I convinced her dad to accept me. Which, again, that took a long time to get [00:37:35] his approval.

Prav Solanki: Did you did. So the reason I’m asking this is that my [00:37:40] me asking Bobby’s dad for. The [00:37:45] permission was probably one of the most nerve [00:37:50] wracking experiences of my life. Because he is a proper gangster. [00:37:55] Proper gangster? Right. Um. And [00:38:00] he knows some really dodgy people as well. Right. So. And I’d heard all the stories, so [00:38:05] I was bricking myself. Yeah. Did you. Did you actually go [00:38:10] and ask him?

Dr Amit Jilka: I did, yeah, yeah. I went round to the house and sat with [00:38:15] his mum and dad in a very formal meeting, and we went through that process and, um, [00:38:20] yeah, it was, it was, it was scary.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Me and my sister were hiding, like, in the kitchen with our ears by [00:38:25] the door, and my sister’s like, he’s just like that. He just said that. I was like, shh, get this over and [00:38:30] done with.

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah, it was a full interview. I was questioned about loads of different things about kids and, you know, [00:38:35] this and that and religion and everything and. Yeah. Um, and then I didn’t [00:38:40] hear from them for six months. And [00:38:45] then. Yeah, his dad was at your flat, wasn’t it? And then and [00:38:50] then said, yeah, we we are happy with you now.

Prav Solanki: So six months later.

Dr Amit Jilka: It was about six [00:38:55] months, wasn’t it? Yeah. Kept me on my toes. So.

Prav Solanki: Wow. [00:39:00] Wow. My, my my father in law [00:39:05] just said. Yeah. Nice one. Crack on. But it was nerve wracking. [00:39:10] You had to wait for six months.

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah, it’s a long time. It was a it’s a long delay.

Prav Solanki: Wow. Yeah. [00:39:15] Well, it must have been very strict there.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Very strict.

Prav Solanki: Um, so you both [00:39:20] did your thing. Got married within a couple of years. And then when [00:39:25] did the idea of Abbey House happen? And whose idea [00:39:30] was it?

Dr Mumta Jilka: So it was his idea. And it was just [00:39:35] a. Let’s just trial this out. Let’s just have a go. Let’s just go [00:39:40] and see some practice and see what it’s all about. So I was like, okay, then we’ll just go and have a look. [00:39:45] And then this was the first second practice.

Dr Amit Jilka: Second practice.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Isn’t it. Second practice that we [00:39:50] saw and I remember we walked in and the owners, they just kind of [00:39:55] it’s like they resonate towards you, weren’t they? It was just.

Dr Amit Jilka: Like, yeah, yeah they [00:40:00] did.

Prav Solanki: So what were you doing going through? You guys thought.

Prav Solanki: Let’s own our own practice, right? [00:40:05]

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Prav Solanki: And it was an idea.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Prav Solanki: You went along with it?

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Prav Solanki: Yeah. And [00:40:10] you went to view a practice. So you decided, right. We’re going to start viewing practices now.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Prav Solanki: What was [00:40:15] your drive? Your your fear. Did you always know that I’m going to run and own my [00:40:20] own?

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah, 100%. It was. Yeah, from day one, you know. You know, I had a choice after Max [00:40:25] facts. I had a choice to do medicine. And it was a fast track degree. That and [00:40:30] it was. I really wanted to do max facts. And the decision at the time [00:40:35] was because we hardly had any money and we were getting married and everything. We thought, this isn’t a financially [00:40:40] viable option for me to do max facts and do that thing. And so I thought, if I’m not going to do max [00:40:45] facts, then there’s only one plan. It’s by practice. And so [00:40:50] after Max, I didn’t even get a proper associate job. I just did loads of locums with [00:40:55] the idea that I wanted to see how practices are run. So I did locums for about a year and a half in [00:41:00] all over the country. I was working just for the knowledge base and then yeah, we bought the practice [00:41:05] and the practice took about a year to go through CQC and everything. And um, and [00:41:10] the owners that sold it to us are Doctor Lehane and Doctor Bates, who both passed away. Now they [00:41:15] resonated with me because they got multiple offers, and I think they got offers that were higher than [00:41:20] what I had offered. And I’ve met people who actually approached our practice, and I think there was a connection [00:41:25] that made us sell to us.

Prav Solanki: This was Abbey House Stone, right?

Dr Amit Jilka: Abbey House Stone.

Prav Solanki: Was a practice called then [00:41:30] same or.

Dr Amit Jilka: It was called, um.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Doctor Lehane.

Dr Amit Jilka: Doctor Lehane dental surgery, Doctor [00:41:35] Lane dental surgery. And it was a I’d say it was a one surgery practice with a hygienist [00:41:40] room as well. So one and a half surgeries ran, probably one surgery was run five days [00:41:45] a week. The other one was run two three days a week. So it’s a tiny little practice that me and mom could go in and just [00:41:50] run it and, you know.

Prav Solanki: Test things out.

Dr Amit Jilka: Test things out. Yeah. There’s no ever plan [00:41:55] to grow big though in our heads it was like, let’s try and get it to four surgeries [00:42:00] and then we’re happy. Yeah. Um, and we did that. We did that very quickly. After a couple of years, we went to four surgeries, [00:42:05] and then the demand for private work in the area just kept growing and growing. [00:42:10] And we we got better and better at it. So it just went from strength to strength, [00:42:15] didn’t it?

Prav Solanki: Did. Going from the initial practice set up to four surgeries just happened by osmosis. [00:42:20] There was no like master plan or anything like that. It’s just demand grew. [00:42:25] Open another one, open another one. And did you know, sometimes when you grow in a business you [00:42:30] do this and you get so far, but it just happens [00:42:35] because it happens. Yeah, right. There’s not a strategy. There’s not a plan or anything. You [00:42:40] just grow in the first part of your growth. It just just happens. Right. And it just takes off because [00:42:45] of who you are, what you do. And then and then it becomes a point where it just [00:42:50] stops, right? And you’ve got to do something different. Did that like 1 to 4 or whatever [00:42:55] it was?

Dr Amit Jilka: I would say 1 to 3 buildings. You know, we got to the third practice in [00:43:00] stone and it just happened. It was just that we needed more private surgeries. We had [00:43:05] a bigger team. We were not growing, you know, and we will say this, that there was no plans to grow. [00:43:10]

Prav Solanki: What do you mean? 1 to 3 buildings. You were not growing.

Dr Amit Jilka: It just happened like the demand was there.

Dr Mumta Jilka: More [00:43:15] patients.

Dr Amit Jilka: Wanted it, more patients wanted Invisalign. And so the growth just happened. This practice, [00:43:20] the newer one that we built was strategic. It was chosen, um, you know, for [00:43:25] a reason. The location, the way we built it, it was part of that growth plan. So this [00:43:30] was different. But the first three, you know, just happened just without us really doing anything in [00:43:35] my head, I just naturally happened.

Dr Mumta Jilka: I think I think what happens is, you know, when you develop [00:43:40] a good supporting team, Mhm. Like you need that behind you because once [00:43:45] you’ve got that circle of people it just moves you fast forward. Like you [00:43:50] can start doing stuff that in a much more rapid way than if it’s just you [00:43:55] alone doing it. I think that’s what happened with us. Like we managed to somehow people [00:44:00] decided that they were gonna come work with us, and it’s almost like they were [00:44:05] kind of cheering you on to do it. They’re like, let’s just do it. Go and do it. Go and do it. Okay, we’ll do it.

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah. Because [00:44:10] you’ve met them both. I had two exceptional managers, Stacey and Kelly. They they’ve been part of [00:44:15] this journey from the start of the growth and.

Prav Solanki: Day.

Dr Amit Jilka: One, you know, I’d say, uh, building [00:44:20] two. Yeah. Building two. Building. When we were transitioning from the first building to the second building. So [00:44:25] that growth was was they were there. So when you have two people like that that see the business as [00:44:30] their own and work like it’s us, you just naturally all going in one direction. So, [00:44:35] you know, but.

Prav Solanki: That team didn’t just magically theirself there did it? Like you guys [00:44:40] recruited those people. You found those people. And yeah, you [00:44:45] know, some people might say, maybe you got lucky with those two people, right? And [00:44:50] maybe there is a part of it. That’s serendipity, right? That, you know, Stacy or Kelly [00:44:55] was looking for a job at that time and the stars aligned [00:45:00] and you connected, but and you treated them well. And that’s why they stayed and whatnot, right? And [00:45:05] but because of that, you grew by osmosis to the first [00:45:10] three buildings. Some people would argue that, like growing beyond like getting [00:45:15] to one practice from 1 to 2 is a massive jump. It’s not, you know, some people say, [00:45:20] oh, if I get my second location, that means I’ll do double, double what I’m doing in one. [00:45:25] Absolutely not. Yeah. You’ll triple your stress. Yeah. And all [00:45:30] the things.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Economies of scale.

Prav Solanki: And when you’re in that building, when you [00:45:35] are the boss and you’re in that building. Shit happens. Yeah. And it gets done. The [00:45:40] moment you leave there, you’re dropping the ball and you’re letting all the little leaks and all the little mistakes [00:45:45] and everything that could possibly go wrong. Go wrong. Right? Yeah. Um, but you got from [00:45:50] 1 to 3. And what space of time was that?

Dr Amit Jilka: So 2019 [00:45:55] was the second building. Yeah, 2021. Two years later was the third [00:46:00] building. And then this one was 2023. So pretty much every two years we’ve [00:46:05] effectively had a new building haven’t we.

Prav Solanki: And during that [00:46:10] journey so.

Dr Amit Jilka: Would you one now aren’t we technically.

Prav Solanki: But [00:46:20] but but during this during this journey of of, you know, one practice [00:46:25] to two practices to three practices, you also had some real babies [00:46:30] as well, right? Along the way. Yeah. At what point did the children come [00:46:35] along and what impact did that have overall in the [00:46:40] journey, and how did you both handle that?

Dr Amit Jilka: So the first two boys, they were born before [00:46:45] we even got to four surgeries, we were just a two surgery practice. So they they were born [00:46:50] before that. And then Amy was born in 2019 when we the year [00:46:55] we opened the second building. So very early on effectively. [00:47:00] So we weren’t as busy, you know. Um, and yeah, I think, [00:47:05] you know, we’ve always we’ve always managed to kind of balance the children by reducing our clinical work over time. [00:47:10]

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yes. So I think for me it was um, so when my eldest was [00:47:15] born, um, I was only working two days, I think, or three days [00:47:20] max. Mhm. Um, I felt it then because all of a sudden you’re going from [00:47:25] being on this high speed career journey to, to having little ones. And, [00:47:30] um, I definitely reduce my days down quite drastically because quite rightly, to look [00:47:35] after the kids. Um, and then whilst he was just getting more and more practices and buying and all [00:47:40] the rest of it, um, but it kind of worked out okay, I think, because we’re both I [00:47:45] know that he’s quite a good situation to be in, that we’re both dentists. Yeah. So you both understand [00:47:50] each other’s stress and you still work together as a team. So there’ll be days when [00:47:55] if he’s feeling it, I’d get it. I’d make sure that the house stuff is okay, that he doesn’t have [00:48:00] to transfer that home. Or we could work off each other. Um, and then. Yeah, after [00:48:05] the after, you know, the third one was, you know, after she was [00:48:10] born, um, I think I just started to feel like I needed to get [00:48:15] back into it for myself. And so you start doing courses, you start building [00:48:20] up a strategy. Like you said, it stopped being going on a whim to strategic. [00:48:25] Strategic. Okay. So how are we going to go from this to this, to this? How are we going to generate [00:48:30] income from this to this? How are we going to increase the service? How are we going to differentiate? How are we going to do all this stuff. [00:48:35] So it’s like that’s when the mapping really started to take shape I’d say. And then Covid happened and [00:48:40] that was just like the best kind of obviously it was a bad time, but it was like [00:48:45] a vacuum moment where you could really look back and think, okay, where [00:48:50] is this going? What are we doing? How are we doing it? And that’s kind of I’d probably say.

Prav Solanki: I’d [00:48:55] say the best thing that happened to my business was Covid. Yeah, we lost it all.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Prav Solanki: Because [00:49:00] you guys didn’t need people like us.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Prav Solanki: When your practices were shut. So we lost everything. [00:49:05] But I didn’t furlough any of my team. And we sat there and [00:49:10] we put strategy together and said, when this thing turns around, this is who we are, this [00:49:15] is who we represent, and this is definitely who we don’t want to work with.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Prav Solanki: And this is definitely who we do want. So [00:49:20] so we we spent a lot of time, you know, when you’re running a business.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Prav Solanki: It’s [00:49:25] really hard to work on the business when the wheels are moving.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yes. [00:49:30]

Prav Solanki: Um, and what was so good about Covid is the wheels stopped moving. We [00:49:35] all paused. And if you wanted to, you had the opportunity to re-evaluate [00:49:40] who you are, what you do. So did you take some of that time to do that at that time?

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah, definitely. [00:49:45] Definitely. Especially with things like. So for me with the focus was on [00:49:50] Invisalign to grow the Invisalign part of it all. Um.

Dr Amit Jilka: I think for me, my [00:49:55] head was in a different space at that time, so I wasn’t really focussed on the practice because I’d recently lost [00:50:00] my father, um, prior to Covid. Not during Covid, but like 5 or 6 months. [00:50:05] Okay. So for me, that period of Covid was really recovery time for me to to kind of mourn [00:50:10] and, and get back to kind of normality. Um, so Covid for me was was really [00:50:15] good. I think it just helped me free my mind.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah. Yeah.

Prav Solanki: And [00:50:20] then so what happened with the practices post Covid then? [00:50:25]

Dr Mumta Jilka: It was just a growing game. Then it was literally right. How are we gonna. [00:50:30]

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah, I think one of the open day record, we still haven’t beaten every since. There was like, 35 cases [00:50:35] in one day that went ahead. Yeah, I think, and that one open day with one clinician, you know, obviously [00:50:40] we’ve done more now with more clinicians. But that still a record isn’t it. You know an implant numbers flu. [00:50:45]

Dr Mumta Jilka: I think.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Generally even across the whole economy people are just willing to spend on themselves. So you [00:50:50] could see this rise. But it was almost like a fake rise because after [00:50:55] that you just saw it, you know, sliding down. And then it was like the real work has to kick [00:51:00] in to bring it back up.

Prav Solanki: And it was that, you know, that post-Covid boom was like, [00:51:05] I can’t believe this. And we were all sat there thinking, well, everyone saved the money up. Yeah, everyone’s [00:51:10] got this furlough money.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Prav Solanki: And everyone who wants to invest in their teeth [00:51:15] can do it now. And it went like gangbusters for everyone, [00:51:20] right? The Dental economy was just huge. But like you say, it was a it was [00:51:25] a artificial. Yeah, manufactured situation that we ended up in. [00:51:30] And if you made hay while the sun was shining, then great.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Prav Solanki: And if you didn’t? Well, [00:51:35] it’s what it is, right? Yeah. Um, but then just [00:51:40] in that whole growth phase, right, that you had that post Covid boom. And then after [00:51:45] that, did you have any like dark moments, any times during [00:51:50] the journey where it was really shit?

Dr Amit Jilka: Well, actually, um, we had opened the second practice [00:51:55] in 2019. Um, so that was just opened and then Covid hit. [00:52:00] So we were really in a bad financial situation at that point. Um, and then [00:52:05] surprisingly, you know, everyone thinks we’re doing so well, but in 2024, [00:52:10] we had financially the worst year, you know, we’d hit rock bottom.

Prav Solanki: Um, [00:52:15] what does rock bottom mean financially?

Dr Amit Jilka: Hit rock bottom. You know, we made negative profit, you know, [00:52:20] um, which is surprising. We lost money. Yeah. And for a practice of our size [00:52:25] and the numbers that we do, I think a lot of people couldn’t understand it. And and it came [00:52:30] down to just going back to the basics of, you know, I remember the phone call from the accountant. He’s [00:52:35] got the account. He rang me and he said, um, what the hell’s happened to the business? You need to stop what you’re [00:52:40] doing. Come to the come to the office. Right now. We need to discuss what’s happened. [00:52:45] Because you’ve just gone from super growth and profitability to to nothing. [00:52:50] And we’d invested so much into the practices. And to get it high end and, you know, the oteros, [00:52:55] the CT scan, all of these things and and fundamentally me and had [00:53:00] been doing less and less clinical, which kind of meant that if we were generating most of the income, [00:53:05] we probably generating the profits. So then as it became more kind of associate led, [00:53:10] there’s the the numbers don’t stack up, unfortunately. And we realised very quickly that [00:53:15] we had to change the model. And we did change the model. And you know, Touchwood, we’ve been in a [00:53:20] much better, safer position.

Prav Solanki: Um, so 2024 you [00:53:25] lost money. Prior to that, you were making money. Um, and it took [00:53:30] a phone call from your accountant to tell you you were losing money. Is that right?

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah, yeah. [00:53:35]

Prav Solanki: And is that because at that stage when you were running your business, you [00:53:40] were probably not crunching the numbers as thoroughly [00:53:45] and as analytical as you may [00:53:50] do today, for example. And so you’re flying along going, why [00:53:55] are we doing this turnover. Everything’s great. We’ve just done 50 Invisalign cases. I’ve placed 100 [00:54:00] implants. Bang bang bang. How could we possibly be? Losing money like that is not a possibility. [00:54:05]

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah, and it was that attitude that the turnover was so good that you don’t even look at the [00:54:10] other things. And we’d always been in profit for all of this time that you just never [00:54:15] thought this could happen. So you just would spend money, you’d be open to spending money and buying stuff [00:54:20] and you never really looked at it. We got PNL accounts on a monthly basis for years, [00:54:25] and the PNL accounts was telling us a story, but we just weren’t listening to that story.

Dr Mumta Jilka: I think that’s [00:54:30] one of the.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Things, you know, as dentists, you’re good at doing the service. But actually to [00:54:35] understand what these numbers are actually telling you, it’s like learning to read an x ray. You can [00:54:40] so many people can show you x rays, but if you don’t know what you’re looking at, you don’t know what you’re looking at. If you can’t diagnose caries, [00:54:45] you can’t diagnose that you know what you’re losing. And I think that was probably [00:54:50] the biggest lesson mean you had that day, wasn’t it? When our accountant sat us down [00:54:55] and I remember just sitting there thinking, how have we got [00:55:00] here? Obviously now I know how we got there, but how are we going to get back? And I think [00:55:05] that was when it was like make or break. So it’s almost like fight and flight mode. [00:55:10] Like we were put in that situation. It was like, and you feel it because you’ve got all these staff members to take care [00:55:15] of, all these building costs, all these entities, and you’ve got a reputation and it’s the reputation amongst like, [00:55:20] you know, running the show and stuff. So it’s an immense amount of pressure and [00:55:25] you’re thinking, I need to turn this around.

Dr Amit Jilka: The difficult decision was, I mean, the accountants, you [00:55:30] know, our accountant said, the only way this is going to work is if you and mom to go back in, do all the implant [00:55:35] cases, do all the Invisalign cases, you’d have to get rid of half the associates and you will [00:55:40] be back making high end profit. And I’d built up such a good team of associates, and I had so much respect [00:55:45] for them that we just couldn’t do that. We couldn’t just do that, and we tried [00:55:50] to do everything in our power to make the model work so that everyone could stay. Now, thankfully, [00:55:55] everybody has stayed with us and is supporting us. And, you know, we didn’t [00:56:00] lose anybody in that process of, you know, making cuts.

Prav Solanki: So I want to understand, first of all, [00:56:05] what went wrong in 2024, why you were losing money, and [00:56:10] then what did you actually do? Because you said you kept all your associates and everything. So if [00:56:15] we just analysed 2024, and I think this is a really important conversation because we [00:56:20] can sometimes be, um, overly confident. Our [00:56:25] ego gets the better of us and said, look, the business is flying. It’s happy days, right? But you were losing [00:56:30] money. Was it that you were overpaying your [00:56:35] associates? Was it that you’d overinvested in [00:56:40] the business, in the scanners, the environment, this, that, and the other asset purchases? [00:56:45] That meant that you were losing money. Or was [00:56:50] it that and how much did you step back clinically in 2012? What happened like 2023. [00:56:55] Compare your clinical input to 2020.

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah. So if we were to compare me and mom to [00:57:00] used to generate about the year before, probably about 55% of the [00:57:05] whole of Abby Houston massive.

Prav Solanki: Between.

Dr Amit Jilka: You between us that dropped in 2024 down [00:57:10] to about 5%. So it’s a massive, massive drop with the associates flying [00:57:15] and doing so much more work. And they were, you know, because we’ve mentored all of them to do all of the stuff that [00:57:20] I can do. So they were generating big income and doing really, really well. And that’s when [00:57:25] we realised that the model has never worked. And actually we took looked back at the accounts from the previous [00:57:30] years and took me and monster out of it. And each and every time the practice had either [00:57:35] broken even or made a loss. If we took ourselves out, we didn’t know that, you know, [00:57:40] we just looked at the profit based on what we were doing. So it was a wake up call to say that the [00:57:45] model had never worked. It had never, never worked. And, you know, the model was [00:57:50] that, you know, we were paying too high a percentage for what we offer as a practice. You know, we have Tkos, [00:57:55] we have NPCs, we have loads of scanners, we have high end equipment. And [00:58:00] we were there on a percentage of 50%, which we, you know, we had to reduce.

Dr Mumta Jilka: And the other thing was [00:58:05] we just opened up a squat, a squat that requires intense amount of capital. So, [00:58:10] you know, you’re you to generate that level of income from [00:58:15] those. It takes a while like you’ll invest, but you won’t see the revenue, the return until maybe [00:58:20] six months, 12 months down the line. Um, so there was a lot of pressure on our existing building [00:58:25] and on the existing, like income, if you like the liquidity to, like, be able [00:58:30] to build this.

Prav Solanki: I work with a lot of practices. Right. [00:58:35] And I see what associates have to do.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah. [00:58:40]

Prav Solanki: To convert a patient. Being an associate in this practice [00:58:45] is a gift. Yeah, it really is. From all the [00:58:50] running around, from your NPCs tko’s the investment [00:58:55] that you guys make in marketing, and then the conversion of that for [00:59:00] your associates to walk in and do what they do. Um, is a dream. [00:59:05] It really is. Um, and so what [00:59:10] did you do? Did you did you drop the percentages [00:59:15] of your associates.

Dr Amit Jilka: And it was. Yeah, it was very emotional. We sat everyone down. Um, [00:59:20] well, we individually had a meeting with every single associate and told them the situation of the practice [00:59:25] that our accountant has said based on the route we’re going, we can declare bankruptcy. That’s [00:59:30] how extreme it was, unless we did something. So it’s make or break for us. So [00:59:35] we sat them down and said that your percentage has been dropped. Um, and we had [00:59:40] tears. We had big emotions. We had a few people hand in their notice within a week. Um, [00:59:45] but thankfully all of them, you know, retracted it and stayed with us. And [00:59:50] they believed in what we were offering. And I think they they genuinely do believe that we offered [00:59:55] a good package.

Dr Mumta Jilka: There was a couple that actually turned around and said to us that, you know what, whatever you guys [01:00:00] need, you just do it because we’re going to be here, whatever. And I think when those [01:00:05] individuals said that, I think we had tears in our eyes and it was just like, okay, let’s, [01:00:10] let’s take this like, like I said.

Dr Amit Jilka: A good number of associates said [01:00:15] to us that what we’ve done for them in their careers and their, you know, in their life and what they’ve achieved [01:00:20] at home and for their families, you know, no one else has ever done that for them. So whatever we say, they’ll [01:00:25] do, and, you know, that made us emotional, you know, because that’s that’s suddenly associates has always been [01:00:30] this associate principal divide. And, you know, I don’t feel like we’ve had that. And I thought we would have had that [01:00:35] after we’d, you know, reduced the percentages and, you know, but it hasn’t, you know, we’re still.

Dr Mumta Jilka: It [01:00:40] was quite good because they were coming back. They were like, okay, let’s do this, let’s try this, let’s do this, let’s. And it was almost like it [01:00:45] was all of our problems. It wasn’t just my problem. This was like a team problem.

Prav Solanki: You’ve all gone into fight and flight [01:00:50] mode together, right?

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I think, you know that that was important. [01:00:55]

Prav Solanki: Did you guys roll your sleeves up? Did you start doing more dentistry to to bring [01:01:00] some income back into it? Notch that 5% up?

Dr Amit Jilka: No, I think the percentages have [01:01:05] dropped in fairness, um, because the practice has grown bigger. But we did suddenly [01:01:10] do a lot more mentoring. So, you know, I was with the clinicians and I still am. 9 [01:01:15] to 5 doing cases with them. So yes, I didn’t see my [01:01:20] own patients as such, but I was seeing a lot more patients with the associates to really push them to start doing [01:01:25] full arches and sinus lifting and more complex cases so that they they grow [01:01:30] and the practice grows.

Prav Solanki: What is the most important part of that [01:01:35] side of things to impact profitability? I know obviously there’s [01:01:40] stuff like clinical skills and all the rest of it, but if you guys were thinking about, let’s say, [01:01:45] the mentoring side of things, what’s the most important thing that a practice [01:01:50] owner can do to mentor their associates to tunnel vision on profitability? [01:01:55]

Dr Amit Jilka: I think it’s actually been hands on with the mentoring [01:02:00] and being there for consultations. You know how many principals have sat in on a consultation with their [01:02:05] associates? I’ve done it for all my associates. I’ve listened to them giving them feedback and [01:02:10] told them what the other associates would do and the associates that are converting well and giving patients a better experience. [01:02:15] And what you’re not doing is this and, you know, we actually publish [01:02:20] statistics on each associate on their pay statements so that it’s very clear, transparent about what they’ve [01:02:25] done and what they’ve not done. And so as a principal, I think you just need to be a lot more hands on and [01:02:30] open to actually being in surgery with these guys so that they can understand, because as a principal, [01:02:35] you’ve got this, you know, unique situation where you’re seeing from above what all the associates [01:02:40] are doing in your practice. One associate doesn’t know what the other is doing, but you know it. So if someone’s [01:02:45] doing something good that’s working, it should be exposed to the rest of them so that they all come up. And [01:02:50] I don’t think as principals, most principals don’t do any of that. What we do.

Prav Solanki: Not at all. [01:02:55] I don’t know any principal who sits in their associates consultations. [01:03:00] And so are you telling me, actually, the most impactful [01:03:05] thing you can do is not about stick this implant in at 33.5 degrees [01:03:10] and torque it by this much, and use this and use it. But it’s more to do with communication.

Dr Amit Jilka: It’s communication. [01:03:15] Yeah. Communication. And how to do the consultation and how to treatment [01:03:20] plan, which is all part of that first part of that patient interaction, not [01:03:25] the clinical. Yes, we teach them how to do sedation and upskill them clinically. But you can’t do those clinical [01:03:30] stuff if your patients are not saying yes to those treatments. And it’s that initial bit that’s the critical [01:03:35] part.

Prav Solanki: And what about yourself? Did you start doing more clinical in [01:03:40] after the 2024 or did you step things up? Or was [01:03:45] it just the same?

Dr Mumta Jilka: So for me, because I do a lot more Invisalign, it’s a lot more, um, [01:03:50] it’s not so clinical. It is clinical. But obviously implants is on a different level, like you need to be [01:03:55] very clinically involved. So for me it was more just mentoring, doing treatment planning [01:04:00] with the associate, showing them, you know, how to avoid pitfalls, things like refinements [01:04:05] how you can. Rather than buying another set of refiners, just use some of the, you know, those [01:04:10] tools that we can use. Um, it was just stuff like that really, and just making sure that we were hitting the [01:04:15] right number of cases per month. We were talking about it correctly with the patients. It was consultation, [01:04:20] really the most important part, because if we like I said, without the yes, you can’t [01:04:25] do part B, which is the clinical stuff.

Prav Solanki: And so what [01:04:30] does Abbey House look like today? I mean, you’ve had those that dark period, that 2024 [01:04:35] where you were told, what are you doing, guys? You could be filing for bankruptcy. [01:04:40] Clearly in both of your minds, that was never an option. Yeah. It was never [01:04:45] going to happen.

Dr Amit Jilka: Never gonna.

Prav Solanki: Happen. Um, and so fast forward to today. [01:04:50] What does the business look like?

Dr Amit Jilka: So financially [01:04:55] stable again. Very stable. Um, record number of implants placed [01:05:00] per month. Record number of Invisalign cases per month of all time. Record [01:05:05] number of turnover. Um, so, um, but with actual profit left in [01:05:10] the account.

Dr Mumta Jilka: We’re very data driven.

Dr Amit Jilka: Now.

Dr Mumta Jilka: So whereas before it was growth kind of on an [01:05:15] ad hoc kind of sporadic, we’ll have a look. It’s everything’s very data driven. And [01:05:20] the amount of times where me and him will go into our business, almost like a patient would. So [01:05:25] we’re checking now. So we like is the online booking system working? Are the telephone lines being [01:05:30] answered? Is this being done? We’re almost like auditors. We’re walking around and checking [01:05:35] things with like, for instance, if an associate’s done a treatment plan, let’s have a look. What is that [01:05:40] treatment plan? And it’s almost you’re learning from your own business now. Like what is what needs to change, what needs [01:05:45] to improve. Whereas before it was like everything, you know, we we felt like we had to be completely clinically involved [01:05:50] to do everything. Whereas now it’s like, let’s look at the numbers. What is the numbers telling [01:05:55] us? What is the numbers telling us?

Dr Amit Jilka: And we understand from the social perspective, I mean, which other profession has [01:06:00] a 10% pay cut overnight. You know, that’s gonna hurt anybody with [01:06:05] regardless.

Prav Solanki: Which other profession allows the [01:06:10] fee earner to walk away with 40% or 45%? [01:06:15]

Dr Amit Jilka: That’s true as well. Yeah.

Prav Solanki: Doesn’t happen. Not with lawyers, not in any other profession [01:06:20] that I’m aware of. Yeah. So I mean, I know, I know.

Dr Amit Jilka: I think [01:06:25] yeah, regardless, I think from an associate perspective to have a pay cut overnight is, is [01:06:30] very traumatic. And so we insured and did our best to do everything [01:06:35] in our power to make sure that the take home pay is roughly the same. And I [01:06:40] can genuinely say what we were paying associates a year ago is exactly what’s coming out of our account now. [01:06:45] And so we have maintained it, and that’s with working with the associates and [01:06:50] together and looking at all the parameters to make sure that the business is working for them and [01:06:55] for us.

Prav Solanki: I remember having that conversation with you, Amit. I remember us discussing [01:07:00] that And you were terrified about having that conversation, [01:07:05] and it was out of fear of the [01:07:10] way you care about your associates. I think I think it was just, you [01:07:15] know, you were more concerned about them than your business at the [01:07:20] time. I remember, um, you know, um, and [01:07:25] I guess it just shows how much you guys care. And funnily enough, we’ve spent [01:07:30] a day here at Abbey House, and I’ve got to meet a lot of your associates today, and they [01:07:35] talk about how you are with people. Do [01:07:40] you know what I mean? And I don’t know what it is. No one’s, like, leaked the magic, right? [01:07:45] But it must be the way you deal with people or handle people. Stacey’s been telling me [01:07:50] the same today. Do you know what I mean? Is that, you know, it’s the way you guys are [01:07:55] with people that that makes this place what it is. Um. [01:08:00]

Dr Mumta Jilka: It’s quite nice, isn’t it?

Dr Amit Jilka: Thank you. Prav. Yeah. [01:08:05]

Prav Solanki: Listen, I’m only I’m only regurgitating what I’ve heard today. Right? From. [01:08:10] From various people I’ve interacted with. But what’s next [01:08:15] for Abbey House? Are you going to stop here?

Dr Amit Jilka: No, no. Like I said, [01:08:20] it’s, uh, two years on since the last one, so we are scheduled to have another one. And, [01:08:25] uh, you know, we’re not saying no, but. Yeah, I think we will have, [01:08:30] um, the goal is to have a few more, at least in the next couple of years.

Prav Solanki: And [01:08:35] then. So what’s the now you’ve got strategy right? Before you didn’t have strategy. [01:08:40] We’re growing by osmosis and things just happened. And then you know you had that pitfall and you [01:08:45] pick yourself back up. Um what is your strategy [01:08:50] now? Where are you going and where do you want to get to?

Dr Amit Jilka: So [01:08:55] our strategies to have practices that are not too close to each [01:09:00] other, at least like a 20 or 30 minute distance from one another so that we capture that market. [01:09:05] Um, and to just develop the same formula that we’ve done in these other practices where [01:09:10] we mentor associates that want to grow and build practices that offer [01:09:15] the full plethora of what dentistry offers. You know, the sedation, the implants, Invisalign, [01:09:20] um, and just general dentistry done well, which I think is missing in this country. [01:09:25]

Prav Solanki: And then in terms of that, um, [01:09:30] where’s what are you doing it all for? Is it for to build a group [01:09:35] of practices for this huge exit? Is it to build [01:09:40] something for your children to maybe take what is the. [01:09:45]

Dr Amit Jilka: I don’t think we’ve ever thought about exiting, um, which apparently we should be [01:09:50] thinking about, which all the accountants and everyone says you need to think about exiting, but we’ve never really thought about it. You [01:09:55] know, for us, it’s just we enjoy the growth aspect of it. Um, and we do want to leave a legacy [01:10:00] for our children as well. You know, so it’s more for them. Um, for us, the [01:10:05] our lifestyle doesn’t change.

Dr Mumta Jilka: We kind of have this love for the game type of thing. It’s like, you know, when it’s in [01:10:10] you, you can’t. It’s hard to switch it off. Like, it’s almost like you’re creating. [01:10:15] You’re in this creative mindset where, okay, I want to create another one, another one. So I [01:10:20] mean, for as long as I guess until it keeps up with us, we’ll just keep going.

Dr Amit Jilka: Until [01:10:25] it’s not fun and enjoyable.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Dr Amit Jilka: That’s it. That’s when we’ll, you know.

Prav Solanki: Yeah. [01:10:30]

Dr Amit Jilka: We’ve got to enjoy it and we enjoy it. Last year if you asked me, are you going to expand? It would be 100%. [01:10:35] No, we’re going to shrink and we’re not going to do anything for years and years. But we have turned it around, [01:10:40] you know, in a short period of time.

Prav Solanki: It’s easy to forget, isn’t it?

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah, very easy to forget. You [01:10:45] know, I’ve got a very short memory.

Dr Mumta Jilka: That’s all right. I’ll make up for that. Yeah. [01:10:50]

Prav Solanki: If you were to look back at [01:10:55] what you’ve achieved over this time and maybe have your chance again. Um, [01:11:00] what would have you done differently during [01:11:05] this journey?

Dr Mumta Jilka: I think I would have kept it the same because [01:11:10] I think we needed to go through this. Mhm. Um, I’m [01:11:15] actually like I’m, I am quite proud of the fact that, you know, we went [01:11:20] through this high and low. It’s taught us so much. And I think that’s what’s kind of [01:11:25] driving us even now to problem solve it [01:11:30] as much as we can to make it even better than what it is. So, um.

Dr Amit Jilka: And I think me and mum [01:11:35] to thrive in crisis mode.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Together.

Dr Amit Jilka: I think together now. [01:11:40] But for me, I was always in crisis mode. And so I do deliver when it’s in a crisis. And I think part of [01:11:45] that journey now that knows when, um, it’s in crisis mode would bring it together. And so it keeps us [01:11:50] going.

Prav Solanki: So when you’re both in crisis mode. Isn’t that a recipe for [01:11:55] disaster? Like you’re both panicking. You’re both in crisis mode or.

Dr Amit Jilka: No, you’ll see me. [01:12:00] You’ll see me. You’ll see my light eyes bright up, you know. And I start getting excited and happy that. Oh my [01:12:05] God, we’ve got nothing in the account. What we’re gonna do. It’s very unusual. I’m [01:12:10] a very unusual character.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah, it’s.

Dr Amit Jilka: Weird, I think, to grinds me.

Dr Mumta Jilka: So, yeah, it’s kind of weird. Like [01:12:15] when we’re both knowing, like. Like you said, crisis mode. I think we grow up in that moment [01:12:20] because we both know in the shits. Yeah. So it’s like, okay, what are we gonna do to come out of it? Then it’s like, you [01:12:25] know, thinking hats on. And then because you’re always trying to have each other’s backs, it’s like, okay, [01:12:30] what needs to happen next? You just dive in. Whatever needs to be done, you do it. Whether it’s doing a bit more dentistry, doing [01:12:35] a bit more mentoring, looking at finances, renegotiating, blah, blah, blah. It’s like you just.

Prav Solanki: But [01:12:40] are you the opposites in crisis mode? Are you the same? Like, do you handle stress differently? [01:12:45]

Dr Mumta Jilka: No, I am, I don’t like stress, I hate being, I like to be very like this [01:12:50] straight.

Prav Solanki: Just like the exams.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Just like the.

Prav Solanki: Exams.

Dr Mumta Jilka: You know, I like to be prepared rather than reactive. [01:12:55] This guy. He’s a firecracker. He’ll just put me in those situations. [01:13:00] So it’s, uh. It’s, uh. But then there’s times when [01:13:05] I’ll start feeling the stress, and then he’ll have to calm me down. But when when he’s feeling [01:13:10] it, it’s like I just. I’ll become the calm person. Yeah. It’s weird.

Prav Solanki: Yeah. [01:13:15]

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah, I will. Any day of the. You know, I just want calmness, [01:13:20] you know, money coming in. Money going out. Just calm calm, calm. [01:13:25]

Dr Amit Jilka: And that would be a nightmare for me. Life is like that. Yeah.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Without [01:13:30] me, you live on the edge. You keep falling off the edge. And then you have to climb back up on.

Dr Amit Jilka: And [01:13:35] the kids know as well. You know, our holidays and everything are planned around just doing crazy stuff, you know? [01:13:40]

Dr Mumta Jilka: My oldest like. Mom. Don’t worry. When I grow up, I’ll make sure I do. Great.

Dr Amit Jilka: We [01:13:45] take the kids camping regularly. We do crazy holidays. You know? When Amy was six months, [01:13:50] we took her camping. You know, our parents just think we’re crazy, but that’s just. I [01:13:55] think I think it builds confidence in the kids, you know?

Prav Solanki: But you make time for those holidays, right? I [01:14:00] was speaking to Stacey earlier, and she goes, you know, they they work incredibly hard [01:14:05] and they’re here and the stresses. But every school holiday they go away.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah. [01:14:10]

Prav Solanki: Is that is that really important to you.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Really important. So important. He does [01:14:15] it all. He’s just like every holiday he’ll count. We’ve only got seven holidays left with the kids. We’ve [01:14:20] got six holidays. He puts like this timeline thing on. So then it’s like, oh, we have to make sure [01:14:25] we make the most of it. But that’s our time. Like it’s become so ingrained.

Dr Amit Jilka: I think for me. [01:14:30] Monday to Friday is 100 miles an hour. So I’m not really even though I’m with the kids, I’m not mentally [01:14:35] there with them. And so having the holidays means that I’m 100% focussed and [01:14:40] the kids know it, that dad will be back for the next holiday. And so it’s the holidays that keeps me connected with [01:14:45] the children.

Prav Solanki: And they look forward to.

Dr Amit Jilka: That. And they look forward to that, that they’re going to get proper dad’s attention. [01:14:50]

Prav Solanki: And do they know that? They pretty much know they’re losing dad between the holidays. Yeah. And they’re getting back [01:14:55] holidays 100%.

Dr Amit Jilka: Yeah. They just get mommy takes over during the week. Dad comes back out for [01:15:00] the holidays. So they all seem as the fun parent, don’t they? For that reason.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah. It’s a fun parent. I’m the just boring [01:15:05] mommy homework.

Prav Solanki: Who does the telling off.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Me.

Dr Amit Jilka: Mom? Yeah. [01:15:10]

Prav Solanki: So you like celebrity dad?

Dr Amit Jilka: Basically, yeah.

Prav Solanki: Yeah. Yeah. That’s [01:15:15] me. Celebrity dad. I walk in and can do nothing wrong. I get all the hugs.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah. Yeah. [01:15:20] Just. Why?

Prav Solanki: Yeah. And you do all the graft. All the.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Graft. Homework? [01:15:25] Yeah. You know?

Prav Solanki: Yeah.

Dr Mumta Jilka: After school clubs. Yeah. I’m a taxi driver between, [01:15:30] you know. But no daddy gets. It’s like sunshine and rainbows. [01:15:35] Mommy comes. It’s like depressing.

Prav Solanki: Yeah. Same in our household. [01:15:40] Exactly the same in our household. So I asked this question to [01:15:45] all of our guests. Okay. Um, and [01:15:50] I’ll start with you, Monty. Um, imagine it was your last day on the planet, [01:15:55] and you had to leave some words of wisdom. [01:16:00] Three pieces of advice for the little ones. What would you say?

Dr Mumta Jilka: Wow. [01:16:05] Uh, what would I say? I [01:16:10] would say. Have [01:16:15] fun. Don’t let fear take over. Um. [01:16:20] And I would say. Always [01:16:25] try and strive for being [01:16:30] better yourself. Whatever that. Whatever you’re doing in life, just.

Prav Solanki: Whatever that means. [01:16:35]

Dr Mumta Jilka: Whatever that means. Yeah.

Prav Solanki: Just what would you say to them? Um.

Dr Amit Jilka: I’d say [01:16:40] jump and the net will appear.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Dr Amit Jilka: And I lived my life like that. And [01:16:45] I quote that all the time, don’t I? So, you know, if you make that big move. Yeah, suddenly your net will [01:16:50] appear and catch you when you figure it out.

Prav Solanki: From where does that come from?

Dr Amit Jilka: That [01:16:55] saying.

Prav Solanki: No no no no.

Dr Amit Jilka: No.

Prav Solanki: Not that saying. It’s that you [01:17:00] are that guy who will go to the edge of the cliff. You are that guy who [01:17:05] will, in times of stress, say, let’s just open another practice. [01:17:10] Yeah. You know, I was speaking to Stacy earlier and she said to me [01:17:15] at one point I might had nine projects on his board and had to rob seven of them off. [01:17:20] Yeah, yeah. But he just wants to keep going [01:17:25] with more and more ideas. Where do you think that comes from? Where do you think that stems from?

Dr Amit Jilka: I [01:17:30] think it goes back to the childhood, doesn’t it? It goes back to my, my life story and, [01:17:35] uh, doing multiple things and cramming stuff in and needing that [01:17:40] feeling of being on the edge. Um, and, and I [01:17:45] think it’s from that really. It’s just living life on the edge. You know, for [01:17:50] me, you know, it’s always that things will get better. You know, my dad will get better. [01:17:55] And that’s how I’ve led my whole life. My whole childhood has been around that my dad will get better, [01:18:00] and he always has.

Prav Solanki: Um, and he had a good he had a good few cracks where you thought it was. [01:18:05] It was.

Dr Amit Jilka: Plenty. Yeah. It was every five years, you know, unfortunately he passed away in 2019. But, you know, even [01:18:10] then, you know, even at the point when he was passing away, [01:18:15] I just it didn’t hit me because I just kept thinking he’s coming back tomorrow. And it was [01:18:20] just it didn’t hit me until even after it passed away that. No, no, he’s coming back. He’s coming back. And it took [01:18:25] me so long to actually absorb the fact that he’s not coming back. And that was, you know, [01:18:30] the difficult part of the whole situation.

Prav Solanki: So jump and the net will [01:18:35] appear.

Dr Amit Jilka: Jump in. The net will appear.

Prav Solanki: Okay. Another two pieces of advice.

Dr Amit Jilka: Um. [01:18:40] Don’t take everything so seriously. Um, you know, like, there’s life [01:18:45] is you’re only going to live it once. So just enjoy everything that happens, you know? Things do [01:18:50] work itself out and and do put your family first. Um, [01:18:55] it’s easy to say everyone says it, but do you actually do it? You know.

Prav Solanki: Most.

Dr Amit Jilka: Of the time. And [01:19:00] if you. Yeah, if you’re super, super busy, then you’ve got to figure out a way that you’re going to it’s going to work, [01:19:05] you know, and like for me it’s the holidays. Um, focus on the holidays. [01:19:10]

Prav Solanki: Fantasy dinner party. Three guests, dead or alive. Who would you invite? Oh, [01:19:15] wow.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Uh, who would I invite? I would have, [01:19:20] um.

Prav Solanki: Anyone in the world.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Gosh, [01:19:25] there’s so many. Uh, I’d have, um. Tony [01:19:30] Robbins, I’d have Barack Obama. I’d [01:19:35] have, um. How else would I want? Um. [01:19:40] Ah. Oh my gosh. See, normally I can come up [01:19:45] with these ones on the spot. Um. And I would have. Elon [01:19:50] Musk.

Prav Solanki: Interesting [01:19:55] party.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah. Maybe.

Prav Solanki: Anyone have [01:20:00] it? Who would you have at your party?

Dr Amit Jilka: It’s a tough one, isn’t it? Um, I’d [01:20:05] have Sachin Tendulkar. Okay. Yeah. Big Indian fan. I think it’d be amazing [01:20:10] to just sit down with him and listen to his life story. Um, I’d have Mahatma [01:20:15] Gandhi. I think it would be very interesting to see [01:20:20] the whole history behind what happened. And. I’m [01:20:25] not sure. I can’t think of anyone else. Really. Prav. [01:20:30] Hmm.

Prav Solanki: We can go out for dinner anytime.

Dr Amit Jilka: Steve [01:20:35] Jobs.

Prav Solanki: Steve Jobs.

Dr Amit Jilka: I think it’d just be [01:20:40] a crazy conversation.

Prav Solanki: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Dr Amit Jilka: And what a combination of three people.

Prav Solanki: Cool. [01:20:45]

Dr Amit Jilka: Cool.

Prav Solanki: Well, listen. Thank you.

Dr Mumta Jilka: Yeah.

Prav Solanki: No, thank you so much.

Dr Amit Jilka: No. Thank you, thank you. [01:20:50]

Dr Mumta Jilka: Ah. Thank you.

[VOICE]: This is Dental Leaders, [01:20:55] the podcast where you get to go one on one with emerging leaders in [01:21:00] dentistry. Your hosts, Payman [01:21:05] Langroudi and Prav Solanki.

Prav Solanki: Thanks for listening, guys. [01:21:10] If you got this far, you must have listened to the whole thing. And just a huge thank you both from me [01:21:15] and pay for actually sticking through and listening to what we had to say and what our guest has had [01:21:20] to say, because I’m assuming you got some value out of it.

Payman Langroudi: If you did get some value out of it, think [01:21:25] about subscribing. And if you would share this with a friend who you think might [01:21:30] get some value out of it too. Thank you so so, so much for listening. Thanks.

Prav Solanki: And don’t forget our six star [01:21:35] rating.