I’m a dentist and operator in Northern Ontario exploring a long-term transition from a stable clinical career into becoming an investor/operator. I currently run a large multi-provider dental clinic (~35 staff) but my thesis for acquisitions sits outside of dentistry. Namely, I'm interested in businesses that aren’t bottlenecked by scarce, regulated labour, and in rural/small-city markets where prices are more reasonable and local dominance is actually achievable. I’m curious to connect with people who’ve made a similar transition from a secure professional path (medicine, law, engineering, finance, etc.) into buying and operating small businesses. Specifically: - How you thought about timing and risk - How you built conviction in your investment thesis - What your first steps were before committing capital - What surprised you most once you became a full-time operator/investor - What you’d do differently if you had to restart I’m not looking at a specific deal today but I am trying to understand the mindset, frameworks, and real stories behind this career shift. Happy to trade notes! I’ve spent the last year scaling operations in a regulated healthcare environment and can share what I’ve learned about hiring, systems, patient flow, and team leadership. Thanks in advance to anyone open to sharing their experience.