ELEVATE Series 2025 with Dr. Ben Friberg: How to Build Grit, Resilience, and Purpose-Driven Success
Dr. Ben Friberg, dentist, consultant, and multi-industry entrepreneur, joins me, Amber Vilhauer, in this powerful ELEVATE Series conversation to share what it really takes to lead during uncertainty. Having pivoted through tech, construction, finance, and healthcare, each during turbulent times, Ben brings firsthand wisdom on how to not only survive but grow when the economy turns.
In this session, he explains how practices can adjust their marketing, reconnect with their purpose, and find non-digital ways to stand out. He also shares how small business owners can sell more to existing clients without appearing pushy and how to embrace recovery as a growth strategy. Whether you’re a dentist or not, his insights on resiliency, grit, and long-term fulfillment are universally powerful.
You’ll walk away re-centered, with the clarity to lead your business through chaos without losing yourself in the process. Most of all, Ben reminds us that your business should serve your life, not the other way around.
Here’s just some of the fantastic strategy and advice shared from this conversation:
👉 Resilience is built, not born. With a background in construction engineering, Ben defines resilience as the ability to bend under stress and come back stronger. He emphasizes the value of recovery practices like quality sleep, movement, and time away from screens.
👉 Marketing needs to prove itself. As digital channels become oversaturated, Ben encourages business owners to measure ROI. If a marketing effort brings less than five times return, it may be time to reassess.
👉 Invest time, not just dollars. Instead of chasing reach through ads alone, Ben recommends showing up locally. Community-based, relationship-driven marketing can make a lasting impression that algorithms cannot.
👉 Upsell with integrity. Instead of focusing on new leads, maximize value from existing clients. Educating them on complementary services during visits builds trust and revenue simultaneously.
👉 Life first, business second. The goal is not just more patients or higher profit. It is building a business that supports the life you want to live.
Meet our guest speaker, Dr. Ben Friberg
Dr. Ben Friberg is a multifaceted professional who combines his expertise as a practicing dentist with his talents as a business strategist and leadership coach for dental professionals. With dual degrees in Dentistry from SUNY Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and Business Management from Oregon State University, Dr. Friberg bridges the gap between clinical excellence and business acumen.
He is the owner of Thrive Family Dental in Wilmington, NC, and has consulted over 100 doctors on building profitable, fulfilling practices. He is currently writing a book to help dental professionals build careers that support both their business and life goals.
Website: www.drbenfriberg.com
Connect with Ben: www.instagram.com/thrivefamilydental
Meet your host, Amber Vilhauer:
Amber Vilhauer is a Books & Business strategist, multi-bestselling author, speaker, and the Founder of NGNG™ Enterprises (No Guts No Glory), an Inc. 5000 top marketing agency. She is the author of Infinite Impact and co-author of The Long Forest Trail with her son, Clay. Since starting NGNG™ in 2007, Amber has helped thousands of entrepreneurs align their business with their core talents and desires, empowering them to build the business and life of their dreams while naturally scaling revenue and impact.
She and her team routinely get in the trenches, implementing custom marketing strategies that attract qualified leads, launching bestselling books, and growing engaged followings that convert. Her strategies are comprehensive, deep, and built to align every aspect of her clients’ businesses with their ultimate visions. Amber and her team have made more than 1,000 authors #1 bestsellers, and has also been twice recognized as Female Entrepreneur of the Year. Connect and learn more at https://ngngenterprises.com, https://getinalignment.com, and https://booksandbusiness.com.
Watch the replay of How to Build Grit, Resilience, and Purpose-Driven Success
Ready for more?
Join Amber Vilhauer and visionary business leaders for The ELEVATE Entrepreneurship Summit in person this September 11 & 12th in Boulder, Colorado to learn proven strategies for growing during economic instability.
When markets faltered in 2020, host Amber Vilhauer pioneered innovative strategies that grew her business by 80% annually for two years, earning multiple Female Entrepreneur of the Year awards and Inc.5000 recognition for being one of the fastest growing companies in America.
Now she’s assembled an elite line-up of speakers to address critical challenges like cognitive overwhelm, an aligned marketing strategy that is turning heads and getting results, how to use AI to expedite your progress, and how to adjust your sales approach to gain financial stability. Don’t shrink or “wait and see.” Gain the clarity, connections and customized 16-month growth plan needed to expand your following, revenue and impact while protecting your wellbeing.
Limited seats remain: https://booksandbusiness.com/join
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Connect & Get Support:
- https://NGNGenterprises.com (Strategy, Training, & Services)
- https://AmberVilhauer.com & https://GetInAlignment.com (Leadership and Impact)
- https://BooksAndBusiness.com (Education & Community)
- Books: https://InfiniteImpactBook.com, https://ClayVilhauer.com
About:
NGNG™ Enterprises (standing for No Guts No Glory) was founded in 2007 out of a passion to lift up those with an impact-driven message. Today, we’ve served thousands of authors, speakers, coaches, and business owners globally through branding and website design, bestseller book launches, and online growth strategy and systems.
Our work is custom (no generic, cookie-cutter stuff here). The relationship we have with our clients is personal and long-term. Download our pricing menu and see if we can be a fit to help you actualize your potential online!
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