Walking the Talk: Shoes, Speaking and Our Professional Journey

by Larry Stanleigh, BSc, MSc, DDS, FAGD, FADI, FICD, FACD, FPFA
May 29, 2026, 10:56 AM

When I “retired” from the Canadian Forces, I was talking to one dentist for whom I was considering becoming their associate, and he told me about a study that surveyed the things that patients notice about dental offices and their teams. He said when it came to the dentist, the top three things patients noted were their tie, their watch and their shoes.

I have never worn a tie as a practicing dentist. We get so much splatter on our tops doing dentistry, and ties are notoriously difficult to clean properly, so I have always stuck to scrubs in clinical practice.

I don’t have expensive watches. I have a bunch of fun watches that I rotate. Most of them are gifts, and all are less than $100. I am currently wearing one with a bowling theme. It’s all about the fun.

Which means they see my shoes. And they really do. One day, I was at the mall, and I said to my youngest, “Go into the sports store, find the most colorful shoes in the store, and, if they have my size, I am buying them.” She found a pair of Asics that had every color in the rainbow, including the laces. I wore them exclusively at work, and every day someone commented positively about my shoes. It was a great low-cost conversation starter.

In my newest evolution of my career as a professional speaker, I have gotten to know Minal Sampat, a true expert on marketing and social media. She ends her bio with a sentence stating that she is an enthusiastic shoe lover. She told me how that one line has got her booked for paid speaking gigs!

It’s funny how inspiration shows up. Sometimes it arrives in a movie quote. Sometimes in a moment of reflection. And, sometimes… in a great pair of shoes.

Last summer, I was on a day-date with my wife and asked her what she would like to do. She said she had lost a little weight and needed some new clothes. Could we check out a store called ESPY in a trendy neighborhood of Calgary? I said, “Sure.” This place was known for affordable clothing by small-quantity fashion designers — mostly local. It was a remarkable experience. We found some great choices at great prices, and, while she was being looked after, I wandered through the store to look at the men’s options, and I ended up finding a great pair of shoes. I was blown away by how unique but stylish they were. They had my size, and I bought them.

Now I want to follow Minal’s example and become an enthusiastic shoe lover, too.

Shoes Remind Us to Stand for Something

The right shoes don’t just support your feet — they support your posture, your confidence, your presence.

As speakers, we stand in front of audiences not just to inform, but to uplift, challenge and inspire. Every time I step onto a stage, I choose shoes that remind me to stand tall in my values.

To stand for kindness.

To stand for connection.

To stand for doing good.

Because “good” isn’t passive. It’s active. It’s a verb.

Shoes are a perfect metaphor for the choices we make as professionals. Some steps are comfortable, some require courage, and some take us into unfamiliar territory.

Every step we take as speakers — and as dentists — is an opportunity to do good.

To thank our patients.

To support our teams.

To strengthen our communities.

To walk with intention.

Step Forward with Intention

Whether I’m writing for AGD, speaking on a stage or simply choosing which shoes to wear that day, I’m reminded of this: Every step is a chance to make “good” mean something.

So yes — I’m a shoe lover. And yes — it absolutely shapes how I show up as a speaker and as a dentist.

Because the path we walk matters, and the way we walk it matters even more.

May your feet always be happy, and may you find something unique and fun to open conversations passively and positively.

Warm regards,

Larry Stanleigh

THE DAILY GRIND

Walking the Talk: Shoes, Speaking and Our Professional Journey

Shoes Remind Us to Stand for Something

Step Forward with Intention