The Warm Start - Dr. Bethany Fishbein - Optometrists Building Empires - Episode # 098

The Warm Start - Dr. Bethany Fishbein - Optometrists Building Empires - Episode # 098

Dr. Bethany Fishbein returns to Optometrists Building Empires for a deep dive on warm starts — the middle path between a cold-start build and a full practice acquisition. She walks through how to spot a warm start, how to value one, and what to look for inside the doors before you sign. We close with our top tips for what makes warm starts succeed or fail. Bethany is the founder of Leaders of Vision and co-owner of three optometry practices. Sponsored by My Business Care Team — helping your practice increase revenues, reduce costs, and reduce staffing headaches. https://mybcat.com

Fix Your Staffing, Fix Your Practice - Compilation - Optometrists Building Empires - Episode # 097

What if the staffing challenges keeping you up at night aren't a sign that something is wrong with your practice, but a sign that you're ready to build something better? Staffing has always been the hardest part of running an optometry practice. Long before anyone had heard of the Great Resignation, ODs were losing good people to better offers, life changes, and burnout, and starting the hiring cycle all over again. COVID accelerated everything. The applicant pool changed, expectations shifted, and practices that had weathered years of turnover suddenly found themselves in a different game entirely. The ones winning today aren't necessarily the ones who finally found perfect staff. They're the ones who stopped relying on headcount alone and built smarter support systems around their teams. In this special compilation episode of Optometrists Building Empires, host Ankit Patel brings together some of the most candid and practical conversations the show has ever featured, all from growing practice owners and optometry professionals who know firsthand that staffing doesn't get simpler as you scale. They share how they've navigated turnover, rebuilt teams from scratch, and found smarter ways to operate, including how offloading the right tasks to the right support can change everything about how your practice runs day to day. If your on-site team is stretched thin, if turnover keeps resetting your momentum, or if you're managing multiple locations and wondering how to staff for growth without burning out the people you already have, this episode was made for you. Takeaways:  * Staffing is the universal challenge in optometry ownership, and it doesn't get easier just by working harder. Build smarter systems around your hiring and operations so that turnover stops resetting your momentum every time someone leaves. * Not every task needs to be done inside your office. Identify the administrative work your team handles daily, like phones, scheduling, and insurance filing, that doesn't require a physical presence, and start thinking about who else could own that. * A virtual assistant isn't a shortcut, it's a staffing layer that adds real capacity without adding to your overhead. Invest the time upfront to train and integrate them well, and they become one of the most cost-effective hires your practice can make. * When someone calls out, your whole office feels it. Build a support layer into your operations so that a single absence doesn't derail your day, especially if you're running a lean on-site team across multiple locations. * Hire for personality first and skills second. Before your next interview, get clear on the traits that make someone a culture fit for your practice, because you can train almost any skill, but you can't train attitude. * Flexible scheduling is one of the simplest retention tools available to you. Consider whether a four-day work week or staggered scheduling could reduce burnout and call-outs on your team before you go looking for someone new. * Know when to hire, not just who to hire. If your team is maxed out, your growth is already stalled, and adding the right support at the right moment can move your revenue more than almost any clinical investment. * Don't hold onto the wrong people too long. Set clear performance expectations early, communicate them honestly, and be willing to make the hard call before one underperformer starts affecting the rest of your team. * Stop posting and start recruiting. Use resume search tools, leverage your online community, and go find the candidates you actually want rather than waiting for the right one to show up in your inbox. Links: Ankit’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ankitpatelcvc [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankitpatelcvc/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BpCEr31lTRLSkLT2Axoryvw%3D%3D] MyBCAT Website: https://mybcat.com/ [https://mybcat.com/]  Shoutouts: * Rupe’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupehansra/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupehansra/] * Rupe’s Website: https://topconhealthcare.com [https://topconhealthcare.com] * Kerry’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kerrygiedd [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrygiedd/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BKrisd%2BF6Q5CF0eWLVWRXEQ%3D%3D] * Kerry’s Website: https://www.eolaeyes.com/ [https://www.eolaeyes.com/]  * Jason’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jason-klepfisz-13013512a [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-klepfisz-13013512a/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BrkngX%2FX5SKuaYGBMIgJR6A%3D%3D] * Jason’s Website: https://urbaneyesphx.com/ [https://urbaneyesphx.com/] * Carlos’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carlosgrandelaod [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlosgrandelaod/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3Bv1BgjUvCTMCCtxfEIqjn%2Bw%3D%3D] * Carlos’s Website: https://viewfinderlowvision.com/ [https://viewfinderlowvision.com/]  * Nathan’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nathan-heilman-b548bb11 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-heilman-b548bb11/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BQuXtUVyQS3%2BcQzh82P5wIA%3D%3D] * Nathan’s Website: https://rvep.com/ [https://rvep.com/] * Kyle’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kyle-maxam-24b10290 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-maxam-24b10290/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3Bh5d8zIdvRO2%2FhNFEJ%2FqqAw%3D%3D] * Kyle’s Website: https://www.eyedocsbrookville.com/ [https://www.eyedocsbrookville.com/] * Erika’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/erika-morrow-od-ms [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-morrow-od-ms/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BqG6SixoUS8KESjMf4e4EEA%3D%3D]  * Erika’s Website: https://forsighteye.net/ [https://forsighteye.net/] * Alyssa’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alyssa-pack [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-pack/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BUreVDPPVSVaXbB99%2B%2BJT6w%3D%3D] * Justin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinnguyen60/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinnguyen60/]  * Alyssa & Justin’s Website: https://www.eyecareatthecove.com/ [https://www.eyecareatthecove.com/]  * Rick’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-guinotte-63818794/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-guinotte-63818794/] * Rick’s Website: https://acquios.com/ [https://acquios.com/] * Jennifer’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jenntabiza [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenntabiza/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BKM5If7oMSQ%2B1P9bxDtS5Ww%3D%3D]  * Jennifer’s Website: jenntabiza.com [https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=jenntabiza.com&urlhash=T2QK&mt=qIOmZP-qb_TpSKDj37JgJS0L38ta4OKyZ7VyxP0rvGZT7ttdha5od2OzecVbArojVc2KHWO_NOCJYCd6V0iEysuuGEU&isSdui=true&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BXuQ73CZpQQOSEVQKDmKCbw%3D%3D] Ways to Tune In: * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5w1H9BBwRXvBSSkexePYxG [https://open.spotify.com/show/5w1H9BBwRXvBSSkexePYxG]  * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optometrists-building-empires/id1762685070 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optometrists-building-empires/id1762685070]  * Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podca...

Built Together: How Relationships, Systems, and Grit Created Three Thriving Practices - #096

Can the relationships you built in optometry school lay the groundwork for the businesses you'd build decades later? In this special panel episode of Optometrists Building Empires, host Ankit Patel sits down with three accomplished optometrists who graduated together from Indiana University in 2008 and went on to build thriving practices across the country. Dr. Patrick Curran of Johnson Curran Optometry Centers, Dr. Jeni Kohn of Moses Eye Care, and Dr. Andy Yaryan of Yaryan Eye Care Center brings their combined decades of experience to an honest, wide-ranging conversation about structure, leadership, financial literacy, staffing, and the unspoken value of having people in your corner who want you to win. From navigating the financial crisis right out of school to managing Medicaid-heavy practices, building team cultures that stick, and staying ahead of reimbursement challenges, this panel pulls no punches. They share what surprised them, what humbled them, and what they'd tell any optometrist who's trying to grow something meaningful. Takeaways: * Structure is what allows growth to scale without chaos. Having the right systems and the right people in the right seats is what separates practices that grow intentionally from those that stall under their own weight. * Mentorship and peer relationships aren't soft skills, they're growth strategies. Leaning on people who've already been through it shortens the learning curve and gives you honest feedback that generic resources can't provide. * Financial literacy isn't optional for practice owners. Understanding P&Ls, cash flow, reimbursement trends, and inflation-adjusted metrics is the difference between working hard and actually building wealth. * What you tolerate, you endorse. Avoiding hard conversations with staff doesn't make problems smaller, it makes them more expensive. Addressing issues quickly, clearly, and consistently protects your culture and your A players. * Culture isn't an accident, it's a decision. Confidence, accountability, and clear training benchmarks create teams that take ownership, stay longer, and deliver better patient experiences. * Empire means something different to everyone. It's not about the number of locations or external milestones. It's about the obstacles you overcome, the impact you make, and the life you design on your own terms. Quote of the Show: * “ The baseline for growing an empire in optometry is recognizing the opportunity. You have to know that with that opportunity, there's gonna be some risk along the way, so you have to be comfortable with that ” - Patrick Curran Links: * Jeni’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-kohn-99516254/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-kohn-99516254/] * Moses Eyecare: https://moseseyecare.com/our-practice/ [https://moseseyecare.com/our-practice/]  * Patrick’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-curran-od-732111113/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-curran-od-732111113/] * Johnson Curran Optometry Centers: https://johnsoncurran.com/ [https://johnsoncurran.com/]  * Andy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-yaryan-457b6856/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-yaryan-457b6856/]  * Yaryan Eyecare: https://www.yaryaneyecare.com/ [https://www.yaryaneyecare.com/]  * Book a Meeting with Ankit: https://meetings.hubspot.com/ankit98/optometry-redefined?uuid=e5cd456c-9db4-42c7-b106-2b6e250a6d01 [https://meetings.hubspot.com/ankit98/optometry-redefined?uuid=e5cd456c-9db4-42c7-b106-2b6e250a6d01]  * Optometry Redefined Book: https://www.amazon.com/Optometry-Redefined-Master-Resourcing-Performance/dp/B0FKJTZGJ3/ref=monarch_sidesheet_image [https://www.amazon.com/Optometry-Redefined-Master-Resourcing-Performance/dp/B0FKJTZGJ3/ref=monarch_sidesheet_image]  Ways to Tune In: * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5w1H9BBwRXvBSSkexePYxG [https://open.spotify.com/show/5w1H9BBwRXvBSSkexePYxG]  * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optometrists-building-empires/id1762685070 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optometrists-building-empires/id1762685070]  * Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/689a039b-54ce-4f04-b641-66d8640d93d0 [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/689a039b-54ce-4f04-b641-66d8640d93d0]  * Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/optometrists-building-empires-5812208 [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/optometrists-building-empires-5812208]

People, Purpose, then Performance - Dr. Rupe Hansra - Optometrists Building Empires - Episode # 095

What happens when an optometrist stops thinking like a practice owner and starts thinking about the future of healthcare itself? On this week’s episode of Optometrists Building Empires, host Ankit Patel sits down with Dr. Rupe Hansra, Vice President of Professional Affairs at Topcon Healthcare and Vice Chair of the Illinois Eye Institute. From scaling 20 cold-start practices to helping lead the AI and Oculomics movement in eye care, Dr. Hansra shares a powerful perspective on leadership, culture, mentorship, and why optometry may soon become the front door to preventative healthcare. The conversation covers the leadership framework behind why culture creates accountability better than any rulebook ever could, and what it really takes to develop talent that carries your vision forward. Dr. Hansra also pulls back the curtain on Oculomics and the AI-driven future where a routine eye exam could screen for heart disease, diabetes, kidney health, and more, positioning optometry as one of the most important preventive touchpoints in all of healthcare.   Takeaways:  * Sustainable growth starts with aligning people, purpose, and performance. When all three are working in sync, your practice builds momentum that doesn't depend on you being in the room to sustain it. * Building culture creates self-directed behavior and stronger leadership pipelines. When your team understands the why behind their work, they make better decisions, hold each other accountable, and naturally develop into the leaders your practice needs next. * Hiring the right talent is more important than overcomplicating systems and processes. A player who aligns with your vision and drives results will outperform any checklist, and finding them deserves the same relentless energy you put into growing your practice. * Staff turnover is one of the biggest challenges in scaling multi-location practices. Rather than taking it personally, the most effective owners focus on creating an environment people genuinely want to stay in while building systems that keep momentum going when transitions happen. * Oculomics and AI-driven retinal imaging could transform optometry into the front door of healthcare. As these tools become part of routine workflows, ODs will be positioned to identify systemic disease earlier than almost any other provider in the system. * Retinal scans may soon help detect cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and more. What was once a vision correction visit is becoming one of the most powerful preventive health screenings available to patients today. * Preventative healthcare and early detection can dramatically reduce long-term healthcare costs. Getting ahead of chronic disease through a routine eye exam is not only better for patients, it relieves pressure on an already overburdened healthcare system. * Mentorship, personal growth, and taking calculated risks are critical for long-term success. The doctors and leaders who build the most meaningful careers are the ones who bet on themselves early, surround themselves with people who have already been where they want to go, and never stop learning. Quote of the Show: * “People, purpose, then performance. If those two things are aligned, you create self-directed behavior and sustainable growth” – Dr. Rupe Hansra Links: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupehansra/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupehansra/] * Website: https://topconhealthcare.com/ [https://topconhealthcare.com/] * Book a Meeting with Ankit: https://meetings.hubspot.com/ankit98/optometry-redefined?uuid=e5cd456c-9db4-42c7-b106-2b6e250a6d01 [https://meetings.hubspot.com/ankit98/optometry-redefined?uuid=e5cd456c-9db4-42c7-b106-2b6e250a6d01]  * Optometry Redefined Book: https://www.amazon.com/Optometry-Redefined-Master-Resourcing-Performance/dp/B0FKJTZGJ3/ref=monarch_sidesheet_image [https://www.amazon.com/Optometry-Redefined-Master-Resourcing-Performance/dp/B0FKJTZGJ3/ref=monarch_sidesheet_image]  Shoutouts: * Topgrading: How Leading Companies Win by Hiring, Coaching, and Keeping the Best People [https://www.amazon.com/Topgrading-Leading-Companies-Coaching-Keeping/dp/1591840813] * Who: The A Method for Hiring [https://www.amazon.com/Who-Geoff-Smart/dp/0345504194/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EQ8ONO6BQ8GX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GDAOfivJIZVG9xQoYnk4e6h8ePwkPj574LjB7uWJAXPJJEyPT5My2ZU2hceeqxhFs18921pNWn_Ymdom9lgUaV_3b8Y683qe38Ginw2ui6t4D9PIS4v1P-lmyx9HTE0Ps1kUoBFdlYJcwpmBSpkD92A-A9QQSSf3zpcO_MnSVaOCC4AP0IqyFaqTps_bEQarwg8yawZyGeHIspO2I2UjV2HoABIWapn7C0f_K4cifb0.QJgytkhlM3F1w_kgCb_LKbSOTlf--MRQUEvqBszAWC8&dib_tag=se&keywords=Who%3A+The+A+Method+for+Hiring&qid=1779117038&s=books&sprefix=who+the+a+method+for+hiring%2Cstripbooks%2C146&sr=1-1] *  Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization [https://www.amazon.com/Tribal-Leadership-audiobook/dp/B07NF1R92F/ref=sr_1_1?crid=121B8YVRAA4OW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.5H0kr23YAD8jnEpr-ZNA56SiMn_aH526tlOhTHfWA8BD5jP9mm098R3931qkXCPPUJMDu42w_jA7lXkloal8eN3Mwah0wTqKPHykLA6XombYO_nIhkWL0DaP2fZO4BYqq3ueDsG7M0HhKaDPgPjWHOxXlZBzi3eiAxL_-veiPa4.XGsZiTCrEUml1L32OeDO88rKLHSegtgLMJnRpOvFYAU&dib_tag=se&keywords=Tribal+Leadership%3A+Leveraging+Natural+Groups+to+Build+a+Thriving+Organization&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1779117151&s=books&sprefix=tribal+leadership+leveraging+natural+groups+to+build+a+thriving+organization%2Cstripbooks%2C109&sr=1-1] Ways to Tune In: * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5w1H9BBwRXvBSSkexePYxG [https://open.spotify.com/show/5w1H9BBwRXvBSSkexePYxG]  * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optometrists-building-empires/id1762685070 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optometrists-building-empires/id1762685070]  * Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/689a039b-54ce-4f04-b641-66d8640d93d0 [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/689a039b-54ce-4f04-b641-66d8640d93d0]  * Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/optometrists-building-empires-5812208 [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/optometrists-building-empires-5812208]

Seeing the Vision Through - Dr. Jason Klepfisz- Optometrists Building Empires - Episode # 094

Can independent optometry beat corporate competition by focusing on experience, branding, and hospitality? On this week’s episode of Optometrists Building Empires, host Ankit Patel sits down with Dr. Jason Klepfisz, founder of Urban Eyecare and creator of Private Practice Club. Jason shares how he built a standout private practice through premium patient experience, independent eyewear, smart branding, and AI-driven marketing strategies. From scaling a second location to creating a hospitality-first patient experience, Jason explains how thinking differently helped him stand out in a crowded market. He also dives into the realities of hiring, why he prioritizes personality and sales mindset over traditional optical experience, and how he trains teams to deliver luxury-level service. This conversation is packed with practical insights on private practice growth, branding, staffing, and the future of independent optometry. If you’re an optometrist, practice owner, or entrepreneur looking to differentiate your business, this episode is worth the listen. Takeaways: * Building a practice around revenue per patient rather than volume is a legitimate and sustainable path. Delivering an exceptional experience for a focused segment of the market can outperform chasing sheer appointment numbers. * Treating your practice like a hospitality business rather than a medical office changes everything. When patients are greeted by name and moved through a frictionless experience at every touchpoint, they return and they refer. * Staffing from outside the industry can be a major advantage. Hiring people from retail and hospitality backgrounds and training them from the ground up often produces better results than hiring experienced opticians stuck in corporate habits. * Private equity entering optometry creates real opportunity for independent practice owners who are paying attention. As corporate consolidators cut costs and reduce service quality, patients will look for somewhere better,  and well-positioned independents will capture that outflow. * Your location is your first marketing decision. Understanding your environment and your target patient before you sign a lease is fundamental to everything that comes after. * Exclusivity in eyewear is a competitive advantage most practices leave on the table. Carrying independent frame lines that aren't available at the corporate chains down the street gives patients a reason to choose you and gives you control over your margins. * Getting booked out too far is a problem, not a sign of success. When patients with cash can't get in for weeks, they go somewhere else,  and you've handed your competition a warm, motivated lead. Quote of the Show: * “This is me turned into a building and a store. And at the end of the day, what I think and what I wind up doing ends up being the most important thing.” - Dr. Jason Klepfisz  Links: * LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jason-klepfisz-13013512a [http://linkedin.com/in/jason-klepfisz-13013512a] * Website: https://urbaneyesphx.com/ [https://urbaneyesphx.com/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urbaneyecarephx/ [https://www.instagram.com/urbaneyecarephx/] * Book a Meeting with Ankit: https://meetings.hubspot.com/ankit98/optometry-redefined?uuid=e5cd456c-9db4-42c7-b106-2b6e250a6d01 [https://meetings.hubspot.com/ankit98/optometry-redefined?uuid=e5cd456c-9db4-42c7-b106-2b6e250a6d01]  * Optometry Redefined Book: https://www.amazon.com/Optometry-Redefined-Master-Resourcing-Performance/dp/B0FKJTZGJ3/ref=monarch_sidesheet_image [https://www.amazon.com/Optometry-Redefined-Master-Resourcing-Performance/dp/B0FKJTZGJ3/ref=monarch_sidesheet_image]  Ways to Tune In: * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5w1H9BBwRXvBSSkexePYxG [https://open.spotify.com/show/5w1H9BBwRXvBSSkexePYxG]  * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optometrists-building-empires/id1762685070 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optometrists-building-empires/id1762685070]  * Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/689a039b-54ce-4f04-b641-66d8640d93d0 [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/689a039b-54ce-4f04-b641-66d8640d93d0]  * Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/optometrists-building-empires-5812208 [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/optometrists-building-empires-5812208]