Cover image of show The Optometry Success Podcast

The Optometry Success Podcast

Podcast by Adam Cmejla, CFP & Chad Fleming, OD, FAAO

English

Business

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About The Optometry Success Podcast

The Optometry Success Podcast helps private-practice optometrists build profitable, sustainable businesses with clarity and confidence. Hosted by Adam Cmejla, CFP—a financial planner and CFO to ODs nationwide—and Chad Fleming, OD, FAAO—a multi-location practice owner with decades of hands-on experience—each 20-minute episode delivers practical strategies and actionable insights you can apply right away. From leadership and financials to team culture, operations, and growth, this is your weekly dose of real-world advice for real-world practice owners. New episodes every Wednesday.

All episodes

18 episodes

episode How to Evaluate an Optometry Practice Before You Buy In artwork

How to Evaluate an Optometry Practice Before You Buy In

In this episode recorded live at Vision Expo, we dive into a thoughtful question from a listener considering a move from the VA into private practice with the long term goal of buying in, and we walk through why the better place to start is not the buy in itself but evaluating whether the practice is actually healthy enough to support an associate in the first place. We talk through the importance of asking the right questions, both qualitative like understanding culture and how decisions are made, and quantitative like true schedule health and how a practice grows an associate's patient base, along with identifying whether an owner is truly running a business or simply owns a job. Chad shares practical insight on what strong mentorship and intentional associate integration looks like, including track record, compensation structure, and clarity around a potential path to ownership, while we also emphasize the importance of networking, vetting opportunities beyond just the owner's perspective, and keeping an open mind geographically to find the right long term fit. Have a question for us to address in a future episode? Submit it here [https://form.jotform.com/252526305103041]! Resources: Learn more about Partners in Profit [https://pipgpo.com/contact-us/] Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit [https://integratedpwm.com/toolkit] 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass [https://www.2020membership.com/] OD Mastermind Interest Form [https://www.jotform.com/form/250467795073062] Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice [https://a.co/d/0wv5uLn] Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro [https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro] Subscribe on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/jCtsk [https://shorturl.at/jCtsk]

20 May 2026 - 22 min
episode What should an office manager focus on in a multi-location practice artwork

What should an office manager focus on in a multi-location practice

In this episode, we answer a listener question about what an office manager's responsibilities should look like in a multi location practice, and we unpack why the real issue is less about a fixed task list and more about creating clear leadership structure, accountability, and consistent communication. Chad shares how his practice approaches management across five locations by focusing managers on observation, training, patient flow, and 1:1 meetings rather than filling in for frontline staff, while we also discuss the importance of using data and tools to remove subjectivity, build culture intentionally, and help owners understand that investing time in leadership outside the exam lane is often what allows a practice to grow more profitably and sustainably. Have a question for us to address in a future episode? Submit it here [https://form.jotform.com/252526305103041]! Resources: Arlo Cameras [https://us.arlo.com/collections/security-cameras?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23429554536&gbraid=0AAAAAoz7jNHnRZ87o5djBKOao04ss5egL&gclid=CjwKCAjwyYPOBhBxEiwAgpT8PxqIsuPUTp_easnH-47fVovyhkhPCXtf150JiPzqXN0TBQul4LSE5RoCkxcQAvD_BwE] Learn more about Partners in Profit [https://pipgpo.com/contact-us/] Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit [https://integratedpwm.com/toolkit] 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass [https://www.2020membership.com/] OD Mastermind Interest Form [https://www.jotform.com/form/250467795073062] Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice [https://a.co/d/0wv5uLn] Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro [https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro] Subscribe on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/jCtsk [https://shorturl.at/jCtsk]

13 May 2026 - 21 min
episode Vision Wellness...Medical Dx? Reality is More Visits per Year, Here's How artwork

Vision Wellness...Medical Dx? Reality is More Visits per Year, Here's How

In this episode Chad and I respond to a listener question about how to handle diabetic patients within the realities of managed vision care and medical insurance. We unpack the practical communication and workflow decisions that come up in the exam room when a patient presents with both wellness coverage and a medical condition that requires ongoing monitoring. Chad walks through how he scripts these conversations with patients, why separating wellness and medical visits can often be the cleanest path, and how clear communication at the start of the encounter helps prevent confusion later. If you have ever struggled with getting patients back for follow up care or explaining the difference between vision benefits and medical coverage, this episode offers practical language and a framework you can begin using in your exam room right away. Resources: Learn more about Partners in Profit [https://pipgpo.com/contact-us/] Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit [https://integratedpwm.com/toolkit] 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass [https://www.2020membership.com/] OD Mastermind Interest Form [https://www.jotform.com/form/250467795073062] Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice [https://a.co/d/0wv5uLn] Have a question for us to address in a future episode? Submit it here [https://form.jotform.com/252526305103041]! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro [https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro] Subscribe on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/jCtsk [https://shorturl.at/jCtsk]

6 May 2026 - 19 min
episode My Optical Does Good, I Think? - How Do I Take Back the Reins? artwork

My Optical Does Good, I Think? - How Do I Take Back the Reins?

In this episode Chad and I tackle a listener question from an owner doctor preparing to expand from a 2,000 square foot office into a 7,000 square foot space while realizing the optical has been running on autopilot for far too long. We talk through what it means to step back into leadership without creating unnecessary friction, why curiosity has to come before criticism, and how to rebuild trust with a team that has been largely self managed for years. We also unpack the importance of learning the systems before trying to change them, gathering feedback from staff, vendors, and patients, and recognizing that growth at this level requires fresh investment of your time and attention. If you are preparing for expansion or wondering how to lead an optical through a major transition, this conversation will give you a practical framework for taking the reins in a way that strengthens both your team and your long term success. Resources: Manager Tools [https://www.manager-tools.com/] Learn more about Partners in Profit [https://pipgpo.com/contact-us/] Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit [https://integratedpwm.com/toolkit] 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass [https://www.2020membership.com/] OD Mastermind Interest Form [https://www.jotform.com/form/250467795073062] Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice [https://a.co/d/0wv5uLn] Have a question for us to address in a future episode? Submit it here [https://form.jotform.com/252526305103041]! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro [https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro] Subscribe on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/jCtsk [https://shorturl.at/jCtsk]

29 Apr 2026 - 21 min
episode Leadership Team Changes: Growing from $1 to $3 to $10 Million in Annual Revenue artwork

Leadership Team Changes: Growing from $1 to $3 to $10 Million in Annual Revenue

In this episode, we kick off our Scaling Series by answering a listener question about when and how the administrative structure of an optometry practice should evolve as revenue grows. We define scaling as revenue growing faster than expenses and explore the common misconception that scaling only means adding associates or locations. We discuss when to introduce fractional financial support, the risks of waiting too long to restructure leadership, and why efficiency often matters more than hitting a specific revenue number. Most importantly, we emphasize that scaling starts with self awareness — understanding our core values, avoiding lifestyle creep, and clarifying whether we want to be the top producer in the exam lane or step into a broader leadership role — because sustainable growth begins with alignment. Have a question you'd like us to address in a future episode? Submit it here [https://form.jotform.com/252526305103041]! Resources Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit [https://integratedpwm.com/toolkit] 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass [https://www.2020membership.com/] OD Mastermind Interest Form [https://www.jotform.com/form/250467795073062] Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice [https://a.co/d/0wv5uLn] Learn more about Partners in Profit [https://pipgpo.com/contact-us/] Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro [https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro] Subscribe on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/jCtsk [https://shorturl.at/jCtsk]

22 Apr 2026 - 23 min
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