In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo shares the full conversation from his recent guest appearance on Ankit Patel’s podcast, Optometrists Building Empires—a wide-ranging and deeply honest discussion about leadership, growth, and why so many practice owners feel stuck despite working harder than ever.

Steve and Ankit explore the unseen challenges of practice ownership that no one talks about in school: the pressure to do everything yourself, the isolation that comes with leadership, and the quiet burnout that builds when the business depends entirely on you. They unpack why mindset—not market conditions—is often the real constraint on growth, and how learning to lean on others, build systems, and redefine success can completely change the trajectory of a practice.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by ownership… if you’ve wondered whether growth is worth the cost… or if you’ve sensed there’s a better way to lead without burning yourself out—this conversation will resonate deeply.

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In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo shares the full conversation from his recent guest appearance on Adam Cmejla’s podcast, 2020 Money—a conversation that explores why so many healthcare professionals feel conflicted, uncomfortable, or even resistant to the idea of “sales,” despite spending their entire careers trying to influence outcomes that matter.

Steve and Adam unpack how early experiences, subconscious narratives, and professional conditioning shape the way doctors communicate, prescribe, lead, and even avoid conversations that could improve patient care. They explore why being a doctor doesn’t automatically guarantee influence—and how listening, asking better questions, and letting go of control can actually create trust and clarity.

This episode isn’t about selling more products. It’s about recognizing that influence is already part of your role—and that avoiding it may be costing you more than you realize.

If you’ve ever felt tension between being a clinician and being a business owner… if you’ve ever wondered why patients don’t always follow your recommendations… or if you’ve questioned whether “sales” belongs in healthcare at all—this conversation will make you rethink everything.

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You didn’t start your practice to feel trapped inside it. Yet somewhere along the way, longer hours became normal. Days off felt stressful. And the idea of stepping away—even briefly—started to feel impossible. If you’ve ever thought, “If I’m not there, everything falls apart,” you’re not alone.

In this episode of Eye Own a Business, Dr. Ruth Mannschreck shares a powerful story that began with a personal crisis—and led to a complete rethinking of how a practice can run. What started as a necessity turned into a blueprint for freedom. Not by working harder. Not by sacrificing care or growth. But by building the right systems, empowering the right people, and leading in a fundamentally different way.

This conversation isn’t about shortcuts or “hacks.” It’s about a shift—from being the engine of your practice to becoming its architect. This episode shows you what’s possible when your business finally supports your life, not the other way around.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

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You don’t need more motivation—you need a better system.

Every January, you promise yourself this year will be different. You set goals with good intentions, real excitement, and a desire to grow. But then real life shows up—patients, staff issues, unexpected fires—and slowly, quietly, those goals fade into the background. Not because you don’t care. Not because you’re lazy. But because the way most goals are set almost guarantees they won’t survive real life.

In this episode of Eye Own a Business, we flip the script on traditional goal setting. You’ll learn why annual goals feel inspiring—but fail you when execution matters most. More importantly, you’ll discover a simple, human framework that replaces pressure with clarity, overwhelm with focus, and frustration with momentum.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

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If you’ve ever watched a dry eye patient nod along… then disappear, stall, or come back unchanged, this episode will feel like a reset. Because the truth is: dry eye isn’t just “bad tears.” It’s stress, sleep, diet, inflammation, screens, habits—and a patient who’s overwhelmed by one more thing to do.

In this conversation, ophthalmologist Dr. Laura Periman (the “Dry Eye Master”) shows you how to reorient patients without lecturing or shaming them. You’ll hear how she uses simple, memorable language (and humor) to build trust, create momentum, and help patients actually stick with change. And with Science-Based Health’s Zach Denning, you’ll learn how to recommend supplements and lifestyle tools confidently—without feeling like you’re “selling.”

Hit play if you’re ready to stop chasing symptoms—and start creating real, lasting results for your dry eye patients.

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The future of optometry is evolving, and today’s new grads have different expectations, career goals, and challenges than ever before. In this episode, I sit down with Howard Purcell, OD, FAAO, President and CEO of New England College of Optometry, to discuss what the next generation of optometrists really wants—from practicing to the full extent of their licensure to navigating student debt and business ownership. We also explore the shifting dynamics between experienced ODs and new graduates, the role of AI and technology in optometry’s future, and how seasoned doctors can mentor and attract young talent to their practices.

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You might be leaving thousands of dollars on the table in contact lenses every year—and not even know it.

If you’ve ever stared at your CL numbers and thought, “We’re busy… so why isn’t this more profitable?” this episode is for you.

In this conversation, you’ll step into the shoes of a practice owner who stopped guessing and started treating contact lenses like a real profit engine. Dr. Justin Bazan didn’t do it by chasing every new brand or arguing over pennies per box—he did it by simplifying. He chose the right partners, leaned into key relationships, and built a strategy that rewards his practice for doing what’s best for patients.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by vendors, confused about rebates, or frustrated that your associate isn’t on board with your preferred brands, you’re not alone. Justin has been there—and he walks you through the exact mindset and moves that changed everything, including why going deeper with fewer companies created more freedom, not less.

By the end, you’ll see your CL line differently: not as a chaotic cost center, but as a focused, trackable, and highly profitable part of your business.

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In this conversation with Dr. Brianna Rhue, you’ll step into a new way of thinking about your practice: not as a small business desperately trying to keep up with tech, but as a tech-enabled practice that happens to deliver incredible eye care. Instead of treating AI like a buzzword or a threat, you’ll see how it becomes the quiet engine behind smoother days, fewer bottlenecks, and more time with patients.

Brianna doesn’t sugarcoat the reality: ODs who ignore this shift will feel more irrelevant over time. But she also shows you a path that feels doable, even if you’re not “techy” and you’re already maxed out. From missed calls and broken systems to data you never use and staff who are stuck doing mundane work, she’ll show you how AI can quietly take weight off your shoulders while you stay firmly in control.

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In this episode, you’ll step into one of the most overlooked opportunities in eye care—an opportunity that affects every patient over 40 and can quietly transform the way your practice grows.

Dr. Amanda Nanasy shares a story most of us forget: presbyopia isn’t just a refractive change… it’s an emotional moment. It’s the instant a patient realizes their vision—and their identity—is shifting. And for many, it feels like a reminder that time is moving faster than they’d like.

But inside that discomfort is massive potential.

You’ll hear how simple conversations, better expectations, and a patient-centered fitting process can turn frustration into relief… uncertainty into confidence… and lost revenue into lifelong loyalty.

If you’ve ever rushed through a presbyope conversation, avoided bringing up multifocal lenses, or assumed a patient “wouldn’t be interested,” this episode will change how you approach these moments.

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