Are you ready to scale your optometry practice and embrace bold career moves? On this week’s episode of Optometrists Building Empires, host Ankit Patel sits down with Dr. Harbir Sian, award-winning optometrist, practice owner, and host of The 2020 Podcast. Dr. Sian shares how he expanded from one to three clinics, navigated staffing challenges, and leveraged public education to build a strong professional brand. If you're looking for insights on growth, resilience, and thinking big in optometry, this episode is for you!

Takeaways:

• Success doesn’t happen in isolation, so surround yourself with people who provide honest feedback, even when it’s tough to hear. A reliable network of mentors, peers, and business partners can help refine your ideas and keep you grounded.  
• In a challenging labor market, bringing candidates in for trial periods allows you to quickly assess their fit within your team. This approach ensures you find dedicated employees who align with your practice's culture and values.  
• Growth requires stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing challenges that may seem intimidating at first. The biggest opportunities often come from pushing beyond what feels safe and trying new approaches.  
• Success in optometry isn’t just about clinical skills; it’s about adjusting to industry changes and patient needs. Staying flexible and willing to pivot your business strategy ensures long-term stability and growth.  
• Public education is more than just a way to give back—it’s a powerful tool for establishing authority and trust in your field. Creating content and sharing insights helps expand your reach and strengthen your professional brand.  
• Scaling a practice isn’t just about opening more locations; it requires thoughtful evaluation of community needs and long-term sustainability. Strategic growth ensures your expansion benefits both your patients and your business.

Quote of the Show:

• “ I wouldn't be where I am without the support that I've gotten from friends and family.” - Harbir Sian

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harbirsianod/  
• Clarity Eye Care: https://clarityeyecare.ca/our-practice/  
• High Street Eye Care: https://highstreeteyecare.ca/our-practice/  
•  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harbirsian.od/?hl=en  
• 2020 Podcast: https://www.the2020podcast.com 

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5w1H9BBwRXvBSSkexePYxG 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optometrists-building-empires/id1762685070 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/689a039b-54ce-4f04-b641-66d8640d93d0 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/optometrists-building-empires-5812208 

Dr. Gina Wesley cold-started Complete Eye Care of Medina in 2008 and built the practice around a clear point of view: design the care experience instead of copying the default. In this episode, she talks with Ankit about early daily disposable contact lens adoption, choosing the right partners, and why she moved away from low-value vision plans. She also explains how an idea from her own dentist inspired an in-house membership plan that reduced admin drag and gave private-pay exams a clearer value story.