What if the biggest thing holding your practice back isn’t staffing, reimbursement, or technology, but your mindset and leadership approach as an owner? In this episode of Optometrists Building Empires, host Ankit Patel sits down with Dr. Steve Vargo, optometric practice management consultant, author, and nationally recognized speaker. Steve shares the pivotal moments that shaped his journey from isolated practice owner to trusted advisor for thousands of practices nationwide. Together, they unpack why leadership is often the true constraint to growth, how successful owners think differently about failure, and why learning to lean on others is essential to building a practice that lasts.

Takeaways:

• Leadership gaps are often the root cause of staff conflict, burnout, and stalled growth. Without clear leadership, practices struggle to execute systems, align teams, and move forward intentionally. 
• Trying to do everything yourself slows growth and increases friction. The most successful owners learn to lean into mentors, consultants, and teams instead of operating in isolation. 
• Growth doesn’t always mean more locations; it means making the most of what you have. Many practices are shifting toward efficiency, specialty care, and operational excellence rather than scaling purely by size. 
• Mindset is a defining separator between practices that thrive and those that stay stuck. A growth mindset views challenges as problems to solve, while a fixed mindset looks for reasons things can’t improve. 
• Successful practice owners fail often, but on purpose and on a small scale. They test ideas, learn quickly, abandon what doesn’t work, and double down on what does. 
• Continuous learning compounds over time and creates long-term advantage. The most successful doctors read, attend meetings, seek feedback, and consistently invest in improving their leadership and business skills. 

Quote of the Show:

• “ People say that they don't like the business side, they just wanna work on the clinical side. But it's hard to provide the best care for your patients if you're not mindful of the business side.” - Steve Vargo

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevevargo/  
• Website: https://drstevevargo.com/  
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.vargo.18 
• Book a Meeting with Ankit: 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 

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