EYE OWN A BUSINESS

How to Lead Like a Fighter Pilot: The Simple System That Will Transform Your Practice

In this episode, you’ll step inside a world few of us ever see—one where every decision carries weight, pressure is constant, and clarity is non-negotiable.

Last week, I spent a day learning from a retired Air Force fighter pilot, and what struck me wasn’t the complexity of the cockpit or the intensity of the mission. It was how much their world mirrors ours. Because while we may not be flying at 500 knots, many practice owners feel like they’re in a dogfight every single day—reacting, scrambling, and hoping things don’t fall apart.

This episode is about what happens when you stop reacting and start leading with intention.

You’ll hear how fighter pilots plan, communicate, execute, and learn with a level of focus that turns chaos into clarity. And more importantly, you’ll discover how those same tools can bring direction, confidence, and momentum back into your practice.

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What I Learned from the World’s Top Minds

In this episode, you’ll discover how world-class thinkers approach leadership, communication, and growth—and how their lessons can transform your practice.

What can an optometrist learn from the CEO of Disney, a best-selling author on sales, and a self-made billionaire who started a company with $5,000? As it turns out—everything.

You’ll hear what happens when clarity replaces complexity, when confidence replaces hesitation, and when action replaces perfection. You’ll see how persuasion becomes service, how storytelling turns strategy into movement, and how purpose fuels persistence long after motivation fades.

If you’ve ever felt stuck managing the business side of your practice or wondered how to lead and grow without losing yourself in the chaos, this episode will challenge the way you think about what’s possible.

 

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How AI Will Reshape Eye Care in 12–18 Months and How to Make Your Practice Ready

In this episode, you’ll discover why the next 12 to 18 months have the potential to redefine what it means to practice optometry

AI isn’t coming — it’s already here. And while some doctors are still debating its relevance, others are quietly building practices ready to lead the next era of connected care.

Dr. Rupe Hansra, VP of Professional Affairs at Topcon Healthcare, joins Dr. Steve Vargo to explore how AI is transforming everything from diagnostics to communication — and why optometrists stand at the center of this revolution.

You’ll learn how “Oculomics” is unlocking insights that go far beyond the eye exam, and what steps you can take now to future-proof your practice for the changes ahead.

 

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RE-RELEASE: Becoming a Multi-Million Dollar Practice in 5 Years

What would it take to open a practice cold and within 5 years achieve a level of financial success that many practices never reach… becoming a multi-million-dollar practice? 

In this episode, Dr. Joel Tuite takes us through his 5-year journey, year-by-year. Some of the topics we cover are how he attracted patients in the lean years, the importance of putting staff first and treating patients like family and how having a vision of success keeps you motivated and optimistic even during challenging times. According to Dr. Tuite, “If you can envision it, it will happen.

 

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Want to Retire Someday? Start Building Practice Value Today

In this episode, you’ll discover why the true value of your practice isn’t built when you sell—it’s built every day you show up to lead it.

Nathan Hayes joins me to unpack the mindset and strategies of owners who play the long game—the ones who treat every decision as an investment in their future freedom. They don’t wait until retirement to think about value. They build systems that run without them. They create teams that thrive without micromanagement. And they keep their practices so well-run that buyers line up when it’s time to exit.

If you’ve ever wondered what you can be doing now to ensure your practice grows in value—this episode will change the way you think about ownership.

 

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You’re Always on Stage: How to Speak So Patients Say Yes

In this episode, you’ll discover why the most powerful tool in your practice isn’t your OCT or your EHR—it’s your voice.

Dr. Steve Vargo shares a personal story of the time he bombed his first big presentation. Months of preparation, flawless slides, and bullet-point perfection… and yet, the audience checked out. That failure became the turning point that taught him one truth every doctor needs to know: information doesn’t inspire action—connection does.

You’ll learn how the same techniques great speakers use on stage—clarity, storytelling, and confidence—can transform the way you communicate in the exam room. Because every patient encounter is a performance, and the way you deliver your message determines whether patients tune out or take action.

 

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Stop Guessing: How ODs Can Plan Smarter Marketing for 2026

In this episode, you’ll step into a conversation that challenges the way most ODs think about marketing.

It’s easy to see marketing as an expense, a line item on a budget that you either cut or dabble in when things slow down. But what if you looked at it differently? What if your marketing wasn’t about spending more—but about finally getting clear on who you are, who you serve, and how you want to grow?

Jeremy Bono from IDOC Marketing Services joins me to share why the last three months of the year are the perfect time to reset, reflect, and get intentional about 2026. Together, we unpack how successful practices approach marketing not as guesswork, but as a system—one built on consistency, differentiation, and alignment with the practice’s bigger vision.

If you’ve ever felt like your marketing dollars weren’t pulling their weight, or you’ve wondered how to stand out in a crowded market, this episode will give you the clarity and direction to turn uncertainty into a strategy—and marketing into momentum.

 

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What Top ODs Revealed About Contact Lens Success—and What’s Holding Them Back

In this episode, you’ll hear what happens when a group of forward-thinking ODs come together, not just to share clinical tips, but to challenge the way we think about contact lenses.

We didn’t sit around talking about products. We dug into something bigger—the opportunities hiding in plain sight. The moments when patients walk out the door because we never asked the right question. The silent objections that keep them from trying contacts. The staff conversations that either build excitement or quietly kill momentum.

Dr. Tara Vaz joins me to bring you inside that Puerto Rico roundtable, where successful doctors admitted they still face the same barriers we all do—but also revealed how they’re turning those barriers into growth.

If you’ve ever wondered why more of your patients don’t say yes to contacts—or how to stop the dropouts before they happen—this conversation will give you practical ways to make contact lenses a true growth engine in your practice.

 

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