When close rates stall around 30–40%, most teams blame price. What if the real issue is what happens after the appointment?

Myopia management is no longer "up-and-coming." It's here, and it's big. In this episode of Power Hour, Eugene sits down with Matt Oerding, CEO & Founder of Treehouse Eyes, to unpack a market Matt describes as a untapped opportunity, and the uncomfortable reality behind it: even though a large share of optometrists say they offer myopia management, only ~4–5% of eligible kids are actually receiving treatment.

Matt explains that the myopia "adoption gap" isn't due to a lack of treatment options, but by execution: how consistently practices recommend, how the message is framed, and what happens after the parent says, "Let me think about it."

What if cutting your staff dramatically could increase your profit margins by up to 30% with capture rates being at 78%? 

This week on Power Hour, Eugene sits down with Dr. Lauretta Justin, Founder of Optometry Divas and creator of The CEO of You, to unpack a transformation that starts with burnout and ends with clarity, profit, and purpose. 

After running a full-scope practice with a team of ten, Lauretta hit a point many ODs know too well: she was successful on paper… and exhausted in reality. So, she decided what most people would never consider: she simplified everything. 

Fewer staff. Cleaner pricing. Tighter systems. More intentional leadership. 

The result? 
 
A 30% increase in net profit, a 20% jump in net cash flow, and a practice that finally supports the life she wants, not the other way around. 

In this special edition of Power Hour recorded live at Vision Expo West, host Eugene Shatsman takes you behind the scenes of the VSP Vision Innovation Challenge, co-hosted by VSP Vision Global Innovation Center, The Vision Council, and MATTER, and first time involvement for the Power Hour. 

From 50+ groundbreaking submissions to 6 stage finalists and 3 transformative winners, this episode captures the ideas, momentum, and leaders shaping the next chapter of vision care. 

This episode is presented in three mini-conversations that highlight both the architects behind the challenge and the innovators leading the charge. If you're curious about what the future of eye care really looks like, this is the episode you can't afford to miss. 

Ever wonder what optometry looks like across the world?

Join Bethany and Hasnain Mamdani, an optometrist from the UK and host of the Optics Room Podcast in the first of a two-part special as they dive into a discussion comparing the life of an optometrist in the US and the UK to find out what we may be able to learn from each other. 

Discover why becoming an optometrist requires a unique journey on each side of the Atlantic, and how differing patient expectations and healthcare systems play a significant role in shaping the profession. From pricing strategies to clinical practices, we'll delve into the fascinating international web of optometry and identify ways to improve eyecare no matter where you call home.

AI is here and can help your practice.  Are you ready to take advantage of it?

Join Bethany and Eugene Shatsman from National Strategic Group as they talk about the role that rapidly evolving AI tools can play in optometry and how practice owners and managers can use them to drive practice growth and innovation.  

Eugene's team has tested dozens of AI tools and he discusses how being an early adopter of some of this technology can help enhance your patient experience and give your practice an edge. He shares his perspectives on how AI offers shortcuts to humans, not replacing, but enhancing what we do every day.   

Marketing your practice involves so much more than getting patients in the door. As the capabilities of AI expand every day, harnessing this exciting technology can provide strategic advantage while allowing you to analyze practice data and interact with your patients in ways you've never had the time or technical ability to do before.

What do AI and Dry Eye have in common?

Find out when you Join Bethany and Dr. Jovi Boparai, ophthalmologist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of CorneaCare as they discuss Dr. Boparai's journey towards building an innovative AI-based solution for treating ocular surface disease.  

Learn about what the future holds for these rapidly emerging technologies, what it takes to "move fast, fail fast, iterate faster," and what it means to build a "generational brand" in today's world of social media.  Dr. Boparai's perspectives on technology and TikTok alike provide a fascinating window into just how fast patient care is evolving. 

Although the pandemic's intensity has waned, do the effects on optometry practices, staff, and business strategy remain?

In this episode, join Bethany as she reflects on the lingering impacts of COVID-19 on the optometric industry. Bethany delves into how the adaptations required to operate during COVID continue to affect practices to this day, often in ways that aren't always obvious. 

From positive adaptations like shifting staff dynamics and enhanced safety measures to the challenges of decision paralysis and day-to-day uncertainty, evaluating whether these changes align with your current practice mission and vision is crucial to your ongoing success. Bethany also stresses the need for ongoing staff communication and the maintenance of adaptable strategies to remain competitive in the ever-changing landscape of modern optometry in the post-COVID future.

What are the elements of a successful trunk show?

Join Bethany and Kayla Ashlee, co-founder of Spexy, in a discussion about the art of planning and putting on trunk shows — events where specialty frame vendors bring their entire catalogs to your practice for your patients to browse and shop — and how they can benefit your practice in both the short- and long-term.   

Should you see patients?  Should you offer discounts?  How do you support your team?  What's the key to getting maximum RSVPs?  What absolute mistakes should you avoid?   

Bethany and Kayla dive into key do's and don'ts and show you how your office can benefit from additional sales, branding, community exposure and patient loyalty that comes with a successful trunk show.

Do you know how mental health is affecting you, your practice, and your staff?

In this episode of The Power Hour, Bethany speaks with Dr. Dennis Pardo, an optometrist, social worker, psychotherapist, and founder of Tranquil Wave Psychotherapy, to discuss the impact of mental health issues on optometric practice owners and their staff. 

Together they explore how mental health concerns affect things like productivity, absenteeism, and retention within the workplace as well as the growing awareness and reduced stigma around mental health as a whole. Dr. Pardo shares his unique journey from optometry to psychotherapy, emphasizing the importance of addressing mental health in the optometry profession and provides valuable insights on creating a psychologically safe work environment and dealing with potential mental health issues among employees. 

Mental health issues can be hard to detect, but by learning how to identify and address these pervasive concerns early, it's possible to avoid the potential problems they cause and keep your practice running smoothly.

What's driving today's OD shortage? Are fewer optometry students passing their national board examinations or it just an issue of perception?  The answer may fall somewhere in between. In this episode of the Power Hour Podcast, Bethany has an in-depth discussion with Howard Purcell, OD, FAAO, President of the New England College of Optometry, about emerging trends in board exam passing rates and whether or not there's a reason for concern.

In their pursuit to uncover the facts, Bethany and Howard discuss issues like the underlying numbers behind the idea that students aren't passing their national board exams as often, potential predictive factors for higher test scores, and the potential need to rethink the support that schools provide to students to better fit their needs.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the current trends in academia and how the nation's foremost institutions like NECO are reacting to the shifting demands of their student body.

What gets you out of bed in the morning? What drives your team? In this episode of the Power Hour Podcast, Bethany sits down with Gavin Rebello, an optometrist and renowned expert on leadership and management from the National Health System in the United Kingdom.

Together, Gavin and Bethany discuss 7 key psychological factors that drive motivation and how success as a business leader requires creating and cultivating an environment where all members of the team feel empowered to work towards common goals, have opportunities for personal growth, and understand the positive impact their work has on people's lives. 

If you have ever had trouble fueling your motivation or want to create more purpose-driven teamwork for your practice, you're not going to want to miss this episode!

Is there a formula for successfully building a specialty practice? In this episode of the Power Hour, Bethany sits down with Thanh Mai, O.D., who shares his inspiring story of building a "super-specialty" practice focused on myopia management, scleral lenses & vision therapy.    

Dr. Mai is the founder of Insight Vision Center Optometry and has been involved with Treehouse Eyes scaling their myopia management business. He shares insights about building a specialty practice from scratch, and provides doctors with resources to go from "dabbling-in" specialty care to jumping right in.   

His conversation with Bethany offers a unique perspective on what it takes to fight imposter syndrome, stay accountable to your own goals with realistic timelines, and find the right support to help you along the way to help you make your dreams a reality. In discussing his journey, Dr. Mai shares a formulaic approach that includes setting the vision, identifying the "how", picking your supporting "whos", and building systems that replicate your success.   

This advice has helped him, and many other practice owners build their cash-based specialty practices. Listen in to get inspired and take action towards the practice of your dreams. 

How do you build a successful practice? Are you ever done growing as a business leader? Join Bethany and Dr. Nick Despotidis, founder and partner of Eye Care Professionals, for a discussion on practice leadership and the role of consulting services leveraging customized solutions for support navigating the constantly shifting landscape of practice ownership.  

When Dr. Nick Despotidis, founder of Eye Care Professionals, realized that he needed a new kind of support, it led to a conversation with Bethany about how to reassess — and address — changing needs in the shifting landscape of optometry. Discover the importance of seeking guidance (no matter your experience), and the role of technology in shaping the future of the industry!

Every practice owner wants their business to grow — learn about the journey of practice growth and how to find fulfillment as not only an entrepreneur but also as a leader in the optometry field.

Ten Patients. $1.2K Each. How Dr. Evie Lawson Rebuilt the Exam and the Business 

What if your next growth leap didn't come from seeing more patients, but from redesigning the visit itself? 

Is Negativity Bias draining profits from your practice? Join Bethany and Bill Belanger, founder of Integrated Mind Training, in a discussion about negativity bias — the subconscious tendency of individuals to focus more on negative emotions and experiences rather than positive ones — and how it might be damaging to your practice.

Of course, it's not possible to keep everyone happy (including yourself!) but focusing on negative feedback from your patients and the stressful parts of your day may result in lower job satisfaction, a worse patient experience, and a business that stagnates instead of thriving.

If you're looking for an edge in your optical, consider the words your opticians use every day.  In this episode, Bethany interviews Mark Hinton, an optician and founder of eYeFacilitate, a consulting group focused on growing optical sales. Together, they explore the impact of language and communication on optical sales discussions and outcomes.  They discuss the importance of carefully choosing words to avoiding negative or money-focused terms that may discourage patients. Mark shows us how to lead patients with effective dialogue and questions, highlighting the significance of emotions in purchasing decisions. He shares his personal journey from a background in psychology to becoming an optician and how his understanding of human behavior influenced his approach to patient interactions. Reflecting on the evolution of the optical industry, they address the challenges posed by managed care and commoditization of eyewear and practical strategies for using positive language to engage patients and enhance their overall experience.

How much do the exact words we choose matter? In this episode, Eugene Shatsman from National Strategic Group joins us to show us how saying the same thing in two different ways can make a huge difference in your results. Which words pre-program patients to buy? What is the psychology behind some of the highest performing marketing wins? We discuss Eugene's insights around split-testing and how his team has helped drive double-digit increases from marketing by simply adjusting the words used. By becoming aware of these proven language patterns, you can help drive more prospective patients to your practice and make your existing patients more profitable.

Dr. Charlene Henderson joins Bethany on the podcast to talk about her experience owning a practice with a partner.

Becca Starks joins Bethany to talk about who today's graduating ODs are and what they're looking for in their careers. If you're looking for a new associate, this is a can't-miss!

Bethany talks about simple marketing strategies to attract new patients to your practice.

Discover how stepping outside conventional boundaries can transform your practice into a thriving hub of engaged patients. Bethany joins Adam Cmejla on the 20/20 Money to talk about how making tiny improvements in your practice can lead to remarkable financial results.

Join Dr. Bethany with Bart Foster, Founder of BusinessOutside and Managing Director of Sanitas Advisor. Bart is also the author of BusinessOutside: Discover Your Path Forward, a book that offers a science-inspired philosophy that reimagines corporate culture by bringing business outdoors. In this episode, Bart will share how leaders can leverage the power of nature to build stronger teams and transform their company culture.

BusinessOutside: https://www.businessoutside.com/

BusinessOutside: Discover Your Path Forward: https://www.amazon.com/BusinessOutside-Discover-Your-Path-Forward/dp/1544530749  

Welcome to Today's episode where we discuss the Great Game of Business and how it can impact an optometry practice. With Dr. Danny Clarke, Owner of Clark Eye Care Center in Wichita Falls, Texas, and Co-Founder of Modus Practice in Motion. We'll talk about a game-changing approach that can help businesses achieve their goals and increase transparency. So, if you're an optometry practice owner looking to improve your business, the Great Game of Business might be worth exploring.

As a team, it's essential to prioritize team building and developing a strong culture. One of the best ways to do this is by going on a trip together. Not only does it provide a fun and exciting opportunity to get away from the office and experience something new, but it also helps to build stronger relationships and foster a sense of teamwork and collaboration. Join Dr. Bethany with Dr. Andrew Peter and the Team of Homer Eyecare as they share the benefits of going on a trip with your team and how it can help you build an amazing culture.

What stories are shaping the future of optometry, and how do we know where the industry is headed? 

To answer that, we turned to someone with perhaps the broadest view in eyecare today: Anne M. Cooper, Editorial Director of Vision Monday and 20/20 Magazine. 

In this episode, we explore the Power of Online Reviews and how they have revolutionized the way businesses operate. From Google to Yelp and Facebook Reviews, we discuss the impact of these platforms on consumer behavior and how businesses can leverage this powerful tool to improve their bottom line. Our guest expert, Eugene Shatsman, Managing Partner & Business Growth Strategist for National Strategic Group, shares insights on how businesses can effectively manage their online reviews and turn them into a powerful marketing tool. Whether you're a business owner or a consumer, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the fascinating world of online reviews.

Dr. Bethany shares an innovative approach that can help optometrists revolutionize wages and pay their staff more. This method creates a win-win situation for both the practice and the staff members and has been shown to increase staff motivation, productivity, and revenue.

In this episode, we explore the importance of customer service in optometry with Dr.Jennifer Stewart. She is the Editor of Independent Strong, Founder of OD Perspective, Co-Founder and Chief Vision Officer of Performance 2020, and an optometrist with almost 20 years of experience. Dr. Jennifer shares her insights on how to create a welcoming and comfortable environment for patients, the role of technology in enhancing customer service, and the benefits of investing in staff training and development. If you're a healthcare professional looking to improve your customer service skills, this episode is for you. 

It's essential to acknowledge that financial stress can have a significant impact on an individual's mental and physical well-being. As a Practice Owner, it's vital to recognize this and take steps to support your staff. In this episode, Dr. Bethany and Evon Mendrin discussed a range of topics related to employee financial situation, including 401(K). It was a fascinating discussion, and we learned a lot from Evon's insights and perspectives.

If you want to learn more about Evon and their work, you can visit their website at https://optometrywealth.com/. 

Do you have trouble organizing your days for success? Steve Alexander, Head of Marketing, Strategic Partnerships at Anagram, shares his actionable tips and tricks to maximize productivity and enhance time management. 

Take control of your finances and achieve your financial goals through small, manageable changes. Founder and CEO of Integrated Planning & Wealth Management Adam Cmejla shares actionable strategies and real-life examples to apply to your financial situations.

Join Dr. Kyle Cheatham Chief Executive Officer at KMK Optometry Board's Review and Vision Specialists, as he shares his journey from helping one person to becoming the #1 Trusted Leader In Board Exam. In this episode, Bethany and Kyle discuss the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship in optometry, as well as the personal and professional growth that comes with taking the leap to go for it and pursue your dreams.

 Join Wendy Buchanan, Owner of Perceptions Eyewear Inc. and the creator of the Be Spectacular Eyewear Styling System, as she shares her proven strategy that will make your patients feel special and makes your practice stand out.

A good understanding of where your Practice is making money and the costs associated with running a business are important for long-term success. Join Bethany as she shares insights, lessons learned, and tools to improve practice profitability. 

There's a fun and engaging Theme, a Team Goal that everyone sets and track, a Scoreboard for progress, and a Reward for winning! COO of Clarke Eyecare Center and Co-Founder of Modus Practice in Motion Joely Anderson, shares how you can start MiniGames and how it can affect a change in your practice.

In this eye-opening episode of The Power Hour, host Eugene Shatsman welcomes back  Adam Cmejla, Certified Financial Planner, Founder and Owner of Integrated Planning & Wealth Management, and Host of 20/20 Money Podcast — to pull back the curtain on the relentless "compression" squeezing optometry practices right now. 

Building the right culture takes time and thought, and frankly, it's not a one-size-fits-all deal! Today Dr. Jennifer shares how important culture is in her practice and how she succeeds.

Your inner voice can be either a powerful stepping stone or a major obstacle to reaching your goals. Our first episode for 2023 with Kim Boudreau Smith, Leadership and Speaking Coach, talks about how you can conquer your inner critic, strengthen your real self, and fuel your success.

How much do you want to earn in 2023? Bethany talks about how to use your financial statement to make sure you get there.

What are you planning for your staff this holiday season?

EOS implementer Beth Berman is back to talk about a powerful tool to get you organized for 2023

Bethany continues the conversation with practical ideas to Pumpkin Plan YOUR business.

Mike Michalowicz shares the steps and strategies you can follow to get the best out of your practice using his Pumpkin Plan system.

Learn more about Pumpkin Plan: https://mikemichalowicz.com/ 

Are you ready to take the risk or chance to improve your communication? Join Bethany and Lisa Little, Artistic Director of ComedySportz San Antonio and Professional Improviser talk about Improv and how it can change and better your communication in your practice.

Bethany's appearance on Nick Despotidis's podcast.

How do we learn to make good financial choices? Join Founder and Lead Advisor of Optometry Wealth Advisors LLC Evon Mendrin, as he talks about the different mindsets and how it will impact your future financial success. 

Get in touch with Evon Mendrin at https://optometrywealth.com 

The Wealthy Barber is a financial plan book that will show you how to take control of your financial future!

Scaling a practice is never easy, especially when new growth often brings growing pains. 

But what if you could expand your practice, add associates, and increase profitability without losing momentum — or yourself — in the process? 

What can fine dining establishments teach us about running a great optometry practice? Matt Rosner and Dr. Fishbein talk about some interesting parallels between these areas and some actionable advice for running the "Ruth's Chris Steakhouse of eye care practices."

Learn how you can make your practice LGBTQ+ inclusive for both your patients and staff as Dr. Bethany and Kirsten discuss it in today's podcast.

Erik Ferjentsik, CEO and Founder of Visionary Group talks about what it looks like to sell your practice in today's market.