EYE OWN A BUSINESS

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo tackles a frustration nearly every practice owner has experienced: your patients like you, your patient surveys are positive—and yet referrals just aren’t happening. Why is that? Drawing on behavioral science and real-world experience, Steve challenges a common assumption in healthcare: that satisfied patients naturally become advocates. The research tells a different story. Patient satisfaction alone does not drive referrals—trust does. And more specifically, it’s the kind of trust that makes patients feel like you’re genuinely on their side. Through a relatable story and practical insights, Steve unpacks what actually drives word-of-mouth in healthcare, including the powerful role of memory, emotional moments, and how visits end. He introduces key concepts like the “peak-end rule,” the intention–behavior gap, and why even well-intentioned patients often fail to follow through on referring others. If you’ve ever wondered why happy patients don’t automatically translate into practice growth, this episode will shift your perspective—and give you a more intentional, human-centered approach to generating referrals that actually happen. Not fully confident in what your practice's numbers are telling you? It's time for a financial health review. Book your Financial Health Review Call Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo sits down with Cory Pinegar for a practical conversation about virtual assistants, remote staffing, and why more optometry practices are taking a serious look at hybrid teams. Steve and Cory unpack some of the biggest misconceptions doctors still have about virtual assistants—from concerns about communication and quality to fears about accountability, culture, and whether remote team members can truly feel like part of the practice. They also explore why virtual staffing is not a “plug and play” solution, and what practice owners need to do on their end to make it successful. This conversation goes beyond outsourcing as a cost-saving tactic. It’s about building a smarter workforce for the future—one that blends in-office staff, remote team members, and AI in a way that reduces overload, protects team culture, and creates more space for meaningful patient connection. Corey shares practical insights on hiring, onboarding, training, setting clear expectations, and helping virtual assistants become real members of the team rather than just invisible support in the background. Not fully confident in what your practice's numbers are telling you? It's time for a financial health review. Book your Financial Health Review Call Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo sits down with optometrist and consultant Dr. Larry Golson for a practical conversation about leadership, delegation, and one of the biggest hidden barriers to growth in private practice: the owner who can’t let go. Building on an earlier discussion about EOS—the Entrepreneurial Operating System introduced in Traction—Steve and Larry focus on one of its most powerful and misunderstood tools: the Accountability Chart. Together, they explore how a clear structure for roles, reporting, and ownership can reduce chaos, improve trust, and help practice owners stop being the bottleneck in their own business. Larry shares how implementing EOS in his own practice changed everything—from team alignment to sustainable growth—and why many owners unknowingly create stress, confusion, and frustration by leading from control rather than clarity. They also unpack the emotional side of delegation: why trusting your team feels so difficult, how to avoid creating more conflict during organizational change, and why empowering others often leads to better outcomes than trying to hold everything together yourself. This conversation goes beyond org charts or management tactics. It’s about rethinking leadership, creating structure that gives people confidence, and building a practice that grows because more people are taking ownership—not because the owner is carrying more. Listen to Episode 24: Transition From Patient Care to Practice Development Not fully confident in what your practice's numbers are telling you? It's time for a financial health review. Book your Financial Health Review Call Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo sits down with financial planner and repeat guest Adam Cmejla for a timely conversation about taxes, costly filing mistakes, and why practice owners need more than just a CPA who “gets it done.” Steve and Adam unpack a real-world example that started with a social media post: a doctor’s tax return included an $83,000 qualified business income deduction they likely didn’t qualify for—an error that could have created more than $30,000 in back taxes, plus penalties and interest. From there, the conversation expands into the broader issues practice owners need to understand during tax season: the difference between tax preparation and tax planning, why a second set of eyes matters, and how seemingly small errors can turn into expensive problems years later. This conversation isn’t about fear. It’s about clarity. It’s about helping doctors understand their numbers, ask better questions, and take a more intentional approach to taxes as part of a complete financial plan. Book your Financial Health Review Call Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo explores a frustrating experience nearly every doctor has faced: explaining a treatment plan clearly, receiving agreement from the patient—and then watching them never follow through. Why does this happen? Drawing on recent research he conducted on patient behavior and adherence, Steve unpacks the uncomfortable reality that patient “non-compliance” is rarely about patients simply not caring or not listening. In fact, the World Health Organization and behavioral science research suggest something very different: many adherence failures are predictable outcomes of human behavior—and often influenced by how treatment plans are communicated and implemented. If you’ve ever wondered why patients nod in the exam room but don’t act afterward, this episode will challenge the way you think about compliance—and offer a smarter approach to designing care that patients actually follow. Book your Financial Health Review Call Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo is joined by repeat guest Ankit Patel—AI and remote staffing expert and founder of My Business Care Team—for a practical conversation about one word that matters more than ever right now: scalability. Steve and Ankit unpack why so many optometry practices feel stuck in a staffing trap—constant turnover, missed calls, overwhelmed teams, and owners carrying far more operational weight than they should. And they connect the dots to a hidden consequence most doctors don’t think about until it’s too late: if your practice is still “key-person dependent,” it becomes harder to scale… and less attractive to buy. You’ll hear how Ankit has built a hybrid model using remote teams and AI to strip away administrative noise—phones, confirmations, insurance verification, recalls—so in-office staff can focus on the patient experience. They explore what changes when remote staffing is done right: fewer distractions, higher capture rates, stronger patient flow, improved profitability, and a business that feels less like a job and more like an asset. This isn’t a conversation about outsourcing to save a few dollars. It’s about building a modern practice that can grow without compounding chaos—and creating the kind of structure that can increase valuation and help you sell faster, and at a higher price, when the time comes. Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo sits down with Australian host Michael Nasser for a candid conversation about the real reason so many practices plateau—even when the doctor is working harder than ever: a leadership gap no one trained you for. Steve breaks down the hidden difference between management (running the day-to-day) and leadership (creating direction, clarity, and momentum)—and why most practice problems don’t live in the exam room. They unpack what happens when goals are fuzzy, communication is inconsistent, and accountability is avoided… and how that quietly creates staff friction, stalled growth, and burnout. You’ll hear practical, immediately usable ideas—like how to build accountability without confrontation, how to identify (or develop) the right office manager, and the five pillars Steve sees behind most team issues: clarity, development, strengths, accountability, and autonomy. If you’ve ever felt like you’re carrying the entire practice on your back… if staffing is draining your energy… or if you know your practice could grow—but your team isn’t aligned—this episode will feel like a reset. Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo sits down with optometrist, author, and podcast host Dr. David Kading for an honest and timely conversation about burnout, staffing strain, and why the way we’ve been running practices may no longer be sustainable. Steve and David explore the concept of the “Invisible Team”—virtual professionals who work behind the scenes to reduce administrative overload, protect in-office staff, and restore the parts of practice ownership that many doctors feel they’ve lost. They discuss how staffing shortages, rising complexity, and constant interruptions quietly erode patient care and physician satisfaction—and why adding more people in-office isn’t always the answer. This conversation goes beyond cost savings or efficiency. It’s about redesigning the practice around meaningful patient connection, reclaiming time and energy, and building systems that support doctors instead of draining them. David shares hard-won lessons from implementing virtual teams in his own practice, including the mindset shifts, systems, and leadership changes required to make it work. Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

If you’ve ever felt confident diagnosing dry eye… but frustrated by inconsistent follow-through, stalled treatment plans, or patients who quietly disappear, this episode will feel like a reset. In this conversation, Dr. Steve Vargo sits down with Dr. Crystal Brimer, founder of Dry Eye Institute, to unpack why so many doctors stay stuck in “dabble mode” with dry eye—and what it actually takes to turn it into a meaningful, sustainable specialty. Dr. Brimer shares the mindset shift that changed everything for her practice, the non-negotiable systems that create consistency even in busy offices, and why most dry eye failures have far less to do with patients—and far more to do with leadership, flow, and clarity. You’ll hear how screening every patient changes outcomes, why one well-trained “dry eye ambassador” can transform team buy-in, and how clear communication—grounded in objective findings, not pressure—dramatically improves patient trust and follow-through. This isn’t about adding another device or chasing the next trend. It’s about building a process that works in real life, with real staff, and real patients who are overwhelmed. If you know dry eye could be a game-changer in your practice—but something keeps breaking down—this conversation will help you see exactly where, and what to do next. Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

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. Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo reflects on a moment he never expected to witness as an Indiana University alum: watching IU football win a national championship after decades as one of the most historically losing programs in college football. What made the moment even more striking wasn’t just the win—it was how quickly the turnaround happened under new leadership. Using Indiana’s transformation under head coach Curt Cignetti as a real-world case study, Steve explores why struggling practices and small businesses don’t fail overnight—they drift there slowly. Lowered expectations, tolerated dysfunction, unclear standards, and leaders who are busy but not aligned. This episode breaks down the leadership principles behind Indiana’s rapid rise and translates them directly into lessons for optometry practices: redefining identity before strategy, raising standards without burning out your team, focusing relentlessly on fundamentals, making hard people decisions, and committing to execution long enough for momentum to compound. This isn’t about becoming a “national champion” practice. It’s about understanding what it actually takes to change the trajectory of a business in 18–24 months. Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

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. Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

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: Why you’re working too much—and what actually allows you to work less How to build systems that run the practice without constant doctor input The real reason delegation often fails (and how to fix it) Simple ways to empower your team without losing control How intentional culture and leadership create freedom, not chaos Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

You don’t need more motivation—you need a better system. If you’ve ever started the year feeling hopeful, only to wonder by March where your goals went, this episode is for you. 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: Why you don’t fail because of motivation—but because of fragile systems How to turn big goals into simple, weekly actions you can actually execute The real reason annual goals quietly lose urgency Simple ways to recover fast when you fall off track How to create accountability without shame or burnout Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube

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. Follow our Podcast on All Available Platforms Follow our Podcast on Instagram Follow IDOC on Facebook Follow IDOC on LinkedIn Watch our Podcast Video on YouTube