Scaling Success: Your Blueprint for a Thriving Practice

A Nonlinear Path to Optometry

I wanted to be an eye doctor as early as sixth grade. While my interest in optometry started young, my path into healthcare was anything but straightforward. Academics often took a back seat to athletics, and I was deeply passionate about sports. At one point, I even considered a career in professional golf.

Ultimately, I chose optometry for the stability it offered. I began working in optometry offices during high school and college, laying the groundwork for what would become a fulfilling career in healthcare.

Choosing the Long-Term Investment

After graduating in 2002, I faced a pivotal decision: join a commercial optometry practice or invest in a private practice. I chose private practice, fully aware of the financial challenges that would come early on.

What mattered most to me was long-term patient interaction and relationship building. This patient-centered mindset became a cornerstone of my practice philosophy and a key driver of success. While many graduates avoid private practice early in their careers, I viewed it as an S-curve. If you commit and stay the course, the long-term rewards can far exceed immediate post-graduate compensation.

That business-minded patience has been instrumental in scaling Wichita Optometry from one location to five.

Strategic Growth Built on Patience

In 2016, that patience paid off when I bought out the senior partner. With a solid foundation in place, we began acquiring additional practices.

Because we had prepared carefully, the expansion process was smoother and more profitable. My advice to aspiring practice owners is simple: be patient. Building something that lasts takes time. Strong foundations are not created overnight.

Culture as a Competitive Advantage

Beyond business strategy, I place tremendous importance on practice culture. Our culture is our competitive advantage.

We emphasize communication and patient relationships at every level. I personally invest time in mentoring new doctors, focusing on effective communication and patient care. A positive patient experience begins with how well the team communicates internally and with patients.

When communication becomes a dialogue rather than a monologue, expectations are exceeded almost effortlessly.

Leadership, Vision, and Long-Term Thinking

Patience and strategic planning have been two of the most important contributors to my success. Early in my career, I encountered resistance from a senior partner who did not share my vision for expansion.

Rather than walking away, I chose to stay, prepare, and grow. I told myself, “There will come a day when I am the decision-maker. When that day comes, I want to be ready.”

That mindset allowed me to step into leadership with clarity and confidence when the opportunity arose.

Final Thoughts

For those looking to grow their private practice, my advice is straightforward: have a clear vision and be patient.

You need to know where you are going. Spend time early on defining your purpose and putting it on paper. Vision and patience are what I credit for the success of my practice and the fulfillment I find in my work.