The Optometry Success Podcast

Adam Cmejla, CFP & Chad Fleming, OD, FAAO

The Optometry Success Podcast helps private-practice optometrists build profitable, sustainable businesses with clarity and confidence. Hosted by Adam Cmejla, CFP—a financial planner and CFO to ODs nationwide—and Chad Fleming, OD, FAAO—a multi-location practice owner with decades of hands-on experience—each 20-minute episode delivers practical strategies and actionable insights you can apply right away. From leadership and financials to team culture, operations, and growth, this is your weekly dose of real-world advice for real-world practice owners. New episodes every Wednesday.

  1. May 27

    Designing a Fair Pay Structure for Multi OD Owners

    In this episode, we tackle a listener question that comes up often in multi owner practices: how to fairly split pay when ownership, production, and management responsibilities are not equal.   Chad and I walk through why a production only model usually creates resentment over time, why fair does not always mean equal, and how practices can think more intentionally about separating clinic compensation, management pay, and ownership distributions so each owner is rewarded for the value they actually bring. We also discuss how this kind of structure helps practices scale with less friction, more transparency, and better alignment among owners as the business grows.   Have a question for us to address in a future episode? Submit it here!   Resources: Learn more about Partners in Profit Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice   Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro  Subscribe on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/jCtsk

    21 min

  2. May 20

    How to Evaluate an Optometry Practice Before You Buy In

    In this episode recorded live at Vision Expo, we dive into a thoughtful question from a listener considering a move from the VA into private practice with the long term goal of buying in, and we walk through why the better place to start is not the buy in itself but evaluating whether the practice is actually healthy enough to support an associate in the first place.   We talk through the importance of asking the right questions, both qualitative like understanding culture and how decisions are made, and quantitative like true schedule health and how a practice grows an associate's patient base, along with identifying whether an owner is truly running a business or simply owns a job.   Chad shares practical insight on what strong mentorship and intentional associate integration looks like, including track record, compensation structure, and clarity around a potential path to ownership, while we also emphasize the importance of networking, vetting opportunities beyond just the owner's perspective, and keeping an open mind geographically to find the right long term fit.   Have a question for us to address in a future episode? Submit it here!   Resources: Learn more about Partners in Profit Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice   Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro  Subscribe on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/jCtsk

    23 min

  3. May 13

    What should an office manager focus on in a multi-location practice

    In this episode, we answer a listener question about what an office manager's responsibilities should look like in a multi location practice, and we unpack why the real issue is less about a fixed task list and more about creating clear leadership structure, accountability, and consistent communication.   Chad shares how his practice approaches management across five locations by focusing managers on observation, training, patient flow, and 1:1 meetings rather than filling in for frontline staff, while we also discuss the importance of using data and tools to remove subjectivity, build culture intentionally, and help owners understand that investing time in leadership outside the exam lane is often what allows a practice to grow more profitably and sustainably.   Have a question for us to address in a future episode? Submit it here!   Resources: Arlo Cameras Learn more about Partners in Profit Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice   Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro  Subscribe on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/jCtsk

    21 min

  4. May 6

    Vision Wellness...Medical Dx? Reality is More Visits per Year, Here's How

    In this episode Chad and I respond to a listener question about how to handle diabetic patients within the realities of managed vision care and medical insurance. We unpack the practical communication and workflow decisions that come up in the exam room when a patient presents with both wellness coverage and a medical condition that requires ongoing monitoring. Chad walks through how he scripts these conversations with patients, why separating wellness and medical visits can often be the cleanest path, and how clear communication at the start of the encounter helps prevent confusion later. If you have ever struggled with getting patients back for follow up care or explaining the difference between vision benefits and medical coverage, this episode offers practical language and a framework you can begin using in your exam room right away.   Resources: Learn more about Partners in Profit Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice   Have a question for us to address in a future episode? Submit it here!   Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro  Subscribe on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/jCtsk

    19 min

  5. Apr 29

    My Optical Does Good, I Think? - How Do I Take Back the Reins?

    In this episode Chad and I tackle a listener question from an owner doctor preparing to expand from a 2,000 square foot office into a 7,000 square foot space while realizing the optical has been running on autopilot for far too long. We talk through what it means to step back into leadership without creating unnecessary friction, why curiosity has to come before criticism, and how to rebuild trust with a team that has been largely self managed for years.   We also unpack the importance of learning the systems before trying to change them, gathering feedback from staff, vendors, and patients, and recognizing that growth at this level requires fresh investment of your time and attention. If you are preparing for expansion or wondering how to lead an optical through a major transition, this conversation will give you a practical framework for taking the reins in a way that strengthens both your team and your long term success.   Resources: Manager Tools Learn more about Partners in Profit Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice   Have a question for us to address in a future episode? Submit it here!   Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro  Subscribe on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/jCtsk

    21 min

  6. Apr 22

    Leadership Team Changes: Growing from $1 to $3 to $10 Million in Annual Revenue

    In this episode, we kick off our Scaling Series by answering a listener question about when and how the administrative structure of an optometry practice should evolve as revenue grows. We define scaling as revenue growing faster than expenses and explore the common misconception that scaling only means adding associates or locations. We discuss when to introduce fractional financial support, the risks of waiting too long to restructure leadership, and why efficiency often matters more than hitting a specific revenue number. Most importantly, we emphasize that scaling starts with self awareness — understanding our core values, avoiding lifestyle creep, and clarifying whether we want to be the top producer in the exam lane or step into a broader leadership role — because sustainable growth begins with alignment.   Have a question you'd like us to address in a future episode? Submit it here!   Resources Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice Learn more about Partners in Profit   Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro  Subscribe on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/jCtsk

    24 min

  7. Apr 15

    You Suck at Running a Practice: Why You Need a Mentor

    We unpack why so many optometry practice owners hit a "ceiling" and how the fastest way to raise it is by surrounding ourselves with people who are truly operating at the level we want to reach. We talk about the difference between real operators and social media noise, why we should look outside optometry for perspective when it helps (like lessons from other service based businesses), and how to "trust but verify" by asking better questions and understanding incentives before we follow anyone's advice. We also challenge the habit of pretending everything is fine, because growth accelerates when we get honest about what's actually broken, identify the real constraint in the practice, and lean into relationships where transparency and accountability go both ways.   Have a question you'd like us to address in a future episode? Submit it here!   Resources Book a Triage call with Adam Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice Find out more about Partners In Profit Book: Paradox of Generosity   Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro  Subscribe on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/jCtsk

    24 min

  8. Apr 8

    Business Is Tetris: Build, Measure, Learn...Repeat

    We use a simple Tetris metaphor to explain what real progress looks like in an optometry practice: we don't need every move mapped out, we just need to make the best next decision with the "block" in front of us, execute, and then adjust based on what we learn. We talk through why many owners get trapped waiting for perfect clarity, how the build, measure, learn cycle creates momentum and profitability, and why healthy margins require intentional choices instead of letting vendors, reps, or urgency dictate our priorities. We also get honest about the real constraint for most practice owners: if we're in clinic nonstop, we'll never have the margin to work on the business, so we may need a temporary pullback to reinvest in people and systems that unlock the next level.   Have a question you'd like us to address in a future episode? Submit it here!   Resources: Learn more about Partners in Profit Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice The Lean Startup Book   Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro  Subscribe on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/jCtsk

    24 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The Optometry Success Podcast helps private-practice optometrists build profitable, sustainable businesses with clarity and confidence. Hosted by Adam Cmejla, CFP—a financial planner and CFO to ODs nationwide—and Chad Fleming, OD, FAAO—a multi-location practice owner with decades of hands-on experience—each 20-minute episode delivers practical strategies and actionable insights you can apply right away. From leadership and financials to team culture, operations, and growth, this is your weekly dose of real-world advice for real-world practice owners. New episodes every Wednesday.

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