Practice Advantage

Dr. Justin Manning
  • 5.0 (15)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

Running an independent eye care practice and business is hard work. PECAA understands the challenges you face and provides the tools and insights you need to run your business with ease. Join the Practice Advantage podcast, as we interview experts from within the eye care industry and beyond, providing actionable tips and strategies with each episode to make your practice and business more successful.

  1. DEC 1

    Build Your Business Around Your Life, Not The Other Way Around with Dr. E. Connor Smallwood

    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Connor Smallwood, owner of Smallwood Eye Associates in Gahanna, OH. Dr. Smallwood has built a practice that empowers his life outside the business. His story is a powerful one.  Key Takeaways: Buying an established practice gave him a head start with the patient base especially a base that was loyal. Spending time in the practice by himself allowed the practice to slowly transition before the founder retired.Staff is the engine that makes the practice run. Retaining the staff following the transition was critical. Bringing the staff along on the changes over time made a difference.Despite how successful the practice was, there was significant opportunity to improve aspects of the business. Taking it slow, getting one change right at a time was key to bringing staff and patients along on the journey.Building a business doesn’t mean you have to grind all day, every day. While that’s certainly an option, building a successful business should empower you to live the life you want to live within and outside the business.Prioritizing opportunities outside the office requires prioritization of processes and efficiency within the office such that you’re maximizing both the people and time in the office.What Connor is reading: Wild At Heart by John EldredgePractice Advantage Reading List ** Don't miss out on an extra $15 rebate for all commercial VSP Eye Exams this year - with $15 extended through June of 2026, and $10 thru the end of next year! Visit www.pecaaexamrebate.com now!**

    40 min

  2. NOV 3

    We Need To Talk About Your Marketing with Saul Alvarez and Dr. Chantel Garcia

    In today's episode, our guests are Saul Alvarez, found of Midbrain, and Dr. Chantel Garcia, founder and owner of Carolina Eye Doctors in Harrisburg, NC, talking about the power of marketing and how your website and external marketing drives the experience your patients will have in your practice.  Key Takeaways: While websites feel like old hat, they shouldn't. Your website should tell your story, evoke an emotion from your patients, and set them up for the experience they'll have in your practice before they actually step foot through the door. Language tone, colors, fonts, photos, and videos matter significantly.Your brand is all encompassing. Your decisions. Your patient experience. Your physical space. Your lighting. Your technology and equipment. A good marketing partner will take all those into consideration to build a strong foundation.Setting your processes and procedures to set your practice up for the success you want. Make the bold decision. Stick to it while it's tough. It will lead to the outcomes you want.Your personal story is a critical component of your brand. Tell it and tell it often. Offloading your marketing prevents you from telling that story effectively.To continue to grow, your strategy must evolve over time. As your strategy changes, invest in your marketing to support the specific goals you have for that time period.In the grand scheme of things, the basics of marketing are the most impactful. Dr. Garcia's Practice What Saul is Reading: Letters from a Nut by Jim NancyPractice Advantage Reading List ** Don't miss out on an extra $15 rebate for all commercial VSP Eye Exams this year - with $15 extended through June of 2026, and $10 thru the end of next year! Visit www.pecaaexamrebate.com now!**

    40 min

  3. SEP 18

    Live From Vision Expo West: Newton and the Sequel Ophthalmic Lens Portfolio with Davis Corley

    We're live from Vision Expo West in Las Vegas in the buzz of the show, discussing the new direction for Newton, formerly Neurolens with CEO and co-founder Davis Corley.  Key Takeaways: Newton was inspired by Isaac Newton, one of the earliest fathers of optics and prism opening a new direction for three pillars: Sequel, Neurolens, and AI innovation.Sequel is the newest lens portfolio to hit the market, spanning two near relaxing designs and a full progressive. Driven by Convergence Boost technology, the lens eliminates the varients in prismatic effect as patients move form distance to near.Neurolens continues as the flagship product for Newton, leveraging the N3 device to deliver therapeutic optics to patients with symptomatic convergence issues.Newton is also investing in Isaac, an AI innovation and training platform to support private practice staff training and development.What Davis is reading:  The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick LencioniPractice Advantage Reading List ** Don't miss out on an extra $15 rebate for all commercial VSP Eye Exams this year - with $15 extended through June of 2026, and $10 thru the end of next year! Visit www.pecaaexamrebate.com now!**

    14 min

  4. SEP 8

    Expand Your Clinical Services with Chemical Cauterization with Dr. Brett Richardson

    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Brett Richardson, founder of DermaCautery to discuss chemical cauterization of benign skin lesions, who can perform it in the practice, and the benefits it brings to your business and your patients.  Key Takeaways: Chemical cauterization of lid lesions is within the training of optometrists, and is permitted in many, but not all states.The procedure is relatively straightforward. A wooden applicator is soaked in the chemical agent. Following application, the lid lesion will no longer receive blood supply, leading to necrosis and sloughing off. Follow up is 2-3 weeks and is rare to have complications.Patients actively desire to have these skin lesions removed but aren't necessarily thinking about having it done in the optometrist's office. The lead in conversation is important and many patients will be open to receiving treatment.Staff are a great asset with this service. It is not a major burden on the team as the treatment and preparation is relatively simple. Getting them on board is key to success.Depending on the patient complaints, it may or may not be billable to insurance. For cosmetic only, it is a cash based procedure. On average, each treatment adds $350 per patient to your top line. Given most of it is a service based, most of that drops to your bottom line.What Brett is Reading: 10X Is Easier Than 2X by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin HardyPractice Advantage Reading List ** Don't miss out on an extra $15 rebate for all commercial VSP Eye Exams this year - with $15 extended through June of 2026, and $10 thru the end of next year! Visit www.pecaaexamrebate.com now!**

    30 min

  5. AUG 4

    Unscripted: The Importance of Connection In Your Business with Jonathan Worrall

    In this unscripted episode, we sit down with PECAA President Jonathan Worrall to discuss the importance of connection as a person, business owner, and with your team. No question list. No prepared answers.  Key Takeaways: Connection with yourself is critical to success as a business leader. Knowing your values, what drives your integrity, and how to be present is what sets great leaders apart from the rest. A great way to build connection with your people is to start with curiosity. Ask more questions, have less answers, and make everyone's voice feel heard - both personally and in the context of work. A connected team creates an energy in the business that patients can feel when they walk through the door. It is the foundation of a great patient/ customer experience. Actions speak louder than words. As a leader, it is important to build relationships with your people and create the space to share deep challenges and great successes. Connection builds trust and that is a slow process. Yet, trust allows you to move faster, more efficiently, and be more effective. It allows you start at a further place down the path to change and growth. What Jonathan is Reading: Tuesday Morning Coaching by David CottrellPractice Advantage Reading List ** Don't miss out on an extra $15 rebate for all commercial VSP Eye Exams this year! Visit www.pecaaexamrebate.com now!**

    31 min

  6. JUN 2

    Scaling Fast: The Mindset To Grow from 1 to 20 Locations with Mike Kogelis

    In this episode, we sit down with Mike Kogelis, co-founder of Big City Optical, a 20 location private optometry practice in Chicagoland. Primarily growing by individual cold starts, Mike is a wealth of knowledge in building and scaring a practice.  Key Takeaways: Having a disciplined, growth mindset is the foundation for scaling your practice as large as you want to build it. You can't grow your business without working on and growing yourself along the journey The most successful businesses aren't afraid of making mistakes in the process of growing. Mistakes lead to learning that lead to faster, more effective business decisions in the future.You can't scale without having great people. Build your business around a great employee experience leads to a great patient experience. Empowering them to lead, grow, and develop is necessary as you grow. Find people who can help you build in addition to those who can help you run the business.Stick to a game plan that works. Repeat it over and over. Avoid distractions that take you away from your core business model.Surround yourself with people that help you become the person, business, etc. you want to be.Luck favors the bold and prepared. Say yes, make the phone call, make the crazy ask, take the chance.What Mike is Reading: Traction: Get A Grip On Your Business by Gino WickmanPractice Advantage Reading List ** Don't miss out on an extra $10 rebate for all commercial VSP Eye Exams this year! Visit www.pecaaexamrebate.com now!**

    45 min

  7. MAY 5

    The Power of Storytelling with Dr. Manning

    In this episode, Dr. Manning shares some key takeaways from the 2025 PECAA Annual Meeting and the power of storytelling. Key takeaways: Humans are far more likely to remember details, facts, and information when they're wrapped in a story v. just shared individually. In fact, facts are up to 22x more likely to be remembered when they're wrapped into a narrative than shared individually.Humans primarily make decisions in the right hemisphere of the brain - tapping into more of the emotional creative side - and then it reaches the left hemisphere where we use logic and rational thinking to justify the decision. If we only lead with the logical and rationality with our patients, we miss the most critical aspects of their decision making process.There are multiple ways of crafting a story but two of them work really well in business - the PIxar method and the Storybrand method.Story provides extra significance and value to the products you sell. In 2009, two journalists purchased 100 random useless items for a total of $129.  They listed the items on eBay and had writers craft a story for the item itself. In the end, they were able to sell the items for more than $3,600 all due to the value a customer associated with the item due to its story.Practice Advantage Reading List ** Don't miss out on an extra $10 rebate for all commercial VSP Eye Exams this year! Earn up to an additional $60,000 in 2025 just by taking great care of patients. Visit www.pecaaexamrebate.com now!**

    19 min

  8. APR 7

    Making Sense of Vendor Data and Decision Making with Dr. Steve Faith

    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Steve Faith, co-owner of Livermore Optometry Group in Livermore, CA to discuss data driven decision making with vendor partners, what a good partnership looks like, and leveraging the right data to drive practice success.  Key Takeaways:  Best advice: "Independent practice is not that difficult. You only have to do two things. Make sure people like you and control your personal and professional overhead."At one point, LOG worked with over 40 different vendors. When looking only at their optical, they had 30-35 reps calling on them regularly. It cost the practice $100 an hour in staff costs to see reps, equalling more than $40,000 a year.LOG looked at various industries for insight on how to improve their vendor purchasing habits and their data to influence their  purchasing. EdgePro made a huge difference in tapping the data in the EHR system to make better purchasing decisions.Vendor data has not been all that impactful for Livermore as it's focused primarily on the vendor partner's product but does not take into account the practice as a whole. Bringing the practice level data into the conversation has a much greater impact.Great vendor partners are ones that know the practice individually and provide the support the practice needs. Great partners are willing to work with the needs of the practice based on the data the practice has.For Livermore, the VSP practice report has been valuable to providing even greater insight into their patient base and other practices in their area.Practice Advantage Reading List ** Don't miss out on an extra $10 rebate for all commercial VSP Eye Exams this year! Earn up to an additional $60,000 in 2025 just by taking great care of patients. Visit www.pecaaexamrebate.com now!**

    34 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Running an independent eye care practice and business is hard work. PECAA understands the challenges you face and provides the tools and insights you need to run your business with ease. Join the Practice Advantage podcast, as we interview experts from within the eye care industry and beyond, providing actionable tips and strategies with each episode to make your practice and business more successful.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Justin Manning
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2021-2023, PECAA
  • Show Website
    Practice Advantage

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