Leading with Clarity - Dave Holler - Optometrists Building Empires - Episode # 043

What does it take to grow a thriving optometry practice and a successful cooperative network at the same time? On this week’s episode of Optometrists Building Empires, host Ankit Patel sits down with Dr. David Holler, optometrist, practice owner, CEO, and co-founder of Clarity Vision. From specialty contact lenses to strategic vendor negotiations, Dr. Holler shares how he's balanced patient care with long-term business growth. Tune in to hear how divergent thinking and a strong team culture have helped him build a sustainable, future-ready model for independent optometry. 

Takeaways: 
  • Dedicate time to work on the business. Setting aside admin days for strategy, training, and hiring is crucial for sustainable growth beyond patient care.
  • Cooperative models can outperform franchises. Pooling resources with like-minded practices can boost buying power and efficiency while preserving independence.
  • Specialty services build loyalty. Offering scleral lenses, myopia management, and custom solutions helps practices stand out and retain patients.
  • Hiring is a strategy, not just a task. Transparent expectations, a team-first culture, and creative staffing solutions like virtual scribes help tackle today’s retention challenges.
  • AI won’t replace you, but it can help. Embrace tools that automate admin work so you can focus on delivering better patient care.
  • Think like a designer and a scientist. Blending divergent thinking with clinical expertise leads to smarter decisions and more innovative practices.

Quote of the Show:
  • “ If you position yourself as being technology forward, then you're going to attract the types of patients you want to see and hopefully take on that type of growth.” - Dave Holler

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Leading with Clarity - Dave Holler - Optometrists Building Empires - Episode # 043
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