IF YOU’RE NOT growing, you’re dying… Out with the old, in with the new… Adapt or die!
If “the only constant in life is change” than surely innovation must also be a constant because change does not come without adaptation. And adaptation doesn’t come without new ways of doing things … and the definition of innovation? “The introduction of something new.” Following that logic: Innovation must be as inevitable as change.
One part buzzword, one part harbinger of disruption; innovation stirs up mixed emotions in people but sticking one’s head in the sand is the least effective method of dealing with it. Innovation does disrupt and as a business owner or manager you have a choice to make: Be proactive and stay up to date on the latest and greatest. Or be reactive and live in a constant state of playing catch up… while falling further and further behind.
But not all innovation has to be cutting edge, future stuff. Sometimes it is as simple as refining your vision and getting back to your purpose in order to open up new opportunities or revisiting an old-timey custom like personalized, high-touch community service in a world where online “activism” and remote “care” have become the norm. Those are exactly the themes John Marvin and Kayla Ashlee explore in their columns this month (starting on page 40), as well as a Wisconsin optical with a little downtime who decided to address a pain point of their local elderly folks. Turns out the old adage “to give is to receive” holds true even in a world always looking for the next big thing.
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If you are looking for the next big thing, we’ve got that covered too. The Big Story (page 30) features people, products and places pushing the industry forward and much of what they’re doing isn’t revolutionary but it is refreshing, nonetheless. And on page 22, we’re proving eyewear is the next frontier for tech innovation with some men’s focused styles redefining what it means to wear glasses.
The optical industry is constantly innovating and one thing you can be sure of is that INVISION will be here to make sense of it all for you … That’s as certain as death and taxes.
Best wishes for your business,
Five Smart Tips From This Issue
- Do you have a ‘Spy File?’ Start one now. Innovation isn’t the only thing you need to stay on top of. Manager’s To Do, page 18
- When it comes to optical care, yes, there is an app for just about anything you could imagine. We have just a few. Better Vision, page 26
- Have you tried to taekwondo your disses or judo your jibes? Try this simple trick to diffuse an irate patient. Tip Sheet, page 38
- In Buzz Session (page 46) we asked what work function you’d have AI takeover if you could, but right before that we feature seven practices that have done just that. Benchmarks, page 44
- A Phoenix, AZ, OD who couldn’t find a solution to a problem, so he created one and cold started a now two location-strong fiercely independent practice. Sanity Files, page 54
