THERE IS A meme on the interwebs that says “Don’t forget to drink water and get some sun. You’re basically a houseplant with more complicated emotions” and that really resonates with me. In cold months, I am always basically in a state of semi-neglect, but then spring rolls around and I feel reborn! Those “April showers” can still get me down, but those “May flowers” really make up for it. I feel more energized when the sun is shining, and the weather is nice. The longer daylight naturally leads to more productivity; and my optimism is at an all time high.
Maybe that is why this issue felt like a little bundle of hope while we were putting it together. We know that the face of private practice optometry has changed quite a bit over the last several years, drawing fewer graduates and young associate ODs as student debt mounts and employment preferences change. It’s a pain point for many readers. Attracting and retaining that next generation requires a new approach and we’ve got some ideas in our Big Story — You’re Hired! — on page 30.
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Speaking of pain points, that’s the name of one of two new mini-columns kicking off this issue. Practice Pain Points (page 44) curated by Carissa Dunphy for @PECAAMax replaces her previous column — Becoming — and explores common issues practices face, with solutions and tips from OD-owners themselves. The other new mini-column — Data in Focus (page 45) — shares a bite-sized factoid pulled from recent research conducted by The Vision Council’s inSights Research Program. These two new columns will certainly get you thinking about, if not acting on, some fresh tactics to implement in your business.
Remember, we’re all just exotic houseplants. As our environment changes, so too must we. Wishing for days gone by, or the way things used to be, just leads to our neglect. Finding new ways to nourish ourselves and our businesses is the best, and only, way to thrive.
Best wishes for your business,
Five Smart Tips From This Issue
- Do you have a designated day each week or month set aside for training? If not, here’s your sign to start one. (Manager’s To-Do, page 20)
- Referrals have power. They are not only the best form of advertisement but the purest form of selling. Create Brand Ambassadors to tap into this power. (Columns, page 44)
- A brand that’s rustic and modern might sound like an oxymoron, but this rural Alabama practice nails it. (Brand Portfolio, page 46)
- If you could spend 15 minutes with anyone, dead or alive, who would you choose? Give it some thought and then see how our Brain Squad weighed in. (Buzz Session, page 48)
- If a business has been around for 115 years, it’s probably doing a few things right. We found out what those things were. (America’s Finest, page 52)
