Does growing your practice come down to balancing hard data with human insight? In this episode of Optometrists Building Empires, host Ankit Patel sits down with Erich Mattei, President and Chief Vision Officer of Akrinos. With nearly two decades of experience guiding optometry practices through every stage of growth, Erich shares why courage, clarity, and customization matter more than copying someone else’s playbook. Together, they explore the biggest pitfalls practice owners face at different stages of growth, why “hard analytics” alone aren’t enough, and how a renewed interest in private practice is shaping the future of optometry. This conversation is a deep dive into building a practice that’s not just profitable, but sustainable and fulfilling.

Takeaways:

• Successful growth starts with knowing what you actually want, not what’s trending online. Before making decisions about expansion, technology, or staffing, get clear on your vision and make sure every move supports it.
• Hard analytics tell you what’s happening in your business, but soft analytics tell you why it feels wrong or right. Pay attention to patient experience, team morale, and workflow friction, because those signals often reveal issues before the numbers do.
• Growth strategies must match your market, not someone else’s success story. What works in one city, demographic, or practice model can be disastrous in another if applied without context.
• Building the right advisory team early can prevent costly mistakes later. Surrounding yourself with professionals who understand your goals allows you to move faster with more confidence and fewer regrets.
• Technology should serve your strategy, not define it. Make sure you have a clear plan for implementation, pricing, and patient communication before investing in new equipment or software.

Quote of the Show:

• “ I believe now we are in the golden age of utilizing technology to delight our patients, to serve our team in workflows, and to grow profitability, but only if we do it the right way.” - Erich Mattei

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erich-mattei-0b99549/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erich.mattei
• Company website: https://akrinos.com/
• Email: erich@akrinos.com
• Book a Meeting with Ankit: https://meetings.hubspot.com/ankit98/optometry-redefined?uuid=e5cd456c-9db4-42c7-b106-2b6e250a6d01
• Optometry Redefined Book: https://www.amazon.com/Optometry-Redefined-Master-Resourcing-Performance/dp/B0FKJTZGJ3/ref=monarch_sidesheet_image

Shoutouts:

• Ciotti Eye Care: https://www.ciottieyecare.com/
• Litchfield Optometry: https://litchfieldoptometrist.com/#
• True Vision Oklahoma: https://www.truevisionoklahoma.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5w1H9BBwRXvBSSkexePYxG
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optometrists-building-empires/id1762685070
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/689a039b-54ce-4f04-b641-66d8640d93d0
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/optometrists-building-empires-5812208

What if building an empire had nothing to do with scale, revenue, or the number of locations you own? In this episode of Optometrists Building Empires, Ankit Patel sits down with Dr. Kevin Chan to challenge one of the biggest misconceptions in optometry: that success only looks one way. Kevin shares how his journey into myopia management, education, and global thought leadership was shaped not by chasing growth for growth’s sake, but by defining impact on his own terms. He also dives into the clinical and emotional realities of myopia management, the importance of communication over complexity, and why belief in your vision must come before external validation. This episode is a reminder that an empire isn’t something you copy; it’s something you define.

Takeaways:

• Building an empire starts with belief, not scale. Success is deeply personal, and no one else gets to define what an “empire” should look like for you.
• Impact often matters more than expansion. Creating meaningful change for patients, families, or colleagues can be just as powerful as owning multiple locations.
• Mistakes are essential to growth. Avoiding failure limits learning, while thoughtful experimentation builds confidence and clarity over time.
• Too much information can stall progress. Decision paralysis often comes from overconsumption, and simplicity is found on the other side of action.
• Connection beats complexity. Patients and parents respond more to clarity and emotional resonance than technical explanations.
• Leadership evolves through persistence. Grit, repetition, and staying committed to your vision compound into long-term influence.

Quote of the Show:

• “I think the biggest mistake is not making the mistake. If you're not able to make the mistake, you're not able to really find out what you're truly lacking.” - Kevin Chan

Shoutouts:

• AAOMC: https://aaomc.org/

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-chan-od-ms-faao-iacmm-747b2955/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.chan.733076
• Company website: http://treehouseeyes.com/
• Email: kevinchan.od@gmail.com
• Book a Meeting with Ankit: https://meetings.hubspot.com/ankit98/optometry-redefined?uuid=e5cd456c-9db4-42c7-b106-2b6e250a6d01
• Optometry Redefined Book: https://www.amazon.com/Optometry-Redefined-Master-Resourcing-Performance/dp/B0FKJTZGJ3/ref=monarch_sidesheet_image

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5w1H9BBwRXvBSSkexePYxG
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optometrists-building-empires/id1762685070
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/689a039b-54ce-4f04-b641-66d8640d93d0
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/optometrists-building-empires-5812208

What happens when your biggest fear comes true, and you keep going anyway? In this episode of Optometrists Building Empires, Ankit Patel sits down with Dr. Christopher Lopez to talk candidly about courage, failure, partnerships, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in optometry. From getting burned in an early ownership opportunity to co-owning and expanding a thriving multi-doctor practice, Chris shares hard-earned lessons on resilience, team-building, and growth without ego. This conversation is a powerful reminder that setbacks don’t define your career; how you respond to them does.

Takeaways:

• Chris believes courage isn’t about being fearless; it’s about taking action despite uncertainty. Every meaningful step in ownership, growth, or leadership lives on the other side of discomfort.
• Getting “screwed over” early in his career didn’t stop Chris from pursuing ownership again. Instead, he used the experience to clarify what he wanted and what he would never repeat in future partnerships.
• Partnerships can dramatically expand what doctors are capable of, but only when expectations, values, and legal structures are clear. Chris emphasizes that strong partnerships require alignment, transparency, and humility.
• Growth doesn’t have to mean massive expansion or dozens of locations. Small, consistent improvements compound over time and build durable success.
• Staffing challenges don’t have one-size-fits-all solutions. Chris explains why understanding communication styles, hiring for fit, and being patient often matter more than filling seats quickly.
• Leadership requires learning how to delegate and communicate in ways your team can actually receive. Tools like personality or “brain style” assessments can dramatically improve trust and performance.

Quote of the Show:

• “Things happen for a reason. Take them as lessons learned, get better, and move on to bigger and better things.” - Christopher Lopez

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherlopezod/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrislopezOD
• OD’s On Finance Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ODsonFinance
• OD’s On Finance Brokerage: https://brokerage.odsonfinance.com/
• Book a Meeting with Ankit: https://meetings.hubspot.com/ankit98/optometry-redefined?uuid=e5cd456c-9db4-42c7-b106-2b6e250a6d01
• Optometry Redefined Book: https://www.amazon.com/Optometry-Redefined-Master-Resourcing-Performance/dp/B0FKJTZGJ3/ref=monarch_sidesheet_image

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5w1H9BBwRXvBSSkexePYxG
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optometrists-building-empires/id1762685070
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/689a039b-54ce-4f04-b641-66d8640d93d0
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/optometrists-building-empires-5812208