The Optical Entrepreneur

What You’ll Learn in this Episode: The four supreme objectives of your business – that drive your financial success How to consistently deliver referral-worthy service in your practice How to make service excellence a non-negotiable for your team How to go from vague generalities to specific actions when training your team to wow clients

Recorded live in Lisbon at a Seiko resilience workshop, this episode is aimed at you if you own or run an independent practice and feel like you are carrying a lot on your shoulders.You will hear how to:• Use higher average dispense to create more breathing space• Present prices so patients feel comfortable saying yes• Turn everyday interactions into genuine eyewear conversations• Shape an experience patients remember and talk about• Reduce the risk of your business depending on one personIf your diary is full but it still feels like hard work to make the numbers add up, this is worth a listen. To get a copy of the slides from the Lisbon workshop, email Lacey at info@opticalsuccessacademy.com. 

In this episode of the Optical Entrepreneur Podcast, Conor sits down with Dean Waugh, founder of Retail Experience Design. They discuss how independent opticians can stop thinking like clinicians and start thinking like retailers. The conversation explores why design has such a big impact on revenue, the importance of effective dispensing spaces, and how to create a memorable customer experience from start to finish. Dean shares why practice owners should adopt the mindset that every day is grand opening day, highlights common design mistakes, and explains the value of brand consistency across your website, logo, and practice design. Whether you’re planning a refurbishment or just want to see your practice through fresh eyes, this episode will help you think differently about how design shapes the success of your business.

Why every practice owner needs a life plan before a business plan – and how skipping this step leads to burnout, confusion, and dissatisfaction.Conor announces his new book for independent opticians—sharing the philosophy that’s shaped his 20+ years in practice and 10 years in Optical Success Academy.The “Eyewear Opportunity” explained – how mastering this one area can unlock freedom, profitability, and team-driven growth.Business philosophy > random tactics – why principles and clarity matter more than hustle when building a practice that works long term.·     How Conor takes 9 weeks off a year and still grows his £1.4M practice—through intentional design and a clear purpose.

You’ll learn: How to get your team fully bought into the vision Why not doing weekly meetings is costing you The one shift that makes your team grow (and your business with it) If you want to travel more, step back a little, or just stop being the bottleneck in your own business—these strategies work.

Here's what Sir Clive and I will cover:The BIG LIE you've been told about what it takes to have a successful practice and the uncomfortable truth you need to hear. (Most optometrists do not want to believe it, but those who embrace this truth will experience the income, freedom, and success others only dream about.)How to grow your revenue by 20% or more this year without spending any more money on marketing or hiring more staff. (Yes, I know it sounds unbelievable, but I have implemented this system and experienced this phenomenon several times in my practice’s growth trajectory.)How fixing this one thing can give you a team of superstars who increase your profits without wasting time or money on hiring the wrong people. (The secret is hiding in plain sight, but only the most elite practices know what it is.)How YOU can be a far more effective leader this year – with the personal help and methods of World #1 Coach Sir Clive Woodward. (Whether you’re a seasoned leader, trying to step back, or still trying to figure it all out Sir Clive will make you a stronger and far more confident and skilled leader)How to succeed faster in 2025 – Have you been spinning your wheels trying to implement changes in your practice? You'll probably shake your head wondering, "Why didn't I think of that," when you hear this but immediately want to implement what we share with you.)And much, much more.

In this episode, Conor shares insights from the Jones And Co. trip to SILMO. If you’re looking to reignite your team’s energy and elevate your practice, Conor reveals seven powerful ways that attending industry events can transform your team's passion and commitment. If you’re looking to create a more driven and enthusiastic team, you need to listen to this episode.

Explore the idea of living life in four-year chapters and turning setbacks into opportunities. Whether you're in the optical industry or any business, you'll find valuable tips on leadership, teamwork, and continuous learning. Sir Clive's advice on critical thinking and adaptability under pressure will help you make better decisions and achieve your long-term goals.Don't miss out on these practical insights to boost your business and leadership skills!

Conor gives you the secret to make every customer interaction a successful and meaningful one. Learn how the right words, scripts, and stories can make decisions easier for customers and skyrocket your sales.   

You’ll get practical tips for overcoming mental barriers, making quick decisions, and staying humble to keep improving your practice. Tune in and take the first step towards making your optical practice a big success.

Get practical strategies like using Facebook's local targeting to maximize your marketing budget. Inspired by Pret's model, Mark and Conor highlight the importance of a strong internal culture and involving your team in marketing efforts for better results Tune in, take notes, and transform your marketing to make a big impact. 

True business success and personal fulfilment only come from consistently stepping out of daily routines, investing in personal development, and being part of a community that supports and challenges you. In this episode, Conor tells you how to achieve growth in personal and professional areas by creating space for clarity and challenging the "too busy" excuse. If you’re feeling frazzled or you want to get more done more consistently, you’ll love this episode!

Conor covers a ton of content in this episode, here's just some of what he goes over...What's working right now to produce a steady stream of high-quality new patients who pay, stay and refer.The BIG LIE you've been told about what it takes to have a successful practice and the uncomfortable truth you need to hear.The #1 most crucial marketing tool you must get right if you want to get more patients.How fixing this one thing can increase your profits without you spending another penny on marketing. How to double, triple, or even quadruple your optical sales. The strategy I use that turned my staff into superstars who basically run my practice for me. A little-known but highly-effective way to create an environment makes patients excited about spending money And much, much more.Conors got a special offer for listener of the podcast too. Click here to get all the details!

Conor goes deep into mastering marketing strategies that give you the tools to make your practice explode with growth. If you’re an optical entrepreneur serious about growth and excellence, this episode is a game-changer.  

This episode is full of ways you can improve your customer experience with simple staff training techniques that will allow you to introduce whatever eyewear you would like to sell and set your average dispense value at will. Meaning you can create the business you want to run.

In this live excerpt from the recent Staff Training Workshop Conor takes you through the most common objections your clients have that result in them taking their prescription away, delaying, thinking about, going elsewhere and ultimately not purchasing eyewear for you.

How To Be The Trusted Eyewear Experts And Go-To Practice In Your Town For Clients Who Want To Buy Premium EyewearWhen your team practices ‘trust-based selling’ the rewards are increased conversion rates, increased average dispense values, increased multiple pair sales, increased sunglasses sales, and increased referrals! We’ll cover the guiding principles, so your team understand why this makes so much sense and benefits everyone.

This episode is full of tips on how to get inspired by whats around you, how to have the courage to be different and how to use being different to your advantage.

Conor’s back with a gold mine of annual planning wisdom just for you. In this episode, he's putting the spotlight on his absolute favourite tool—YOUR CALENDAR. Master its use, and you're on your way to crafting a strategic roadmap for the year. Picture doing more, achieving more, earning more, and enjoying quality time with your family, all while being less stressed and overwhelmed. How is such a feat possible, you ask? Say it with me: "What gets scheduled, gets done." Crank up the volume and soak in these strategies. They just might be the key to making 2024 your most successful year yet. 

Time management is a myth. You cannot manage time. Time, just ticks by. It doesn't care about you, doesn't care what your goals are, it just keeps going. It marches on. You cannot get more time. There is no such thing as more time. There is only 24 hours in a day. There is only seven days in a week. That's all the time there will be this year, next year, the year after.What you can do though is learn how to allocate your time properly, have a clear plan and clear goals.Check out this episode of the podcast to get all the tools to really get you planning properly