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Sandbox Stories are delivered to the eye care industry by Dr. Scott Jens, whose career as a Doctor of Optometry, then Software Founder/CEO, has led him to create "The Sandbox" - a playful, thoughtful executive business coaching service. Through Sandbox Stories, Dr. Jens aims to give anyone involved in eye care a provocative, insightful review of perspectives of, and people in, the industry.
Episodes
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Dr. Larry DeLucas is the only Optometrist to have ever flown on the Space Shuttle - and that's enough reason to check out this Sandbox Story. With two doctorate degrees and a deep knowledge base about the importance of optometry and science, you will thoroughly enjoy this episode!
Sunday Mar 28, 2021
Sunday Mar 28, 2021
Admitting that you are wrong is difficult. Perhaps getting to the psychologic basis for this difficulty can help you become better at it, because none of us are right all the time. Let me tell you about my challenges, so you can grow with me.
Monday Mar 22, 2021
Monday Mar 22, 2021
This Sandbox Interview delivers really fantastic perspective from two ODs who have built their own practices and also helped build practices for others. Dr. Eric Baas and Dr. Robert Steinmetz are owners of iCare Advisors, a cold-start facilitation business. They are both from families who had educators in them, which shaped them to be incredible guiders of others. Check this out as they share their point of view about practice financing, the impact of private equity-backed consolidation on private practice of optometry, and the importance of being involved with family and friends.
The Stories within the Story include:
1:07 The Band Camp Story
1:35 The Bears & Packers Story
2:40 The Steinmetz Family Story
3:55 The Baas Family Story
4:55 The Eric’s Grandfather Story
7:47 The Bob’s Uncle Story
9:42 The Eric’s Business Story
13:24 The Bob’s Business Story
15:43 The iCare Advisors Story
26:36 The Pride of Success Story
30:07 The Practice Financing Story
34:25 The Causes of Failure Story
36:31 The Future of Independent Practice Story
42:40 The Importance of Family Story
44:30 The Mentoring Story
Monday Mar 15, 2021
Monday Mar 15, 2021
Dr. Jim Wachter is the Chief Professional Officer of EyeCare Partners, created by the private equity group, FFL, in 2015 as a derivative from the large practice built by his partner and him; today they operate over 400 locations. From Dr. Wachter’s experienced perspective, learn how business management concepts in a large, geographically diverse practice can apply to smaller practices.
The Stories within the Story include:
1:26 The Interest in Optometry Story
2:37 The Residency Story
5:08 The Private Practice Story
7:42 The Private Equity-Backed Practice Story
12:24 The Call Center Value Story
14:48 The PE Criteria Story
15:33 The Reduction of Practicing Story
17:41 The Commitment to Advocacy Story
19:38 The New Doctors Story
20:28 The Future of Consolidation Story
21:56 The Vertical Integration Story
24:52 The Future of Optometry Story
Runtime: 30 min 30 sec
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Have you learned how to find jewels in a pile of rubble? When things go bad, can you identify the silver lining? If you think you are doing well, but eventually identify that you aren’t, are you self-aware enough to figure out how to improve? In this Sandbox Story, you will get an example of how a company reversed its path to demise in the 1970’s by taking older technology to save their business - the result being an amazingly simple household instrument. And from that, you can contemplate negative situations in your practice and decide how you can make the most of them, allowing great ideas to be “born out of the ashes.”
Wednesday Mar 03, 2021
Wednesday Mar 03, 2021
Dr. Lisa Wade is an optometry educator who truly believes in a life of giving back. She has motivated the last few “next generations” of optometry school students at Southern College of Optometry, currently serving as Director of the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence. In this interview, she shares how understanding psychology will help a practice drive the platinum rule of patient care. The most amazing part of the story is her “other business” story - buying a Harley-Davidson dealership and growing it to a worldwide leader by employing the same business principles as she learned in her years at SCO. This Story includes leadership lessons that she lived, all that can be used by today’s eye care business owners.
The Stories within the Story include:
1:01 The Giving Back Story
2:55 The Upbringing Story
3:38 The Optometry Educator Story
6:19 The Optometrist’s “Why” Story
9:25 The Behavioral Assessment Story
14:17 The Path Through Optometry Story
19:44 The Wellness Habits Story
21:41 The Children Story
23:54 The Other Business Story
28:24 The Retail Mindset Story
33:12 The Investment in Business Story
38:56 The Leadership Example Story
40:59 The Selling the Business Story
45:12 The Optometry Associations Story
49:14 The Advice to Optometry Story
Wednesday Feb 24, 2021
Wednesday Feb 24, 2021
As a psychology major in college, Dr. Art Epstein has a sincere interest in people and he has used it to serve optometry in so many ways. From serving as Editor to the digital newsletter, Optometric Physician, to his days as national media spokesperson for the AOA, Art has used his communication skills to improve the state of the profession. In this interview, you will experience his stories -- about ham radio, his parents immigration to the US and the impact of the Holocaust on them, his journey to running a practice with his wife -- and through all of it you will experience his intriguing sense of humor.
The Stories within the Story include:
0:48 The Optometric Physician Editor Story
3:16 The National Media Spokesperson Story
7:50 The Finding Optometry Story
13:29 The Brother Influence Story
17:35 The Parents and Upbringing Story
22:13 The “Where are you from” Story
23:30 The Shannon Story
29:25 The Optometry Concern Story
34:46 The Unique Hobby Story
37:40 The Grounded Air Traveler Story
41:52 The Optometry Opportunity Story
Sunday Feb 21, 2021
Sunday Feb 21, 2021
Each dynamic that affects a business team can be assessed for impact. In this Sandbox Story, the concept of “birth order” is examined. When a business leader considers the birth order of their business partners and co-workers, insight can be gained that helps understanding conflicts and anticipating outcomes.
Thursday Feb 18, 2021
Thursday Feb 18, 2021
Dr. Jim Sandefur represents the legacy generation of Optometrists that have worked so very hard to make optometry what it is today. He proudly lives in the small town of Oakdale, LA, and shares stories about his family cabin, his time as Executive Director of the state Association, and his time in practice when refraction fees started at $5. Jim brings a strong point of view on the importance of organized optometry and the power of the optometry practice law in Louisiana. Every optometrist, especially those under 40 years old, should soak in the words of Dr. Sandefur.
The Stories within the Story include:
0:55 The 1960’s Education Story
2:37 The Practice Career Story
3:32 The Optometry Evolution Story
4:46 The Louisiana Drug Privileges Story
7:16 The Executive Director Story
9:27 The Exclusive Optometry Law Story
13:14 The InfantSEE Perspective Story
15:36 The Tele-optometry Perspective Story
16:14 The Louisianian Story
18:05 The Organized Optometry Story
21:10 The Family Story
Friday Feb 12, 2021
Friday Feb 12, 2021
An IT guy by training, Jim McGrann moved into the eye care space with Marchon, then bringing in OfficeMate, and ultimately becoming the Global CEO of VSP. Now as part of a “next generation” buying group, called Healthy Eyes Advantage, Jim continues his pursuit of supporting eye care businesses. Jim is another “first-born” guest on Sandbox Stories, telling the story of his large family and his dad working seven days a week as he grew up. Learn about his involvement as a business leader in a CEO Council, and a time when he got called out by Sen. Elizabeth Warren in a group meeting. Jim is the first non-ECP who has been a guest on Sandbox Stories, and it’s worth a listen!
The Stories within the Story include:
1:27 The Career Arc Story
3:49 The Independent ECP Story
5:56 The HEA Story
9:45 The Family Story
14:04 The Part-of-Something Story
17:29 The Astronaut Story
19:50 The Adoption Story
24:39 The CEO Council Story
28:29 The Leadership Style Story
33:44 The High School Friends Story
36:03 The Managed Vision Care Impact Story
43:35 The HEA Future Strategy Story
48:48 The Future of Optometry Story