For years, I assumed “successful private practice owner” meant eventually opening multiple locations. You know the classic storyline: more patients, more space, more everything. I even had several rounds of “Should I expand?” conversations with Nathan Hayes at IDOC. Bless him for entertaining every version of my back-and-forth.

Then the Eyes on Optometry insights said the quiet part out loud:
Only about 1% of independent ODs are expanding into multi-location ownership.

My first thought: “Ah. So it’s not just me.”
The rest of us…the 99% are single-location practices rooted in our communities, anchored in patient care and advocacy. I realized that’s not just a version of wealth. It’s my version of wealth.

Not empire-building.
Not chasing ZIP codes.
Just building something stable, local, and meaningful.

The “More” I Thought I Wanted (Before Reality Checked Me)

I knew I wanted to be an OD since high school. Working for  Dr. Jacqueline “Jacquie” Bowen in college sealed it — ownership wasn’t just a dream, it was the plan. So one year out of school, I bought a practice.

Was I fully prepared?
Absolutely not.
Did my mom warn me? Absolutely yes.

In those early years, I carried a lot on instinct… leadership, finances, operations, marketing my new practice, all powered by the classic “I’ll figure it out somehow” energy.

Joining IDOC in 2017 shifted that. Suddenly I had peers and study groups to think with, not just think alone. It normalized the challenges I was facing and gave me a place to process decisions instead of second-guessing every move.

By the time IDOC launch add-ons and bookkeeping and marketing was an option became a turning point. I could finally make decisions with confidence rather than worry and IDOC already felt like a partner.

This past year pushed all of that to the test.

My practice turned 10 and My daughter turned 4 and the realities of working through motherhood was exposed.  Even though my practice is an extension of her home, she needed me more than ever. Meanwhile, my practice, my other baby hit its ten-year peak, growing, thriving, and also demanding more structure.

Then my mother had a sudden medical emergency that rocked my entire life.

Suddenly realizing that if I kept trying to hold everything together myself, I was going to lose everything.

That’s when my definition of “ownership” shifted.

Leaning on the Support System I’d Already Built

Thankfully, a good part of the foundation was already there.

Books & Benchmarks (Bookkeeping)

Reporting, cash flow clarity, and financial structure I didn’t have to build — or maintain — during a family emergency.

Marketing Services

Denver is competitive. Staying visible mattered. OMS kept my presence strong so patients could still find me — even when I had zero bandwidth to think about it.

Staff Development & Leadership Support

IDOC gave me the tools and convenience to invest and build up a confident team that could run the practice when I couldn’t.
So even if I did, my systems didn’t panic and my team didn’t spiral.
They stuck to the plan, and when plans shifted, they trusted themselves to adapt.

That level of stability is a form of wealth no spreadsheet captures.

Investing in My Team Was the Smartest Move I Made

Bringing my entire team to Connection 2025 and taking advantage of the two-day Optical Training might have been the best decision I’ve made 2025. They returned:

  • sharper
  • more confident
  • more self-sufficient
  • and honestly… kind of proud of themselves

The best part? They started bringing me ideas instead of problems.

That’s when I realized:
Growth doesn’t require more locations.
Growth requires intention with the right people.

How I Spend My “Wealth” These Days

I now focus on strengthening the practice I already have, not expanding it.

It’s why I’ve been able to:

  • Streamline our optical sales strategy and partner with Three Rivers to build a custom lens mix for private-pay patients. I want my opticians to spend less time on explaining lens optics and more time styling and selling the right pair or two or three!
  • Refine patient flow and focus on growing the patient trust with my associate OD because her care is a direct reflection of me and I want my patients spending less time attaching their experience with me specifically. 
  • Challenging my high-performers to own improvements and processes within the practice, so they are just as invested and see depth and expansion within the walls of business. 

This type of work gives me freedom to be more present — for my patients, my family, and myself.

Ten Years In, “Rich” Looks Different Than I Expected

It looks like:

  • a single-location practice that shines even when I my light is needed elsewhere
  • a team that moves with confidence, not dependence
  • operations that stay steady when life shifts
  • visibility that keeps new patients coming
  • the ability to be everything to my direct and extended family without choosing between them

And the validation that I don’t need to be part of the 1% to feel successful.

This is what rich looks like for me.