Welcome to The Ultimate O.D. podcast with host, optometrist and practice owner, Dr. Nick Lillie. Join us weekly as Dr. Lillie brings the real talk with hard won wisdom and levity on all things Optometry such as practice management, practice specialties, business tips, and more all from his own personal experience!
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June 11, 2026Episode 30930 min
The Leadership Test that Nobody Talks About | E309
The Leadership Test that Nobody Talks About | E309Highlights from this episode: The Leadership Test that Nobody Talks About (01:00)Closing Thought: Keep it + Multiply it! (28:02)Hiring an associate taught me something I wasn’t expecting: great leadership isn’t about creating copies of yourself—it’s about helping other people become the best version of themselves. In this episode, I’m sharing what I’ve learned while onboarding a new graduate, why most practice owners accidentally become the bottleneck to growth, and how building systems around people’s strengths creates a stronger business than forcing everyone into the same mold. We also dive into why teaching others has made me a better doctor, a better CEO, and a better communicator. If you’re looking to grow your practice, add associates, or build a team that thrives without depending on you, this episode is for you.
June 4, 2026Episode 30823 min
Excellence vs Success: The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything | E308
Excellence vs Success: The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything | E308Highlights from this episode:Excellence vs Success: The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything (00:56)Closing Thought: Preparing for a Future (21:30)As practice owners, it’s easy to get obsessed with revenue goals, new technology, and the next big opportunity—but I’ve learned that real growth comes from mastering the fundamentals. In this episode, we're talking about why excellence is about who you become, not what you achieve, and why connection, consistency, and discipline will always outperform chasing flashy success. I also break down the single most important lesson I want a new associate doctor to learn: how to make patients feel heard, valued, and understood. If you want a stronger practice, a better team, and more loyal patients, this conversation is a reminder that the basics never stop mattering.Join in the conversation and subscribe to the podcast to keep up with all the great content coming down the pipe! For exclusive content, be sure to register your email on our website and I will be sending out newsletters and other great bonuses as we go. I love getting feedback, questions, suggestions, etc. so contact me atwww.theultimateod.com, on social media (click here for ->YouTube,Twitter,Instagram,Facebook) OR, just shoot me an email at drlillie@theultimateod.com and I’d be happy to chat!
May 28, 2026Episode 30724 min
The “Monster” Mindset: Raising Your Standards in Private Practice | E307
The “Monster” Mindset: Raising Your Standards in Private Practice | E307Highlights from this episode: The “Monster” Mindset: Raising Your Standards in Private Practice (00:40)Closing Thought: Be Consistent (22:29)I’ve realized one of the fastest ways to level up your optometry practice is to put yourself in rooms where you’re no longer the best in the room. In this episode, we're talking about the “monsters” out there—the elite performers, operators, and practice owners that completely recalibrate your standards once you’re exposed to them. High performers don’t intimidate me anymore, my environment shapes what feels possible, and I've learned the uncomfortable truth that every elite outcome comes with a heavy lifestyle attached to it. If you want a bigger practice, stronger leadership, or a higher level of execution, this conversation will challenge you to decide whether you truly want the lifestyle required to get there.Join in the conversation and subscribe to the podcast to keep up with all the great content coming down the pipe! For exclusive content, be sure to register your email on our website and I will be sending out newsletters and other great bonuses as we go. I love getting feedback, questions, suggestions, etc. so contact me atwww.theultimateod.com, on social media (click here for ->YouTube,Twitter,Instagram,Facebook) OR, just shoot me an email at drlillie@theultimateod.com and I’d be happy to chat!
May 21, 2026Episode 30623 min
Why Growing Your Optometry Practice Feels So Hard (Even When You’re Winning) | E306
Why Growing Your Optometry Practice Feels So Hard (Even When You’re Winning) | E306Highlights from this episode:Why Growing Your Optometry Practice Feels So Hard (Even When You’re Winning) (00:48)Closing Thought: The Cost of Winning (21:00)Growing a private practice rarely feels smooth. It feels like constant fires, repeated conversations, and wondering if any of the work is actually paying off. In this episode, I’m sharing why the biggest breakthroughs in my office didn’t come from flashy ideas or giant pivots, but from boring consistency, constant reminders, and tightening the same systems over and over again. Leadership alignment, scorecards, staff accountability, and compounding growth is almost invisible until one day you realize your practice has completely leveled up. If you’re in the messy middle of scaling your optometry practice, this episode is the reminder to stay the course.Join in the conversation and subscribe to the podcast to keep up with all the great content coming down the pipe! For exclusive content, be sure to register your email on our website and I will be sending out newsletters and other great bonuses as we go. I love getting feedback, questions, suggestions, etc. so contact me atwww.theultimateod.com, on social media (click here for ->YouTube,Twitter,Instagram,Facebook) OR, just shoot me an email at drlillie@theultimateod.com and I’d be happy to chat!
May 14, 2026Episode 30528 min
The Hidden Ceiling in Your Practice: YOU | E305
The Hidden Ceiling in Your Practice: YOU | E305Highlights from this episode: The Hidden Ceiling in Your Practice: YOU (01:27)Closing Thought: The Cost of In-Action (25:29)Adding an associate didn’t just grow my optometry practice—it exposed every weak system I was hiding behind as the “Superman” doctor. I realized the biggest bottleneck in my business wasn’t my staff, my patients, or my market…it was me. In this episode, we're talking about how stepping back, standardizing systems, and building around my team instead of myself led to the highest revenue per patient, best capture rates, and strongest staff performance we’ve ever had. If you want a practice that can truly scale without you carrying everything on your back, this conversation is for you.Join in the conversation and subscribe to the podcast to keep up with all the great content coming down the pipe! For exclusive content, be sure to register your email on our website and I will be sending out newsletters and other great bonuses as we go. I love getting feedback, questions, suggestions, etc. so contact me atwww.theultimateod.com, on social media (click here for ->YouTube,Twitter,Instagram,Facebook) OR, just shoot me an email at drlillie@theultimateod.com and I’d be happy to chat!
May 7, 2026Episode 30424 min
You're Not Losing Motivation, You're Losing Chaos: How to Survive the Messy Middle of Practice Gowth | E304
You're Not Losing Motivation, You're Losing Chaos: How to Survive the Messy Middle of Practice Gowth | E304Highlights from this episode: You're Not Losing Motivation, You're Losing Chaos: How to Survive the Messy Middle of Practice Growth (00:45)Closing Thought: 3 Characteristics of Great CEOs (19:52)I used to think feeling bored in my practice meant I was losing my edge, but I’ve realized it’s actually a sign that things are working—and that’s where most ODs get tripped up. When the chaos fades, it’s tempting to chase shiny new services or ideas, but that’s exactly what stalls real growth. I have shifted from being a doer to a builder by measuring wins differently and creating urgency without blowing up what’s already working. If you’re in that “messy middle” of private practice growth, you need to stay disciplined long enough to actually finish what you started.Join in the conversation and subscribe to the podcast to keep up with all the great content coming down the pipe! For exclusive content, be sure to register your email on our website and I will be sending out newsletters and other great bonuses as we go. I love getting feedback, questions, suggestions, etc. so contact me atwww.theultimateod.com, on social media (click here for ->YouTube,Twitter,Instagram,Facebook) OR, just shoot me an email at drlillie@theultimateod.com and I’d be happy to chat!
April 30, 2026Episode 30335 min
Conviction vs. Push Back: The CEO Test | E303
Conviction vs. Push Back: The CEO Test | E303Highlights from this episode: Conviction vs. Push Back: The CEO Test (01:05)Closing Thought: Which kid are you going to feed? (31:11)In this week's episode, we're talking about what it actually looks like to lead in private practice—especially when you start doing things differently and get hit with pushback from patients, staff, or even other doctors. I had a recent experience in my own practice that lit a fire under me and reinforced a simple truth: just because people don’t understand what you’re doing doesn’t mean you’re wrong—it might just mean you’re early and on the cutting edge. We talk CEO mindset, conviction, and how to filter feedback so you don’t retreat every time things get uncomfortable. If you’re trying to grow, innovate, and build something better in your practice, this one’s for you.Join in the conversation and subscribe to the podcast to keep up with all the great content coming down the pipe! For exclusive content, be sure to register your email on our website and I will be sending out newsletters and other great bonuses as we go. I love getting feedback, questions, suggestions, etc. so contact me atwww.theultimateod.com, on social media (click here for ->YouTube,Twitter,Instagram,Facebook) OR, just shoot me an email at drlillie@theultimateod.com and I’d be happy to chat!
April 23, 2026Episode 30229 min
Your Baby Is Ugly: Why Brutally Honest Feedback is a Necessity for Growth | E302
Your Baby Is Ugly: Why Brutally Honest Feedback is a Necessity for Growth | E302Highlights from this episode:Your Baby Is Ugly: Why Brutally Honest Feedback is a Necessity for Growth (01:03)Closing Thought: Love where you are (25:29)If I’m being honest, some of my biggest growth hasn’t come from new ideas—it’s come from having the right people tell me when my ideas aren’t that good. In this episode, we're talking about why surrounding yourself with “yes people” is one of the fastest ways to stall your practice, and how real, unfiltered feedback from the right peers can completely change your trajectory. Mastermind groups, unexpected “collisions,” and putting my ego aside have helped me avoid costly mistakes and stay focused on what actually moves the needle. At the end of the day, it’s not about being the smartest person in the room—it’s about being in rooms that make you sharper, more accountable, and ultimately a better CEO of your practice.Join in the conversation and subscribe to the podcast to keep up with all the great content coming down the pipe! For exclusive content, be sure to register your email on our website and I will be sending out newsletters and other great bonuses as we go. I love getting feedback, questions, suggestions, etc. so contact me atwww.theultimateod.com, on social media (click here for ->YouTube,Twitter,Instagram,Facebook) OR, just shoot me an email at drlillie@theultimateod.com and I’d be happy to chat!
April 16, 2026Episode 30124 min
Strategic Discomfort vs. Boredom Discomfort: Making the Pain Productive | E301
Strategic Discomfort vs. Boredom Discomfort: Making the Pain Productive | E301Highlights from this episode:Strategic Discomfort vs. Boredom Discomfort: Making the Pain Productive (00:45)Closing Thought: Conquering the World (21:48)In this episode, I’m working through something that’s been hitting me hard lately—are we actually building something scalable, or just chasing the feeling of growth? There's a difference between strategic discomfort and boredom-driven decisions, especially in that phase where your practice is stable but you feel restless and unsure what’s next. I share my own mistakes, what I’m doing differently now, and how I’m focusing on growth, systems, and truly replacing myself before expanding. If you’ve ever felt that “what now?” moment in your practice, this one’s for you.Join in the conversation and subscribe to the podcast to keep up with all the great content coming down the pipe! For exclusive content, be sure to register your email on our website and I will be sending out newsletters and other great bonuses as we go. I love getting feedback, questions, suggestions, etc. so contact me atwww.theultimateod.com, on social media (click here for ->YouTube,Twitter,Instagram,Facebook) OR, just shoot me an email at drlillie@theultimateod.com and I’d be happy to chat!
April 9, 2026Episode 30026 min
Sprint vs Sustain: How Smart ODs Scale Without Burning Out | E300
Sprint vs Sustain: How Smart ODs Scale Without Burning Out | E300Highlights from this episode: Sprint vs Sustain: How Smart ODs Scale Without Burning Out (00:58)Closing Thought: The courage of leadership (25:35)In this episode, I challenge you to take a hard look at where you’re at as a practice owner—are you truly progressing, or just coasting and avoiding what matters most? The idea is that success isn’t found at the “peak,” but in learning how to live and thrive on the side of the mountain by managing your energy, embracing the hard, and staying in motion. We’ll talk about the critical difference between sprinting and sustaining, and how knowing when to push versus pull back is what separates burned-out owners from true CEOs. If you want to build a practice that keeps growing without losing yourself in the process, this mindset shift is everything.Join in the conversation and subscribe to the podcast to keep up with all the great content coming down the pipe! For exclusive content, be sure to register your email on our website and I will be sending out newsletters and other great bonuses as we go. I love getting feedback, questions, suggestions, etc. so contact me atwww.theultimateod.com, on social media (click here for ->YouTube,Twitter,Instagram,Facebook) OR, just shoot me an email at drlillie@theultimateod.com and I’d be happy to chat!
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