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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September 3, 2026Episode 32127 min
The 90-Day Plan That Changed How I Run My Optometry Practice | E321
The 90-Day Plan That Changed How I Run My Optometry Practice | E321 Highlights from this episode: The 90-Day Plan That Changed How I Run My Optometry Practice (00:54) Closing Thought: Lazy People vs. Winners (25:37) I’ve always struggled with the temptation to change things too quickly—come up with a new idea, get some resistance, and then move on to the next thing because I feel like I need to be doing something. In this episode, I’m sharing why I’ve started using 90-day plans to force myself and my team to stay focused, execute, measure what’s actually happening, and give our decisions enough time to produce evidence before we pivot. We’re talking about accountability, improving every role in the practice—including doctors—and why consistency doesn’t mean refusing to change; it means giving your decisions enough time to see whether they’re working. If you’re constantly changing direction in your practice, this is a reminder that sometimes the best thing a CEO can do is stop messing with things and let the plan play out.
August 27, 2026Episode 32023 min
What If Keeping Your Options Open Is Actually Hurting You? | E320
What If Keeping Your Options Open Is Actually Hurting You? | E320 Highlights from this episode: What If Keeping Your Options Open Is Actually Hurting You? (00:52) Closing Thought: One Decision (21:08) It can be very easy to keep every door open as a practice owner—but sometimes having too many options actually keeps you from moving forward. In this episode, we're talking about the danger of using possibilities as a form of procrastination, why making a decision creates compounding value, and the uncomfortable reality that you have to commit to a path before you know exactly how it’s going to turn out. I also reflect on the decision to keep pushing forward with another associate even when it would have been easier to stay comfortable with what was already working. Your homework is to think about where you were at 3 years ago and compare it to now. What is better now? Is there anything that was better 3 years ago? This will help you dial in what you actually enjoy and make sure the progress you are making is moving you toward the life you ultimately want to live.
August 20, 2026Episode 31928 min
The CEO Mindset Isn't What You Think It Is | E319
The CEO Mindset Isn't What You Think It Is | E319 Highlights from this episode: The CEO Mindset Isn't What You Think It Is (00:51) Closing Thought: Making Intentional Decisions for the Future You Want (25:42) In this episode, I’m talking about the difference between ambition and leadership, why being busy or growth-focused doesn’t automatically make you a better CEO, and how your personality should influence the kind of practice you choose to build. We’ll also talk about why some owners love the business side while others would rather stay clinical—and why neither approach is wrong as long as you’re intentional about what success looks like for you.
August 13, 2026Episode 31824 min
The Secret to Getting Your Optometry Team Excited About Growth | E318
The Secret to Getting Your Optometry Team Excited About Growth | E318 Highlights from this episode: The Secret to Getting Your Optometry Team Excited About Growth (00:52) Closing Thought: The real prize of achieving a goal (22:05) I’ve been thinking a lot about what it really means to have a vision for your practice—and I’ve realized that keeping that vision in my head isn’t enough. In this episode, I’m sharing what happened when I started putting my vision out there with my associates and staff, how it created more energy and buy-in across the team, and why sharing where we’re going also forces me to become the leader that vision requires. We’ll talk about creating a three-year vision, developing your team around that future, staying committed when things get difficult, and redefining success from being the top-producing doctor to building something bigger than yourself.
August 6, 2026Episode 31728 min
Why Confidence Comes After Action, Not Before | E317
Why Confidence Comes After Action, Not Before | E317 Highlights from this episode: Why Confidence Comes After Action, Not Before (00:41) Closing Thought: Resiliency (27:22) The longer I own a practice, the more I realize that growth has less to do with finding better strategies and more to do with becoming a better leader. In this episode, I’m sharing why confidence is built through action, how making imperfect decisions has accelerated our growth, and why waiting until you feel "ready" is one of the biggest mistakes practice owners make. We dive into leadership, ownership, and the mindset shifts that separate stagnant practices from those that continue to evolve year after year. If you’ve been hesitating on your next big move, this conversation will give you the confidence to stop waiting and start leading. 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 at www.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!
July 30, 2026Episode 31621 min
Why Your Optometry Practice Feels Stuck (And How to Move Forward) | E316
Why Your Optometry Practice Feels Stuck (And How to Move Forward) | E316 Highlights from this episode: Why Your Optometry Practice Feels Stuck (And How to Move Forward) (00:49) Closing Thought: Old Habits vs. New Standards (20:01) One of the hardest lessons I’m learning as a practice owner is that the decisions that got me here aren’t always the ones that will get me where I want to go next. In this episode, I’m sharing how I’m learning to think like a CEO instead of just a doctor, why we hold on to the parts of our business that feel comfortable, and the framework I use to make bigger, long-term decisions—even when there’s no guarantee they’ll work. We talk about opportunity cost, identity shifts, and why you have to stop judging decisions based on your favorite hour of the week and start evaluating the entire business. If you’re feeling stuck between where your practice is today and where you know it could be, this episode will challenge you to see the whole board before making your next move. 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 at www.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!
July 23, 2026Episode 31522 min
Belief Before Ability: The Leadership Secret Every Optometry Practice Owner Needs | E315
Belief Before Ability: The Leadership Secret Every Optometry Practice Owner Needs | E315 Highlights from this episode: Belief Before Ability: The Leadership Secret Every Optometry Practice Owner Needs (00:42) Closing Thought: Keep the Friction (20:20) One of the biggest breakthroughs I’ve had as a practice owner is realizing that people don’t become exceptional because of their skills—they become exceptional because they believe their work matters. In this episode, I’m sharing how giving every team member a clear purpose transformed our culture, strengthened our patient experience, and helped me shift from building great employees to building great leaders. We dive into why belief always comes before ability, how to create buy-in across your entire office, and the leadership mindset that changes everything. If you want a team that takes ownership, a stronger culture, and a practice that grows from the inside out, this episode 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 at www.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!
July 16, 2026Episode 31416 min
How to Create Teams That Believe in the Mission | E314
How to Create Teams That Believe in the Mission | E314 Highlights from this episode: How to Create Teams That Believe in the Mission (00:36) Closing Thought: Privilege (14:42) One of the biggest leadership lessons I’ve learned is that having a vision isn’t enough—your team has to believe it too. In this episode, I’m sharing what I took away from studying Disney CEO Bob Iger, why culture is built through repetition instead of inspiration, and how every role in your practice becomes more meaningful when people understand where the business is headed. We’ll talk about creating clarity, reinforcing your message, and why great CEOs spend just as much time building belief as they do building systems. If you want a more aligned team, a stronger culture, and a practice that executes at a higher level, this episode 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 at www.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!
July 9, 2026Episode 31324 min
The Identity Crisis Every Growing Practice Owner Faces | E313
The Identity Crisis Every Growing Practice Owner Faces | E313 Highlights from this episode: The Identity Crisis Every Growing Practice Owner Faces (00:49) Closing Thought: Risk Not, Have Not (19:48) As my practice continues to grow, I’ve realized the hardest part isn’t adding another doctor—it’s letting go of the identity that got me here in the first place. In this episode, I’m sharing the internal battle of shifting from being the top producer to becoming a coach, mentor, and CEO, why too many options can keep us stuck, and how real growth requires committing to one path before you know exactly how it will turn out. We also dive into the uncomfortable truth that every new level demands a new version of yourself. If you’re wrestling with what’s next in your practice or your career, this conversation will challenge you to decide who you’re becoming—not just what you’re doing. 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 at www.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!
July 2, 2026Episode 31228 min
The CEO's Greatest ROI: Their Thoughts | E312
The CEO's Greatest ROI: Their Thoughts | E312 Highlights from this episode: The CEO's Greatest ROI: Their Thoughts (01:11) Closing Thought: The story of two monks (24:59) One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as a practice owner is realizing that my value isn’t measured by how many patients I see—it’s measured by the quality of the decisions I make for the business. In this episode, I’m sharing why creating space to think has become one of the highest ROI activities in my week, how stepping out of the exam lane has helped us double our revenue per patient, and why every CEO needs margin to build systems instead of constantly putting out fires. We’ll also talk about protecting your time, developing your team, and learning to trade effort for leverage. If you’re ready to stop thinking like a busy doctor and start leading like the CEO your practice needs, this episode 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 at www.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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