The start of a new year has always held a kind of quiet power for independent optometrists. It’s not just about flipping the calendar, but rather it’s a mindset shift. A call to pause, reset, and reconnect with the “why” behind what we do every day. As business owners and clinicians, we straddle the line between science and service, clinical precision and compassionate leadership. January gives us a moment to recalibrate both.
Looking Backward to Move Forward
Before we can effectively set new goals, we need to reflect on the past year, honestly and without judgment. What did we do well? Where did we fall short? This isn’t just about revenue growth or frame board turnover. It’s also about patient outcomes, team morale, and how we navigated the ever-evolving challenges in healthcare.
At Cowichan Eyecare, we begin each year by examining our core KPIs: medical billing patterns, capture rates, and staff engagement surveys. But we also ask deeper questions: Did we stay true to our values? Did our patients feel seen and cared for? Did our team feel inspired or merely exhausted?
The best reset comes not from reinvention, but from realignment.
Mindset Matters More Than Metrics
One of the most important tools a practice owner can carry into the new year isn’t a spreadsheet; it’s a healthy mindset. Leadership fatigue is real. Burnout is real. And if we’re not intentional about our outlook, we can slip into survival mode, stuck in the day-to-day without seeing the bigger picture.
That’s why I view January as a mental reset. A chance to release the frustrations of last year: staff turnover, missed targets, unexpected curveballs and step into the new year with renewed purpose.
Remember: as leaders, our mindset is contagious. If we show up energized and focused, our teams will feel it too.
Culture is the Real Competitive Advantage
If you want to build a practice that thrives long-term, you need to prioritize culture as much as strategy. This time of year is ideal for reconnecting with your team and not just about workflow goals, but about vision and values.
At Cowichan Eyecare, we have a tradition called Bluenotes; these are shoutouts that staff give each other for going above and beyond. A simple gesture, but one that reinforces our culture of gratitude and positivity. It costs nothing yet pays massive dividends in morale.
As you reset this year, ask yourself, how are you investing in your people? Because no marketing plan or piece of equipment will ever outperform a motivated, connected team.
Embrace Innovation, Stay Independent
In today’s landscape, staying independent doesn’t mean doing it alone. It means making strategic, values-aligned choices that give you freedom and strength. That could mean joining a buying group, investing in dry eye technologies, or partnering with like-minded colleagues for shared learning and support.
This is the concept of independence through interdependence: a mindset that’s allowed my practice to grow from a single cold start to five thriving locations. By standardizing product offerings, collaborating with select vendors, and empowering our associates with clinical protocols, we maintain both quality and autonomy.
And let’s not forget, innovation isn’t just about technology. It’s also about how we show up in our communities through patient education, DEI initiatives, or just offering a wider range of eyewear styles that reflect the diversity of our clientele.
Reset Your Legacy, Too
As the father of a soon to graduate optometry student (shoutout to Nyah!), I’ve been thinking more about legacy. Not just the legacy I’ll leave behind, but the one I’m building now. Every interaction, every system, every hire all feeds into the future of your practice.
Legacy doesn’t start when you retire. It starts today with mentorship, meaningful succession planning, and creating an environment that future ODs will want to be part of. If you’re lucky enough to have a new grad working with you, don’t just give them a job; give them a pathway to leadership.
The Power of the New Year
The beauty of January is that it gives us permission to dream again. To refine. To reset. Not just as optometrists, but as people. This year, take a moment to ask yourself:
* What’s the one thing I want to do better this year?
* How can I show up differently for my team, my patients, and myself?
* Day by day, exam by exam, what legacy am I building?
The answers may not come right away. But the act of asking is where the reset begins.
Here’s to a new year, a renewed mindset, and the continued evolution of independent optometry in Canada.
DR. TREVOR MIRANDA
Dr. Miranda is a partner in a multi-doctor, five-location practice on Vancouver Island.
He is a strong advocate for true Independent Optometry.
As a serial entrepreneur, Trevor is constantly testing different patient care and business models at his various locations. Many of these have turned out to be quite successful, to the point where many of his colleagues have adopted them into their own practices. His latest project is the Optometry Unleashed podcast.
