The Power of the Unconventional Path - Maria Sampalis - Optometrists Building Empires - Ep # 075

What if the setbacks in your career were actually the fuel that pushes your practice to the next level? Dr. Maria Sampalis joins Optometrists Building Empires to share the wide-ranging journey that shaped her reputation as a leading voice in optometry, starting in corporate, to building a thriving private practice, to leading one of the largest online communities in the field. Maria opens up about failure, reinvention, non-traditional paths to success, and why uncomfortable moments are often necessary for growth. She also breaks down real strategies for staffing, cutting costs, leveraging medical billing, and embracing emerging trends like AI and interventional care. Takeaways:Give yourself permission to grow at your own pace. Rushing rarely delivers better outcomes, and the obstacles you encounter early in your career often provide the skills you’ll rely on later.When building a practice, don’t feel obligated to follow the industry’s “expected path.” What works for others may not be the path that fits your life stage, risk tolerance, or long-term goals.A strong, supported staff is the backbone of any practice. When your team feels trusted, backed up, and offered flexibility, they are far more capable of managing volume and contributing to better patient flow.Reducing overhead is just as important as driving revenue. Negotiate lab costs, use buying groups, and make long-term real estate decisions that stabilize your expenses instead of letting them rise uncontrollably.Success comes from trying the opportunities others overlook. Thinking creatively and trusting your ability to learn as you go opens doors that aren’t always obvious from the outside.Quote of the Show:“ I think doctors make the mistake where they compare themselves to other doctors or other competitors. For me, it was here's what I wanna do, and the only competition is myself.” - Maria SampalisLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-sampalis-a8a85a11/  Company website: https://www.sampaliseyecare.com/  Maria’s Email: [email protected] Book a Meeting with Ankit: https://meetings.hubspot.com/ankit98/optometry-redefined?uuid=e5cd456c-9db4-42c7-b106-2b6e250a6d01 Optometry Redefined Book: https://www.amazon.com/Optometry-Redefined-Master-Resourcing-Performance/dp/B0FKJTZGJ3/ref=monarch_sidesheet_image Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5w1H9BBwRXvBSSkexePYxG Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optometrists-building-empires/id1762685070 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/689a039b-54ce-4f04-b641-66d8640d93d0 Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/optometrists-building-empires-5812208