Contrary to the fellow who goes to a social networking event, makes it rain with business cards and then leaves. Networking is not about trying to take advantage of others or to “get an in.”

Networking is about giving. If you realize this you’re much ahead of the game. Put yourself in another person’s shoes and think of ways you can make their life easier.

I  got a call from my classmate an hour before his informal job interview with two OMDs looking to add an OD to their staff. He got the interview through a family friend who worked at the front desk of the office, and called to ask my opinion on what types of things to say during the interview.

My bottom line answer for him was to be genuine. Don’t say anything generic like “I’m a hard worker!” but come up with specific examples. Ask good questions that you really want to know. What are the patient demographics? What do you envision my role to be? Who is currently part of the team?

As a student, networking and interviewing definitely can be scary stuff. =)

“What are you doing after graduation Sarah*?” (not real name) -me

“I’m doing a residency in pediatrics/vision therapy in order to fulfill my goal of introducing this specialty as an associate or even in my own private practice when the opportunity arises.” – Sarah

“YES!!!! GREAT ANSWER!!!” – me

I loved it! Because she mentioned something that I personally love doing in order to figure out where I’m going and why I am going there. She set goals and decided to pursue an optometry residency because it would help her fulfill her goals. 

Another friend of mine Scott (not real name) gave me this answer to the same question.

“I’m going to do a residency in primary care and then figure out what I am going to do later during my residency.”  – Scott. “I’m just applying to the residencies in Los Angeles. The VA staff doc really liked me and so I figured I’d give it a shot.”

When I hear the latter I just shake my head. Scott doesn’t have a plan. Or maybe he does, but he hasn’t adequately linked his decision to do a residency to a more longterm goal. Right now, his focus is myopic. His goal is to get a residency, nothing more. If that doesn’t pan out, he’ll start his job search.

Before you do anything, it should fit in a longterm plan. Otherwise you are just performing random acts in order to achieve success. All success requires clear planning followed by defined actions.

Which is why every optometric practice, or any business for that matter, should have a mission statement. The statement should define the longterm goals of a practice and henceforth drive all decision making. Let me give you some examples:

Recently I stumbled across this article in review of optometric business by Dr. Kathleen Andersen. (you’ll have to create an account to read the article but I think it’s very worthwhile to read some of the other great articles on that website). Dr. Andersen has introduced vascular health screenings along with her comprehensive eye examinations and I think it’s fantastic. By evaluating the carotid intima media thickness, optometrists can get a good indication on an individual’s vascular health.

Myself, I’ve recently started working with HeartSmart’s EyeCare division. Basically our goal is to expand optometry’s role as a primary health care provider by offering patients vascular health screenings. Millions of eye exams are conducted each year. In fact many Americans go see their optometrist more often than even their primary care physician!

If you think optometrists should play a bigger role in keeping patients healthy, like us at http://www.facebook.com/HeartSmartEyeCare

During my time there I get to work with Dr. Monique Nguyen, a residency trained doctor who owns a private practice in Ladera Ranch. It’s refreshing to talk to her about vision therapy and how she runs her private practice.

Working at CHOC is an awesome reminder of why I joined this profession. You have these children who are struggling in school because of significant myopia but cannot afford glasses. And many children rarely complain, quietly struggling through academics for years just because they have poor vision and can’t see what the teacher is working on in front of the classroom.

So it’s rewarding to break ground and give them their first pair of glasses. One patient (not at CHOC) but who I am following at the Eye Care Center who has a +9.50 DS Rx in both eyes proudly yelled at my last amblyopia continuing evaluation.

“I LOVE MY GLASSES!!”

Awesome.

In case you did not realize, the AOSA and AOA both have blogs where leaders post their thoughts and experiences. Here is my first blog as an AOSA blogger. I think I am the only non-former AOSA trustee or cabinet member to be invited to blog so I feel very honored!

How to refract like an OD and not a student. I realize that many optometry students and optometrists are masters at refraction, but hopefully some of my insights can help!

From Joe M. – An engineer and father of an optometrist

I would like to state that I am not a Doctor of any kind and the father of a Optometry student and a son that is a DC. I have a engineering EE /ME back gound and more importantly business owner and CEO for over 35 years. First let me say that success is not simple to achieve and or maintain. And most believe that a degree entitles you to instant success and or big $$$ , well you are dead wrong. Trust me when i say I’ll take Lucky over Smart any and every day but we have to help your own luck by working longer, harder and smarter. If anyone expects the make 150- 200K plus to start working 40hrs a week on your first job you better have come from a very wealthy family and buy into a business or joining a family business or rethink your plan and get real. The system has provided you access to the tools of your craft , that is optometry, now it is up to you to use them to achieve a successful life.

I will tell you most times that success takes longer and is harder then planed and will not be in the same form as envisioned at the beginning.. . Get a second job to generate your play money or saving for the future. And some day you will not need the second income. BTW did you ever study about the 80 -20 rule? if not google it , if so then you know that 20% of the OD make 80% of the MONEY. What do you want to be… a 20 % guy or a 80% guy? I also will tell you yourself will be the only source of your failure in any thing you do. Keep working at your goal, always stay positive, and GOOD LUCK along the way.

” I came across your blog for optometry residencies. I have matched a program for next year already. They accepted me even though I had not passed Part 1 boards. I re-took them in March and failed again. Can they take my residency spot away? Please let me know if you have any advice.”

You need to pass all parts of NBEO to practice optometry. If her residency programs begins in July, and the soonest she can retake her boards is in August (with scores released a couple of months afterwards), I told her to contact her residency program, to keep her head up, and best wishes.

That’s also my buzz word (and enemy) of the quarter: Minutiae. There are many ways to study for a big test, but I believe firmly that the worse way is to feel like you must know EVERY thing. I have been telling classmates that if you try learning everything, you miss important concepts or at least fail to reinforce them.

There is a principle called the Pareto principle (aka the 80/20 law) that about 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. For instance, Pareto was growing peas and found out that 80% of his peas were being grown from only 20% of his plants.

Which means that 80% of his plants, which he had to care for and watch over just as closely as his 20%, weren’t doing much good in the big picture. The same is true with studying for a boards exam. When I look at a new drug/disease/any concept, I like to do the following:

What are 2-3 things I will take away from this (sort of like, which plant out of these five will give me the greatest return of intellectual investment)? And then I move on. If I can nail those 2-3 IMPORTANT concepts, then knowing anymore than that is just gravy (but unnecessary)

This is not an excuse to be lazy. I will spend the SAME amount of time studying, but just ensuring I hit big ticket items first always.

Kentucky has followed in Oklahoma’s footsteps to pass a bill allowing optometrists to perform laser surgery. (SLT, LPI etc)

Here is a video of optometrists and ophthalmologists arguing whether or not optometrists should be allowed to train for laser procedures.

http://www.ket.org/cgi-bin/cheetah/w…tdir=&template

The KOA president, Ben Gaddie, has been to SCCO multiple times to discuss practice management. It was great to see him representing the profession.