My Summer “Beach Reads”

Dr. Stewart’s top reading list recommendations.

As an optometrist and small business owner, I’ve realized just how valuable learning is, both in my professional and personal life. Summer is the perfect time to hit pause, recharge and dive into books that spark growth. The right business books can offer fresh strategies and help us rethink how we approach patient care, team dynamics and running our practices. Here are my top picks for summer reading, each full of insights to help you take your independent practice to the next level.

1. “Good to Great” by Jim Collins

“Good to Great” is a classic that offers deep insights into why some companies make the leap from being good to truly great. Collins focuses on leadership, discipline and culture—elements that are crucial for any independent optometry practice. For practitioners, the key takeaway is the importance of assembling the right team, establishing a clear vision and committing to excellence in patient care. Applying Collins’ “Hedgehog Concept” can help identify what you can be the best at and ensure you focus on what truly drives success in your practice.

2. “Start with Why” by Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why” is a must-read for anyone seeking to inspire both their patients and their team. Sinek believes every successful business needs to know their “why”—their core purpose. For practitioners, this means understanding why you do what you do, whether it’s providing personalized care, offering unique eyewear or creating a comfortable, welcoming environment. When you can communicate your “why” clearly to your patients, it not only helps differentiate your practice from larger chains and competitors but also fosters patient loyalty and trust.  This also helps with staff buy in, morale and retention.  As you know, finding my “why” was instrumental in designing and building my cold start practice, Look New Canaan.  This exercise is so important at any stage of your career.

3. “Who Not How” by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy

This book challenges the traditional mindset of doing everything yourself. In “Who Not How,” Sullivan and Hardy advocate for asking, “Who can help me?” instead of “How can I do this?”, emphasizing the power of collaboration. Whether it’s bringing in specialized staff, hiring the right administrative support, or working with strategic partners for marketing and eyewear lines, finding the right “whos” is essential for growth. This mindset frees up your time and allows you to focus on what you do best—providing excellent patient care.  Feel like you can’t find the time to read on the beach?  This one should be your first read!

4. “The Pumpkin Plan” by Mike Michalowicz

Mike Michalowicz’s “The Pumpkin Plan” uses the analogy of growing a giant pumpkin to teach how to focus on your best customers and the most profitable parts of your business. For optometry practices, this means identifying and nurturing your “biggest pumpkins”—the patients who bring in the most value and the services that differentiate your practice. Michalowicz’s approach encourages eliminating the distractions and inefficiencies that drain your resources, allowing you to focus on growing what’s already working. What could our practice look and feel like if we focused on our best, most loyal patients?

5. “The E-Myth Revisited” by Michael E. Gerber

In “The E-Myth Revisited,” Gerber stresses the importance of working on your business, not just in it. This means systematizing your practice, creating repeatable processes and ensuring your business runs smoothly even when you’re not there. Gerber advocates for building a franchise-style system in your practice to ensure consistency, efficiency and scalability. This book is an invaluable resource for those who want to grow their practice while maintaining high-quality patient care and strong operational standards.  Now you know how you can find the time to read this on the beach—you need those systems in place!

6. “Atomic Habits” by James Clear

James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” is a must-read for anyone seeking to make meaningful, lasting changes in their personal or professional life. The book focuses on the power of small habits and how tiny adjustments can compound into remarkable results. Whether it’s improving patient care, creating more efficient systems for eyewear selection, or improving communication with your team, Clear’s strategies can help you make incremental improvements that yield huge benefits. As independent practitioners, we often focus on big goals, but Clear’s book shows that small habits can lead to significant, long-term success.  So many of us feel like we fail when we don’t achieve big growth or milestones, but when we focus on small gains we can actually be much more successful.

7. “To Sell is Human” by Daniel H. Pink

In “To Sell is Human,” Daniel Pink redefines the concept of selling, making it less about pushing products and more about helping people make decisions that improve their lives. This shift in mindset can transform patient interactions in our practices significantly. Instead of feeling like you’re “selling” eyewear or services, you’re guiding patients toward solutions that meet their needs. Whether it’s suggesting a new frame style or explaining the benefits of updated lenses, Pink’s approach fosters trust and rapport with patients, which ultimately leads to increased patient loyalty and satisfaction.  This is one that I know a lot of us struggle with—we often look at our practices with our doctor hat on, versus our business hat, and feel that selling is a dirty word. Reading this book changed my mindset and made me feel much more comfortable in this process, which pays off significantly in profitability.

8. “Why We Buy” by Paco Underhill

Understanding consumer behavior is critical for any business, and Paco Underhill’s “Why We Buy” dives deep into the psychology of shopping. This book offers practical insights into how people make purchasing decisions, and how small changes in your practice’s layout, product displays and customer service can have a big impact. Seeking to make a change without spending a fortune or undergoing a massive renovation? Underhill’s findings can help you optimize your space to create a more engaging and comfortable shopping experience. It’s an essential read for anyone looking to refine their in-store experience and build lasting relationships with their patients. While this book may be older and some of the discussions have not aged well, the intent and message is still clear to this day (even if our ways of shopping have changed).

These eight books have provided me with tools, insights and perspectives that have had a lasting impact on my practice. As we approach the summer, I encourage you to dive into these reads—whether you’re looking to improve patient relationships, refine your leadership skills or streamline your business operations.

The right knowledge and strategies can transform your practice, helping you not only meet but exceed your goals for 2025.