Power Hour Optometry Podcast Summary
Episode: Owner Burnout and Frustration? How to Reset, Rebuild & Prevent It from Happening Again
Host: Eugene Shotsman
Guests: Brian Spittle, Alison Kramer
Date: March 6, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into the realities of owner burnout among optometric practice owners—why it spikes seasonally, what it feels like, and most importantly, what actionable strategies can help reset, rebuild, and prevent burnout in the future. Host Eugene Shotsman is joined by Power Practice advisors and practice owners Brian Spittle and Alison Kramer, who bring firsthand stories and practical tools to tackle burnout at both the personal and operational level. The discussion is candid, honest, and filled with both empathy and actionable insights.
Key Themes & Discussion Points
1. Seasonal Burnout & Owner Frustration
-
Why Now?
After the holiday rush and insurance resets, there’s a noticeable slowdown. Practice owners finally have a moment to catch their breath—only to be hit with the reality of accumulated stressors and things slipping through the cracks.
"All the things that may have been slipping through the cracks are a little bit more obvious, and they're just frustrated and also tired."
—Alison Kramer [02:37] -
Micro-Stressors Add Up
Staff absences, patient complaints, weather-related closures, and even operational quirks compound over time.
"You start to get miserable. And at some point, burnout's a real thing... Sometimes you just want to throw things."
—Brian Spittle [03:19]
2. Real-Life Accounts: Burnout Hits Home
-
Brian's Turning Point
Brian candidly recounts his near-sale of his practice a decade ago, triggered by severe burnout.
"We didn't like coming to work... I literally picked up the phone and said, 'Can we meet?' [with private equity]."
—Brian Spittle [08:13] -
Selling as a Response—But Not Always the Solution
Brian details due diligence with legal and financial advisors.
"'Does that. Fix your burnout?' ...And he goes, no, you have to go back and actually think about it."
—Brian Spittle [10:49] -
Accumulation of “Pennies”
Everyday annoyances, from HR to literal sidewalk issues, become overwhelming.
"When you stack all these pennies up, it becomes heavy. And so, yeah, you forget why you come to work, because you're just there to put out fires."
—Brian Spittle [12:28]
3. The Ripple Effect: Burnout’s Impact Beyond the Owner
-
Staff Feels It
Burnout trickles down—the energy, attitude, and stress management of the owner shape the team's morale.
"The staff absolutely notices the energy change in the room... But it's funny, a lot of practice owners say, 'Well, the staff keeps bringing their personal stuff into the office.' Well, guess what? So are you."
—Alison Kramer [19:54] -
Patient Experience
While not easily measured, a cranky, disengaged owner impacts patient satisfaction and retention.
"No one wants to go see a cranky doctor."
—Eugene Shotsman [23:41]
4. Root Causes: Delegation, Systems, and Invisible Rules
-
Overmanagement and Under-Delegation
Practice owners often micromanage out of habit, depriving their staff of empowerment.
"If I under delegate, if I am overly involved, I start to take empowerment away from my team... I'm contributing to my own woes."
—Brian Spittle [16:45] -
Invisible Rules and Self-Imposed Burdens
Many operate by rules that aren't real or necessary.
"You were trying to play by an invisible set of rules... maybe you realize that the rules you're trying to follow don't really exist."
—Eugene Shotsman [31:43]
5. Immediate Strategies to Reset Burnout
Personal Mindset & Self-Care
-
Step Back and Re-Evaluate
Give yourself permission to pause, take a breath, zoom out, and question "Why am I doing things this way?"
—[33:27] -
Adjust Patient Schedules
Brian reduced clinical days from five to three per week, hiring associates for coverage, allowing time for admin or recharge.
"The answer for me was to start seeing patients every other day... That was really the most important and impactful strategy."
—Brian Spittle [29:33] -
Find Your Why & Joy
Reconnect with personal mission and build joy into your routine—exercise, family, meditation, non-work activities.
"Just doing more of whatever it is that brings you joy. Because that to me is the opposite of burnout."
—Brian Spittle [35:19]
6. Preventative Business Systems to Rebuild & Avoid Burnout
a) Issues List & Structured Meetings ([39:24])
-
Documenting and Prioritizing Issues
Keep a live, shared list of issues ("opportunities list")—every item gets a regular audience at weekly meetings, freeing the owner from daily interruptions.
"Teams are not great if they have no issues. Teams are great if they have a really long issues list that they can, that they prioritize every single week and solve cohesively."
—Eugene Shotsman [42:26] -
Ownership & Delegation
Assign issues to the person best suited; empower staff to solve problems, not just report them.
b) Written Processes & Training
- Focus on Staff Development
Many problems are tied to gaps in training, processes, and communication.
"The lack of involvement and training that you've put into the staff... That's kind of an easy one for me to help fix."
—Alison Kramer [15:12]
c) Communication & Performance Structure
-
Regular 1-on-1s and Targets ([49:40])
Build a cadence for staff check-ins—monthly, at minimum.- Use simple prompts: What's going well? What's not? What have you learned?
- Make employees responsible for scheduling and preparing (pre-survey)
- Tie to incentives (e.g., bonuses contingent on check-ins)
"If you aren't having regular communication with your people, you have no idea what's going on in your practice."
—Brian Spittle [52:32]
-
Encourage Two-Way Problem Solving
Ask staff to bring issues and suggested solutions to meetings.
"Can you bring three solutions to the meeting? ...You have an opportunity to take action on the problem."
—Eugene Shotsman [56:02]
d) “Hire Your Happiness”
- Reallocate or Automate Frustrations
If a task is your biggest friction point, assign it.
"Figure out the thing that's really bothering you... and get somebody else to work on it or stop doing the things that are driving you crazy."
—Brian Spittle [47:56]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
“You're just a firefighter with the doctor title.”
—Brian Spittle [13:08] -
“Burnout is me going, I dread work... you know, can we burn it down and get the insurance money?”
—Brian Spittle [35:19] -
“When you're having that moment where you call me and say that you're going to sell your practice today, just wait, take a step back, think about why you started. And I promise you that next week you will be better.”
—Alison Kramer [60:10] -
“Eat. Because when you're hangry, you make bad decisions... Find a work buddy... You're not alone.”
—Brian Spittle [60:27]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Seasonal burnout described – [02:37]
- Brian’s personal burnout and near-sale story – [08:13] to [12:28]
- The impact of owner energy on staff and patients – [19:54] to [23:41]
- Delegation and systems breakdown – [16:45]
- Immediate actions for burnout (step back, self-care) – [33:27], [35:19]
- Preventative systems: issues list & meetings – [39:24] to [42:26]
- Staff training and empowerment – [15:12], [44:05]
- Performance/communication structure – [49:40] to [54:42]
- Final thoughts and encouragement – [60:10]
Actionable Takeaways
- Acknowledge and Normalize Seasonality in Stress.
- Step Back and Evaluate Your “Rules”—most are self-imposed.
- Develop and Use an Issues List with Weekly Meetings.
- Delegate More and Empower Your Team; don’t micromanage.
- Reduce Clinical Days (if needed) and Recharge.
- Implement Regular, Casual 1-on-1 Staff Meetings; build trust and engagement.
- Document Processes—train and cross-train your team.
- Celebrate Wins, Appreciate Good Work Publicly.
- Find a Network or Buddy to Talk; You’re Not Alone.
- Don’t Make Major Decisions in Burnout. Step back, realign with your why, and act thoughtfully.
Final Thoughts
Burnout is not just a personal crisis—it impacts your whole business ecosystem. Address it directly with robust systems, honest self-reflection, empowerment, and steady, open communication. As this episode emphasizes: recognize it, talk about it, take strategic action, and don’t be afraid to rewrite the rules of how you practice and lead.
For consultation or to share your story, connect with the Power Practice team.
This summary skips ad/promotion sections and focuses solely on content-rich conversation.