The Reasons

We love the idea that success comes from invention and innovation; some new idea or concept nobody has thought of before. Books have been written about creators and visionaries. But the reality is that most successful businesses didn't invent anything. They found someone who had already succeeded, studied their approach, and made it slightly better. For most people, that’s a faster path because you can skip the years of expensive trial and error somebody else already paid for. I see this pattern repeatedly in practice. Owners try to build something from scratch and pay for all the mistakes. It’s better to find people who’ve already succeeded and copy their strategies.

How to Do It

• Pick a real person, not a vague idea. "Build a dry eye clinic" isn't a model. Find a specific practice owner who’s already doing it well.

• Study their methods. Ask if they’re open to a phone call or a visit to their practice to observe. Figure out the process that got them there.

• Adapt it to your practice. Copying isn't cloning. Make adaptions to fit your practice model.

• Steal shamelessly, credit generously. Most successful people are happy to share their strategies (with noncompetitors), but don’t forget to credit the people who helped you achieve success.OM