IN 2022, Warren Buffett, the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, made several remarks that ring so true in this age of disruptive technologies. First, he said, “The best investment by far is anything that develops yourself, and it’s not taxed at all.” He went on to say, “Whatever abilities you have can’t be taken away from you. They can’t be inflated away from you.” So, what does he mean by that? We are so tuned in to adding technologies to our practices that we sometimes forget we have to upgrade the firmware in our own heads to keep up. 

You can begin by doing a lot more continuing education (CE) than you need for relicensure or board certification … and actually invest yourself in the classes. It is a dirty little secret that many people take these classes just to get the credit, and they spend class time on their phones or sleeping. Don’t do that. Be intentional about the courses you select, pay attention, and try to learn all you can about the subject.

CE can help you improve your skills in many areas of the specialty contact lens space. Myopia management is a big one; getting better at multifocal lens prescribing is also a great way to take your contact lens practice to the next level. When you look at the top people in the field, you’ll see that most of them attend a lot of conferences. They also have lots of CE credits on the books every year.

In addition, becoming knowledgeable about other critical areas might be what makes your contact lens practice not only survive, but thrive. One of the things that I want to commit to in 2026 is doing a deep dive into using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the patient experience and the staff experience in my practice. I have used AI to revamp my patient forms, for example. What I want to do next is look into how I can use AI to educate my staff and myself.

Eyecare providers may become so afraid of disruptive technology that they lose sight of the fact that these disruptors can be force multipliers in our practices.

Another way to incorporate AI into practice is to use it in creating and managing electronic health records. Using AI to amalgamate a case history dialogue can be a time-saver as well as a way to improve the accuracy of the exam. Further, using AI as a scribe can save money. Why would I not want to educate myself on how to be faster and more efficient—and save money?

There are many ways to improve that we have not thought of. The point is to be in tune with what you need to learn. If you are not constantly looking for ways to improve yourself, you set a bad example for your staff. It is more than OK to focus on yourself for once, and it will make you a better practitioner.

Reference

1. Osagie P. Moneywise/Yahoo Finance. ‘It’s not taxed at all’: Warren Buffett shared the ‘best investment’ you can make to fight inflation. June 19, 2025. Accessed January 14, 2026. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/not-taxed-warren-buffett-shared-090700663.html