In this episode of Play Chess, Not Checkers, Dr. Adam Ramsey welcomes Dr. Lauretta Justin—founder of Millennium Eye Center—for a real, layered conversation about becoming an optometrist, a business owner, and ultimately the CEO of your own life. What unfolds is not just a professional journey, but a blueprint for resilience, identity, and practice-building on your own terms.

Haiti, Loss, and Learning to Survive

Dr. Justin takes listeners back to her childhood in Haiti, where family separation was part of the immigration journey. With her parents in the U.S., she grew up with her grandmother and great aunt, navigating life without the protection she needed as a young girl. That absence exposed her to trauma that reshaped her confidence and made her timid and fearful of the world.

When she reunited with her parents in the U.S. at about 12, tragedy struck again—her mother passed away within six months. By age 13, Dr. Justin says life felt like a repeated cycle of loss, and she grew up expecting something bad to happen at any time. As if that wasn’t enough, her father remarried, and his wife’s untreated bipolar disorder added another layer of instability.

Growing Up in the Hood

In Orange, New Jersey, Dr. Justin attended a high school with metal detectors, surrounded by violence, teen pregnancy, and peers whose futures were often cut short. At the time, she didn’t realize how dangerous her environment was—she just knew she had to stay focused. She even shares a vivid memory of the biggest drug dealer in town hiding drugs in her backyard. Instead of becoming a victim to her environment, she built boundaries, stayed safe, and kept her eyes on graduation. School wasn’t optional; it was survival.

Finding Optometry by Accident and Purpose

Dr. Justin entered college at Montclair State University undecided. Her major bounced from business to accounting until she failed chemistry—a class she had never struggled with before. Rather than shrinking, she doubled down, switched to biology, and stepped into science out of pure determination.

Optometry entered her life through a relationship. Her boyfriend had Best disease and was legally blind. Watching his care opened her eyes (literally and emotionally) to how complex vision loss can be. She realized there’s a spectrum of impairment, not just “glasses” or “blind.” When a friend suggested optometry and she looked into it, the profession clicked. She didn’t choose it out of childhood certainty; she chose it because she finally saw what vision meant for someone she loved.

Redefining Success

Dr. Justin openly shares that she once chased the “busy equals successful” mindset. She pursued a specific number because it was the industry norm. Over time, she realized success without alignment is a trap. True sustainability came when she decided:

• who she wants to see
• how she wants to practice
• what she wants to offer
• and what kind of life she wants her practice to support

Her top value? Freedom.
She built a business to be free, then realized she had become a slave to it—until she redesigned the model around her values. For her, peace and profit now live together.

The Framework Behind the Mission

From that transformation, Dr. Justin created her “CEO of You” concept. She explains that clinicians graduate knowing how to care for patients, but not how to run a business or lead a life with intention. Her framework has three pillars:

• Winning Mindset: Know your beliefs, values, mission, vision, and purpose. Identify what’s holding you back and what actually matters to you.
• Winning Strategy: Goals require direction. If you want the sunset, you can’t keep driving east. Strategy includes leadership, operations, finances, marketing, and structure that match your real goals.
• Winning Team: She learned the hard way that hiring out of a savior mentality creates leaks. The right team strengthens you, protects your time, and supports your purpose.

She also notes her road wasn’t smooth—she relaunched her practice six times in 20 years and was even advised to file bankruptcy twice. Her message is clear: there’s a recipe for success, but it has to be bio-individual to you.

Burnout Prevention: Spotting the “Leaks” Early

Dr. Justin expands this work beyond optometry, recognizing that women in healthcare leadership share similar challenges. She recently released a free Burnout Audit, designed to help clinicians and entrepreneurs identify seven common business “leaks” that drain time, peace, and profit. Her take is sharp: burnout isn’t only about being busy—it’s about operating with hidden losses that quietly crush motivation.

Dr. Lauretta Justin’s story is bigger than optometry. It’s about rebuilding identity after trauma, refusing to let circumstances define capacity, and choosing a practice model rooted in personal values instead of external pressure. Alongside Dr. Ramsey, she reminds listeners that community, mentorship, and self-knowledge are not optional if you want longevity in this profession.