Dr. Michael Lange

Bust your butt! You have to set yourself apart.

 

Dr. Michael Lange is the CEO, President, and Chairman of the Board for Fortifeye Vitamins, Paleo Simplified, Lange Eye Care, Lange Eye Institute, and Blue Light Defense/Blue Light Shield. He has blazed a trail for contemporary doctors of optometry. His insight, knowledge, and research have raised the level and awareness of the entire eye care industry. Dr. Lange goes above and beyond primary eye care, bringing a new vigilance to the way eye care and healthcare is addressed. As he implemented his vision of how to provide treatment to patients, he champions avant-garde for the preservation of health for all humanity.

Dr. Lange is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi where he did his undergraduate studies in Psychology. He attended Pennsylvania College of Optometry and earned his Doctorate of Optometry. Dr. Lange was Board Certified in the state of Florida as an Optometric Physician in 1992. In 2010 he continued his education and became a Certified Nutrition Specialist.

As a Radio Talk Show Host, Dr. Lange gained notoriety throughout the state of Florida. His shows were syndicated and picked-up in major cities around the country, while his social media is presented on Facebook-Live and through internet streaming. He has 13 locations in Ocala, with his flagship location in The Villages, Florida. He has opened 13 locations in Ocala, The Villages, Tampa Bay, Gainesville, Inverness, Williston, Citrus Hill, Summerfield, Clearwater, and on the University of Florida Campus.

Where did the idea for your company come from?

The ideas came from my patients. I see between 45-50 patients a day, and they were all unhealthy. I wanted to make people healthier. I wanted to be able to slow down the disease in my patients. Many of these issues come from being overweight. I began to interview patients about their diets, and most of them were eating way too much sugar and processed foods. I started researching why their supplements were not being absorbed. I also threatened them about losing their eyesight if they didn’t get healthy. The simplest way to avoid the four age-deteriorating diseases of the eyes is to lose weight if overweight. Patients began to listen to me, and we had some excellent results with our current line of products.

The best example came from a patient who cut his weight in half. He was on 13 different medications before he lost the weight. After he dropped the weight, he no longer requires any medication. His physician wanted him to lose weight, and I told him he was going to go blind if he did not. It got his attention, and he followed my advice. As my patients’ eyes started to improve everything else with their health fell into place.

The Blue Light Defense and the Fortifeye Vitamin Company was to be able to give legitimate evidence-based supplements that are based on actual science. We brought something to the market that has a therapeutic value. Most vitamins in the market have a fixed price mark-up if you are going to sell retail. They are not necessarily therapeutic. Fortifeye Vitamin Company is small enough that we don’t have to mark it up nearly as much. We can bring our products to market with legitimate therapeutic levels of nutrients without over-charging the patients.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

I see my first patient at 7:30 in the morning. I have two scribes with me to make sure we have all the necessary information and the flow goes smooth. I want to spend all the time necessary with each patient. That is why I am known to run behind, but patients are happy. I don’t want anyone leaving my office who is not pleased. I maintain a positive, upbeat environment in the office.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I research what it is that I need to enhance and improve my performance in the gym or on the race track. After I get the idea, I study it and bring it into reality. I spend a lot of time and money on research and development. That is how Fortifeye was developed. I am excited about our new pre and post-workout drink that will be called ‘Fortifeye High Performance Muscle Fuel’. This is in research and development now. People spend a lot of money for something with no therapeutic value. I want to be the first one to develop an athletic drink that is an all-natural solution with real nutritional value.

What’s one trend that excites you?

There have been many trendy diets over the years. It would be great to have a legitimate lifestyle diet that would improve your health and your vision. If you’re not healthy, it doesn’t matter how much money you have. You won’t be happy. Eat the right foods, avoid bad foods, exercise, and enjoy the sunshine. Make life worth living.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

Hard work and sacrifice! I go to the gym and work out from 11-1 am and have a Fortifeye Super Protein drink afterwards. Hard work eventually pays off but you must find the time to exercise. Exercise will relieve stress and keep you sharp physically and mentally.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I believe that for the most part, I have had good instincts and confidence in my decisions. I have taken the right risks, and I have made all of the right choices along my journey. The only thing I would tell my younger self is to be happy and healthy and live a good life. If I had it all to do over again, I would do it all the same.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

I am one of the leading authorities on health and nutrition. I believe that nutrition is the key to good health. Most Doctors don’t think that nutrition is the key to good health.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Bust your Butt! You have to set yourself apart. You have to work hard, and sacrifice and you are good.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

In the eye care arena, one strategy that should be offered is full eye care services. You have to provide everything from routine eye exams to nutritional eye care; from cataract to retinal surgery, and ocular plastic surgery. Services should be provided with everything under one roof regardless of their socio-economic background. Services should be offered seven days a week.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

I don’t consider it a failure but, I don’t enjoy hiring. We grew too fast. I had to hire someone to take over that task.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

The best ways to make money right now is to sell something trendy on the internet. Sell direct to the consumer for a fair price and cut out all of the middle men.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I took my family out for a surprise dinner. My family are the most important people in my life, and making them happy is my number one goal.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

I rely on WordPress. I have 250 websites out there, and I run all of them on WordPress.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

There is an alternative medicine book called ‘The Great American Health Hoax’ by Raymond Francis.

What is your favorite quote?

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And the second one is, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Key Learnings:

• Nutrition is the key to good health.
• Eye care services should be offered with everything under one roof regardless of their socio-economic background.
• Bust your Butt! You have to set yourself apart.

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