DESPITE 20 YEARS of attending Vision Expo West in Las Vegas, I don’t gamble.

I never have.

Well, once. One year, I put $.25 in a Keno machine at a bar while I waited for my drink. I lost that quarter immediately and the thrill was gone. I used to joke that I preferred to eat or wear my money. But I bought a house a few years ago and the joke’s on me.

Then again, I suppose home ownership is a form of gambling. What’s really happening behind that dry wall? Is that dirt or mold? Is my HVAC system a ticking time bomb about to blow up my entire savings account?

But so then is business ownership. In fact, when you own a business, the wagers are even bigger, the risks even riskier and the payoffs even more spectacular.

That became an unintentional theme throughout this issue … people and businesses that went all in and have been rewarded with exceptional success.

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Like Autianna Wilson, owner of Eyewear Love Affair and September’s America’s Finest profile (page 72). She gambled that taking her services directly to the people during Covid would lead to … something. Now Eyewear Love Affair is simultaneously a mobile destination boutique where exceptional, personalized service and an unexpected and diverse selection of frames can be found.

Or Dr. Fiona Kolia of Astoria Vision in McAllen, TX, who channeled her inner Holly Golightly and celebrated her 20-year-old practice by throwing a party to celebrate her clients, many of which came from far and wide for Breakfast at Tiffany’s (page 60).

Or every one of the content creators we profile in our Big Story on page 42. None of them started out looking to become an optical influencer but each one wagered on themselves when they hit “post” that very first time. And the payoff? Spectacular.

This September marks my 21st pilgrimage to VEW and after that much time you can bet I’m going to have some fun with it. For starters, the number 21 is a big component of our Fall Buying Guide Special Feature starting on page 52 and each of the headlines on the cover is the title of a movie — did you catch each one?