EP56: Starting Young: Building a Team, Finding your Niche, and Growing with Purpose with Alisha Shastri - Part 2

EP56: Starting Young: Building a Team, Finding your Niche, and Growing with Purpose with Alisha Shastri - Part 2

How early is too early to start and build an independent practice? Alisha Shastri’s journey proves that with the right mindset, people, and purpose, it might be much sooner than you think.  In part 2 of our conversation with Alisha Shastri, Optometrist Director and co-founder of iOptical, we dive deeper into the realities of building an independent practice from the ground up as a young optometrist. From overcoming financial barriers and recruiting the right team to developing a thriving niche in paediatric eye care.  Throughout the conversation, Alisha highlights the power of partnership, the importance of community, and why young optometrists shouldn’t wait 10 or 15 years before pursuing ownership. She also shares the positive mindset behind her career success while balancing her personal life and how she gives back through The Glasses for Kids program.  All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at   https://www.thefocusedview.com.au [https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/episodes]  Want more support beyond this episode?  Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources [https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources] Key Topics with Timestamps:  2:44 - The challenges of opening a practice as young optometrists  5:34 - Researching the market and understanding the local community  7:21 - Building a successful partnership  11:46 - How partnership roles changed as the business grew  13:28 - Recruiting the right team and building culture  17:26 - Empowering dispensers as the eyes and ears of the practice  19:41 - Why dispensers are often undervalued  22:25 - Alisha discovering her passion for paediatric eye care  24:12 - Creating a child-friendly patient experience in the practice  27:50 - The power of community and word-of-mouth  30:36 - Balancing patient care with the commercial part of the business  33:23 - Giving back through the Glasses for Kids program  38:00 - Collaboration, networking, and industry support  41:43 - Alisha’s mindset in her career and business  45:45 - Advice for students and early-career optometrists  50:38 - What Alisha wishes she knew earlier  Learn More About Us:  Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/ [https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/]  Email: info@thefocusedview.com.au [info@thefocusedview.com.au]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/ [https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview [https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview]  Send us your thoughts about the episode [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2320651/fan_mail/new] Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

EP55: Starting from Zero: How to Establish a Greenfield Optometry Practice - Part 1 with Alisha Shastri

Thinking of starting an independent practice from scratch? In this episode, we are joined by Alisha Shastri, Optometrist Director  and co-founder of iOptical [https://www.ioptical.net.au/], to share her journey from new graduate to practice owner and the lessons she learned building a greenfield optometry practice from the ground up. Alisha shares how working in rural South Australia accelerated her clinical career growth, how she realised within six months of practice that traditional employment wasn't her long-term path, and how a simple conversation with her future business partner, Ebru, evolved into a thriving independent optometry business. From the realities of practice ownership, choosing the right location, building business skills as a healthcare professional, overcoming self-doubt, to creating a patient experience aligned with their vision. This episode offers real-world insight into launching a greenfield practice and building a successful career in independent eye care. Whether you're an optometry student, recent graduate, independent optometrist, or aspiring practice owner, this episode is a must-listen episode for you! All the links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at  https://www.thefocusedview.com.au [https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/episodes] Want more support beyond this episode?  Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources [https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources] Key Topics with Timestamps: 3:00 - How Alisha Shastri discovered optometry as a career 6:26 - First optometry role after graduation during Covid 8:50 - Lessons from practising in a rural community 10:00 - First thoughts about practice ownership 15:09 - Meeting business partner Ebru and discussing ownership 17:19 - The importance of family support 18:52 - Addressing hesitations and fears around business ownership 22:47 - Exploring whether to buy in practice or greenfield ownership 27:56 - Building a vision from the ground up 30:27 - The community response after opening 32:43 - Choosing Greenvale and conducting location research 35:30 - Specific factors to consider in practice location scouting Learn More About Us: Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/ [https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/] Email: info@thefocusedview.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/ [https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview [https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview] Send us your thoughts about the episode [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2320651/fan_mail/new] Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

EP54: Building Operational Leverage: What Independent Optometry Can Learn from Scaled Practice Models with Ankit Patel

What happens when an industrial engineer steps into the world of independent optometry?  In this episode, we are joined by Ankit Patel, founder of My Business Care Team [https://mybcat.com/], and the host of the Optometrists Building Empire [https://mybcat.com/resources/podcast/] podcast. Ankit shares how independent practices can create operational leverage, improve patient experiences, and scale sustainably without losing the personal touch that makes independent optometry so valuable. Drawing on his experience owning and managing multiple private practices in the United States, Ankit shares practical insights on centralising operations, identifying bottlenecks, measuring performance, building accountability, and creating systems that enable teams to deliver world-class patient experiences consistently. Whether you're a practice owner, manager, optometrist, or emerging leader, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to help you work smarter, strengthen your team, and build a more resilient practice. All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at  https://www.thefocusedview.com.au [https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/episodes] Want more support beyond this episode?  Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources [https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources] Key Topics with Timestamps: 3:04 - From Industrial Engineering to Optometry 4:40 - Providing patient with high-touch experience & centralisation 8:28 - Challenging parts of scaling a practice 13:57 - Using "First Pass Yield" to identify operational friction 17:53 - Why multitasking is hurting practice performance 19:10 - Accountability systems that drive results 21:11 - The CARE values framework 23:40 - Understanding operational inefficiencies and improving it 27:27 - Build a practice that is not competing with the corporate 29:22 - Simplifying product offerings for easy communication and to build trust 30:49 - Metrics beyond revenue and conversion rates 36:02 - What separates high-performing practices 42:26 - Common mistakes practice owners make 43:35 - How to start incorporating the business mentality in your practice 46:49 - Advice for young optometrists and future practice owners 48:40 - The biggest lesson from Ankit's journey Learn More About Us: Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/ [https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/] Email: info@thefocusedview.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/ [https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview [https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview] Send us your thoughts about the episode [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2320651/fan_mail/new] Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

EP53: 42 Years in Eye Care - George Nasser on The Story Behind Building Opticare

One bold decision that changed the course of independent optometry in Australia today. In part 1 of this 3-part series, we are joined by George Nasser, Founder and Director at Opticare, to share the lessons, risks, and industry changes that established his 42-year journey. From identifying major gaps in the optical industry in the early 1980s to challenging long-standing industry norms and making bold decisions that ultimately broke a major company’s 25-year hold on a government optical contract, George’s story is a powerful example of how persistence, innovation, and an openness to question the status quo can help shape an entire industry. About the Guest: George Nasser is an optometrist and the founder of Opticare, one of Australia’s trusted independent optical lens providers. With more than 40 years of experience in the eye care industry, George has played an influential role in the evolution of independent optometry in Australia. Through his leadership, Opticare has continued to champion and support independent practices while delivering patient-focused optical solutions across the industry. All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at  https://www.thefocusedview.com.au [https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/episodes] Want more support beyond this episode?  Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources [https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources] Key Topics with Timestamps: 4:13 - George’s early life and why he switched from architecture to optometry 5:54 - Family influence and entrepreneurial upbringing 8:48 - Developing leadership  from becoming a school captain 10:33 - The “curtain rule” in optometry practices 13:32 - Opening his first practice after graduating 17:35 - Something needed to change in the government optical system 22:48 - Building a statewide independent optometry network 25:42 - The conclusion of the first government tender 27:24 - The creation of Opticare 29:09 - What Opticare looks like in 1984 31:40 - Lessons about persistence and business 33:32 - Building the first Opticare team and its challenges 37:50 - Optometry then vs now 41:40 - The rise of multinational corporations in Australia 46:02 - Attempting to unite independent laboratories 48:55 - The spirit of Opticare 50:20 - The lecture that transformed Opticare’s future vision Learn More About Us: Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/ [https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/] Email: info@thefocusedview.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/ [https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview [https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview] Send us your thoughts about the episode [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2320651/fan_mail/new] Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!

EP52: From Specialty to Strategy: Building a High-Performance Independent Practice with Shonit Jagmohan - Part 2

Differentiation is one of the biggest opportunities for independent optometry practices, but it requires the right strategy, systems, and leadership. In this episode, we continue our conversation with optometrist and owner of Vision Camberwell, Shonit Jagmohan. Shonit breaks down how he’s built a high-performance independent practice by focusing on what truly sets a business apart: its people, its culture, and its strategy. He shares the mindset required to stand out and stay relevant in an increasingly competitive landscape. From hiring the right people and creating meaningful incentive structures to making smarter business decisions and future-proofing your practice, this episode is packed with practical insights that independent practice owners (or aspiring ones) need to hear. All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at https://www.thefocusedview.com.au [https://www.thefocusedview.com.au] Want more support beyond this episode?  Access our free resource collection here: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources [https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/resources] Key Topics with Timestamps: 3:18 - Shonit’s leadership philosophy and staff development 6:16 - Ongoing development & staff training 9:28 - Common mistakes in team motivation 12:01 - Motivation and goals differences 14:26 - Designing effective bonus and incentive structures 22:11 - What great leadership looks like 23:26 - Influential U 27:18 - Time investment & decision making 33:27 - KPIs that actually drive results for Vision Camberwell 39:05 - Shonit’s AHA moments as a business owner 42:37 - The future of independent optometry 47:03 - Advice for new & aspiring independent optometrists 50:35 - What’s next for Shonit Jagmohan Learn More About Us: Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/ [https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/] Email: info@thefocusedview.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/ [https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview [https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview] Send us your thoughts about the episode [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2320651/fan_mail/new] Thank you for joining us in this episode of The Focused View Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, give us a 5-Star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us reach even more eye care professionals and build a community of innovation and see new opportunities within the optical industry. Talk with you next time!