The Focused View: Empowering Eye Care Professionals

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!

EP51: From Specialty to Strategy: Blending Clinical Excellence and Leadership in Independent Optometry with Shonit Jagmohan - Part 1

What happens when you stop trying to serve everyone and start building a practice around clarity and specialisation? In this episode, we are joined by Shonit Jagmohan, an optometrist and owner of Vision Camberwell, one of the oldest independent practices in Victoria, to unpack how he built a practice model centred on specialty contact lenses, patient experience, and intentional business design. Throughout the conversation, Shonit shares how he shifts from the traditional mindset of trying to serve everyone and instead advocates for clear positioning and strategic differentiation. He  shares how leadership, team culture, and structured systems allow him to balance clinical excellence with business sustainability, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other. 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: 3:11 - Shonit Jagmohan’s journey to optometry 6:43 - Exposure to different practice models 10:05 - Key difference between independent and corporate optometry 15:59 - Inside Vision Camberwell & its practice philosophy 20:10 - Specialty contact lenses 22:31 - Why Shonit chose specialty contact lenses 27:03 - Differentiation & market strategy 34:53 - Creating a unique patient experience 37:40 - The cost of trying to serve everyone 40:54 - Getting started with specialisation 45:01 - Balancing clinical care &  business profitability 48:06 - Building a high-performing team culture 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!

EP50: From Grad to Greenfield: One Optometrist’s Journey to Private Practice Ownership with Sheila Lam - Part 2

Sometimes, the most powerful way to learn is to build as you go, and Sheila Lam’s journey is a testament to that. In this second part of the conversation, Sheila Lam takes us behind the scenes of building a greenfield practice with Mandy Huynh from a simple idea to full execution. From figuring out business structures and securing funding, to negotiating leases, managing unexpected costs, and building a patient base from zero, Sheila shares the raw, unfiltered realities of entrepreneurship in optometry. This episode isn’t just about opening a practice, it’s about betting on yourself, learning as you go, and building something meaningful from the ground up. Whether you’re a student, early-career optometrist, or someone dreaming of ownership, this episode will give you both practical insights and the mindset shifts needed to take that leap. 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: 2:51 - Why Sheila and Mandy chose to gain experience first before opening their practice 4:00 - Finding mentors & building a support system 6:12 - Choosing a business name, logo, and their A team 8:37 - Finding a location 12:50 - Creating a business plan and securing business funds 16:28 - Forecasting bank loan amount for starting a business 20:30 - Finding a property and lease negotiation 28:07 - Practice design and fit-out challenges 31:48 - Unexpected delays: approvals, compliance, construction realities 33:39 - Mindset shift: problem-solving over perfection 35:55 - Most underestimated part of setting up a practice 41:13 - Opening Months: What it’s really like 42:56 - Hiring the first staff 45:54 - How hiring staff improve the business 48:16 - From 0 patients to current growth 49:43 - Marketing strategies for greenfield practices that actually worked 51:57 - Essential personality traits for business owners 52:58 - Advice to young optometrists who’s unsure if they’re ready 57:02 - Sustainable growth over rapid expansion 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!

EP49: From Grad to Greenfield: One Optometrist's Journey to Private Practice Ownership with Sheila Lam

From grad to greenfield. Sheila Lam didn’t just follow the expected path, she built her own. In this episode, Michael Nasser sits down with Sheila Lam, optometrist and co-founder of Eye Definition Optometrist, to unpack what it really takes to step into ownership early in your career. From graduating during the pandemic and gaining experience in corporate optometry, to questioning the “safe” route and launching an independent practice with a business partner, this is a story of clarity, courage, and calculated risk. 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: 2:58 - Sheila Lam's background   4:38 - Early ambitions of practice ownership 6:47 - Sheila's introduction to corporate optometry 9:18 - Outgrowing the corporate path 11:11 - Joining the Young Optometrists and the power of networking  15:24 - Lessons from corporate optometry 19:24 - Making the leap to independent practice 22:07 - Replan the future with independent practice 24:57 - Opening an independent optometry practice 28:30 - Choosing a business partner, aligning goals, and priorities 32:57 - Defining partnership structure and tasks of the practice 35:02 - Why they chose a 50/50 ownership structure 36:17 - Advice they received about the partnership 39:17 - Navigating difficult conversations 43:54 - Other things to consider in a partnership 45:19 - Benefits of having a business partner 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!