Everyone loses when thousands of optical assistants are untrained. It's not their fault; it's just that they're out there performing optical services that they haven't got any idea about. – James Gibbins

In this episode, Michael Nasser is joined by James Gibbins, Director of Education at ACOD and one of the legends in Australia's optical industry, to dive into the two critical areas of the optical profession: training and recruitment.

With over four decades of experience, James unpacks the current training gap impacting untrained optical assistants, outdated recruitment models, and how practice can build a sustainable, skilled workforce for the future through education, empowerment, and culture change. This episode is a must-listen for optical business owners, optometrists, dispensers, and practice managers who want to strengthen their teams, improve patient care, and future-proof their practices through better training and recruitment strategies.

Key Topics with Timestamps:

1:18 - James Gibbins' journey to the optical profession

4:48 - Biggest challenges that the optical industry faces

6:32 - The impact of an untrained optical assistant on the practice and patient care

10:43 - Key benefits of proper training

14:26 - Corporate vs. Independent training culture

18:22 - Recruitment challenges and how businesses can adapt

20:20 - Creating an attractive career pathway

28:35 - Addressing employer hesitations about training investments

31:45 - What retention looks like in high-performing practice

33:26 - What's new to ACOD: A Diploma in optical dispensing is coming

37:09 - Continuing education with ODA & CPD

43:44 - How to improve training and recruitment efforts

All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at

https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/


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Learn More About Us:

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Email: Michael@thefocusedview.com.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview

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Send us your thoughts about the episode

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!

What if the real price of avoiding difficult conversations at work is losing your best team members and holding back your business growth? How much longer can you afford to stay silent?

In this episode, Michael Nasser is joined again by Opticare’s Commercial Manager, Joanne Scott-Dostine, to dive into one of the most avoided yet essential parts of practice management: navigating difficult conversations with intention and clarity. From understanding why people avoid difficult conversations to walking through how to approach them with emotional intelligence and strategy, Joanne shares a useful and effective approach for practice owners and team leaders.

Joanne also shares transformative concepts like the Emotional Bank Account and “putting on your business hat,” offering leaders tools they can implement immediately. Whether you manage a small family-run optical store or lead a large multi-location practice, this episode equips you with the mindset, language, and leadership presence to handle the most challenging team dynamics with confidence and care.

Key Topics with Timestamps:

1:58 - Managing people is often underestimated in small practices

4:18 - Why people avoid tough conversations in the workplace

7:28 - The impact on business when issues go unaddressed

11:17 - “Bacon walls” and the danger of minor issues piling up

12:33 - What is the Emotional Bank Account, and why does it matter to businesses and people

16:05 - The power of vulnerability in leadership: Why owning your part builds credibility

17:21 - Maintaining strong relationships and accountability through the ‘business hat’ approach

22:49 - Navigating family dynamics in business (husband-wife teams, siblings, etc.)

26:42 - When not to have the conversation and when you absolutely should

30:16 - A step-by-step guide to preparing for tough conversations

36:29 - Avoid these common mistakes when dealing with challenging conversations

40:26 - Emotional management and the power of tone and language

47:13 - Real-life stories: how tough conversations led to transformational growth

51:59 - Your action step this week: stop avoiding, start planning

Join Michael at the ODMA Fair on Friday, June 28, from 2–3 PM at ICC Sydney as he shares top takeaways from the Elevate Your Practice series, practical insights to boost your team, efficiency, and patient care.

Register here: https://regonsite.eventsair.com/odmafair-2025/tradevisitor/Site/Register

Episode Suggestions:

EP30: Digital Health and the Evolving Scope of Optometry with Nicola Mountford

Connect with Michael Nasser:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-nasser/

Connect with Joanne Scott-Dostine:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-scott-dostine-144297152/

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Send us your thoughts about the episode

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!

What does Digital health really mean in the context of optometry beyond the buzzwords? Nicola Mountford unpacks one of the most relevant topics in optometry as technology continues to reshape the healthcare landscape.

In this episode, Michael Nasser is joined by Nicola Mountford, Optometry Advancement Advisor at Optometry Australia, to explore the evolving role of digital health in optometry. Nicola breaks down the practical applications of digital tools in a clinical setting, how it's transforming the way optometrists practice, and how the industry can adapt to stay relevant and integrated into Australia's broader healthcare ecosystem.

Key Topics with Timestamps:

1:54 - Nicola's optometry background and her work at Optometry Australia

4:13 - What digital health really means and why it matters for optometrists

5:45 - Benefits of digital health to both patients and independent practices

10:16 - Emerging technologies in optometric practice

12:17 - Government’s digital health roadmap

18:27 - The state of My Health Record in optometry: Access, limitations, and future plans

21:48 - Defining data terminology in optometry: Why language matters

25:29 - Real-world impact of interoperable health records

27:32 - The risk of being left behind if optometry doesn't evolve with digital systems

29:33 - Frustrations and hesitations to digital health evolution

33:49 - Data privacy concerns and how patient empowerment helps address them

36:47 - The most exciting part of digital health

38:59 - Integrating digital health to optometry: Where to start?

All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at

https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/


______

Learn More About Us:

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Email: Michael@thefocusedview.com.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview

______

Send us your thoughts about the episode

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!

"Sustainability doesn't have to be special, it can just be a normal part of eyewear manufacturing process," - Chris Savage's take on championing small batch eyewear manufacturing, environmental responsibility, and timeless design aesthetics.

In this episode, Michael Nasser is joined by Chris Savage, a renowned eyewear designer and founder of Objekt Eyewear & Spexcycle, to explore the often-overlooked artistry industry behind frame design and sustainability in the optical industry. From his unexpected journey to the optical industry to Spexcycle's process of collecting and making sustainable handcrafted frame designs, Chris redefines the future of what sustainable and handcrafted eyewear is.

Key Topics with Timestamps:

1:49 - Chris Savage's unexpected entry into the optical world

3:52 - Silhouette’s Titan Minimal Art approach to eyewear

6:48 - From architecture to eyewear frame designer

9:31 - The importance and power of artisanal practice & frame design

13:50 - Challenges of small batch eyewear production

18:28 - The art of building with what resources you have

20:36 - Balancing craftsmanship and sustainability

23:51 - Spexcycle: The recycling movement

30:48 - The process of recycling the frame

34:27 - Philosophy of Objekt Eyewear

40:22 - Making sustainability a default process, not a feature

43:08 - The future of sustainable eyewear

48:50 - Connect with Spexcycle and Objekt Eyewear

50:40 - Workshop for aspiring frame designers

All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at
https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Episode Suggestions:

EP28: Leadership, Staff Motivation & Social Media for Practice Growth with Kayla Ashlee - Part 3

Connect with Michael Nasser:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-nasser/

Connect with Chris Savage:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-savage-520886330/

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Learn More About Us:

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Email: Michael@thefocusedview.com.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview

______

Send us your thoughts about the episode

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!

If your team isn't showing up the way you want, it might be time to look at your leadership. Because the truth is, thriving optical practices aren’t built on sales alone. They’re built on strong leadership, intentional training, and a team that feels seen, supported, and inspired.

In this part 3 episode, Michael Nasser is back again with Kayle Ashlee, the founder of Spexy, a training platform designed for eye care professionals to discuss the human side of practice growth. From having a structured leadership check-in and performance-based incentives to leveraging your social media presence, Kayla shares her signature blend of strategy and human-led management to motivate staff and grow the independent practice.

Kayla Ashlee is an eye nerd, international public speaker, eye care consultant, and math geek who teaches eye care professionals how to transform the state of their independent practice to become a powerhouse that thrives and succeeds.

Key Topics with Timestamps:

2:35 - The role of leadership in training and staff motivation

5:19 - Structured quarterly check-ins: A simple strategy with a big impact

8:51 - Time-based raises vs. Performance-based incentives

14:57 - Inside Spexy: Netflix-Style Optical Training

20:00 - Being authentically YOU on social media

29:44 - Social media is a free advertising tool for your local community

32:27 - How to have a social media plan for your independent practice

36:08 - Posting cadence, influencers & community engagement

39:27 - What is holding people back from posting on social media

41:56 - The future of training in optometry

45:38 - Kayla Ashlee's advice to eye care professionals

Mentioned Resources:

Spexy

Spexy email: ProTip@BeSpexy.com

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown

Episode Suggestions:

EP27: Soft Skills & Human Connection in Optometry with Kayla Ashlee - Part 2

Connect with Michael Nasser:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-nasser/

Connect with Kayla Ashlee:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylaashlee/

Email: kayla@bespexy.com

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Learn More About Us:

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Email: Michael@thefocusedview.com.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview

____

Send us your thoughts about the episode

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!

Can you truly build a human connection with your patient in just one minute? In part two of our conversation, Kayla Ashlee returns to share how “adult pacifiers,” aka our phones, are quietly killing patient relationships. She reveals how soft skills, when used intentionally, can restore and create an unforgettable patient experience.

Kayla shares strategies for using soft skills in every patient touchpoint, how connection creates a real differentiator, and how to build a level of soft skills awareness with your new and existing staff. If you want your practice to stand out in this AI-driven and tech-distracted world, this is a must-listen episode for you!

Kayla Ashlee is an eye nerd, international public speaker, eye care consultant, and math geek who teaches eye care professionals how to transform the state of their independent practice to become a powerhouse that thrives and succeeds.

Key Topics with Timestamps: YOUTUBE

1:58 - Using soft skills as trade skills in independent practice

3:42 - First soft skill touchpoint: How to approach a patient

5:05 - Second soft skill touchpoint: How the pre-tester assists and gets the patient

6:06 - Third soft skill touchpoint: How optometrists communicate with the patient

10:40 - Building a human connection with the patient

13:31 - Digital habits & staff-to-patient disconnection

15:45 - Creating a level of self-awareness for new & established staff to build their soft skills

Mentioned Resources:

Spexy

Episode Suggestions:

EP26: The Power of Structured Training in Independent Optometry with Kayla Ashlee - Part 1

Connect with Kayla Ashlee:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylaashlee/

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Learn More About Us:

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Email: Michael@thefocusedview.com.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview

____

Send us your thoughts about the episode

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!

You can have the best inventory and marketing plan for your independent practice, but if your team isn't trained to back it up, it does no good to you - Kayla Ashlee.

In this episode, Michael Nasser is joined by Kayla Ashlee, CEO of Spexy, a US-based optical training resource that addresses the most critical struggles of independent practices. Kayla discusses the role of structured training and how practices can maximise their team's potential to improve patient experience, boost sales, and grow the optical practice.

Kayla Ashlee is an eye nerd, international public speaker, eye care consultant, and math geek who teaches eye care professionals how to transform the state of their independent practice to become a powerhouse that thrives and succeeds.

Key Topics with Timestamps:

2:51 - Meet Kayla Ashlee and her optical journey

6:21 - The biggest challenge independent practices face

9:37 - Why many optical practices struggle with training

12:22 - Technical vs. Practical training

18:01 - Structured training and its benefits

22:35 - Example of practices that have transformed through training

Mentioned Resources:

Spexy

Episode Suggestions:

EP25: Elevate Your Practice: Topic 7 – The Untapped Opportunity for Sunglasses in Australia’s Independent Practices

Connect with Kayla Ashlee:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylaashlee/

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Learn More About Us:

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Email: Michael@thefocusedview.com.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview

_____

Send us your thoughts about the episode

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!

What if the advice we failed to give is the very reason our patients are now struggling with eye health issues? At what point will they come back to us, wondering why we never told them to wear sunglasses before it was too late?

In this episode of the Elevate Your Practice series, Michael Nasser and Joanne Scott-Dostine, Opticare's Commercial Manager, discuss the often overlooked opportunities for sunglass offerings in Australia's optometry practice.

Joanne shares the alarming statistics of UV exposure & skin cancer, how creating awareness and patient education can minimise eye health risks such as skin cancer, and the best strategies for integrating & maximising sunglasses into an optometry practice's workflow. If you are looking for ways to enhance your patient care services while boosting your store's sales with sunglasses, this episode is for you!

Key Topics with Timestamps:

2:43 - The untapped opportunity for sunglasses in Australia’s independent practices

4:41 - Alarming statistics on UV exposure and eye health risks

5:56 - Steps to integrating sunglasses as a standard part of the practice workflow

9:46 - Prescription vs non-prescription sunglasses: How to balance both

11:45 - Essential training for staff to effectively recommend sunglasses

15:51 - Best practice for instore sunglass visibility & presentation

18:54 - Sunnies stock management

22:20 - Creating awareness about UV protection through patient education

29:20 - Community partnerships to promote sunglasses and eye protection

32:55 - Effective marketing strategies for sunglasses offerings

35:40 - Sales techniques: Bundling, second-pair offers, and conversion tactics

38:08 - Using KPIs to measure the success of your sunglass strategy

40:27 - Three key action steps to boost sunglass sales

43:15 - Joanne on strengthening sunglass strategy

All the other links and resources mentioned in this episode can be found at
https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Episode Suggestions:

Ep24: Kelly O'Brien on Managing an Independent Optical Practice in a Rural Setting

Connect with Joanne Scott-Dostine:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-scott-dostine-144297152/
Email: joanne@optipro.com.au

_______

Learn More About Us:

Website: https://www.thefocusedview.com.au/

Email: Michael@thefocusedview.com.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-focused-view

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefocusedview/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefocusedview

_______

Send us your thoughts about the episode

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!