Wallflower, timid, quiet, reserved—some of the words used to describe introverts like me. Introverts are not necessarily shy, we’re just selectively social. Small talk, back-to-back meetings, and crowds can deplete our energy quicker than physical exercise. When it comes to networking, we may feel like we’re working against our own nature. For me, this looks like pulling a “French exit” at a party and keeping my circle small. While I have more control over my personal bubble, it’s important for my professional development to continue to grow my network. I’ve learned to be judicious with my energy whenever possible. I’m not a social butterfly like my extroverted colleagues and friends, but I’m okay with that. Rather than forcing myself into a mold I don’t fit, I focus on thoughtful, strategic interactions. I’m more likely to sleep through an afterparty than attend one. So, when I’m at either a large conference or meeting, I go in with a goal to interact with a minimum number of attendees. Whether these are people I know or they’re total strangers—walking in with a purposeful mindset pushes me outside my comfort zone—and I leave with stronger relationships. This method works well in a remote atmosphere too. It’s easy to reach out via email and request an informal chat. Even outside the workplace—leveraging LinkedIn, social media, or the “Contact Us” section of a website can be networking tactics, especially for introverts. The fear of in-person rejection by a stranger is eliminated; plus, the worst that can happen is the message goes unanswered. The pressure to network isn’t always on us—sometimes an opportunity presents itself. Recently, I was invited to sit in on another team’s weekly meeting and happily accepted. When the time came to join, any anxiety I felt was immediately eased by friendly, welcoming faces. We took turns sharing about ourselves and our roles, then each team member gave an update about their work. The conversation was interesting, fun, and completely organic. We’re now meeting once per quarter to stay connected. Ongoing practice and exposure to networking is crucial for me as an introvert. For professional and personal growth, it’s important to take risks and be vulnerable. When I feel like crawling back into my shell, I remind myself that if I don’t ask, I won’t get. Even if I need to leave an event early or take a moment to myself, it’s important to be seen. Written by Shawn Kramer

The OWA offers at least two Leadership Scholarships every year to OWA members. These scholarships are to be used for the professional and personal development of each recipient and are funded through the Individual Contributor Program donations. The purpose of the Leadership Scholarship is to provide a professional mentoring opportunity, reward those who have volunteered their time and efforts to help the OWA reach its goals, and to promote the founding principles of the organization: to connect, inspire, and lead future leaders. Nominations for the 2022 scholarships will be accepted through Monday, October 31, 2022. You can nominate a colleague or yourself to be considered to receive a Leadership Scholarship. Please note the following information / criteria: Purpose of the Optical Women’s Association Leadership Scholarship To encourage members to get more involved in the OWA To reward those who have volunteered their time and efforts to help the OWA reach its goals To provide a mentoring experience To promote the goals of the OWA — Connect, Inspire, Lead — by mentoring future leaders Criteria for Nomination Nominee must be a member of the OWA by the time of nomination. Nominee should have served or be actively serving on an OWA Committee. Nominee must be nominated by a current OWA member. Selection Process The OWA’s Connections & Enrichment Committee will collect the nominations. OWA’s Executive Committee will make the final selection of two award recipients. Each Platinum Sponsor company is allowed to choose their own (one) award recipient. Award Details Each recipient will receive up to $2,000 to be used towards a program of their choosing, subject to approval by the scholarship subcommittee. The scholarship money can be used towards expenses related to the program including registration fee and travel expenses. Scholarship recipients selected by the OWA must be employed in the eyecare industry at the time they participate in their program. Scholarship recipients selected by a Platinum Sponsor must be employed by the Platinum Sponsor company at the time they participate in their program. Award Recipient Requirements Recipient will select her program and complete it by the end of 2023. Each winner will share her experience by means of one OWA communication, such as One-Minute Inspiration, blog article, or the OWA Talks podcast. Award recipients will be announced in November –  nominate by Monday, October 31, 2022.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and Domestic Violence Awareness month. These two causes disproportionately affect women more than men. 1 in 8 women develops breast cancer, compared to 1 in 800 men. The statistics for domestic violence are even higher, with an average of 1 in 3 women experiencing domestic violence in their lifetime, compared to 1 in 4 men. To raise awareness, we wanted to share some resources to help those close to these causes. Domestic Violence Awareness Resources: Recognizing the signs of abuse could save your or another’s life. Domestic violence is not just limited to physical abuse; mental abuse, control, and gaslighting are all forms of domestic violence. Thehotline.org has resources to help you learn how to support others, create a safety plan, and more. Below are a few critical points on identifying abuse; we encourage you to read the article for more in-depth information. A few common signs: Extreme jealousy, often resulting in prevention from seeing friends, family, and peers Insulting, demeaning, shaming—often in public Controlling decisions and financial resources Intimidation/threatening behavior, often towards you, your children, and/or pets Destroying your belongings or living space Please reach out if you suspect abuse for yourself or someone you know. Many towns and cities have local programs; you can search for yours on Thehotline.org. The number for the national domestic violence hotline is 1.800.799.SAFE or you can text “Start” to 88788. Breast Cancer Awareness: Early detection is key to breast cancer treatment; if caught early, there is a 93% or higher survival rate within five years. Frequent self-exams, and depending on your age and other risk factors, mammograms or, in some cases, MRI’s are critical to early detection. Please talk with your doctor about their recommendations for you. Here are a few statistics to consider: 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are 45 or older 43% are aged 65 or above 1 in 800 men are diagnosed with breast cancer—yes, men can get it too! Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women Here are a few sites with helpful information and resources if you or a loved one has been diagnosed: Cancer.Org Programs and Support: This lists helpful resources such as lodging during treatment, rides to treatment, connecting with other survivors, support, and even hair loss and mastectomy products. You can also sign up to volunteer here. Reach: Do you wish you could talk with someone who understands? Have questions but unsure who to ask? You can call or text at no charge with this volunteer-run service to get non-medical answers and support your need.  You can also sign up to volunteer on this site. Written by: Nicole Joli

When most people think of Tiktok, they think of silly dances and lip syncing videos. The app gained rapid popularity amid COVID shutdowns in 2020 as billions of people joined the platform. Tik Tok has not only revolutionized social media, but it has revolutionized the way we communicate, learn, and talk about real life situations. My husband and I jumped on the bandwagon in April 2020. We made silly videos dancing in the living room and laughing at “Tiger King” parodies for hours at a time. Once we returned to work after a few weeks of being furloughed, we would occasionally scroll the app and send each other funny videos. Recently, I was scrolling after a long day and a glass of wine and stumbled upon “Corporate Tiktok”. Just like that…it clicked! How can you use an app like Tik Tok to improve your time management, people management, and elevate your career? It’s simple. Find what relates to you. As a new manager with a team of remote sales reps, it can be difficult to know if what you’re doing is right. Unfortunately, I don’t have a senior manager’s office to pop into if I encounter an obstacle with my team. I strive to be resourceful and tactful in my style of management to ensure I keep an open mind and consistently evolve in my role. I have scrolled through hundreds if not thousands of content creators with backgrounds in HR, Marketing, Management, Career Coaching, and more with advice on every scenario possible. Today, I want to share a few things I have learned on this app and encourage you to expand your growth by bringing modern technology to your leadership style. Time Management As a new manager this is something I have struggled with and have to constantly push myself to work on. Here’s a few of the things I’ve put into practice: Work on your business, not in your business Break your tasks into 4 quadrants based on level of urgency Spend most of your time in things that are “important but not urgent” Put 2 hours of time on your calendar to work with your team. Eventually your “urgent and emergency” quadrant will shrink as you are dealing with them before they become fires and crises Don’t work without a purpose Always set your intention for the day. Write down a list of things you want to accomplish within your working hours Don’t give your attention to everyone who asks for it Instead, place it on your list of things to circle back to when the time is available for you to focus on the team member People Management Learn what to do, what not to do, and tips on how to better communicate with your team. Here’s a look at some of the most valuable lessons I have learned: Get into the habit of coaching at least one person daily Consume self growth and development content 5 minutes daily Focus on what your people are good at and anchor that behavior as something they can build confidence in Acronym STAFF S = Set the expectation. Don’t ask anyone to do anything unless it is clearly defined as to what is expected of them. T= Training. Don’t ask anyone to do something they do not have the right training for. A= Accountability. Hold them accountable to a time limit or due date. F= Follow up. Check-in part way through incase they are headed in the wrong direction. F= Feedback. Always give constructive feedback. Elevate Your Career You need to be communicating the value of your work to your manager. It can be hard after a few months if you can hardly remember what you did or why it mattered. Create a running document that tracks your progression throughout the year to help elevate your career. Here is what you should include: Major Projects and Tasks Outcome of each major project or task upon completion Who you collaborated with or manager who assigned the project to you Date So now, when it’s the end of the year and your manager asks you why you should get a raise, promotion, or high performance ranking you can reference this with confident details. My favorite TikTokers to follow: @erinjacksonco @rminatrea @drmichaelsteiner Written by Mikki Collins

Last month I made the tough, but exciting, choice to take the next step in my career and move into a new role at a new company. It had been ten years since I changed jobs and I was feeling like a student going off to a new school with first day jitters, and it had been a long time since I’ve had that feeling. It was a big decision to leave the comfort of my previous job where I had grown familiar with the day-to-day and built so many strong relationships over the years. Now that I’m 30 days into my new role I want to share 6 things I did to set myself up for success and get comfortable in my new role. Create A 30-60-90 Plan This happened during the interview phase, as my final step in the process. It allowed me to create my own onboarding plan and get expectations from my manager ahead of time on what would be expected of me during my first 30,60, and 90 days at the new job. It also helped give me a sense of purpose and know what I would be taking on to set myself up for success in the new job. Listen, And Then Listen Some More Lucky for me, this one came naturally as I tend to be a listen-first type of person. I’ve learned from experience that my least favorite thing a person coming into a new role can do is be a bull in a china shop. I’ve spent my first 30 days setting up meetings across various departments in the company learning where they see success, where they see struggles, and how marketing can plan a role in improving goals and processes within their departments. Set Expectations Your first 30 days on the job is a great time to set expectations, whether it’s for how you interact with your team, how your manager prefers to communicate, and even work-life boundaries. Setting these expectations up from the start allows you to be on the same page from the get-go and eliminates the need to back-track and have to re-align on certain areas of how you work and how you best work with others for efficiency and success. Understand How Performance Is Measured Getting a good understanding how performance is measured for yourself, your team, and the company as a whole will allow you a strong path forward for setting goals and KPIs that are important to keep track of. In some cases, you might learn that performance isn’t being measured and you’re allowed the opportunity to decide what’s best for you and your team to be measured on. Whatever the situation is, make sure you ask questions around performance and get a head start on creating SMART goals you can achieve. Look For A Couple Of Small Wins One of the biggest traps that is easy to fall into when starting a new job, is taking on too much too soon. It can be very natural to feel that you need to make a noticeable impact right away and hit the ground running, but this can also pin you into some difficult situations if you bite off more than you can chew. Oftentimes, a couple of small wins will bubble to the surface that you can help tackle and put your name on. Maybe it’s offering a new tool or technology to help improve a process, identifying an area that needs more resources in order to improved, or putting a stop to something that isn’t producing the desired results and is wasting time. Socialize Outside Of Work Talk Getting comfortable with my co-workers outside of work talk is so important to me. As an introvert, I think it really helps me connect and get comfortable with the people I interact with day in and day out. Maybe it’s scheduling a couple of team lunches or happy hours during those first 30 days to get to know you co-workers on a more social level. Finding opportunities inside and outside of the industry to network and gain mentorship opportunities is another important piece of the puzzle, which is just one of the reasons why the OWA is such a great resource. If you’ve just joined the Optical Industry and are thinking about joining the OWA, I highly recommend it! Written by: Janelle Pauli

In her OnStage Leadership program and Brave Leadership book, Kimberly Davis, challenges you to find your Super Objective. The OWA members who participated in the program—Dr. Beverly Bianes, Kristin Calimlim, Kristen Hopper, Courtney Myers and JaMarie Pfaff—we call it finding our superpower. We discovered that our superpower is something we have innate in us, it’s a natural gift we can harness in so many different factors, not just as leaders, but in our daily lives. Whether it be with our families or with our teams we have this superpower, we’ve always had it, we just had to recognize it. Now that we recognize it, we can be intentional about using it, and bringing it forward in our day-to-day lives. To paraphrase a quote Kimberly shared: “I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that makes the climate.” It not about changing who you are it, is about identifying what is strong within you and amplifying that to be successful. We’ve realized already that we can draw on our superpowers when it gets difficult. We can pause and ask: Am I creating a positive environment? Am I doing exactly what my superpower says? Am I using my superpower in the right way? And when you’re not, you’ll catch yourself very quickly. It’s like a checks and balance for your mind and actions. Take A Pause for Yourself The OWA Leadership Scholarship created the opportunity for us to participate in this program, and it was opened to all OWA members. Taking a day off from our multi-tasking world to concentrate on ourselves, and the other people that were involved in the program, re-energized us. If you are given an opportunity like this, take it. It made some of us uncomfortable, and there were moments we were nervous and uncertain, but in the end, we discovered our superpower that will make a lasting change in our lives. We’ve committed to continuing our journey of self-reflection by reading the Brave Leadership book where Kimberly shares her journey of being able to find her superpower and we are regrouping in three months to check-in with each other. Reach out if you are interested in joining us and look for an update on how we are harnessing our superpowers! Written by: Courtney Myers Contributors: Dr. Beverly Bianes, Kristin Calimlim, Kristen Hopper, JaMarie Pfaff

The OWA is very thankful for, and would like to share gratitude for, each and every one who is a part of us. As we continue to grow, the list of thanks grows too. Everyone who helps the OWA is vital to us keeping our integrity to connect, inspire, and lead. Members We are able to do everything we do for our members, because of our members. Every person who contributes, participates, attends events, volunteers,  and supports in countless other ways, we appreciate you! We are grateful for our Membership Committee, who grows our group and develops new ways of keeping our membership coming back for more. Sponsors We are able to provide numerous valuable resources because our sponsors make it possible. Our sponsors enrich our events, auctions, scholarships, and other elements, and we thank you for that. We are grateful for our Professional Development Fund Committee, who ensures the future of the OWA by building partnerships with generous benefactors and creating the blueprint for the financial growth of the OWA. Our Director Carol Wilbur deserves a special thanks because she does so much for the OWA, every day, and at all hours of the day. Carol is an important piece of the OWA pie and we would  not be what we are today without her. Thank you, Carol! Board of Directors The OWA board is full of incredible leaders and mentors who share and apply their invaluable experience to make us better as a whole. Events Committee Somehow the Events Committee continues to always have an event going on somewhere and make sure our members are getting value. So much work goes into the logistics, the content, and the overall planning of our events – thank you to everyone who helps plan them! Look at the great work they do in the gallery of past events photos. Website & Blog The OWA Connects Blog, the website, and the Member Spotlights are maintained by the Communications & Website Committee. We are thankful for this fantastic group of women and their ability to keep on top of all of these things. With that said, the webmaster behind all of this magic, Don Dinnerville, gets all of these things seamlessly working together and is somehow able to keep up with everything we send his way. Social Media We are also thankful for the Digital Marketing Committee, who collaborates, creates, publishes several engaging posts of images and content per week, on all of our platforms, to our now over 9,000+ followers! Well done! Fireside Chats The four women who lead the bi-monthly Fireside Chats provide members the most incredible and convenient way to gather, network, and grow, both personally and professionally, while also having some fun! Connection & Enrichment Committee We are thankful for Sandra and Stephanie, our two OWA Talks Podcast hosts who provide their voices along with those providing diverse experience and resources . The committee is behind them as well as the ever-popular One Minute Inspiration. Thank you for all you do to connect and enrich everyone in the OWA. Food For Thought What better time than Thanksgiving to thank Dr. Beverly Bianes for providing Food For Thought! Gathering together at the table promotes fellowship and provides a place of love and peace, and she does a fantastic job of bringing all of those elements together. Finance Committee These women silently make everything happen. They provide financial oversight, planning, and growth strategies that will offer the OWA the financial stewardship necessary to fulfill its mission of serving more women in the optical industry. Nominating Committee This final group of amazing women is responsible for making sure all of those who are deserving of an OWA Award or a position on the board are considered. This committee, comprised of current and past OWA presidents, chooses the best of the best to represent the organization based on leadership. Thank you to each and every person and company who helps make the Optical Women’s Association as wonderful as it is!

We have put together a “Practice Series” which will include advice from doctors, opticians and administrative staff, on common and relevant topics that come with running a practice. Stay tuned for additional contributions each month! Previous Practice Series articles: Building Practice Culture Building Relationships with Sales Reps Jesse Anderson, ABOC: I think the best way to manage staff shortages is by cutting down the workload entirely until you can operate efficiently again. It’s not fair to your patients or your staff to be short changed and could cost you more than you think. If you’re overworking your staff, you are going to lose them faster than you can find people to bring in. Keep open communication with your staff about where your head is at as a business owner or practice manager. Make sure that your employees feel heard as well. If there is some shuffling around of tasks that need to be taken care of, be sure that the duties are clear and balanced. If pay raises are in order to motivate and show appreciation to your staff then do it. Something is better than nothing, don’t shorthand them for their loyalty. It is never a bad idea to ask your staff if they would rather keep the same pay and stay where they are or if they could handle more with an incentive. Last but not least, use your resources. There are a lot of reps like me, who are also certified to work in eyecare facilities that are not utilized enough. If they cannot work full time they can be a floater to fill in where someone might be needed, even if for a lunch hour so your staff can get a proper lunch. Most reps have great phone skills and if you have good relationships with your reps then they will be more than happy to help you in a pinch. We have been short staffed and a lot has been taken on by my office manager. We have made some days shorter to accommodate a balance and have increased salaries. Some days I am catching up on other admin tasks and we have a longer lunch break. –Dr. Sampalis Christine Maiello: This has been a tricky one, as we all know. We’ve taken a few approaches to managing staff shortages the last couple of years. First, we took a close look at who we have on our team and how we can optimize their capacity and skills. That might mean training someone in a different department or role, or assigning them tasks that might be out of their direct job description, things you know will help keep processes and systems running smoothly. Next, we looked at our compensation and benefits packages. Being competitive in the current market is important. Consider what areas you can increase compensation or perks, benefits or PTO without breaking the budget. Also, ask your team members individually what makes them feel appreciated, it’s not always money! People value different things, engage your people to understand what is truly important to them to stay loyal and invested. Lately the staff shortages have not been short-term. With this being the case, you need to make sure everyone is maintaining their level of sanity and see who needs help, and where. Keeping stress levels low and staff happy are vital to not losing more staff from burnout.  Consider modifying hours or staggering shifts so staff can have a break and maintain a good work-life balance. Other perks can also go a long way, such as supplying snacks or lunches, gift cards, a bonus, or a new tool or piece of equipment that would make their day easier. Communicate and make sure your staff knows that you are aware that they have more of a workload and that you are making an effort to help them – it can go a long way. -Carissa Dunphy, ABOC Melissa Rasband: We have been extremely lucky and have had a full staff 98% of the time over the last few years. We hire employees who will complement and work well with our staff. When we have been short staffed, we all pull together and support each other. Working together as a team is important. If one of us drops the ball, we are all affected. Creating a strong staff where everyone gets along and bonds for us is extremely important. What are your suggestions for handling staff shortages? Let us know in the comments!

2022 was the first full year for the OWA Connects Blog, and it did exceptionally well! blog.opticalwomen.com acquired thousands of views via direct traffic, clicks from emails and social media, referrals from other websites, and organic search traffic. While we started out phenomenally, we know the sky is the limit and are excited to build off of this strong base and continue improving and growing the blog. Feel free to browse the categories for all posts from 2022: Professional Development OWA News and Events In the Practice Health and Wellness Food For Thought The top 3 most viewed OWA Connects Blog articles of 2022 are: #3) Making Your Choice – OWA’s 2022 Book Selection All OWA Members receive their choice of a book from a thoughtfully compiled list of titles meant to inspire and educate. Each year, the book ordering period opens in May and runs through July, with several reminders throughout the period. Stay tuned for the 2023 book selections! #2) Mentors, Coaches and Sponsors – Why You Need All 3! So, what’s the difference between Mentors, Coaches, and Sponsors? Guest contributor, Holly Rush, defines the difference between a mentor, coach, and sponsor, where can you find them, and how can you become one. This thorough article also provides Holly’s expert advice on how you can decide which type of support you need and how to maintain the valuable relationship with your mentor, coach, or sponsor. #1) Instagram Essentials Social Series So much of what our industry offers is visual and can sell itself. This in-depth article offers basic tips and starter guide for newbies, as well as pro-tips for experienced users. While Instagram encompasses so many things, the article breaks down to the rudimentary elements deemed “essential”. This post was one of three in a social series, written by Carissa Dunphy, Vice-Chair of the OWA Communications & Website Committee, which also included Facebook Essentials and LinkedIn Essentials. If you have not yet subscribed to get updates by email, you can so here: Please leave this field empty Get Updates By Email Email Address * Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. What was your favorite OWA Connects Blog post from 2022? Let us know in the comments below!

This past week I saw a meme that said, “When entering 2023, no one make any sudden movements, or declare this year will be your year.” In essence, don’t anger 2023. While the joke was funny and it made me laugh, I understand the fear and hesitancy of entering a new year after the past few have been rough for many. The meme recognized the fear many have to set resolutions and to have the courage to make healthy changes in the new year. The more I thought about this, the more I realized that if the past few years have taught me anything, it’s that now is the time to seize what I want in life and become the best me possible. This got me thinking about what goals I’d like to set in 2023. I started doing a little research and I wanted to share some of the wisdom I’ve found, learned, and been taught from fellow women to set, and achieve my goals for 2023. Set Reasonable Goals To set reasonable goals, first consider your obstacles. I’m a busy working mom, with two school-aged children, two dogs, two cats, and a big, wonderful, crazy life. Most days I collapse into bed, knowing my to-do list wasn’t finished, which is why the thought of having a regular fitness routine makes me laugh comically. I want to share an example of how I set a reasonable goal for myself. During the first pandemic lockdown, I was gifted a Pilates reformer, due to the studio being closed because of the pandemic. I’ve had the reformer for a few years now, and if I am being perfectly honest, I go through spurts where I work out every day on it, and then I don’t touch it for a month. My most common obstacle in achieving my goal is time, or at least that was the excuse that I told myself. Pre-pandemic, I made time in my schedule to go to the Pilates class three times a week. Three times a week is reasonable for me, I know I can be successful in setting aside three hours per week for myself. My point is, I know my potential obstacles (time!) and I want to set myself up for success. Setting a reasonable goal means recognizing potential obstacles that could derail progress, so rather than working out every day, I’ll start with three days a week. Be Consistent and Set Yourself Up for Success I’m reminded of another funny meme I saw that said something like, “I want a gym that is all workouts for the month of January and then turns into a coffee house to relax at for the rest year instead of exercise”. Every year there is an onslaught of resolution seekers that fill gyms, start strong for the first few weeks, then for whatever reason fall short, and by October, they haven’t set foot in the gym in months. Set yourself up to be consistent and get what you need to be ready on day one. I believe conventional wisdom says it takes 30 days to make or break a habit. It’s not the length of time, but the repetitive nature of doing the same thing, again and again, that makes it a habit. Consistency is key. In my experience, it is usually the days that you don’t want to follow through that become the most beneficial. Push yourself, be consistent, because if you are not, you’re only cheating yourself out of success. Being consistent is key, but the second part is setting yourself up for success. Not taking the time to prepare for the work it will take to achieve your goal, is another common area where many stumble. For example, I have a friend who sets a reading goal every year. She sets a target of how many books she wants to read each year. A vital key to her success is that she has her first few books picked out and is ready to start reading on day one. She knows that if she must go to the bookstore to start towards her goal, she’s more likely to put off starting her reading for the year. This delay snowballs as she falls behind and is defeated that she’ll never catch up for the year. Before she knows it, her entire year is derailed because she didn’t set herself up for success. So, whether it is a health-related goal, something for your mental well-being, or taking up a new hobby in the new year, set yourself up for consistency and success by being ready to start working towards your goal on day one. Enlist Accountability Partners Another important step in achieving a goal that has always worked for me is to have an accountability partner. This person keeps me on track when I don’t have the motivation to do it for myself. Having an accountability partner can also be a lot of fun too. They can keep you honest, challenge you, and in return you have the opportunity help each other with success. The only time I ever ran a race in my life, I did it with a partner. It was the accountability and the competitive nature of training together that made it fun. Yes, running was fun, but it was because I had someone to hold me accountable, and I was able to hold her accountable too. Celebrate your Successes and Embrace your Failures The point of setting a goal or a resolution is to grow into the best version of yourself.  This should not include beating yourself up over missing a day at the gym or missing your daily goal especially when it cannot be helped. Rather than give up or feel bad about not hitting your goal, take a step back and think about what you can learn from this situation. When I work late, or am traveling and miss a workout, I remind myself this is a great opportunity to learn how I can make my goal more flexible. Perhaps a morning workout or a modified workout that is travel friendly can be worked into my routine. The point here is to learn from this situation and adapt. You might be surprised if you are open to learning from the situation, something new and fun may arise to help you along in achieving your goal. Finally, learn to celebrate your successes. Taking a moment to recognize and celebrate your accomplishments is just as important as embracing your failures. Relish in the feeling of accomplishment and let it spur you on in the pursuit of your next goal. You’ll remember how good the feeling is and be able to pull from it in moments where motivation is needed. In closing, I wish you all a very Happy New Year. Keep in mind, while the first is of the year is a logical starting point, anytime is the best time to work towards the best you. Set realistic, achievable goals, set yourself up for success, be consistent in working towards them, learn from your mistakes and celebrate your success. Now, let’s get moving toward those goals ladies! Written by: Jacqueline Thomas

The results of the October 2022 Leadership Scholarship nominations are here! The Leadership Scholarship Award recognizes OWA members who have served the OWA with their dedicated committee work and strong commitment to growing leadership roles for women in the optical industry. These grants are used for professional and personal development of the recipients who were nominated by other OWA members. Many thanks go to our OWA Individual Contributors, whose donations help make these scholarships possible. Congratulations to our 2022 winners: Carissa Dunphy, Communications & Website Committee (PECAA) Kerri Ann Raimo, Digital Marketing Committee (PentaVision) Jennifer Trakhtenberg, Connection and Enrichment Committee (ClearVision Optical) The OWA’s Platinum Sponsors are also eligible to select an exceptional female employee who shows promise, dedication, and drive to also receive a Leadership Scholarship. This year’s scholarship winners through this benefit are: Shelley Brady, Regional Manager (Safilo) Cara Endriss, Brand Marketing Director (National Vision) Shweta Gupta, Senior Marketing Director (EssilorLuxottica) Sarah Lovallo, Sales Manager (Essilor Instruments) Cheryl Moore, Director of Human Resources (GPN Technologies) JaMarie Pfaff, Account Manager (Zyloware) Janie Schwartz, Trade Marketing Coordinator (Thelios) Tatiana Stewart, Senior Public Relations Specialist (VSP Vision) Valued at up to $2,000 each, these grants will be used to provide professional mentoring opportunities to each recipient. This continues to promote and support the OWA’s founding principles of connecting, inspiring, and leading women in the optical industry. A big congratulations from the OWA to these extraordinary optical women as they continue on their leadership journeys!!

The top three priorities for every optical dispensary are always to be as profitable as possible, have the right selection for your patient base, and to have the fastest turnaround time to deliver a complete pair of glasses. What if I told you there is a way to ensure that those goals are being met using a system called board management? Board management is an inventory system designed to lower the overhead cost and decrease the number of frames in understock by keeping the frames on the board and drop shipping to your lab of choice. Board management also eliminates time spent buying every quarter with 20+ sales consultants, freeing up more of your opticians’ bandwidth for them to focus on servicing your patients. To begin the process of setting up board management in your optical, you will need to determine the turn rate of every brand. Most optical dispensaries have far too many brands. By using turn rate to streamline into fewer brands from less companies, your practice should earn higher rebates and deeper discounts with your lines which increases your profitability while still having the right selection for your patients. Using an inventory management system, you’ll want to look at how many frames from each line you have sold in twelve months and divide that by how many board spots you are going to give that brand. The ideal turn rate is anywhere from 2.8 to 3.0; anything less than 2.8 means you need to reevaluate the line and the real estate it takes up in your office, and anything beyond 3.0 needs more representation in your office. Example: My optical sold 150 units of Brand A in 12 months and I want to give them 35 board spaces; that gives me a turn rate of 4.3. The solution would be to increase Brand A to about 50 board spaces to reach that “sweet spot”. Working with your sales consultants is going to be crucial on deciding which frames, colors, and sizes to put into your office to curate the ideal assortment. Allowing an inventory check every eight to ten weeks will help ensure that you have the right assortment on your boards and that they are paying their rent. Remember, your success is their success. The last step in an effective board management system is integrating drop shipping to the lab of your choice. Once you begin this, you’ll notice that the turnaround time is much faster and less expensive. You are eliminating the cost of the frame being shipped to your office*, and then paying again to ship it to the lab. Because the frames are staying on the board, you will always have your best sellers on hand, ensuring that you never lose a sale for not having the right product in your office! In summary, board management eliminates cost, increases profitability, and frees up time for your opticians! *Shipping policies vary per vendor. article written by Lindsay Romah