Valerie Lambert

I never set out to become a "thought leader."

I was busy building a business.

As the owner of Optical Arts, an independent optical boutique in Toledo, Ohio, my focus has always been pretty simple: take care of people, create a great experience, support my community, and build a business that I can be proud of.

Somewhere along the way, I realized that those things are exactly what leadership looks like.

You Don't Have to Have the Biggest Voice in the Room

One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that influence isn't about being the loudest person in the room. It's about being willing to speak up when something matters.

In an industry that is constantly changing, independent businesses have to be willing to advocate for themselves, their customers, and the future of the profession.

I've learned to ask questions. I've learned to challenge the way things have always been done. I've learned that "we've always done it this way" is not a good enough reason to keep doing something.

And I've learned that sometimes leadership means being the person willing to say, "What if we tried something different?"

Not Every Idea Works - And That's Okay

Not everything I've created has been an instant success.

There have been services, programs, promotions, and ideas that I was convinced would take off, only to discover that customers didn't respond the way I expected.

At first, those experiences can feel like failure.

But they taught me one of the most valuable lessons in business: you can't build for people without listening to people.

Sometimes the idea isn't bad. The timing is wrong. The communication isn't clear. The customer doesn't understand the value. Or maybe the idea simply isn't what they need.

Instead of abandoning the idea-or taking the lack of immediate success personally-I started asking better questions.

• What are our customers actually asking for?
• Where are they frustrated?
• What would make their experience easier?
• What are we missing?

That mindset changed the way I build.

Today, I'm much more willing to test something, listen, adjust, and try again.

Community Is Part of the Business Model

Owning a business in a community like Toledo has also taught me that success isn't just about what happens inside your four walls.

Optical Arts has been fortunate to participate in community events, support local organizations, partner with nonprofits, and create opportunities to give back.

I believe independent businesses have a unique opportunity to become part of the fabric of their communities.

When people support your business, you have an opportunity to turn around and support them.

That might mean sponsoring an event, donating your time, helping another small business, supporting a local cause, or simply being the business that people know they can count on.

For me, that connection is one of the most rewarding parts of entrepreneurship.

Leadership Doesn't Always Look Like a Title

I've held leadership roles within the optical profession, but I've also learned that leadership doesn't require a title.

Sometimes leadership looks like mentoring someone who is just starting out.

Sometimes it looks like encouraging another woman to apply for the position she thinks she's not qualified for.

Sometimes it means sharing what you've learned instead of keeping your knowledge to yourself.

And sometimes it means simply showing up.

I've had women encourage me throughout my career, and I understand now how powerful that can be. A single person saying, "You can do this," can change the trajectory of someone's confidence.

That is something I try to pay forward.

Build the Thing You Wish Existed

One of the things I tell other women in business is this: Stop waiting for someone to give you permission to build the thing you wish existed.

• If you see a gap, explore it.
• If you have an idea, test it.
• If you don't like the way something is being done, figure out whether there is a better way.

You don't need to know exactly how everything will work before you begin.

You just need enough courage to take the first step.

I've learned that some of my best ideas started as conversations, frustrations, or questions. They weren't fully formed. They became better because I was willing to put them into the world, listen to the response, and keep improving them.

Influence Is About What You Leave Behind

The older I get and the longer I spend in business, the less interested I am in simply being successful.

I'm more interested in being useful.

• Did I make someone's day better?
• Did I create an opportunity for someone else?
• Did I make my community stronger?
• Did I help another woman believe she could do something she once thought was out of reach?
• Did I leave the profession better than I found it?

Those are the questions that matter to me now.

Because influence isn't about how many people know your name.

Influence is about what changes because you showed up.

And if there is one thing I've learned through entrepreneurship, community involvement, and building a career in an industry I love, it is this:

You don't have to wait until you feel ready.

You don't have to wait until you have all the answers.

And you certainly don't have to wait for someone to call you a leader.

Sometimes, you just have to start building.

The rest will come.