Don’t Know About Perseverance

First, go check out this blog by Seth Godin: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/09/two-kinds-of-do.html

After you’ve read about the two types of “don’t know” it puts the Saturday morning motivational session in an even larger light. I left the morning session on Saturday with a whole host of things I could do better in my life. Thinking about how Lloyd Bachrach had overcome so much and there I had been, sitting at breakfast whining about getting out of bed that morning.

This man (Lloyd) is amazing! He has overcome so many adversities. I was amazed by the way he has not simply walked through his life (like his mom’s obstetrician said he would never do) but he has accomplished so much. You’ll have to hear his story or Google-search him for all the details, but this guy rocks! He had some general words of advice that I think are applicable to all people as well. For example, the idea that “we’re all ‘differently abled’ – we all do things in our own different ways” is appropriate whether you are trying to figure out how to run to second base with legs ¼ of the size of other people’s legs or attempting to provide safe and effective patient care without all the tools you need.

Lloyd also adds another dynamic to our perspective stating that, “If you are passionate about what you do success will chase you – however you define it”. How apt! As New Practitioners (NPs) we are all trying to be successful and so often we are not exactly sure what that looks like. I found a certain solace in that fact that however I decide what my success looks like; if I believe in it I will find it (or it will find me). For some that may be clinical care in a hospital, others a retail pharmacist position, maybe ambulatory care, or administration. The point is the passion. Passion is what drives us to succeed.

There are 5 keys to Lloyd’s success that he shared and I enjoyed them so much I felt compelled to write them down, but I will share them with everyone out there in TV-Land;

1) BUILD
2) FOCUS
3) SET
4) PERSEVERE
5) MAINTAIN

BUILD, as in build a high self-esteem; FOCUS, with a positive attitude. What we think will be what we attract in our lives, good thoughts = good things; SET, powerful goals. Insisting on not simply setting a goal, a way to get through the day, but setting goals that are lofty, taking the high road; PERSEVERE; and MAINTAIN, as in maintain a healthy mind, body and spirit. Be good to yourself.

Too often New Practitioners will say they ‘don’t know’ how to do chemo, or how to treat HIV, how to respond to a code, or evaluate psychiatric medications. So many things experience hasn’t yet taught us. But, Lloyd is just the kind of inspiration we need to remind us we do know these things. So I listen to Seth Godin as he says, “The answer lies in trial and error and motivation and in overcoming the fear that makes us avoid the topic in the first place.” And I combine it with Lloyd’s closing remarks, “The only limitations we have are the limitations we place on ourselves.” Then I take Janet Silvester’s challenge to translate it to health care and the challenges we face and be successful.

Go forth right?