Well, this is my first blog. When I was challenged to do this, I thought to myself, what would I say? What bits of wisdom could I pass along?” But then I wondered that perhaps rather than tell you something, I would help you remember. Remember something we often forget, but something that is extremely important. And that is: how did we get to where we are…today. For many of you it was a challenging and sometimes very frustrating path. For others it was easier. One thing is certain, none of us got here alone.
I’d like to invite you to take a trip with me today, a journey utilizing a technique that is used quite a bit, especially in sports. Visualization, as you may know, is creating in your minds eye an occurrence, something that has happened or may happen. Actually I first utilized it in college when I was competing in gymnastics. I would visualize certain moves in my routine in order to help me learn how to actually do it…it did help….although I must admit, I never did look quite as good in real life as I did in my own mind.
Visualization requires concentration and a little bit of imagination so some of you may find it helpful to close your eyes…but of course you couldn’t read the rest of this blog then, could you?
OK then…Now imagine an ice cream sundae…not just any sundae, this is the biggest, the best ice cream sundae you’ve ever had. The cool, creamy vanilla ice cream is packed in a tall glass…smothered in thick, rich, hot fudge topping, overflowing the glass and dripping slowly down the sides. The fudge is topped with a light, buttery whipped cream, crowned with a juicy, red cherry. You take a spoonful. MMMMM. Your taste buds are dancing around on your tongue…Tastes good, doesn’t it? Now, imagine that the rich, velvety, sundae you’ve just devoured has absolutely no calories. And why would it…it was just your imagination.
OK…are you all warmed up now? Very good…I would now like you to visualize a person that has influenced your life significantly. A mentor perhaps or maybe someone who flew into your life for just a brief moment, but for you that brief moment made all the difference in the world. If you have more than one individual, as many of you might, pick out the person that had the greatest impact on your professional career…..Do you have that person? Great.
I would like you to think about him or her and what they did and how it changed your life. Think about how that person influenced who you are. Think about what things changed for you along the way, where you are now, what you have learned and all that has been opened to you, because…of the interaction with this one person. Think about how that person imparted upon you their wisdom, their experience, their knowledge. And now, if you would, choose a time that capsulizes that relationship. One instance, one encounter, one moment that reflects its essence. Think about how your life is now, your accomplishments, and the people you have in turn, influenced, and how that individual helped, in getting you, to where you are today.
I want you to go back to the instance that person came into your life, and imagine…it never happened, that that person never existed or at the very least, never touched your life the way that they did. How different would your life be? What would have changed? Where might you be today…without that individual in your life?
You know, sometimes we get caught up in so many day to day activities that oftentimes we’re running around, making decisions, solving problems, changing light bulbs…that we don’t even realize how what we do changes the world around us. We forget who we are, what we know and where we’ve come from. We often take that for granted. Sometimes we lose sight of how we are perceived by the people around us. Please if you will, take a moment and reflect on how the people you come into contact with, your staff, your patients, your doctors, your peers…your family, how they perceive your role in their lives.
Do you remember when you would ask your mentor or a person that you looked up to; a question and they seemed to effortlessly rattle off the answer without giving it a second thought. Remember your wonderment and look of amazement at how they knew, how it was so easy for that information to just roll off their tongue. And when you are asked questions today, do the answers just seem to roll off your tongue too? Do people look at you with that same wonderment? The same look of amazement? Think about those individuals, when that easy answer makes a difference to them, and try to visualize their lives without you.
Funny, sometimes we don’t even realize how much of an influence we have on people. We don’t even realize that things we consider simple, every day interactions, can fundamentally and profoundly change people everyday. Perhaps we don’t realize it, because we don’t want to take it on as a responsibility. But it is. This is your role, this is your calling…this is your responsibility. You see, your responsibility should not only be to lead, but to develop leaders. I am speaking of your responsibility as a mentor. A mentor, by definition, is a wise and trusted counselor or teacher. And while some of us might not think we fall into the category of being wise, we have all been mentors to someone at some point in time.
Philosophically, mentoring may be considered a truly noble, altruistic endeavor; however I personally benefit from it just as much. Thinking back on all the mentoring relationships I’ve had, of which I am very fortunate to have had many, there is none more important to me than my relationship with my 18 year old son, Stephen. I can think of no other relationship where mentoring is a fundamental responsibility…An awesome responsibility. And, although the commitment can sometimes be overwhelming, in that relationship, where a young person is dependent on you for who they are and what they will become, the benefits are endless.
I think mentoring is a symbiotic relationship, with both sides gaining, both sides improving their lives. You see, in my relationship with Stephen, he encourages me to be a better person. Without him, I would not be so inclined to hold myself to such a high standard in order to fulfill his expectation of who I am, much in the same way that others I am fortunate to have mentored have enabled me to reach a higher level of professionalism. I realize that through those relationships the tremendous commitment on my part, a commitment based around preserving trust and integrity, changes my life for the better. And isn’t that an ultimate win-win scenario?
For those of you who are nominees striving for certification and for those of you who are striving to be Fellows, it is important you remember that Fellowship is not a destination, it is a continuous journey, a journey that will continue far beyond your obtainment of the letters “FACMPE”.
One’s professional success is not merely marked by what he or she accomplishes in a given period of time but perhaps more importantly, by what is done to help colleagues and their organizations continue to grow and thrive… beyond that individual’s influence.
What we do throughout our professional careers is certainly important and we should reflect on our success, and celebrate it, but certainly more enduring will be the seeds of knowledge we plant…and our passion and commitment in pursuing our goals and dreams, that we pass along to others to carry forward.