I'm sitting at the HFMA Annual National Institute. I'm in the general session, listening to Dr Donald Berwick on the conundrums that we face in healthcare.
As the former administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and a physician - he aims to motivate us to improve.
We have, inadvertently, confused the public about the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
No one understands it. No one 'gets' it. In a market that has gone down in EVERY area over the last few years---- healthcare costs have risen 59%. It is unsustainable.
So- according to Dr Berwick, what is The Affordable Care Act?
1) Make access to healthcare a human right in the US. We are a wealthy country that has left 50 million of our neighbors behind with no insurance coverage.
2) Let's move towards a system that makes care better- lets make it more quality focused. If you arrive at a center for care, the doctor should know you, should know your past care and know how to treat you.
As we do this, let's reward great quality and lower payments for less than great quality.
Simply explained.... simple to understand.
Press on Dr Berwick running for office: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/06/17/donald-berwick-former-obama-administration-official-launches-run-for-mass-governor/7XsDLOHoZaCwQnY9sJ1pfK/story.html
I am a featured expert on the Plaid for Women website. My latest article is the lead article on their website today. So- as I hike to the lake- I blog this note ( smile) .
You wake up one day and you suddenly realize that you are not living the life you''ve dreamed about. How do you fix it?
It's Called the 'Drift'
I'm sitting in the waiting room, waiting for an appointment. My mind drifts off to my latest book, Live Your Dreams. I wrote it to encourage you and all my readers to 'live their dreams'. I talk to so many people that tell me that their lives have slowly drifted to somewhere that they didn't want them to go. They dated someone, and then, without really planning it, they moved in. They started a job and then after ten years and numerous promotions, they realize they really don't like the company, or the field, or their position. Years and years later, they are evaluating the place that they've 'drifted'.
They didn't intentionally 'drift' into a place they didn't want to be. They slowly discovered that once was 'good enough' is suddenly very unsatisfying. "Drift leads to regret", says Susan Krauss Whitbourne, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts and the author of The Search for Fulfillment.
It Can Change
You can change it. You can take back control of your life with small changes and a plan. I highlight a simple planning excercise in 'Live Your Dreams'. Anna Davies covers many great points in her article in the Nov 2012 Cosmopolitan Issue Titled 'Is Your Life Where You Want it to Be?".
She advises to replace the phrase "I don't care" with "I want/I think/I feel". Because, let's face it, you should really care. She suggests starting a blog, and I often advise people to start journalling. What a fabulous way to read back over your feelings and see the progression (or lack thereof). You can learn from yourself by writing and then reading how you felt. If you see a pattern, then you know that it is an area to either repeat if it is a desirable pattern, or omit from your life if you don't like it.
It Starts With a Plan
What does the life of your dreams LOOK LIKE? What images come to mind? If you were to draw a 'dream version' of your life, what would it look like? I encourage you to do just that. Download the free copy of my Dream Workbook and dream up components in EACH AREA of your life. Find it here: http://www.bethanywilliams.org/drbook.php View it online or download a copy that you can print out and scribble on.
Get creative. Cut out pictures. Draw. Write names and activities. Dream dream dream. What would you like your life to look like? For further inspiration and ideas, find the book, Live Your Dreams on amazon here: http://goo.gl/zwB7p
You are driving. You are in charge. If it isn't the way you'd like it to be, its your fault. (Yes, I know, that was hard for me to accept also). No excuses. No putting it off. Make a new plan.
Hmmmmm, I've been studying the number of women in leadership, AND the number of women as high earners for years. You know what? The numbers ARE NOT INCREASING! Hmmmmm. Hmmmmmm. Hmmmmm.
What are we missing? What is keeping women out of top leadership roles? We have to ask ourselves this question and CONTINUE to ask ourselves this question until we get it answered.
1) Increased awareness: I commend Sheryl Sandberg for her book Lean In and her speaking out on the topic. It needs to be discussed. We need to be aware of the numbers. We need to be attentive and anxious to make our organizations better. Let's face it, this isn't JUST about DIVERSITY and WOMEN IN BUSINESS- this is about SUCCESS. Companies with a MORE DIVERSE workforce are MAKING MORE MONEY. Yup- the numbers ring true.
2) Develop develop develop. Men do a fabulous job of identifying talent and developing those identified employees for senior leadership roles. They 'mentor' them by nature, naturally, as they go about their work days. We need to work to find those mentors as women. They do not 'appear' naturally for us. Those mentors will identify key development areas for us to move into the next level.
3) Network & Learn to Be Strategic. Networking with others will help you broaden your market perspective. What are other companies doing? What could your company do to mimick other industries? Are you 'out and about' and able to be a thought leader for your organization? or are you head to grindstone- get it done- in tactical mode? Tactical or Strategic? Make a decision to move into more strategic thinking.
Be aware of the market around you. Stand up and be noticed. LEAN INTO your position and your career. Stay tuned....more on this topic to come.
After now 18 years in the vendor world (my how time flies when you are having fun- LOL), I have discovered what I believe to be the most significant lesson in learning- - - VOICE OF THE CUSTOMER is the GOLDEN TICKET to success. The customers know their workflow. They know the problems they are experiencing. They know what they would use and how it would act in their environment. So why don't organizations ASK THE CUSTOMER more?
Well, the dilemma lies in part to not knowing the customer. How do you 'get out there' and get the visits and get in a situation where the customers will freely tell you the awkward and sometimes harsh reality of their world? You have to make friends. You have to be connected to a few of your customers willing to give you the GOOD, BAD, and the UGLY pieces of advice that you need to hear whether or not you want to.
The secret to ultimate vendor success? Be able to extract Voice of the Customer from your customer basis BETTER than anyone. Become an expert at drawing out the information your company needs to succeed.
I love Pragmatic Marketing- the company (www.pragmaticmarketing.com ). They do a fabulous job of reminding Product Managers and Product Marketing Executives to keep an eye on the customer. You will enjoy the article they posted this week: Out of Your Office and Into Theirs : http://pragmaticmarketing.com/resources/Out-of-your-office-and-into-theirs
Eight tips to help you start implementing market visits. It is well worth the read.
Read the Pragmatic Marketing tips and then SCHEDULE a MARKET VISIT to get OUT INTO THE FIELD. I dare you! It will be your Golden Ticket to Success. Trust me. Smile
I pulled into the gas station on Friday, rushing to an executive meeting across town. I was hurried and lost in thought. A nice gentleman asked if he could wash my windows. He explained that he had lost his job and was trying to earn a few bucks. He said that his pastor told him to have faith, and that God would bless him.
I know what your thinking, that he was just pan handling. But how do we really know that he isn't just a man trying to earn his next meal? Are our hearts too hardened?
He stared at my shiny red convertible and said, "God has truly blessed you." "Yes, he has." I said. I looked at my car, and felt a twinge of guilt and shame. Why has God blessed me when so many have so little? I walk to my trunk and pull out a couple of my books. As I pay him for the windows, I give him 2 books to read.
I spend the next 30 minutes of my drive wondering if I do enough to bless others. I wonder what God has called me to do, and whether or not I'm listening to His voice and His calling. I think about those in need and remember my trip to Africa.
I now sit in an air conditioned room, after having a hot bath and I write on a computer with a steady flow of electricity surging to and from a socket in the wall. I remember the irregular nature of the electricity in Africa. I remember heating the water for my bath. I remember meeting children that would die of starvation before the end of the week. I saw so many in need.
We are blessed beyond measure. Take a moment today to do two things: 1) recognize the MANY blessings in your life and thank God for all that you have and ALL that you have been BLESSED WITH 2) work to figure out what God is calling you to do.
You do that, and I'll promise to try to do the same. Have a great day.
One of the greatest things I often get from my friends are amazing recipes. One of my friends, Pam, shared with me a recipe that has fast become one of my favorites. It is quick to make and makes a fabulously delicious Asian Salad.
Salad Ingredients: 1 lb coleslaw mix 2 packages ramen beef soup mix 1 cup almonds 1 cup sunflower seeds
Dressing Ingredients:
1 cup salad oil 1/3 cup white vinegar 1/2 cup sugar 2 packages ramen seasoning mix (included in ramen soup package)
Directions:
Crush the ramen noodles in the package. Mix the slaw with the crushed noodles. Just before serving
add almonds, sunflower seeds, and dressing and
toss well.
You can whip up this recipe in as little as 5-8 minutes. It will be ready in a snap and delicious to eat. Enjoy!
"You hear the terms. Sex trafficking. Human trafficking. Sex trade. Sexual slavery. If you think about it at all, you figure it's something that goes on in places like India, Cambodia, Russia, and Latin America. Not anywhere close to home. Not here.
Sadly, you are wrong.
The FBI reports that in the United States, the number of children, usually girls, who are forced to do someone's sexual bidding is well over 100,000. The age range is nine to ninetenn. The average age is just eleven years old.
Some of the kids are runaways and some are abandoned. Many others come from "good" homes. They are the victims of cruel and clever predators who know just what to offer- - - the appearance of a friendship, a listening ear, the promise of love or money or a new life.
Some girls are even lured from their own driveways. "
excerpt from The White Umbrella
written by Mary Frances Bowley true accounts, not fiction
I bury myself in the book, The White Umbrella. Partly because I'm shocked and amazed that someone like me, an educated, professional businesswoman that feels knowledgeable about world events, is unaware of the problems with underage trafficking right here in the states. I'm outraged. I'm sick to my stomach that we are allowing this. I'm enraged that the minors being manipulated are arrested while the manipulators are set free. The victims are treated as criminals and the criminals treated as responsible guardians and parents.
Often the child is released back into the hands of their pimp after they are arrested. I hear an account of a 6 year old in Rockwall recovering from being trafficked. My stomach lands in my throat. What can we do to help? What can I do to help? I struggle for answers as I begin to unravel the information, reading all that I can to prepare myself for any way that I can help.
Information is power. I gird myself with information and devour it like a hungry lion devours it's prey. I will become more educated on the topic. I will keep my eyes open. I will become more aware of this issue and others in the world around me.
Every Saturday I grab the dogs and hike 1 1/2 miles to Lake Ray Hubbard. The dogs love the hour long hike that takes us down winding roads, and across a myriad of different landscapes. When we complete the hike, we have spent an hour enjoying nature and have traversed 3 miles in all.
In the early mornings, the weather is fresh and cool. About half way through the hike, I pass a small homestead with a gated area for horses. Right before a bridge over a small creek, I pass bushes and bushes of honeysuckle.
I take a deep breath. The honeysuckle floods my nostrils and I breathe in the amazing scent of the honeysuckle plant. Wow, it is a beautiful scent.
I hike further, pressing on towards the lake , and once over Chiesa, I pass another seciton of bushess with more honeysuckle.
I tear off a branch and make a necklace to wear around my neck. I'd like to have this scent with me for awhile. The smell is so amazing. I keep hiking and eventually I come to a dead end. The road ends and the path stops. A small barrier keeps drivers from driving into the lake. Today there are about 6 cars parked here to go fishing. It is, after all, a holiday weekend.
I stare out at the lake and watch the water wash in and out of shore. I sit watching the dogs playing in the grass and wonder if maybe they don't have this all right, and we have it wrong. They can find simple pleasures in anything, even a few blades of grass.
I love this short hike to the lake that I make several times a week. It is a refreshing way to start out the day. Find a trail that you can hike near you. It will energize your mind and refresh your soul.
I settled into the Exec Club at the Marriott for breakfast. The tables are close together and I'm only inches away from two male executives in fervent conversation. I overhear the details, not on purpose, simply too close to avoid the sound waves spilling over onto my quiet table.
They are actively discussing a woman at work that didn't get a promotion. "She was too attached to the people." "If she wants to be in the boys club, she'd have to grow some gonads." "She'd get on a point and never waver off that point."
Response from other part of the conversation, "Did anyone talk to her about these things?" "Did anyone tell her." Respondent , "No."
"Why didn't anyone talk to her about these things."
Answer. "I don't know."
The conversation carries on and I'm starting to feel physically ill just from listening. She sounded like a talented woman that had spent years at this company. They go on.
"She didn't align herself with the right people." "She needed to learn to do whatever they asked."
I have confidence that no matter how hard the conversation is, if it were a male executive, this gentleman would be having the conversation with the guy directly. My heart breaks a little each time I hear these conversations. What if she could have taken the advice, made changes and become the best person for that position? What if she could have out performed the new hire that replaced her 17 year tenure?
Well, off to the office for me. Maybe on my walk to work, I'll grow some gonads. Apparently, it can be done. Laugh.
