Dear Friends, Forty eight years ago today, The Beatles landed in New York (of course, they flew Pan Am).   If you are old enough to recall that occasion (and the mass hysteria that followed), where were you? While watching them on the Ed Sullivan show, I recall being SO upset that no one could hear anything above the screaming fans! One thing’s for sure, though: They communicated a joyful, new sound to an international audience.   Yes, there was poverty, inequity, and political turmoil in many parts of the world then, as now. However, their music and optimism set the stage for...

Howdy all, I am VERY pleased to report having spent last weekend in a Dallas hotel, just learning new things and having fun. Hold on there, partner, don’t get the wrong idea! Over 300 exhilarated participants from many corners of the world attended the National Speakers Association annual Winter Conference. The seminars were first-rate. Add to that, communing with old friends and new made this one of those “mountain-top” experiences. The only possible down-side was the up-side from such sumptuous food! The Marriott folks really spoiled us, and I have the extra pounds to prove it. You...

  Hello Friends, Well, I have already broken my New Year’s resolution to blog twice a week. (Let’s not even mention the one about working out every day. HA!) One resolution I did manage, was to make available a NEW video series for healthcare leaders everywhere. You can access the intro by clicking on the TV screen to the right >> See it? One of my motivations for making the series was my frustration when I am an attendee at a conference. Anyone in the audience will tell you, conference speakers are notoriously BORING!  There is a lot of room for improvement, right? So,...

  All Business Is Show Business is the name of a favorite old book of mine. As a performer (and card-carrying actor’s union member), the book struck me as funny, when thinking of it in terms of healthcare. Funny peculiar, that is. When it comes to healthcare advocacy, the adage doesn’t quite seem to fit. After all, healthcare advocacy is serious business, you say, right?  We aren’t out to just play politics. We represent life and death decisions, not just politically correct ones, right?  If it’s not about patient care, we don’t care, right? No arguments there. But...

  Healthcare leaders, are you FRUSTRATED with your life already, and we’re only in week #2 of the January? Here are 5 FREE tips you can take on your New Year’s journey, based on my own 30+ years as a nurse/educator and administrator in healthcare: If you’re not still  passionate about your work, find  out WHY? Are you immobilized by a coworker ? A boss? The culture of the organization? After you finish your analysis, make a PLAN. What will you do to change your situation? Is the irritation worth a transfer or a relocation? Even if you cannot change WHO you work with, you...

Happy January, all~ As we take down our holiday decorations and gear up for the next spin-around-the-globe, what are your biggest fears for the coming year? For some, it may be the lingering recession. Perhaps it’s the coming election? Or maybe you worry about the drought ? Well, thank heavens there is no drought in ideas, right?! New ideas are as bountiful as the universe, right? There is a stream of random ideas like a meteor shower right above your head, right? Wait. Did you say, “Wrong”? Uh-oh. Does your fear stem from a creative dry spell? Are you faced with the task of...