This past week I spent some time viewing old video clips on “YOUTUBE” of several media segments involving talk shows and documented historic events. Among some of these media segments I so curiously got wrapped up in were from the 1970’s episodes of the “Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” and more recent “Late Night with David Letterman”. Watching each of these long running and undoubtedly very successful “talk shows”, what struck me the most were the guests either Johnny or Dave had on the their show and the conversations that were pertinent during that period of time. One “clip” in particular was a Johnny Carson show and his guest was Governor Ronald Reagan. The topic Johnny was conversing around was the state of the country at that time in 1973 and if Ronald Reagan ever would consider running for President of the United States. Governor Reagan’s response to that question was vague but man let me tell you knowing now in life what I do, his speaking and appearance was so very Presidential!
Fast forwarding a bit, I then began viewing the “YOU TUBE” media clips of President Ronald Reagan and settled in on one that featured his entire state funeral from start to finish. Seeing the many faces of that era who were attending the state funeral such as Margret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev, President Gerald Ford and Brian Mulroney to me was an overwhelming memory reminder of “defined success” that in many circles of that time was not realized until long after those individual leaders term of service and responsibility ended.
We as HTM professionals wherever our journeys may have started or currently are today have encountered and will continue to do so, people and events that bear immediate outcomes and defining moments that may not be fully realized until some period after in time. It could be a customer or co-worker interaction, mentoring from a leader we worked under or a project assignment. Playing back in our own “YOU TUBE” memory minds from time to time the events or interactions that shaped you both positive and sometimes challenging in turn defining what is success and the reward of one’s contributions. This week’s blog may be a bit philosophical on my part – that’s OK. As HTM professionals we are human and it’s good to remember and relish that fact – it helps us in being the best we can be in delivering the highest quality expected by the patients we serve.
