Trophies

I updated my Facebook status the other day to read "I could handle being a trophy wife on days like this."

Not trying to be dramatic. But some days, I *could* handle that lifestyle! I have a few 'trophy wife' friends who are free to go for a jog mid-morning, hit a Pilates class, go sit in a cafe and thumb through a book, perhaps get a manicure, etc! I guess that's what happens when you marry a surgeon! :)

Today I helped fire an endocrinologist, drafted a plan to regionalize two more programs, and accidentally started a massive discussion about patient safety (or the lack thereof) among members of senior leadership. This is good; we need to have these decisions as reform and Value-Based Purchasing roll onto the healthcare scene. However, I am beginning to wonder if people see me as a fire-starter. Or a pot-stirrer. Or worse, a trouble-maker. Someone jokingly told me that they dread getting emails from me because it usually means more work.

At first I was oddly flattered. Then I started to wonder....!

It's tough to go around and pick at things that have been "okay" for years and years. There are employees who are perfectly content to come to work, punch in, do the minimal amount of work, punch out, and go home. They go to work, do the same exact thing, day in and day out. But when you start nosing around their business, they tend to get defensive.

But that's not going to get us to the next level. We may remain a "good" hospital, but we'll never become a GREAT hospital. Good is the enemy of great. If you're complacent with Good, why even bother trying to reach Great?

It's frustrating. And yes, I just quoted the book Good to Great. Read it if you have not already. It is far beyond the business world and touches upon all walks of life.

So I lucked out today to have two cancellations on two of my monthly meetings. Well *I* wasn't the lucky one (one employee had the stomach flu, another a death in the family), but I found myself with two open hours to get some actual work done during daylight hours. So I wrote a presentation, prepared for tomorrow's meetings, and voila, suddenly had time to blog again.

Life is good. Wait, I mean, life is GREAT. But I still feel like I'm due for a strong margarita!