No Time For You! Two Weeks!

I knew it would be a few days until I could post something (although I racked my brains trying to come up with fodder that would actually be interesting to you!).

On Tuesday, I participated in seven straight hours of meetings. One of the biggies was the Systemwide Muppet Practice Administrators' meeting. This meeting was so far over my head; I just looked over my shoulder and waved. As the CEO of BeakerGroup invited me to the meeting, I blasted exactly 459 questions his way. After our discussion, I started to better understand the differences between hospital life and practice administration. I won't bore you with those details, though!

So then yesterday, I went to BeakerGroup and learned all about actual life in the practice. I was able to shadow the CEO and even some of the nursing administrators as they put out numerous fires. Our daily census at St. Fozzie's hovers around 300 inpatients per day and BeakerGroup sees that many patients in two hours. It's a madhouse over there, but it was a fun madhouse. A funhouse! The Beaker CEO was fabulous and he invited me back for a week, in case I decide to specialize in practice administration. Ummm....yeah...thanks.

Today was the best day yet, though. I say this with a big sigh of relief because this has been one crazy week for me. I've been manic lately, as I'm either ON and fabulously kicking complete a$$, or I'm depressed because my husband is 100 miles away, I'm eating a Lean Cuisine for the 38th straight weeknight, and I don't have cable to distract myself from my misery. Jack's my support system and I have to give him major credit for taking my calls at the weirdest hours. So I have this other duality going on, one I've been battling hard all week. I was able to escape from that today.

I gave my first *big* presentation today, to the Operations team. These are the senior-most un-senior leaders in the organization. Does that make sense? They're the layer under the CEO/COO/CFO, etc. My presentation went well and I had a bit of an out-of-body experience as it just...flowed. I didn't have to work at it one bit (which is how I know there's a God and I was channeling some major grace!). I got great feedback and went on my way, to the next 3 hour medical exec meeting. After THAT, I lead two meetings, back-to-back. I'm working on my managerial skills and defining the type of manager I want to become. Luckily, I have already caught on to what *really* motivates people...I always come to meetings with candy or cookies.

My meetings are pretty well attended. However, I'm becoming known as the Time Nazi. I absolutely insist that we begin and end on time and even put in a request to Maintenance to standardize the clocks around St. Fozzie's. People laugh at me, but I just threaten to don a chef's hat and spout Seinfeldisms!