Mindset

As an employee, one might think, “So what, who cares, what’s in it for me?” I would partially agree with that sentiment. However, being part of a successful organization and participating in a growth mindset as part of its corporate culture offers an opportunity that goes beyond just showing up and getting a paycheck. Being part of something bigger than yourself creates the possibility for increased personal growth, expanding the limits of all possibilities, and helping individuals you may never see.

How amazing is it that we process a call from a patient in PR, do their claims report, and then receive their super bill via Dropbox a week later, never having seen that patient? I never lose sight of that. Remember, I come from a time when we had to schedule patients in a schedule book by pencil with no internet, LOL.

Further, success leaves clues that are interchangeable with all aspects of a person’s life. Discipline, organization, attention to detail, focus, planning, sticktoitiveness (look it up), and of course the biggest one—Hard Work! The development of all those attributes is part and parcel of honoring a person’s commitment to being chosen to be part of this planet. Yes, if you are here on the planet, consider yourself special. And I don’t mean that in the participation trophy type of special B.S. I mean that in a miracle kind of way, special. It is every human’s obligation to their higher power to optimize the short time they have on earth.

It is often said that when someone finds their purpose and marries it with their passion, they are unstoppable. I can honestly say that I have found both. I enjoy all aspects of the creation and the daily tasks of running a business. I always have. I also found my purpose early on, which is to be a caregiver. For nearly 20 plus years, I took care of patients in my office and derived a great deal of satisfaction from the privilege of being chosen by that patient to allow me to help them. And yes, it was challenging on all fronts, and I didn’t always get it right.

Similar to previous Monday morning messages, there are some thoughts I would like to share. Through the years, I have learned some things worth telling. And you’d be right in guessing that each and every lesson was hard-won. (Ray LaMontagne). Meaning, things didn’t always come easy and the lessons are still piling up. There have been some habits and ways of being that have served me well for some time now. Have a plan! I write everything out first before I do it. “Let’s go to the Big Board,” you have heard me say. If you can see it, you can do it.

Mindset for Success

• Exercise – Lifting weights has been part of my routine since I received my first set of cement-filled plastic weights from a family friend at 13. Lifting weights is my center. It has been the most constant part of my life for the past 44 years.
• Don’t make excuses, make decisions – Be responsible for your actions when things go well, as well as when they don’t. Revisit your responsibility for both outcomes, catalog it, and then move on. This reflection builds accountability and continuous improvement.
• Explain, don’t complain – Expressing displeasure, concerns, or challenges is fine — but ensure they are solution-based. Problems without solutions are just noise. Aim for progress, not pity.
• Own Your Body – This may be the most important tool in the arsenal of success. You are only as good as your body’s ability to perform. Owning your body isn’t about athletic ability — it’s about personal performance and control over how your operating system works.

Ask yourself:

• Do you exercise?
• Do you eat healthily?
• Do you sleep properly?
• Do you control your thoughts?
• Do you dwell in the past?
• Do you focus on negative outcomes?
• Do you participate in activities that don’t serve you?

If you find yourself answering “no” to some of these questions, it might be time for a reboot. Mastering your mind and body is the ultimate path to sustained success.

I will conclude this portion of the program with some words from one of my Mount Rushmore mentors, Dr. Larry Markson. A person who, in addition to Arnold Schwarzenegger, has been the most influential person in my life. “No one has dominion over you or your thoughts!” “You and only you control what occurs in between the 6 inches between your ears.” “You may have been influenced unfairly, if you will, by your mother, father, teacher, preacher, but now as a free-thinking adult, you own your own thoughts.” “Change your thoughts, and you will change your life.”

As I drove around in my Honda Prelude in 1999, listening to those words on the CD player over and over again, it wasn’t until I put those very powerful words and sentiments into practice that I was able to believe ANYTHING was possible. At first, the reason for change was self-serving; better car, bigger practice, a house instead of an apartment, etc. But fast-forward 27 years later, I have now come to understand that material possessions pale in comparison to the power of owning your thoughts and your body and thus owning your destiny. I am quite certain my lessons are far from over. But my passion for CANI (constant and never ending improvement) is always in process, and it may still take another 57 years to get it right. Thank G-d for my Mount Rushmore of mentors: Dr. Larry Markson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mr. Tom Helms, and my Uncle Joel.