We became friends in 2008 when I assumed office as the pioneer Executive Director/CEO of Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Lagos, where I initiated media parley with the management of the foundation. Waheed Bakare was among the several Muslim journalists that honoured my invitation even though he knew me not before that time. Waheed as popularly called was an unassuming person. That was the first impression I got from him on the first day of our meeting and remained consistent until his demise.

Within the span of those years, it was either we met at one of the events of the foundation or another Muslim programme. On other occasions, we spoke on phones about upcoming events of the foundation or Nigerian Project or how to support the Muslim journalists by building their capacity. Waheed was a selfless journalist who put the interest of his colleagues in the media profession above his. Any opportunity he had with me, he always centred his conversations on the need for the Muslim Ummah to work insidiously either through collaboration or partnership with local or international organisations on the human capital development of Muslim journalists. I recall a particular day when he called me on phone to express his joy upon hearing that our foundation had muted the idea of sponsoring Muslim journalists abroad for training. He was very excited and appreciative of the initiative and wished that many other Islamic faith-based organisations could emulate our footstep.

Waheed was also a reliable, trusted and loyal friend. During the wedding of one of my daughters, he was among those I sent late invite to. In spite of his previous commitments which clashed with the date of the wedding, he honoured my family with his attendance from the beginning to the end of the ceremony. Waheed demonstrated his loyalty as a true friend.

To say Waheed Bakare was a Muslim activist and core professional in the media sector is an understatement.

Aside being a practising Muslim, he used the pen to propagate Islam, defend its image and represent the interest of the larger Ummah without infringing on the rights of non-Muslims. He was able to balance Islamic activism with professionalism. Like the sayings of Ali bn Abi Talib, the value of every person is found in what he is best at, inspired by altruistic motive, I can say that Waheed was never found wanting in his journalism profession by any of his employers and within the space of the Muslim Ummah till his soul returned to its creator.

My tribute to Waheed will not be completed if I do not mention that he was humane, kind-hearted and generous. Many people have wrong impression about journalists. Majority will even throw caution to the wind by associating beggary with journalism. Of course, this is far from been true. Again, I recall early this year, 11th January 2020, when I created a WhatsApp group named A Helping Hand used for crowd funding to bail out a young school certificate girl that lost her father and her family were ejected from their apartment because they could not afford the rental fee among other existential challenges. Though I dont know the girl before our conversation, I promised to assist her.

At that time, I was financially constrained. I thought of what to do for this girl that wolfs in human skins wanted to take advantage of. Allahs guidance came at hand. In my own words, quoting from the wall of the group However, due to the urgency and circumstances beyond my control at this period, I am unable to do the needful. Hence, I have to reach out to kind-hearted people like you for a FAVOUR on behalf of a distressed Muslim sister, who needs urgent assistance of #500,000.

The late Waheed Bakare was among the few kind-hearted friends I added to the group. Within 24 hours, I was able to realise N750,000 for the distressed girl. Waheed kept sending private sms explaining the difficulty he was experiencing from network failure which caused his inability to make his donation. I was impressed that some men such as Waheed from the fourth estate of the realm could be so passionate and moved by altruism to support the distressed girl. He never rested until his payment transfer was successful. He donated handsomely. Indeed, in the words of Abubakar, the first Caliph, Taking pains to remove the pains of others is the true essence of generosity Without mincing words, Waheed Bakare contributed in removing the pains of others. He was indeed a generous person.

Waheed Bakare did not stop after his donation; he was also a strong advocate of crowdfunding for the benefits of others. In his words when I initiated the crowdfunding, he said: This should not be a one-off thing please. Five months after he uttered the statement, Waheed never had any premonition that his journey on the path of humanity would be terminated so soon. Succinctly put, the fourth Caliph, Ali bn Abi Talib said: Days are the pages of life, so make them eternal with your best deeds. Waheed had paid his dues on the path of goodness to his creator and fellow human beings.

Despite the great pains his exit has caused us in the last day of the month of forgiveness, mercy, blessings and period of Eid-il-Fitr celebration, one is hopeful and prayerful that Allahs mercy will be on his soul and Jannatul Firdaws will be his final abode. For, Allah is with the doers of goods. Q29:69.

Finally, as advocated by Waheed himself, part of my tribute to him is the need to use the same crowdfunding strategy to mobilise fund for his immediate family (wife and children) in order to soothe their pains and reposition the familys economic sustainability and human capital development. As a suggestion, if the funding strategy is efficiently handled, may be by his immediate constituency the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), I believe, a reasonable millions of naira could be realised within a short time to wipe the tears of the family Waheed Bakare left behind. In the words of William Shakespeare in As You Like It, Men have died from time to time, and worms have eaten them, but not for love. Indeed, those that have genuine love for Waheed Bakare, this is the time to rise and do something tangible for his family. Albert Einstein once said Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value. Let the friends and colleagues of Waheed add values to the friendship we had with him even after his demise. For, Hilary Hinto, popularly known as Zig Ziglar said You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.

Therefore, let us use crowdfunding to humanise his family. Crowdfunding is a cost-effective and impactful strategy of raising fund within a short period for an urgent and time bound challenge or event. I will end my tribute with the summary statements of the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Ogun State, Alhaji Shuaib Afolabi Salis (SAS), on the crowdfunding I used which Waheed participated. SAS said:

Before we shut down the platform, permit me to share the lessons this exercise has further reinforced in me.

1) Muslims are responsive and do donate to a worthy cause, contrary to self-denigrating narrative we like to parrot about ourselves. 2) The response is directly proportional to the credibility and social capital of the anchor. 3) Break any problem down to smaller bits, it is easier to chew the bits and solve the problem in no time. 4) Eniyan lasomi Build and network that you can always tap into, whenever there is need. The young lady did, our brother, Abdullah, just demonstrated it. 5) Dont hide the finger that hurts you and keep lamenting. Share the problem appropriately and the help may be on the way.

Less than 24 hours ago, the target was oversubscribed by 50%.

These principles are applicable to not only raising N500K but any other project.

I wish some of our numerous WhatsApp platforms will do less with copying and forwarding over circulated and irrelevant posts and use social media for more meaningful engagements.

Lastly, I thank my friend, Abdullah Shuaib, PhD, for the initiative and the window he offered to us to be part of this commendable effort.

May Allah reward us with the best of our intentions.

Dr Abdullahi Shuaib, CEO, Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation, Abuja

Vanguard Nigeria News

See the rest here:
Waheed Bakare: A clear definition of altruism - Vanguard

Intro

Born in year 1926 in Alabama, the infamous Zig Ziglar is one of the world's most popular and motivational speakers. His real name was Hilary Hinton Ziglar but the man came to be known as Zig Ziglar as his alias which originated from his pet name in elementary school during the 1930s in Mississippi. He went to college in the same state in the city of Jackson and attended university at University of South Carolina.

His humble initiation and even his first job as a salesman never stood in the way of his positivity, the output of which yielded him great fame and prosperity. From being an exceptionally good salesperson, he moved on to becoming a famous author following which he became renowned for being an excellent motivational speaker. His work provides guidelines on self help and positivity, which he implemented into religious beliefs thus concocting his very own philosophies.

Before he died of pneumonia on November 28, 2012, Ziglar altered the minds of many millions of people, including American presidents and many other great leaders of the world during his 40 year long career as a speaker. He journeyed more than five million miles in his efforts to awaken the world and also assisted 500 companies in their work by providing them advice.

Zig Ziglar was born tenth of twelve children to Lila Wescott and John Silas Ziglar in Coffee Country somewhere in southeastern Alabama. Most of his childhood years were spent in Yazoo City of Mississipi where his family moved in 1931 when his father got a job at the Mississippi farm as a manager. At this point in time, young Zig was five years of age and a year later both his father and younger sister passed away; the father of stroke and the sister following suit two days later. Thus with the already prevalent hardships that a family of meager income and many mouths to feed had to face, the family was left in the care of Zig's mother alone whom Ziglar describes in his autobiography as "a remarkable woman" for her toils and the equipment of values and morale that she provided him with.

Perhaps this is what taught Zig to take up his fortunes in his own hands and so after serving the United States Navy during the Second World War as a V-12 in the Navy College Training Program, when he went to University of South Carolina which is located in Columbia, he took up a part time job as a salesperson and sold pots and pans for the WearEver Aluminium Company where he gained skill and tactic and soon excelled greatly in his work.

In 1947, Zig Ziglar moved to Lancester and began selling cooking equipment as a full time job after he dropped out of college. Zig Ziglar also credits P. C. Merrell, a divisional supervisor at WearEver for changing him altogether by believing in him and giving him advice.

Zig Ziglar has provided coaching for making extravagant sales by disclosing the tactic and strategy which he acquired from his experience and intellect. The audiobook, Zig's Secrets of Closing the Sale provides effective methods to make a great sale and is an absolutely brilliant training program. He mentions how his values have stood as foundation for his persuasive abilities. Zig Ziglar has had both audio and video training programs which have eventually landed him on radio programs and television shows. First Baptist Church in Dallas has hosted his Sunday school classes for a long time and these have been aired as well.

One of the world's most eminent sales Trainers, Zig Ziglar decided to assist people to devise effective strategies in order to become successful in their lives both professionally and personally. The name Zig Ziglar thus became identical to certainty, progress and inspiration. The New York Times, The Washington Post, Fortune, Success, The Dallas Morning News and Esquire have all recommended Zig Ziglar for his inspirational speeches. Zig Ziglar has also been promoted in 202/20, 60 Minutes, The Today Show and The Phil Donohue show where he warmed the hearts of many on account of his lively spirit and intelligent uniqueness. "How to Stay Motivated" is his leader and one of his many books and audio and video training programs.

His first book about self assistance was "See You at the Top" which was published in the 1970s which was reprinted many times but never lost its zeal. Ziglar has also contributed to the Congressional record of the United States in his discussion about the American lifestyle. Zig Ziglar Corporation in Dallas holds more than 60 staff members and utilizes full effort to help people realize their mental, physical and spiritual capabilities. Over the last 30 years, Zig Ziglar has gained devoted followers from all over America due to his inspirational work.

Zig Ziglar gains his profound interest in helping other people from the strength of his beliefs in God. His favorite phrase remains to have been about assisting other people to get that which they desire in order to get that which one desires for one's self. Zig Ziglar was a Christian and some of his work seems to notably have subtle messages about God and Christianity.

His words always seemed to be conveyed straight from his heart and amid his messages about honesty, integrity, hard work and virtue, Zig was a comfortably encouraging person. He seemed to make his listener understand that one could do absolutely anything at all. His speeches always ended with 'if you do this, and by you, yes I mean you, I will see you at the top." which naturally gained him respect, love and admiration. He always provoked one to put on a friendly face to the challenges that life throws in one's way.

"See You at the Top" was initially rejected by 30 publishing houses before Ziglar found a publisher who agreed in Louisiana after which it sold more than a quarter million copies and remains in print to date. The many books that he has written (about more than thirty) include ten that have been listed as best sellers and those that have been translated to more than 36 languages all over the world and have been distributed through Ziglar's official website as well as Amazon.com and the infamous Nightingale-Conant. Ziglar has also been a great feature in the enterprise system of America.

In 2001, Zig Ziglar achieved the Silver Buffalo Award from Boy Scouts of America which is the highest award in the United States for services to the youth. National Speakers Association seems to have had an absolutely unequivocal admiration for the man considering that the organization gave Ziglar the Master of Influence Award in 1999 and the Lifetime Member Award and also Cavett Award in 2001. This is further affirmed by the fact that The Council of Peer Award for Excellence Speaker hall of Fame by National Speakers Association was also given to Zig Ziglar as a symbol of unmatched skill in his field.

"The Ziglar Way" continues to have been a way of life for a great number of people after Zig Ziglar retired in 2010 and handed over the company Ziglar Inc. to his son and even after his death. His speeches have impacted the hearts and minds of people for an exceptionally long term and continue to motivate people years later. An unmatched name and figure where inspiration and hard work are concerned and the achiever of excellence in speaking, Zig Ziglar is a true legacy of America

Starting off humbly in Alabama and moving on to Mississippi and then to Lancaster, Zig Ziglar implemented the values that were instilled inside him by his mother in all that which he did and set an example for others. With his great verbal abilities, he helped many people recognize their inner selves and prosper in that which they desired. Zig Ziglar had firm religious and spiritual beliefs and worked by the motto of helping others. He understood the power of vision and the ways to implement your ideas. He never ever let the hope go away in any way, rather positivity was his strongest suit. Ziglar may have passed but he left a legacy, a legacy which gloomed and lit up lives of countless people and left them inspired. His words are so filled up with energy and passion that they gust like wind but fill people's minds with a new innovative energy. He achieved a great number of speaking awards and gained much love and fame before he died in 2012.

Read more from the original source:
Zig Ziglar biography - interesting facts, achievements ...

A giant dream fills your mind every day.That ball in your stomach telling you to want more. But this is immediately followed by the thought:"I've never done anything like that." So you do nothing.You don't act on this dream because you haven't done it before.

Whether you are anentrepreneur looking to kickstart your first business or someone who wants to leverage skills outside of your current role, here is how you make yourself more valuable than any experience ever could.

When I vet out mentees, I seek to understand how much research they have done before reaching out to me--andhow good they are at listening. Because as a mentee, or any business professional, if all you want to do is talk about yourself and your ideas, you're ultimately limiting your potential to learn.

Surround yourself with people who can teach you,then actively listen to their words of advice. Put yourself in the positionwhere you are the least experienced person in the room and soak up every piece of information possible. Engagement is the source of experience and fortune favors those who put themselves out there.

When it comes to learning, don't take yourself for granted. Sure you can learn from books, mentors, and those you admire, but don't forget to learn from yourself along the way. Spend intentional time reflecting on your experiences to extract powerful lessons from the wins and the losses. Use your past to power your sailsforward. The quicker you learn, the faster you will go.

"Every person you meet knows something you don't.Learn from them." -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Humility is a trait that portrays self-confidence.While everyone else is running around preaching how great they are, use humility to stand firmwith unwavering confidence.The important thing to note here is that the most humble person in a room is often the most approachable. This approachability creates thebyproduct of gaining supporters, partners, and knowledge.

Eliminate the need to portray something that you are not. When you speak honestly about your experience, or lack thereof, do so from a humble place and maintain your confidence.Remember, humility listens. When you step into being humble you are more receptive to feedback from others, feedback that could help you take leaps forward. When you respectfully solicit feedback, you boost their internal value while giving yourself insights that would have been glossed over otherwise.

"Humility will open more doors than arrogance ever will."- Zig Ziglar

It no longer matters who has the most experience. What matters is who can gain the knowledge the fastest. If you don't have the experience you want, learn how to get it.This can be creating a network of people to turn to for support, reading blogs and timely articles, ortaking courses. Build a library ofresourcesat your fingertips for reference when needed.

In today's world, you no longer need to know how to do calculus. You simply need to know how to use a calculator.Given the endless amount of resources available today, there are no excuses for lacking the knowledge you need. Those who are willing to go the extra mileand get knee-deep in the situation at handare the ones who will step out ahead.

"It's not the lack of resources that causes failure;it's the lack of resourcefulness." - Tony Robbins

Published on: Apr 16, 2020

The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

Read the original:
3 Must-Have Traits to Start Business (Experience is Not One of Them) - Inc.

Do you think money is the secret to happiness in the long run? A lot of people ask me the question, Can money buy you happiness?.

First of all,the answer is no you dont need money to be happy.

This is, after all, a debatable topic by a lot of people and not everyone would answer no BUT

Being a global entrepreneur for over 35 years and knowing many people that have a lot of money along with having done very well for myself, I can tell you that sometimes using big money for buying all kinds of things like homes, boats, and cars can actually make you an unhappy person because you get many more things to deal with and many more areas to add problems in your life.

Wealth is the ability to truly experience life. Henry David Thoreau

So money doesnt necessarily buy you happiness but I will say this lets just think about it

Money could help your family and ultimately provide for the family in many ways which is usually the main and driven factor as to why we work so hard for more money.

You could use it for amazing and relaxing vacations to do and see some awesome things but mostly to reset and enjoy life in these fortunate ways.

And if youre a charitable person, which you should be, and youd like to help nonprofits, that would be a great way to use your money for long-term happiness.

Although, you dont necessarily need money for nonprofits because you can contribute your time.

Helping others and giving back is NOT Money the Secret to Happiness

Learn more aboutwhy entrepreneurs can have the best of both worlds when it comes to happiness And money.

Although money can be helpful, it can also lead to greed and unhappiness.

So youve gotta be very careful.

I like to say if you have money, put it to good use, dont be greedy or you will be unhappy. Kevin Harrington

Overall, put your money to good use by providing for others, for the family, for nonprofits, and participate in a giving back to the community in general.

Zig Ziglar, one of my mentors, said it best that

You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want. Zig Ziglar

If you think about money and your life that way in helping other people, youll be happier in the long run.

Ive created a simple, proven process for helping you get there faster.

Get the free step-by-step guide here now!

Here is the original post:
Is Money the Secret to Happiness? - Thrive Global

East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact, which COVID-19 has illustrated so well. A recent sampling:

Q-Anon followers have been told that drinking bleach can fight off coronavirus infection. But the FDA says the ingredient chlorine dioxide can cause vomiting and liver failure. Its been linked to two deaths.

Digital repression: Weve had a taste of that given odd behaviors exhibited by the Internet after the traffic load went up 35 percent following during stay-at-home orders. Last year, access to the Internet was restricted in 33 countries that were attempting to control their citizens, The Wall Street Journal reported. The United Nations declared Internet access a human right in 2016.

By early April, the Defense Production Act, which could be used to order masks produced in the U.S., had not been utilized by President Donald Trump, so the crowd-funding Masks For America was launched. Taiwan already had a stockpile of masks, The New York Times said, and all countries should maintain such a cache.

New York State, unable to get federal help for medical supplies, is paying private entities 20 cents for medically protective gloves that normally cost a nickel, $7.50 for 50 cent masks, and a quarter million for portable x-ray machines that cost, at most, $80,000, according to Inequality Media.

A Pew Research poll shows 66 percent of Americans are uncomfortable about voting at public polling places during the pandemic. The obvious solution is to vote by mail, according to conservative opinion writer Jennifer Rubin, writing in the Washington Post. So far, the Trump Administration has indicated support for vote by mail, but Politico reports, only for seniors.

Stay-at-home recommendations have resulted in traffic accidents being halved, The Hill reported. Less travel has also resulted in better air quality in many places.

Over a half million people in the U.S. are homeless, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. They have higher rates of infectious, acute and chronic diseases, made worse by minimal opportunities to wash up. During the pandemic, California has turned to their budget surplus to arrange shelter for their homeless.

Infectious disease expert Dr. James Lawler, in TIME magazine, said there could be 96 million COVID-19 cases in the next couple of months. The potential result is 1.9 million ICU admissions (there are an estimated 95,000 ICU beds in the U.S.), 4.8 million hospitalizations and 480,000 deaths.

Some 14 million jobs could be lost by the end of summer due to the crisis, said the Economic Policy Institute.

The best way to dodge an epidemic via a rapid response is cooperation and trust for scientists and leaders, according to historian and author Yuval Noah Harari. He pointed out that those measures frequently have been overlooked in addressing COVID-19, driving the virus to pandemic status.

Schools out: enhance the days spent with family read-aloud time, suggested TIME magazine. Start with 15 to 20 minutes a day, first with an adult reading aloud, and then the children can take a turn.

Another federal fundraising angle: Economists Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman said a wealth tax of 2 percent on assets over $50 million and 3 percent on assets above $1 billion would, over 10 years, raise $2.75 trillion. Trumps tax cuts created a loss of $2 trillion, The Progressive reported.

Traffic accidents claim 40,000 lives annually in the U.S. AAA suggested that could be reduced with mandatory ignition interlocks that detect alcohol. While seatbelts and airbags were once optional, AAA pointed out that their life-saving abilities resulted in their becoming mandatory.

Blast from the past: The deadly influenza of 1918 showed up in the spring, and then made a comeback in the fall. Philadelphia was particularly hard-hit, with 759 deaths in one day, connected to a WWI parade attended by 200,000. Within three days of the parade, all hospital beds were full. The city was shut down days later. The response to the flu was further hampered by so many of the citys doctors having gone to war. As well, morgues could not keep up with demands for their services.

And another blast: You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want, said Hilary Hinton Zig Ziglar, 1926-2012, American author, salesman and motivational speaker.

See the original post here:
Western News - The Western News

Encourage Your Staff Positive reinforcement and acknowledgement of accomplishments are key to feeding your team. We dont always take time to celebrate the wins. Its important.

As a part of my series about Lessons From Inspirational Women in STEM and Tech, I had the pleasure of interviewing Krisanne Fieldhouse.

Krisanne has been with Modernizing Medicine for over 13 years with a primary focus on practice management and operations. She currently leads strategic efforts to further develop Modernizing Medicines Practice Management and Analytics solutions to help bring operational improvements to the specialty healthcare markets.

Krisannes prior experiences include managing electronic health records (EHR) implementation teams. She previously served as the product manager of Modernizing Medicine Gastroenterologys, formerly gMed, Practice Management solution. She oversaw the gastroenterology revenue cycle management (RCM) division, which has directly contributed to her current role.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

At10 years old, I clearly remember visiting the ER for a broken wrist. I was enamored with the technology and workflow during my visit and declared to my parents that I wanted to work in a hospital. Apparently my 10 year-old self was right about my career path!

Throughout my career, I have held positions in the hospital setting which were highly operational in nature. Often frustrated with the lack of tools and technology to bring efficiency to process, I was drawn to the product management field to make a positive impact in the industry and ultimately patient care.

I have now been with Modernizing Medicine for over a decade. I am thankful for the opportunity to fulfill my personal desires while working towards the company mission of transforming how healthcare information is created, consumed and utilized to increase practice efficiency and patient outcomes. It blends the best of both worlds on a daily basis medicine and tech and I love it.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began at your company?

In the tech space you have to be agile. Once you combine tech and healthcare, the only constant is change and the ability to pivot quickly and frequently grows exponentially.

Working at Modernizing Medicine, I have been extremely lucky to experience and create many interesting moments. Some of the most memorable ones have occurred during our annual users conference, MOMENTUM, where over 1,000 of our clients gather for a weekend of learning and networking. At our most recent conference, I had a Practice Administrator approach me and sincerely thank my team and I for transforming their office with our Practice Management solution. Since using our solution, theyve decreased workload, redirected efforts and made positive changes to their bottom line.

These are the conversations that remind me that what I am doing is making an impact and motivates me to keep delivering. You have to relish these positive moments and save them and remember them when you have those more um, challenging days, which we all experience.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Oh, the value of a personal introduction. It may seem as though introductions at the start of a meeting are just common sense, but you know what they say when you assume.

Early in my career, I was brought into a heated meeting regarding an application not supporting workflow. I began pushing the meeting participants hard regarding workflow irregularities to get to the crux of the issue. Following the meeting, I received an email from a new executive who was a participant in the meeting. Oops! I wouldnt have changed the context of discussion, but I perhaps would have tweaked my delivery just a tad.

The lesson? Dont make assumptions. An introduction can and does go a long way.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

Timing can be everything.Modernizing Medicinewas founded based on a chance encounter between a patient (who happened to be a tech entrepreneur) and a dermatologist. Daniel Cane, Modernizing Medicines CEO, met Dr. Michael Sherling, the companys Chief Medical and Strategy Officer, during a routine visit. As Dan observed the lack of tech to take notes and Dr. Sherling expressed frustration with the lack of dermatology-specific technology on the market, ideas began to brew. The two continued their discussion about this gap in the market. Modernizing Medicine was founded in February of 2010 and our electronic health record (EHR) system, EMA, was created with the goal of transforming healthcare and truly modernizing medicine.

One of the unique founding principles that still rings true today is having on-staff physicians actively program specific medical knowledge into our software and work alongside our development team. As practicing physicians in their specialties, they know the workflows that their peers need. Its much easier to teach a medical doctor how to code versus teaching a coder how to be a medical doctor.

Think about it from a patient perspective. The process from the office procedures to the clinical exam vary greatly and this changes dramatically depending on specialty. A visit to the dermatologist is much different compared to a visit to the ophthalmologist. One size does not fit all and this applies to technology that doctors use.

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?

This is definitely the era of the patient and healthcare consumerization will only continue to grow alongside the needs and expectations of patients. Knowing that, an exciting aspect of our teams focus revolves around patient engagement strategies. How do we help equip our clients practices to provide what their patients need and want?

Our goal is to support practices in delivering great patient care and improving the overall patient experience by helping provide them greater access and involvement in their own healthcare.

By expanding engagement tools such as a mobile patient portal, online self-scheduling for appointments, online bill pay and text to pay help place the ability to manage healthcare in the patients hands. Just as we use our smartphones to order a car on demand or reorder household products with the touch of a button, convenience and accessibility for our health will continue to expand.

Ok super. Thank you for all that. Lets now shift to the main focus of our interview. Are you currently satisfied with the status quo regarding women in STEM? What specific changes do you think are needed to change the status quo?

Progress has been made towards the status quo however, I believe there is significant opportunity for improvement. Even though we are seeing more and more women move into leadership positions within the engineering space, the field still remains primarily dominated by men. Strides can be made through early engagement and mentoring programs for young females introducing opportunities in STEM. It needs to start at an early age and remain consistent throughout the education system. Reinforcement is key at home, in the academic setting and from the top down at the company level.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by women in STEM or Tech that arent typically faced by their male counterparts? What would you suggest to address this?

In tech, I see that women have a more difficult time asking for what they truly desire compared to their male counterparts. Whether it be a project they want to work on, a promotion, a pay raise or being more transparent about their familial commitments, there seems to be a hesitancy to ask for what is deserved. I mentor women on my team to gain confidence to ask for what they want and to have substance and the why behind it.

Oprah Winfrey once said, You get in life what you have the courage to ask for. This quote resonates in the workplace as well as in life and serves a gentle reminder to go for what you want.

What are the myths that you would like to dispel about being a woman in STEM or Tech. Can you explain what you mean?

I believe its important to dispel the myth that women in STEM or tech have to be a developer and engineer. Its not necessarily a prerequisite. Its possible to lead teams, manage products, create user experiences and lead agile processes without understanding how to create a single line of code. By using creativity, communication and leadership skills, women can find a place in this environment and thrive.

What are your 5 Leadership Lessons I Learned From My Experience as a Woman in STEM or Tech and why. (Please share a story or example for each.)

Walk the Walk Accept responsibility with your team for both wins and losses. Let them know youre in the boat together. When there is a challenge be willing to roll up your sleeves with the team.

Encourage Your Staff Positive reinforcement and acknowledgement of accomplishments are key to feeding you team. We dont always take time to celebrate the wins. Its important.

Talk Less, Listen More Some of the best solutions are identified by listening. You dont have to have all the answers. Listen to your customers, staff, peers and choose your words wisely.

Lead by Example Be thoughtful of your behavior, others are watching and learning. How better to educate your team than leading by example.

Communicate Your team cant read your mind. Communicate clearly and effectively. Learn how to tailor your communication to drive the results you need.

What advice would you give to other female leaders to help their team to thrive?

Paint the big picture and empower your staff to deliver. Responsibility drives growth.

What advice would you give to other female leaders about the best way to manage a large team?

Inventory yourself. Know your strengths and weaknesses and identify key team members to support you and drive team and company goals. I also recommend operating in transparency. Transparency enables trust. Trust takes a long time to build and minutes to destroy.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

Im grateful to my parents who helped me get to where Im at today. My siblings and I were raised to be honest, work hard and respect others, and my parents led by example. I live by these core values and look for them in others both in and out of the workplace.

My father always looked out for people. I distinctly remember him inviting a friend who was struggling and going through some challenging times to our house for a holiday dinner. That one act of kindness turned into many late nights over several months where my father provided his friendly advice and guidance. There never was any judgment or lack of patience, just a desire to help him improve his situation. This left a lasting impact on me, and I believe it contributes in my desire to help people grow.

My parents also instilled the belief that you can do anything you put your mind to and to see challenges as opportunities. The idea of challenges being viewed as opportunities is something that I refer to on a daily basis. We all encounter challenges its about how you react to them. If you look for the opportunity during analysis it leads to constant performance improvement.

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

I take pride in growing people in their careers its one of my favorite aspects of the job. I love seeing raw talent and working alongside these individuals to further develop them and help them reach their potential. My personal success has enabled me to directly contribute to the personal and professional growth of team members, peers, family and friends. I find that incredibly rewarding. My hope is that by empowering others, that they will do great things and pay it forward.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

If I could inspire a movement it would be to improve recognition to highlight the importance of teachers in the United States. The influence that teachers hold and their ability to shape young minds is bar none. They have tremendous power to positively impact society. When students lack support in their home life, teachers can have a huge impact and help fill the emotional gaps, making them both inspiring mentors and positive role models. Our education leaders should hold students accountable for success and failure and provide consistency.

Unfortunately, compensation for teachers in the United States doesnt align with the momenumental impact and role they play in shaping our countrys future. I know the lack of pay often discourages those who would be wonderful additions to the education system. Why arent we investing in our best and brightest to shape our future generations?

Can you please give us your favorite Life Lesson Quote? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude. Zig Ziglar

Im all about attitude. Great attitude will allow you to identify pathways to success and help you to not get stuck in the weeds. I have found when dealing with challenging situations, keeping a positive attitude will help others find an effective solution. You may have all the talent in the world, but if you have a less than stellar attitude, then you wont get very far.

We are very blessed that prominent leaders read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them

Id enjoy sharing a meal with Simon Sinek. Simon is a leadership guru and motivational speaker who has interesting perspectives on communication and leadership. His delivery and concepts are easy to assimilate and apply. He offers refreshing ideas which I have personally applied with great success. I particularly enjoyed readingLeaders Eat Lastwhich focuses on leadership and human relationships. One of the concepts that resonated with me is that leaders provide cover from above and the people on the ground look after one another. Your team needs to feel safe in their environment to reach the collective goal. Keeping this concept in mind, the idea of were all in this together is a much more actionable thought.

As for our meal, I think I would opt for breakfast seems like a guy who would love a solid plate of French Toast and a mimosa, of course.

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Positive reinforcement and acknowledgement of accomplishments are key to feeding your team With Penny Bauder & Krisanne Fieldhouse - Thrive Global

Emily Marrison, Columnist Published 10:16 a.m. ET March 22, 2020

Emily Marrison(Photo: Submitted)

I used to have this thought: If only I had more time, Id _______ (fill in the blank with a variety of activities).

And I would think, My children are growing up so fast, I wish I had more time to spend with them.

Well, here it is as we practice social distancing. Whether we have kids at home or not, there are some great opportunities to get some things accomplished at home.

Routine is good. Kids are used to a routine at school and at daycare. Some of us are piecemealing together a childcare schedule right now that is going to be anything but consistent. So, if there are opportunities for continuity at any point during the day, then prioritize these.

In our house, bedtime is special. Id almost say more important now that my kids are approaching their teen years than when they were toddlers. I wouldnt have believed that 10 years ago, but I certainly do now. This is the time that I listen to my children without interruption more than any other point of the day. They crave this time. If you are not used to having this time with your kids, then this would be a great time to start.

Get kids in your kitchen. I love spending time in the kitchenand though it can require an extra pinch of patience, I enjoy teaching my kids to cook and to bake. My children and I made some kid-friendly recipes on Facebook Live this week and will continue to do this together weekly. Visit coshocton.osu.edu to learn more about this virtual program and get our recipes to use with your family.

When you dont have school-aged kids

Keep yourself motivated. Last week in our staff conference meeting, my colleague Jenny Strickler shared a great quote with us from Zig Ziglar. Apparently, someone once asked Zig how he stayed motivated and positive all the time. He explained that he didnt always, but he saw it as a choice: People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why I recommend it daily.

Get up early each morning. Some of our best work can be in the morning. Take a shower first thing to get ready for your day. Dont lounge around in your PJs.

As Mary Poppins would say, Well begun is half done. So, get started before you get sucked into something on a device. And speaking of devices, one of my biggest concerns for folks during all this social distancing is the temptation for overspending. Limit your time on shopping sitesand you wont be enticed to buy things you do not need.

Make a list of what you want to accomplish at home. You know there are lots of projects to do. Start by prioritizing all those things you said youd do later or when you had more time. This is a great opportunity to sort through boxes of photos and organize them. Or sort through online photos and organize them. Maybe this is the time to go through closets and determine what stays and what can be donated.

Start spring cleaning. Tackle a room every two or threedays and really clean. Remove the clutter, wipe down the walls, wash the windows, move all the furniture and sweep under it. The colder weather looks to be staying away for a while and cleaning out the garage is definitely on my list.

Today Ill leave you with this quote from Mother Teresa:Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.

Emily Marrison is an OSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Educator and may be reached at 740-622-2265.

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Stuck at home because of social distancing? Here's what you can do with that extra time. - Coshocton Tribune

It was 2009, and hospitals, skilled care settings and the community were on edge. My neighbor who was in his 50s had contracted H1N1 and died.

My own daughter was being hospitalized for the same infection. I was exhausted, panicked and at the end of my ability to cope.

My colleague reminded me that Zig Ziglar once said that F.E.A.R is really Fabricated Evidence that Appears Real. At the time, I was in no mood for the wisdom of Ziglar. I had an overflowing hospital, a community that seemed to have the virus literally everywhere and this viral spread had become personal.

Reflecting back on that moment in my life, there are clear lessons I learned that pertain to todays situation of COVID-19. My colleague, in his wisdom, was trying to get me to see that when fear takes over our ability as leaders, our minds go into overdrive and what is not truth, becomes truth.

Fabricated Evidence that Appears Real (F.E.A.R) #1

As a leader, you must have all of the answers.

This a falsehood of leadership, but becomes more pronounced in times of turbulence. It is perceived as the sentence embedded with invisible ink in a leadership job description.

The dynamics are such that the actions employees are being asked to take are fluid, changing to the situation on hand. Employees long for stability and look to you as their leader to be the stabilizer. You feel the tension to reassure and provide knowledge and insight.

Here is where the principles of servant leadership must be utilized. Think of President Lincoln. He did not have the answers, the situation he was facing was ever changing. He listened to his people. He stated the problems and listened to their ideas to address the challenges. He then utilized them to help develop plans. He trusted them to put the plans into action. He knew his job was to make sure that his people could do their jobs to the best of their abilities and the situation.

At the end of our emergency preparedness briefings, a statement was made by all present: Many Hands, One Team. Being grounded in the knowledge that everyone is part of a greater whole helps as the days get long.

You are a team working together. Working to care for each other and those who are trusting you to be that team.

Fabricated Evidence that Appears Real (F.E.A.R) #2

We can use our usual communications.

If there were ever a time to amp up communication, it is now. I learned to stick to a phrase that employees knew was a clear, concise message for them to tune into and listen.

I would say, Here is what we know today then I gave clear, concise communication on what was known and what they needed to know. I then stated, Here is how I need for you to use this information Once again clear, concise messaging.

This takes a change in thinking, communication prepping and listening for all involved. The same communication channels you are currently using, will not work. The people who are not at work, need to know the same information as those who are onsite. You need for them to report into work prepared for the current situation.

Recording the communication with a designated number for people to call in was one solution utilized. Typing the communication up and posting in a designated site for people to refer to was also done. Transparency is critical.

In the absence of information, F.E.A.R becomes a focal point within an organization and diverts attention and organizational energy.

Fabricated Evidence that Appears Real (F.E.A.R) #3

Times are too serious for moments of self-care, joy and balance.

In the beginning of the epidemic, everyone was energetic, volunteering for extra shifts and staying over to help out. As time went on, we wore out.

We all were so busy managing the issues, we failed to manage our own health and wellness. Studies have demonstrated over and over again, the need for resilience within the human spirit. Now is the time to give thoughtful design and actions on how to help your team and yourself have enduring resilience.

Beyond the worry of contraction of the virus, the sheer pace was grueling. We joked about how we didnt even know what normal looked like anymore. Yet, we longed for a moment of normalcy.

Think about creating moments of normalcy. Such simple actions as a room converted for staff to have more than breaks, they are designed for recess. Not only physical but mental ability to disconnect from the overwhelming pace and issues.

I have seen staff put coloring books, puzzles, headphones, music players, guided meditation videos and posters of beautiful photography of nature into their rooms. I have seen teams have a mandatory checkout where people spend time talking about the shift and staying connected to each others energy and capabilities. I have seen talented individuals lead singing, humming and musical moments that influenced a shot of energy to the team.

We are in uncharted waters as we work to address COVID-19. Knowledge from the past can inform the now and future. As a leader, utilizing the power of many, communicating clearly and having consciousness about creating opportunity for recovery of body, mind and spirit will help sustain ourselves and our teams.

Martie L. Moore, MAOM, RN, CPHQ, has been an executive healthcare leader for more than 20 years. She has served on advisory boards for the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and the American Nurses Association, and she currently serves on the Deans Advisory Board at the University of Central Florida College of Nursing. She recently was honored by Saints Martins University with an honorary doctorate degree for her service and accomplishments in advancing healthcare.

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Leadership in the face of FEAR - Guest columns - McKnight's Long Term Care News

For many years, I have surrounded my office with inspirational thoughts and quotes. These help to remind me of my focus, my direction, and my goals. Quite a few have been on my desk prior to my work as a 4-H agent but I find them to be even more applicable as I work with positive youth development!

One of my favorites is The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want most for what you want now. This quote from Zig Ziglar applies to much of the teaching that happens with 4-H. No one just shows up at the fair with a perfect angel food cake or woodworking project! Many hours of research, learning, and practice go into that entry for the fair and potential for a blue or purple ribbon. In the same manner, the skills that young 4-H members learn in parliamentary procedure or public presentations dont happen overnight but continued practice and stretching their goals result in youth who are accomplished presenters when they move to the next stage in their life.

Another of my favorites is an anonymous quote titled The Secret to Happiness. It states, Forget. Apologize. Admit errors. Avoid mistakes. Listen to advice. Keep your temper. Shoulder the blame. Make the best of things. Maintain high standards. Think first and act accordingly. Put the needs of others before your own. Forgive.

I appreciate how all of the others are tucked between Forget and Forgive. Many of these are attributes that we want 4-H members to develop and that all of us can be better at. When we apologize, admit errors, avoid making the same mistakes, and listen to advice we humbly acknowledge our learning process. Keeping our temper and shouldering our share of the blame certainly make for calmer discussion and smoother resolution. The 4-H motto is to make the best better and making the best of a situation is certainly a life skill that takes practice and resilience. Maintaining high standards is a very personal characteristic and we should be setting examples everyday for those around us. In 4-H we work on critical thinking and decision-making skills which means thinking first and acting accordingly. Community service, both as a club member and individually, is practiced daily in 4-H and this ties directly into putting the needs of others before our own.

These quotes have different meanings for me than they did eight or nine years ago but inspire me just as much today! Who inspires you? Who can you inspire?

Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent for the Cottonwood District, Barton County office. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth and Development related questions email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.

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Be inspired by words of wisdom - Great Bend Tribune

CAN YOU BELIEVE it is the beginning of a new decade? We are one month in, and it already seems to be moving faster than last year. Thats the way it is with time. It seems to move at an ever-increasing speed.

Im sure that many of you took on this new year with plans to make changes, improvements and commitments that are already behind schedule. For some, it may be the result of putting off the actions needed to begin the change. Usually, its due to waiting for the right motivation or circumstance to take action. Conventional wisdom says that action follows motivation. Once someone has the desire and motivation, then they take action. Unfortunately, thats not how it works. Those that dont understand this spend days, weeks, months, and even years failing to act. They wait on that perfect set of circumstances to motivate them into taking action to make the change they desire.

It is behavior that creates motivation. The most challenging part of beginning an exercise program is lacing up your shoes. If you have not established a routine in your life where you exercise regularly, youll find getting dressed and lacing up your shoes to be most challenging. Youll wait until you feel like exercising before you lace up your shoes. If you just make the decision, take action, lace up your shoes and take a 30-minute walk when you have no motivation, you will discover that after a short period of time, you become motivated. Motivationfollowstaking action.

Now think about the improvements or changes you want to make in your business. Maybe its a staffing change; maybe its reassigning responsibilities or using new technology. You will be tempted to wait until conditions are best suited for making these changes. Maybe the difficulty in going through this process is what is keeping you from taking action.

Well, let me help you with two steps to lace up your shoes:

1. Be sure you know what it is you want to do and why you want to do it. To think this through, take the time to write it down with a full description of why it will be an improvement for your business. Many times a friend or colleague tells us what they did and why they are glad they made the change. They can talk about how it made such a difference for them and their patients. However, that is not you or your business. If you are going to take on the difficulty of change, you need to know for sure that this is important to you and why it will benefit your patients.

2. Next, set a date to begin. Not to accomplish the entire task, just to start. Zig Ziglar, the motivational speaker, said, you dont have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great. There is power in starting.Break down the task into steps and set a schedule of achieving the steps. Dont worry about the potential consequences, you can work the issues out as you implement the change. Using my exercise analogy, you dont have to begin by working out for two hours, six days a week. Start with 30 minutes, three times a week. In the beginning, it is not about the amount accomplished, but only that you start doingsomething.

These simple actions will create the motivation and support to achieve even more. Once you begin this cycle of continual improvement through taking action, youll be amazed at what you can achieve.

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How Much is Your Practice Really Worth? - InvisionMag