Start with Why
On a daily basis we all work hard to provide something, whether it is a medication to a patient in critical need, patient counseling, preparation of intravenous medications or development of a new pharmacy protocol to ensure we are providing cutting edge care. However, have you ever stopped to think more closely about why you are doing what you are doing?
When we first take a position at a company, we are taught what we need to do and how we need to do it, but the WHY sometimes get lost in the mix.
I am here to challenge you to think about WHY you, your department, your hospital and even healthcare professionals in general do what we do. I believe if we know WHY we are doing something, it motivates us to take responsibility for what we are doing and how we are doing it.
When I reflect on my own professional career, I think back to when I decided to be a pharmacist. I didn’t know exactly WHAT I would be doing or HOW I would be doing it; but I knew WHY – I wanted to help people improve their health so they could lead happier lives. It was my “something to work towards”. Once I embraced that as my goal, the WHAT and the HOW was an extension of my WHY. My intrinsic WHY provides the tools to help me make sensible and reasoned decisions on a daily basis. Therefore, I challenge you to take some time and think about your WHY and then take action through your WHAT and your HOW to bring that WHY to life.
Inspiration for me has been “Start with Why” by Simon Sinek. I hope you will consider picking up a copy the next time you are at the bookstore or library.
Joanne MacDonald
Southeastern Michigan Society of Health Systems Pharmacists. 1946-.