It’s easy to take credit for your recognized accomplishments. The papers you’ve written, the speeches you’ve made, the presentations that were successful, the great people you hired, the contracts you’ve negotiated, the Boards you’ve led, the great jobs you’ve had, and even the many years you’ve survived the healthcare field, but I’d like to take this occasion to acknowledge the people that told me “NO!” during the years of my career. And yes, there were quite a few! Supervisors, peers, co-workers, and direct reports — they all had a role!
It started in my first healthcare job nearly 40 years ago, as Purchasing Manager at Methodist Medical Center of Illinois.
“No John, you cannot just change brands of syringes without asking Nursing! Never!”
Nelda Bevill, RN, Infection Prevention Director
“No, you can’t just tell nurses they must use this product or that. They must be involved in the decision making.”
Lorraine Thatcher, Senior Buyer
“No, you can’t just pretend you have experience in Central Processing. You have to earn it!”
Sherry Smith, Supply Chain Director
“No, you can’t have my job. It’s time for you to leave and find your own!”
Lee Boergadine, Director, Materials Management
After Methodist, the “no’s” continued.
“No, I won’t just ‘leave you alone.’ Since you report to me, you have to tell me what you are doing!”
Patrick Magoon, Vice President, then Hospital President
“No, you can’t just write an article. You have to give a speech, and on the national stage, to tell people about your accomplishments.”
Tom Pirelli, Co-Founder and Chairman, Enterprise Systems Inc.
“No, you can’t just manage from afar. If you manage this department you have to learn how to count linen and assemble a replenishment cart.”
Velma Thompson, Laundry Manager
“No John, you can’t just pretend you have a building permit when you don’t. We will get a building permit.”
Joe Rieger, Director of Engineering
“No you can’t keep lying. Tell the truth: She really is your wife, right?”
Al Greene, Hospital President
“No you can’t do what you want! I don’t care what your title is!”
Margaret Hanson, RN, Hospital COO
“No John, we do things differently here. This is a Harvard teaching hospital.”
Richard Nesson, MD, Hospital President
“No, I don’t think it would be a good idea to stop traffic in downtown Boston just so the hospital president could have an easier trip to the hospital.”
Charlie Skulte, Director of Security
“No, you can’t just bring in your own armed security force to control the labor unions.”
Jeff Otten, Hospital President
“No, dumping our in-house computer system is not the best idea.”
Becky Daniel, Vice President, Supply Chain
“No, you can’t just cut Premier out of a contract because it makes the savings larger.”
Doug Hawthorne, IDN CEO
“No, $100 million is a pretty big deal, and I don’t think you should sign that agreement until the Board approves.”
Ron Long, IDN CFO
So what have I learned by all those “no’s?”
I’ve learned we are all a product of those we worked with, for, and around! Many influences are bad, but many influences are good, even great – especially when we are told no. I’ve always said my best ideas have come from those I work with – a combination of many thoughts and opinions merged into a single output that is always better than the individual parts.
Clearly, you can see I have been told no many times regarding some not so great ideas. But I have been so blessed to have been surrounded by so many people much smarter than I who have helped me become what I am today.
Now there were lots more (probably hundreds) who I am sure told me no, but the ones I mention here are those who are most memorable for me – the ones who helped shape the things I believe in and hopefully live by today.
I most gratefully thank each and every one of them!
