Category: Work Ethic

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That’s Right! Here We Go, Again!

Spring time is in full swing and summer is just around the bend. There is nothing better than waking up to cool mornings and enjoying the day as it warms up (but not too hot.)

a photo of the Ruhla alarm clock taken in 1986 by David Guerra in West Berlin Germany
DDR (East Germany) Ruhla Analog Alarm Clock (circa 1986)

Unfortunately, it does not last long. Spring in my neck of the woods is over before it really starts. Yep, down here on the Southern Border Spring lasts all of two weeks. Then, the triple digit temperatures return with such ferocity that a South Padre Island undertow feels more like a stream running across your ankles.

The seasons are merely signs of transition, time for change. Thus, the cycle begins again or does it never truly end? It really never truly stops or starts. For those that have read my writings and followed me for some time know that whether we like it or not; change is a constant.

So if you are inclined to read on, change brings us back to this place once again. It is here, in the Springtime that we must pause (NOT STOP) to reflect on what we have done, what we want to do, and most of all, what is still left to do.

Folks, this is the best time of the year to put yourself on the scale of life. This is the time to look back on the past 365 days. To see yourself as you see yourself. Paying no heed to what others see when they see you. Only what YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR. You focus on you and nothing and no one else. Once you look at yourself, you see the work you have done and what is still left to do. Then you can begin to work on yourself for yourself.

As most of us are goal oriented, the Spring is the perfect time to get things started, to make things happen, especially if you want to accomplish your goals before the end of the year. You still have time do get things done be the end of this year. As of this writing (13 APRIL 2025) there are 262 days left on the calendar.

That is 8 months and 18 days / 37 weeks / 6,288 hours and the CLOCK IS TICKING! It is not going to stop.

According to the late Dr. Stephen Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, it takes 21 days to create a habit. That means you can create approximately 12 new habits between now and New Year’s Eve.

TWELVE HABITS! WOW! Let that sink in!

Ask yourself, what are the 12 new habits and how much can those 12 new habits impact your life?

However, if you are perfectly happy NOT doing something to make your life better or you feel you do not need to improve, to change for whatever nonsensical “excuse” then please know and understand you are getting exactly what you deserve.

Also, do not hate on those that are doing something to become better, you choose the path you choose, let them choose their path, especially when you that have NO skin in their game.

For the rest of us that want to succeed: Time waits for no one. The Time for change is here and now. Everyday is a new opportunity to make a change.

Take that opportunity and Make it happen for YOURSELF.

David Guerra, MA, MBA

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2024: What Is Your Message?

In a world overflowing with information, where is your message? Among all the noise, static, and attention seeking where is your message? Do not forget to throw opinions into the mix…there lots and lots of opinions out there and where is your message?

Is your message being heard? Is your message being understood? You have a message and that message must get through.

Folks, getting your message through is a struggle. Then to get your message understood is an uphill climb.

If I may impart one tip on getting your message through and understood it is this: YOU MUST FIRST KNOW WHAT YOUR MESSAGE IS, THEN YOU CAN PROPERLY CONVEY IT TO OTHERS.

Yes, it does fall on YOU to know your message. Know your message from stem to stern. No exceptions and most importantly, NO SHORTCUTS!

To get to know your message you must first get to know yourself.

It does not matter what your message is, what matters is you knowing that your message is an extension of who you are and what you stand for. FAILING THAT AND YOUR MESSAGE WILL GET LOST.

Again, it does not matter who you are or who you think you are, if you and your message do not align then you have NO MESSAGE.

There is no HACK, no TRICK, no TIP, all there is, taking the time to get know yourself and your message will be realized. Do not rush it. Do not try to speed through the process to get your message. I guarantee you that if you go speeding through your message it will be nothing but a jumbled mess.

It will join its rightful place among all the other jumbled, mixed up noise out in the ether.

At that point, you have to ask yourself, why bother?

Why bother, indeed? If no one is hearing let along understanding your message, then it is high time to make a change. CHANGE your message so that it can be easily understood. Then CHANGE the way you are delivering your message.

Now you might not get it right the first time. Keep working at it. Keep Trying.

At the end of the day, there is only one question to ask and the answer will determine whether your message can be found (or not): What’s Your Message?

Thanks for your time,
Dave

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2024: Who is Listening and Who is Paying Attention (Part I)

I recently found myself at a Medical Specialist office on what I thought was going to be a brief visit on Saturday Morning. Now I know, as to why General Practitioners or Family Medicine Offices have very little business on the weekends, it is the Specialists that have quite a large following on Saturday mornings. Who knew?

Seriously, there were people of all ages. Yes, even infants. I hope by now you can ascertain this specialist deals with issues of one of the senses. Without going any further I will stop right there. You know privacy and the nosy nellies and things like that. But back to the story, my story.

There are three waiting areas. The first one is where people check in and wait to be called. The next area is post-triage/vitals and waiting to be seen by the Doc. The third is a waiting area for letting things happen or recovery for injections or medication, just to make sure there are no adverse side effects. So that sets the stage.

If you have ever been to any Waiting Room, in this case Waiting Room #1, there is an eerie silence that everyone shares. Sure there are whispers and murmurs but nothing else fills the air. That is until those that work there begin to speak. However, that is for part 2. Finally, your name is called and off you go.

After your vitals are taken and if any prep needs to be done, it is now that it happens. Soon you are whisked away to Waiting Room #2.

You enter another quiet room or so it seems. In this room, you will find a handful of those waiting to be seen. Before long, someone speaks. You try not to listen but when they are the only one talking it is quite the challenge to block the woman’s voice.

Within seconds everyone in Waiting Room #2 knows what is ailing that individual. Followed by a full treatment history and what she expects the Clinician to do because her “friend had the same malady”. Folks, days like that day are not the days to forget to bring your AirPods. I never knew who the lady was talking to but I suspect, no one was talking to her but more like listening to the words.

As for who was paying attention, as I looked around the room I could tell who was really invested and actively listening to the one side of a one-sided conversation. They were the ones who had a deer in the headlights look on their face. These were the faces of people that suddenly found themselves in a situation they were not expecting. The people are already anxious and for all they know face an uncertain future.

Adding salt to the open wound that is their new, sudden, and unanticipated state of affairs was this lady and her issues. I understand that everyone handles stress differently, however, some common sense and decorum please. Throwing gasoline on a fire is never a good idea and neither is creating more stress and anxiety for others is also NEVER A GOOD IDEA.

Medical Office Managers get out from behind your desk and walk the halls and visit the waiting room(s) and YES the patients are your responsibility. They are part of the office, without the patients you would not have a job. Yes, it is that simple. So get out there and run interference. Pull aside those that like to over-share, those that like to diagnose others, and those that like to stir the pot for the sake of stirring the pot. Remember, your job is to keep the organization moving along.

Medical Office Staff: Keep an eye and ear on those individuals in the waiting rooms. It is your job to take care of those patients from the moment they walk into the building to the moment they leave. Remember, you are the professional you were hired to be. So be it.

Patients find themselves not liking the environment, they will find some place else to go. I know this to be true as I fired my last General Practitioner and the one I have now absolutely ROCKS!

Patients: Have a little tact, some empathy, and most of all, just keep your mouth shut. I bet you do not like it when others get all up in your business. Guess what? Others do not like it when you do it! So don’t do it.

A Little Disclosure: I was one of the first timers that suddenly found myself there. That’s how I knew what the look on their faces was as I had it as well.

Thank you for your time,
David