Ok, so Kathy Divis said some very nice things in her New Year’s blog post about me joining the Greystone team. I thank her for that and want everyone to know I feel just as fortunate to be a part of such a great organization and an incredible group of people. From the very first day I met John Eudes, many years ago, I had this feeling that we may work closely together one day. Although I did struggle with the decision to make a change, I just felt the time was right to take on a new challenge! I have always believed that you need to go with the feel and never look back!
It’s been just over four months now since I joined the Greystone team and I have kept quite quiet during those months, well from a blogging perspective anyway. I’ve been learning the Greystone methodology and meeting the wonderful clients we serve. KD would tell you it’s tough to keep me quiet but the truth is I am actually an introvert for the most part. However, I love the web, technology and everything that is going on with both in healthcare , so I tend to talk about it constantly. I do enjoy interaction with people too. It’s awesome when the interaction results in learning and growing and positive change! I am energized, I am fired up and I want to give and share and build and grow while helping others do the same. It’s become who I am and what I do. This industry is on fire, there’s the web, the technology convergence, healthcare reform and meaningful use; it’s almost like the days of the Dot.Com boom in terms of change. The opportunity to make a difference is huge and that is why I joined Greystone. We’re all on a journey; I’m glad we’re in it together. So, now check this out.
It was Christmas break, this past December and I was fortunate to have been invited to take my family on a cruise of the British and U.S. Virgin islands. The kids were excited and we set sail in 85 degree sunshine. It was snowing like mad in my hometown in Michigan and Greystone’s home of Atlanta, Georgia was getting hit with wintery snow as well. We all know nobody likes the snow anymore right? Islands, beaches and the Caribbean sunshine, what else do we need?
The cruise was great, the sea, the food and drink, the entertainment, the people, everything. Then something even more spectacular happened! It was a magician, yes a magician, and it was truly magical.
My three boys and I decided to go and see a late night show in the ship’s front theater. He was a very good magician by the name of Manny the Man Magician. He was loud and obnoxious and fun and happy! He did tricks that would blow anyone’s mind. Things were disappearing, moving, rising, glowing and more; he was “the Man”! As the crowd cheered for an encore, Manny’s expression changed. For the first time he was serious, no laughing, no joking, no magic. He then spoke softly. He said “Elijah, this one is for you”. He then went on to tell a story that I truly believe we should all think about and learn from. It may just change your days, your job, and your life!
If you are reading this, my guess is you are working in healthcare and probably with or for a hospital in one way or another. But are you? You see the Man taught me a lesson that night that I think is so important and impactful to what we do and work for on a daily basis.
Manny the Man told a story then of a very low paid ship attendant from the islands. The attendant had been with the cruise line for 20 years and his name was Marty. With every stop at every island Marty would be the first to disembark the ship and nobody knew why, what he did or where he went. He said nothing. He was a bit of an introvert, even though by day he was the most active and fun attendant on the cruise line. The Man asked Marty what he does so early on the islands. Marty simply answered “I visit the island hospitals and bring the patients anything I can from the ship to make their day just a bit better”. The Man tried to ask him more questions but the attendant said “if you want to see, than just come with me”. So, the Man took Marty up on his offer.
The story was amazing; it took place in sunny Barbados. Marty and the Man were the first off the ship. They took a taxi to the local hospital and as he said it, “that’s where the real magic truly happened”. They brought gifts from the ship, the trinkets and trash that most of us may just throw away; Marty had been doing this for years without anyone knowing a thing about it. He didn’t do it for praise, acknowledgment or money. He did it so the patients could, for that one moment in that one day feel good again and realize that somebody truly cared.
The kids in the children’s wing loved it. To them it was like Christmas day. Marty, the ship attendant just hugged everyone and everyone so eagerly hugged him back, from the oldest to the youngest they all were so glad to see the attendant. Then the Man met a boy named Elijah. He was a very, very ill island child. In that moment, time had stopped for both Elijah and the Man. Elijah was electric! He smiled and glowed and laughed as he lay in his hospital bed. He couldn’t stand up but his energy was felt throughout the entire children’s wing. Elijah explained how he loved magic and wanted to see more and more. He thanked the Man for the gifts but when it was time for Marty and the Man to leave he asked for one favor, one gift, one more trick from this talented magician.
No, it wasn’t to be well or a cure, it was so much more, believe it or not, he just wanted to see it snow! He said “can you make it snow in my hospital room”? Remember, in Elijah’s 7 years of life, he only knew sun and the island. The Man felt horrible; how in the world could he pull this off? The Man looked at Elijah and said, “If that is all you ask for then I shall make it happen”. He told Elijah he would be back in one week when the ship came back to port and then he would make it snow. The man was so moved by this day in the hospital that he promised himself he would somehow figure out how to make it snow.
Back on the ship the Man began to work on this nearly impossible trick. Through whatever you may call it he somehow figured it out. He did it, he actually figured out how, through magic, to make it snow! This was going to be the best trick he ever pulled off. It was truly magic! The Man could not wait to get back the following week to the ship’s stop at Barbados. Then it was time, he and the attendant again were the first off the ship. They hustled over to the hospital. To picture this is amazing, beautiful island landscapes with so much to do but all they wanted to do was to get to that hospital as fast as possible. The attendant was so happy and so proud that this crazy magician was joining in on his adventure. What they brought to these children was beyond words; it was kind, it was great and it was incredible. Think about this - sandy beaches, water, sun, boats, bars, fresh fruits, palm trees and more, but they would spend their time in hospitals, unbelievable to most of us!
When they got to the hospital they enthusiastically ran to Elijah’s room, but Elijah was not there. The man ran through the hospital and told people he needed to make it snow for Elijah, but none of the hospital workers would listen. They actually looked at him like he was crazy! Finally, a little boy next to Elijah’s room snuck out with a blanket around him. He had heard the commotion and wanted to tell the Man something. He whispered, “Elijah has been transferred but nobody knows where he went”. He told the Man that Elijah’s family was very poor and they needed to move him to an off island hospital to find better treatment that was more affordable. The man could not believe it. He told this story with tears in his eyes and he meant it. Remarkably, he has been telling this story now for more than ten years.
Then, the most amazing thing happened in the cruise ship’s front theater. It began to snow and snow and snow and snow and snow! There were no machines, no tubes, no synthetics; this was real snow. The Man gently whispered, “Wherever you are Elijah, this is for you”. It then snowed perfectly in front of him spelling, “Elijah”. The packed theater was still, quiet and amazed.
This was no longer about a crazy magician; this was about real life stuff. This was the stuff we do and work for each and every day. Be honest though, we sometimes forget that. It’s about Elijah my friends, and Mary and Billy and Tommy and Jane and all the patients that all this technology we so rigorously work for is supposed to help. It’s about making magic happen for the ones that are cared for in these hospitals each and every day. It’s not about the marketing or the technology or the software systems, the finances, the titles, and the egos that go with all of that. It’s about caring enough to make a difference.
So, as you drive in to your office ask yourself something, do I work in healthcare? If the answer is yes in any way, then really think about the last time you took a walk through and brought a smile to the children’s wing or said hello and gave a hug to an elderly patient. I know when I ask that question to myself, I don’t like the answer. You start to realize we may not truly be in healthcare at all but only in the business of trying to make the marketing and technology in healthcare better. That of course is great and very important but there is so much more! Let’s really make healthcare better; let’s make it snow and snow and snow and snow!
Some look for “rainmakers” to build and grow their organizations but next time you pass by the hospital, remember that all Elijah wanted was a little snow. If that is what it takes then I think we can all pitch in to make it happen. Let’s all continue to make marketing, technology and everything we do in healthcare and hospitals better but please don’t forget to give a hug, give some love and remember healthcare is more than bits and bytes and reform and regulation. Take a minute and just make it snow my friends!
I am extremely pleased to be part of this Greystone team and now is the time to “Make it Snow”!
- CC
The names have changed but the story is true. If you are already making it snow, way to go and please keep it up, you will inspire others to do the same. If you would like to share your stories or some amazing stories of others, please do. Many Thanks