Dare Mighty Things!
“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat” – Theodore Roosevelt
This happens to be one of my favorite quotes, and one I think appropriate to end the week for our MT Week celebrations. Think about those first few words–dare mighty things. So much of our life is spent trying to decide whether to take a risk.
I’ve always been somewhat of a risk taker in my life. While it’s not always easy, I have made it my mantra to refuse the phrase “what if…” in my life if it means I’m thinking things like “what if I fail?” or “what if they won’t like it?” It comes back to those energy suckers we talked about yesterday. You can literally “what if” yourself to death if you allow yourself to get stuck in that cycle!
In our profession, we certainly have many uncertainties, and many opportunities to take a risk. In some of the things I’ve read by Seth Godin, one of my favorite authors, he says “If you can’t fail, it doesn’t count.” You see, there are plenty of times when I might do something that’s perceived as a risk, but if it doesn’t work out, it’s not really a failure. Those are the easy decisions. The tougher ones are the ones that come with the potential for failure. And yes, they are the ones that count.
I talk to so many MTs who are trying to decide what to do about their future. Should they stay the course as is and hope for the best? Should they take a risk and change jobs? Should they take a risk and train for something new to add to their skill set? And what if that means not being in medical transcription anymore, even though it’s a profession they love? I see it in the MT who asks “Should I get my credential?” All around us, we’re seeing major changes and trying to figure out which risk to take. I saw it last night in our webinar, where many attended to get information about transitioning to coding. Will they take the leap? Only time will tell.
Here’s what I know. It’s not about success or failure. It’s about being willing to take a step, sometimes just one tiny step at a time. And when it works, then you have great joy. Yes, there are times when perhaps it doesn’t work out as you plan, and sometimes that even comes with some suffering. And yet, if you never dare mighty things, you will indeed never experience the great joy that comes with success.
Today my question to you is a simple, but not easy, one. Where is it where you need to dare mighty things? And what will your choice be? My hope for you is that you do not choose to live “in the grey twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” I look forward to your replies and some great discussion.
MT Week Contest!
What fun this has been for me this week! Wednesday’s winner for a $10 gift card is Betty A! Congrats! I’ll be announcing the entire week of winners over the weekend as well. Remember, we still have a grand prize drawing for the week of a one-year subscription to Benchmark KB! Every comment you leave gets you one entry into the grand prize drawing. The other thing you need to do to enter is share this post on your Facebook or Twitter pages using the share bar here on the left. Today’s drawing will be for a $20 Amazon gift card.
I must thank my niece and her husband for today’s contest picture. She used it for another project with her work, I loved it, and she graciously agreed to let me use it for today’s contest. And it’s called “Caption This!” Here’s the picture, let’s see what your best and funniest caption would be!
Tagged with: Fun Things • Medical Transcriptionist Week • values • writing your life story
Filed under: Fun Things • Medical Transcriptionist Week
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Sorry I’ve not been able to participate lately, but I’m swamped with preparation for driving Mom back to Memphis and her birthday as well….thanks for all your insightful posts – I do try to read everything even if I don’t comment. Also, Mom has received almost 80 cards this month, got 28 yesterday (several from Canada, two from England, one from South Africa as well as myriad of states) so please thank EVERYONE involved in this undertaking who graciously sent a card – she has been so delighted and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for getting the word out. God bless you all. Happy Memorial weekend!
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“Should they stay the course as is and hope for the best? Should they take a risk and change jobs?” That brings to mind another question. Of the two, staying the course and seeing where MT goes in the coming years or transitioning roles, which is the bigger risk? That is a question each of us have to ask ourselves and evaluate based on our current working situation, our background, our education, our ability and willingness to seek additional education, and numerous other life circumstances. “Bigger” risk is really very subjective, isn’t it? For me, with all things considered, continuing to work as an MT was the bigger risk.
I know there are some risks I am willing to take and some that I am not. Returning to school for the EHR training and then to coding school was only a moderate risk (I didn’t have much to lose but knew fitting it all in would be very hard) and I was willing to do that. A high risk that I’m not willing to take right now is to get completely out of health information management. I’m established, my salaring is increasing little by little, I have a good knowledge base, and my foot is already in the door with a fantastic facility. With four kids and a spouse to support, I’m tempted by getting out of the field all together but not willing to risk it right now. I am willing to take risks that others might consider big risks but I personally do not, like seeking a degree in health administration. I’d even be willing to take a risk to relocate for the right job. I want very badly to go to nursing school but with the extremely low acceptance rate (many applicants, very few slots) locally I could take 2 years of prerequisites while making myself and my family miserable and still not be accepted. As much as I’d love to do it, and call it fear of failure if you want, I’m not willing to risk it. I could devote the same amount of time to school and have a master’s of health administration and continue moving up in a job I’m already getting established in. So, for me, that boils down to what I percieve as the higher risk and whether I’m willing to do it right now. I’m not willing to put my family in financial jeopardy and I’m not willing to sacrifice any more personal time than the absurd amount I already sacrifice for school. Every other risk is fair game!
Two more years of school after coding: Yep! Gonna do that but taking fall 2012 off for a sanity check.
Leaving MT and working from home (being away from the kids): Risked it and succeeded so far!
Coding school: I do view this as a risk because our coding is going to transition to working from home. Is this going to mean lower pay or, God forbid, production pay? I don’t know. Will our company off shore coding in the future? It is possible. Even the HIM director cannot answer that. I do know it is a marketable skill for me as I want to be in hospital administration in the coming years.
Weigh what risk YOU are willing to take, make a plan, and go for it!
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This is a great quote, especially for me. I have decided to change careers in mid-life and am hoping that the risk I’m taking becoming a MT will be the right risk. As for the transistion to coding that everyone is talking about, I hope to take that risk in the near future. I am looking forward to spending my twilight years sitting at home in front of the computer. Happy Memorial Day to all!
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I do like the quote! It is natural not to want to take risks. It is a bit like giving up that favorite pair of shoes that are worn out. We know we must, but oh how hard it is to let them go.
One of my favorite Bible characters is Caleb. Caleb was an older gentleman, and he was not done taking risks, and he did not see himself as too old to be a leader or take risks when he said, “Give me this mountain!” When no one else seemed to want to take a risk, he was not afraid, and he did go on to greatness.
I think each one of us would agree that we want to succeed in what we do. I know that all of you have greatness in you because you are doing the job that you are doing! Many of you are now going to change course and learn another vocation. That is great and that is the way America was built. Each one in their own spot, taking a baby step at time, then crawling, walking, and then finally strong and able to run like a thoroughbred.
It is so good that we can encourage each other to reach beyond our comfort zones, and strive for a goal that gets into something that may be better in the long run. I know one of my fellow MTs, one year ago was not making enough money to pay her house payment, so she took out a loan and went to school to be an LPN. She just graduated a week ago this coming Saturday from school. I am so proud of her. She is 55. I know it was not easy for her, but she did it.
I am going to turn 62 in June, and I am wondering what I should do about going on to do something else. It is a hard call to make. I know one thing though, without this wonderful opportunity that Kathy has given us, we can share encouragement, and experiences along the way, and that is so helpful. I appreciate all of you out there. You are such an encouragement.
So let’s take the risks, let’s take the mountain and be better for it because like Thomas Edison when he tried to make that lightbulb he failed so many times, but he never gave up, and thank goodness he did not because our homes and offices would never be what they are without Thomas Edison’s failures and his success.
Remember our fallen on Memorial Day. I lost many family and loved ones in many wars and conflicts, as I am sure you all have too. We are here because of their sacrifice. They took the ultimate risk and did not let any of us down.
I love that picture. What a great job! Such talent!
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