You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. – Eleanor Roosevelt

One of the comments on my recent blog about the Florida AHDI meeting has really made me do some thinking the last couple of days. Add to that conversations with friends, and here’s where we are. The question was asked about the Florida meeting what that group has that keeps their association alive when so many others have failed. It’s an interesting question. I think there’s some correlation with any group who appears to thrive when others don’t and our lives in general.

First, there’s no question that our industry is in a huge state of flux. I wish I could say that was a new thing, but it’s not. We’ve been in a state of flux for a very long time. Technology has been impacting us since the day I started in the medical transcription profession. So I’m not ready to say that’s the root of the cause. What i do think is that the current pressures in the industry are creating more fear than ever before as people see their work disappear with the use of new technologies, and as they see their paychecks get smaller and smaller.

So let’s take a look at it from the perspective of the Florida AHDI. The group’s meetings are, in my opinion, very successful. They have great attendance and the meeting has a “charged” feeling. Over 100 people attended this meeting, with, by my estimate, about 25% of those folks being from out of state. I suppose one could attribute some of that to the high energy that Brenda Hurley has, and she certainly keeps things enthusiastic. But as I watched this meeting, it’s more than that. There’s no question that leadership sets the tone in any organization, and yet I just don’t think that’s all it is here.

My take is this. The folks in Florida have made a choice, a choice to be excited and engaged–about their profession, about their organization, and about the future. I observed lots of conversations that weekend and really didn’t hear much in the way of negative remarks. They simply choose to be positive. I think they are a great example of a group who follows those principles we recently talked about in Lessons from the Geese. They are supportive of each other, they pick up slack when needed, and things just get done. If you attend their meeting, you are made to feel welcome.

On the flip side, how many times have any of you walked into a meeting where everyone just seemed worn out? All you heard was how very hard things were. It’s hard to run an organization, it’s hard to be in this profession today, life is just plain hard. Did it make you want to come back? It sure didn’t have a positive impact on me wanting to return when that’s what I run into.

I believe we see the same thing with many online sites today. There are some that are encouraging and uplifting, and there are some that are just so negative that you leave depressed. In each case, I think people are making a choice. And along with that choice, others are making a choice that the environment doesn’t create a community where they want to belong. Sadly, it will be some of those same people who scratch their heads and wonder why they aren’t finding work when they look, forgetting that often that negativity that is spewed online is viewed by potential employers.

Now before you start telling me that I don’t have a realistic picture of our industry, hold on. I do indeed get it that times are tough. And much of what I see happening makes me sad, frustrated, and even angry. Not a day goes by that I don’t see a post or story from an MT who talks about only making minimum wage or any number of “abuses” in this industry. Those things are not okay. I think MTs have to stand up for themselves in those instances, just do it professionally.

I made the comment this last week if our industry could harness the energy from the Florida meeting, we would be onto something. We’d create something pretty amazing and I believe that energy would let us work together more to create a sustainable future for the folks in our field. No, I don’t think that means we stop the technology advances that are impacting us. And no, I don’t think it’s about “saving” things. I do think it’s about creating the map for our future. If we are to do that, we have to be united, a great challenge.

Let’s have some dialogue. And while we’re doing that, would you take a minute to share this using the share bar on the left here so invite your friends to join us?

So what are your thoughts? Why do some thrive while others struggle? I think this applies to both organizations and individuals. Let’s have some dialogue!