Distant Reflection
It was about this time in 2002 when I began strategizing about the type of year I wanted our pharmacy to have in 2003.
We had a clear vision: “To be a dynamic, world-class organization providing extraordinary services based on traditional values.”
You may have noticed our vision was more inward-focused than outward. We knew if we tried our best each day to perfect the present and effectively predict and prepare for the future (world-class) while creating an extraordinary customer experience, we would evolve and grow (dynamic) into an organization others would respect and want to do business with or come to work for.
The vision worked for us as more and more long-term care facilities sought us to provide medication services to their residents, and we became an attractive destination for employees.
So, as this “snowball” started to roll downhill, as its leader, I was responsible for ensuring we remained steadfast in providing an excellent product to those we served. Said differently, I did not want the “snowball” to fall to pieces due to rapid, undisciplined, and unfocused growth.
In late 2002, during a morning workout, Bachman Turner Overdrive’s song, “Taking Care of Business,” was feeding my brain through the headphones hooked to my Walkman. Inside my Walkman was BTO’s cassette tape–20th Century Masters–The Millennium Collection.
Ok, so now I just aged myself. 🙂
Then I thought about how vital it was for HealthCare Pharmacy to “Take Care of Business” in 2003, and then “TCB in 2003” came to me, and the rest, as they say, is history.
We followed a very successful “TCB in 2003” with “TCB some more in 2004,” “TCB–still alive in 2005,” and TCB without a hitch in 2006.” A change in ownership ended our run with TCB, but I look back on those four years as the most amazing years of my professional journey. During that stretch, we took care of business remarkably as we doubled in size, but more importantly, we became one of the most highly respected nursing home pharmacies in the U.S.
So, you are probably thinking, “How can a simple slogan create such energy to drive an organization to new heights?”
I’m glad you asked.
Slogans get us nowhere.
They might infuse energy and inspiration into us, but those are transient side effects of emotion.
All of those treadmills, ellipticals, and exercise bikes that have been barely used that you see in garage sales were purchased on emotion with no formal plan of attack for how they would be utilized.
Turning the slogan/emotion into reality takes work.
I remember scribbling TCB on a sheet of paper and playing around with different words to turn it into a strong acronym.
Then it hit me–TCB in 2003 meant that HealthCare Pharmacy would do its best to “Take Care of Business” by focusing on its Teammates, Customers, and Business Processes.
My primary focus, professionally, in 2003 was on those three areas of our business. I was always thinking about ways to grow our teammates and enhance the customer experience while having superior business processes in place to create the best product possible for our customers.
I enjoyed learning about the journey of the formation of Nike’s slogan “Just Do It” when I read Phil Knight’s book “Shoe Dog.” “Just Do It” served as the rallying cry of an organization that forever changed the course of history regarding athletic shoes and apparel.
I’m not comparing myself to Phil Knight, but I am saying that success is not rocket science.
Doing great things with your life or business doesn’t just happen. Consistent, focused action toward achieving worthwhile goals creates a life where great things happen.
TCB in 2023
Have you considered your Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) for 2023?
What is the one big thing you intend to accomplish in 2023?
December is the time to place your 2023 BHAG on paper…something magical happens when we write our dream(s) down.
Of course, thinking about our BHAG will not make it a reality.
Turning a dream into reality takes action.
The Big 3 in 2023
HealthCare Pharmacy’s Big 3 in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 were our Teammates, Customers, and Business processes.
What will be your Big 3 in 2023?
What three things will you need to do consistently to make your BHAG a reality?
Write them down.
Then focus on taking action on your Big 3 one day at a time, and you will Take Care of Business in 2023!!
Habakkuk 2:2, “And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.”
P.E.A.C.E
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
