A NonTypical Work Week

Started with a 7:00 a.m. presentation on Monday morning to a committee of the Board of Directors followed by a 1:00 p.m. presentation that same day to another committee of the Board. Don't know about you, but when I have to make big presentations, I tend to be a bit anxious and it makes me want to do lots of things to take my mind off the upcoming presentation. So, what I did was to read some of the evaluations from our department's Friday retreat. Overall, most staff members felt the time was value added, but you know how we are -- I zeroed in on those "other" comments, that were not so favorable. Not because I am a glutton for punishment, but because I think it is one of the best ways to get better. Don't get me wrong, there are some "other" comments that I know I can't do anything about (or even learn anything from that would lead to improvement). However, there is no reason to ask for evaluations if you are not going to do anything about the feedback. I look forward to contemplating and then acting on many of the things that were shared.
So, back to the work week. On Wednesday, participated in the culminating actitvity of a local university's MBA class Capstone Project -- BJC was the topic of the semester long class. I, along with several colleagues, listened to presentations from 8 teams with recommendations on what BJC should do with respect to a certain area. I wondered if the members of the team were also anxious -- especially since the BJC CEO was among the panelists listening and evaluating the presentations.
The last two days of the week found me at the Media Services Studio as the next round of branding commercials were shot We truly have a lot of talent at BJC and I look forward to seeing the finished product. These kinds of non-typical work weeks only work because of a great team that continues to get the work done when I am underground. So, a really big thank you to everyone for doing what they do so well!

The Lost March

Okay, so it finally happened that I let a month go by without doing a post. I am so ashamed and disappointed in myself that I almost decided to cease and desist (some of you thought I probably had made that decision) all postings. Really, it is not that I don't want to post, it is just that all kinds of things keep interupting my best laid plans. For example, my computer has decided to "freeze" for absolutely no reason at all for 10 to 15 minutes at a time all day today. It is beyond annoying. And then there was a crazed travel schedule in March -- albeit most of it was for fun, but it still took a toll on my ability to post. So, I am asking for forgiveness and hoping if any of the readers of this BLOG are still out there, to give me another chance.
During my hiatus, several significant things happened.
1. We introduced the next phase of the branding strategy with print ads and new television ads. If you have seen them, let me know what you think -- especially about the ads people are calling the "Beep, beeps."
2. Our president went to visit The president.
3. Visits to makemedicinebetter continued to rise and have now exceeded 20,000.
4. Spring sprung.
5. Health care reform passed.
6. My youngest child turned 19 (thus one of my absences in March, as I headed to Miami to visit her).
7. Staying with the personal, I ski'd for the first time ever (actually loved it).
8. Several of our departments made the move to the BJC Learning Institute.
9. SLCH & BJH went tobacco free and BJC announced corporate locations would also become tobacco free. (Remember there is tobacco cessation support provided to any and all employees).
10. And, BJC continued investing in employees, facilities and services to the community (which is not a new thing, but given the economy is still significant).
Thanks again for giving me another chance and my goal is to definitely do better in the future -- hard to do worse. (And, if anyone knows what the Label for this post means, you will win a prize).
J