It's A Head Game

It’s a head game. Pounding the pavement today, in rising temperatures and humidity, I was talking (and sweating profusely) with my sister about quelling the anxiety of starting a new business. Start ups have a lot of unknowns, and while I am not a person who worries frequently, right now is the exception. The worries are about finances, connecting in a meaningful way with customers, staying true to my values, the loss of my past role, and creating balance with all the elements in life. So as I was sharing these concerns, Rosie related it to athletic events. It’s a head game. You know your body has trained for the event and you have done the distance, yet your head keeps telling you to stop. You have to talk to yourself like opposing egos on each shoulder. That is so common, not just in new start up businesses, but also with many health care organizations.

It isn’t easy to sustain the effort. A recent Fast Company article on Hell Yes decision making has stayed with me. Health care leaders are working hard to improve quality and reduce cost. We make a Hell Yes decision and go for it. It is exciting and energizing. After a little while the doubts show up and we have to work through the unexpected and mundane. Here comes the head game. The goal hasn’t changed and we have the right tools, yet we have to fight the urge to stop, give up, and regress to the mean.

With the Supreme Court giving a recent nod to the Affordable Healthcare Act, all eyes are on the health care industry. We have supporters cheering from the side of road and colleagues running next to us. Now is the time to draw up our courage and strength to try new ideas and share our progress. It is also necessary to measure the results. Remember to consider how you can document the outcomes of the changes. It is a head game. We are ready to make a difference and need to push forward despite the worries.