With Mother's Day this month, and Father's Day coming right after, I cannot stop thinking about the concept of Legacy. The word" legacy" is rather broad in terms of what it means to each of us. A "Legacy" can refer to something handed down from the past, or the lasting impact of an individual or group, whether that Legacy is positive or not.
I have been focusing a bit on the concept of Legacy and what it has meant to me. I figured I would use this blog to share my thoughts.
What's in a Name? Sometimes It's a Legacy We Need to Change
I grew up in Tyler, Texas, the Rose Capital of the world and birthplace of Earl Campbell (an NFL running back nicknamed "The Tyler Rose"). I attended Robert E. Lee High School, obviously named after the infamous Confederate General. Back in the day (before I was there), the school mascot was "The Rebels." The Legacy of the school's name and mascot was not lost on the students. Frankly, while Robert E Lee was a brilliant military strategist, many people view his association with the Confederacy as symbolizing support for slavery and racial segregation. Perhaps that is why the school is Tyler Legacy High School today, and the mascot was changed to "The Red Raider." Changing the name was an effort to create an environment welcoming to all students and community members, irrespective of their background.
What is the message here? Sometimes, legacies should be transformed for good. To apply this idea to our veterinary practices, how often have we heard “that's the way we always do it?" Truly, if that "way" is outdated, inefficient, or problematic, it is time to modernize, improve, and change our system. If my old high school could do it, we all could.
I encourage you to look hard at your practice and ask yourself what legacies no longer serve your practice well.
The Legacy of Leading
As I write this blog, I think about my Legacy and my time as president of VHMA. In a couple of weeks, I will meet with the Board of Directors and staff to work on our strategic plan, look to the future, and share input on what is great about VHMA and what we can do to improve it. We will be looking at what gives our membership value, and why managers join and then keep their membership.
Since this session will be based on feedback from our most recent membership survey (thank you if you participated!) I am well prepared that we will be discussing both good feedback and less-than-great feedback from members. That is OK because the legacies of all past VHMA presidents and board members have included listening to and making decisions based on membership feedback. The Yin and the Yang. The good and the bad. In many ways, strategic planning is a parallel reality to what each of us does in our veterinary practices.
The Legacy of Learning
My contemplation of Legacy has also led me down a scholarly path of educational reflection. As I peruse the evolution and offerings of VHMA that have been developed, offered, and presented since I joined VHMA 15 years ago, the Legacy of learning provided by VHMA is undeniable and outstanding. Every webinar, every resource, and now, every certification is timely, relevant, and addresses the "I need this now" sentiment that we all have as managers. So many VHMA resources have helped me daily within my hospital that I cannot fathom what I would have done without them. I cannot wait to see what is ahead!
The Legacy of Our Actions
Believe it or not, we create our Legacy as practice managers every day at work. Every decision we make, our interactions with our team or clients, and even how we present ourselves form our Legacy in the eyes of others. I have had tough conversations with staff and made hard decisions – all with the practice's best interests in mind. What will my Legacy as the manager of this practice be like after I hand it off? Only time will tell, but I know I did it for the right reasons.
So, What is the Legacy Lesson?
It is just this: Whether you are wearing the hat of manager, mom, dad, sibling, spouse, or friend, strive to create a positive legacy.
Yes, I believe we each control our Legacy and have the ability to transform it if it is not heading down the path that we feel it should. The path can be rocky and unpredictable, but trust me when I tell you that doing the work to create a positive legacy is worth it!
Your Buddy,
Scott Zimmerman, BFA, CVPM
VHMA President
#PracticePulse