Category Archives: Personal

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100 Words

One hundred words. It all starts here.

The yellowed, rabbit-eared pages of 2023 have finally turned and we find ourselves staring at a crisp, blank sheet that is begging for the first entry of 2024.

As the 36 drafts in my dashboard can attest, there have been multiple stops and starts in getting myself back to a writing mode. I am thankful for many of you that checked in periodically to see how things are going.

I am happy to report that the passion is indeed still here. It’s time to once again choose a path of aspiration and inspiration!

#CountThem

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Chased By The Dinosaur – Part 2

Back in Part 1, we took a brief look at the pandemic’s impact on pharmacy and the substantial wave of change we face from primary dispensers to primary clinicians.

This evolution has been occurring over the past decade since medication reviews and minor ailment prescribing were first offered in a number of provinces. With post-pandemic reopening, the difference now is that pharmacists are no longer carrying all of the burden to promote and create public awareness of accessible, pharmacy-driven clinical services. You could easily argue the opposite; members of the public are coming to expect and demand that pharmacy fill gaps in the healthcare system, particularly with assessments and disease-state management. This demand is driving innovation and challenging the very image of a standard dispensary that has existed for as far back as most can remember: a pharmacist in a white coat standing in the middle, surrounded by support staff who are greeting customers and filling orders.

To wit, I am very proud of my company’s latest partnership here on the east coast! It’s a pharmacy model that eschews the reliance of imagery that uses counting trays, pills in bottles or ointment jars to promote pharmacy. Instead the focus is on allowing pharmacy to be available for orphan patients, and better triage healthcare needs. This should help reduce the glut in emergency rooms, decrease wait times for services, and aid in the management of various disease-states.

So with all of this pushing forward, is there any hesitation? Perhaps, so let’s dive in.

First off, I have never spoken to anyone in the profession, from students, to recent retirees in all pharmacy environments, that hasn’t endorsed giving pharmacists increased latitude with respect to clinical decision-making. I have heard plenty of stories where pharmacists did indeed have a better understanding of a patient’s needs but recommendations to a prescriber were either ignored or rejected. When they first appeared in the standards, some held trepidation that they could perform injections or diagnose minor ailments. When the title of pharmacy technician became regulated around 2010, it took awhile for the profession to integrate the role.

Counting my university degree, this marks my 25th year as part of the profession. Relating my introduction into pharmacy practice with PharmD graduates of today is quite the discussion. I do tend to forget how much has come and gone until someone reminds me of something notable. For example, I recall when statins were being hyped in the late 90’s as a game-changer in lowering cholesterol and reducing cardiovascular risk. We learned the mechanism of action of these HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in lecture. When Zocor (simvastatin) was approved in Canada during 1999, Merck shipped sleek boxes containing foil packs of shield-shaped tablets that served as a conversation pieces in the dispensary. There were a bunch of similar drugs introduced in the coming years and most are still available in generic form today. One notable molecule lost in the annals of time was Bayer’s Baycol (cerivastatin), that was pulled from the market in 2001 due to alarming reports of rhabdomyolysis, a condition caused my damaged muscle tissue releasing proteins and electrolytes into the blood. Another emerging drug class in the early 2000’s were the COX-2 Inhibitors for arthritic conditions. Effective for inflammation but less corrosive to the stomach lining than previous therapies, physicians were handing out samples for Celebrex (celecoxib) and Vioxx (rofecoxib) to patients eager to find relief. Unfortunately, the sheen came off of this therapy class due to evidence of increased heart-related events, and subsequent removal of rofecoxib from the market in 2004. It’s worth noting that these variants were pulled voluntarily. Both classes are still widely used and provide significant benefit to scores of patients worldwide. The takeaway from me was recalling the countless conversations with our scared and/or upset patients that needed to look for alternatives.

Further skipping down memory lane, we reminisce of the days of writing third party credit claims on carbon copy forms and counting pill bottles to manually create drug orders. There was no internet, no email, or laser printers. Every store had an outdated Remington’s reference and CPS versions dating back to the 70’s. Smoking was still permitted in workplaces until the mid-2000s. Older physicians wrote for arcane drug names like Ilosone, Ledercillin, and Doral. We wished that all pills were shaped like Premarin because of how they spread out on the counting tray just right.

The good news is that some things haven’t changed too much:

  1. Patients still need us to guide them through the healthcare system and trust us to be their advocate.
  2. An appropriate drug regimen can manage disease and significantly increase quality of life.
  3. Relationships made within the pharmacy community last for careers and beyond.
  4. We still feel rewarded when patients bring their baking at Christmas as a show of their thanks.
  5. Mentors are valuable no matter when or where you are on a career path.

The last point is resonant on a few different levels. When I graduated, the world was an oyster. I had a brain chock full of the latest guidelines, all the me-too drug names (brand AND generic) and 15 minute counseling monologues to deliver on each. My preceptors valued my ability to find the best answers to clinical questions, and my eagerness to create algorithms for the staff. They would admit to feeling like dinosaurs; their knowledge was a bit dated, and that we forced them to step up their games. On the other hand, I would marvel at how they would be so relaxed with a cancer patient, or be able to pick out the three most important items on a counseling document. It amazed me at the ease of which interaction risks were contextualized with the history and desires of the patient. Finally, I appreciated when they had the perfect piece of friendly advice for every situation I would encounter.

So now that I am a full generation away from that first shift, I could acknowledge that I’m too far behind, start coasting and risk being eaten whole, but I refuse to throw my hands up in the face of massive change. The work experience gained and relationships forged over the years will serve me better now than ever before. I may offer perspective and guidance to ensure new clinical tools are properly integrated into a struggling healthcare system. The advice that I still receive from my mentors may now be dispensed to the next wave of practitioners. We will complement and support each other on our respective journeys.

For those of us beyond the first leg of our careers, the dinosaur running behind us is fading further behind. The only thing at risk of extinction is the notion that our value to the profession is somehow diminished. Whether you have 5 years, 15 or 50, the quality of patient care you deliver every day will never get old.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Staying Current

“I give you three years.”

During my internship in 2001, life seemed to be just beginning: I was engaged the previous fall, and after completing our clinical rotations, my fiancee and I set off for New Brunswick in search of budding careers. In our brand new black mica Mazda Protege and brains bursting with the latest clinical evidence, it was an open road and the world would be changing because of our passion for pharmacy.

My preceptor was quite the jokester, with a quick wit and impeccable comedic timing. He enjoyed needling me on my ability to recite DINs and got a kick out of how I would make recommendations featuring obscure molecules from my lesson notes (“No, benazepril would not be the first ACEI I’d go with in this case.”) Sensing my eagerness, he did his best to remove the training wheels that guided me through 4 years of schooling. Part of that education was preparing me for the realities of retail pharmacy. He would opine on the relationships built with fellow pharmacists in other settings of work. He implored me not to be discouraged when upset customers took out their frustrations on me even when I was trying my best to help. Most importantly, he stressed that with so much ready information available everywhere, I should not be expected to know every detail or answer, but rather I needed to be an expert on how to find that answer.

His theory is that there is a three year window to transition from a purely academic approach to that of a practical, patient-focused clinician. During this time, the environment where someone works will influence the breadth of knowledge being applied. Pearls you use regularly are cemented, and those that are less frequently seen tend to get blurry. For example, a clinical pharmacist in a specialized hospital department may be much more equipped to handle questions in their field than someone with community experience. Be it paediatrics, transplantation, HIV treatments, cancer therapies, or infectious diseases, immersion in those areas will bring confidence that decisions are being made with the best and most current available evidence. Alternatively, community pharmacists may have more general knowledge of prescribing habits in their service area, new molecules or brands on the market, and comfort in assessing minor ailments for their patients. Pharmacists in advocacy and regulatory positions would presumably be more in tune with government relations and challenges facing other healthcare professions. The point is that it’s called a practice for a reason; to stay current, one needs to have access to the best information and the opportunity to apply that information consistently.

So here I find myself, just passing my third year anniversary in my current position. My last full-time exposure to dispensing was during a stint managing a long-term care pharmacy. At that time, I felt I could hold my own in the world of geriatrics. I was comfortable with eschewing guidelines that had little applicability to institutional settings, and really challenged my thinking when it came to weighing benefit vs risk in the frail elderly population. At the same time, many of those patients had pharmacare, or were admitted from hospital with restrictive formularies. This meant that many designer drugs, even new therapeutic classes, came to market well before I became aware. Other than in hypothetical case-based discussions, I have not had to face clinical questions from patients about the management of contraceptives, or most minor ailments for that matter, for extended stretches of time. If I’ve fallen behind, then it’s on me to correct any deficiencies.

The only way to improve is to recognize these gaps and work to address them. I’ve recently re-introduced myself to the wonderful website hosted by the University of Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy and Nutrition. It features a plethora of guidelines and algorithms to help support minor ailment prescribing. The next step will be to explore real patient cases to shake off some rust. As for where to start, I have always enjoyed studying renal and infectious diseases, so it’s time for me to get back to the basics and hunt some new pearls.

In order to stay current, I guess you have to go with the flow.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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New Year’s Inspiration: Greener Grass from the Canadian Pharmer

One of the original pages posted to this site, on March 3, 2014 was a revelation for me. A simple introduction to the global online community would serve as a starting point for everything I had hoped PharmAspire could be: a place that always looks for the silver lining; a forum to celebrate the profession that has provided so much satisfaction in my personal life as well as my career.

In reading that piece again, I am reminded of my inspirations for starting the blog in the first place: circa 2012, the profession was in the midst of changing in radical ways. Practitioners everywhere were skeptical and calculating what modifications they would need to make to keep current. As a leader, I was often sought out for guidance when there were feelings of uncertainty, or for some, full-blown anxiety. When I realized that the lack of confidence in my own abilities was preventing me from having good answers to clinical questions, or otherwise leading others to jump into the deep end of the pool, I needed to make some major changes in my career path. Joining my peers back on the front line was refreshing and extremely engaging. We worked through those clinical questions, we pushed to the established boundaries of our scope, we redefined dispensary layouts and roles. I learned so much every day from those who had previously viewed me as the subject matter expert and that experience was liberating. The blog was a byproduct of my personal journey, and a celebration of those who continue to inspire me inside and outside of my chosen profession.

“Pharmacists thrive in many sectors of the healthcare system. When significant changes come about, there are almost always negative aspects associated with the transition. The old cliche, ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’ starts to resonate and folks look for new pastures, and new challenges. However, many of us have roots in the sector in which we work, and if our experience can influence how the changes are implemented, it can only help to sand down the rough patches. My goal with the blog is to inspire and motivate pharmacists. Wherever you may be, grab a bag of fertilizer and make your own grass greener. Strengthen those roots and get excited about sharing new experiences.”

I believe these words to be just as significant now as they were back then. When we face significant hurdles borne from the economic realities of the pharmacy industry, we lean on each other to vent, to comfort, to overcome the negative emotions we hold in that moment. I am honoured and blessed to have met and developed deep, long-lasting relationships with patients and practitioners alike, all of whom keep pushing me to be the best pharmacist I can be.

Today, I would like to introduce you to Michelle Stewart, a community pharmacist in New Glasgow who has found her platform to effectively communicate with her peers. The Canadian Pharmer is a weekly podcast that tackles cutting edge changes in the profession, notably in our home province of Nova Scotia. In 2020, Nova Scotian pharmacists have seen their scope expanded to offer assessments on contraception, herpes zoster, and uncomplicated UTIs. In addition, a number of services are now publicly funded for all residents, and not just registered beneficiaries of the public drug plan.

Michelle has been outspoken and tenacious with her vision for pharmacy. Where I have spent time trying to draw a service distinction between a clinical assessment versus the act of prescribing, her only response was to bring it back to the bigger picture; ‘It’s all about care.’

She’s absolutely, 100% right.

Patient-centred care is taking a holistic approach to patient outcomes. The patient is the one affected by disease. The patient is the one who changes drug therapy, or changes eating habits, or exercise routines. The patient is the one who perceives the benefits and risks of such changes. We are a resource to aid decision-making. Our assessments are an opportunity for us to use our expertise to inform a patient of potential options, which may or may not include prescribing. Our ability to communicate effectively the menu of options allow for the best informed patient decisions, and in turn, the best chance of a positive patient outcome.

Michelle is a master at demystifying the idea that we need to be special in some way to properly wield the new powers granted by this new expanded scope. What actually makes us special is our individual nature, and the resulting relationship we have with our patients and colleagues. The expanding scope of pharmacists is not intended to dump healthcare work on our plate as a series of rote tasks or administrative liability. Rather it is a clear recognition that we are best-positioned to perform these tasks. We are trusted. Our hesitant, exacting nature is one of the main reasons that we are entrusted with these ever-expanding roles. The Canadian Pharmer is helping us learn to trust ourselves.

Give the podcast a listen. You won’t be disappointed! In fact, I’ll let Michelle kick things off by introducing herself…

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

 

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It’s the Most Magical Time of the Year

The holiday season is somewhat of a dichotomy; for many it’s a time to slow down, to spend with loved ones, and unplug from the bustle of our everyday routines. For others, it can be very high-stress; my colleagues who work in essential services can attest that scheduling any downtime can pose a significant challenge.

Visiting stores in my territory is a priority for me leading up to the holiday break. Dropping in to say hi and taking a moment to ask about travel plans or family gatherings is one of the highlights of my year. Retail pharmacy can be so demanding, and teams work so hard to care for everyone that walks through the door. Let’s face it: nobody chooses or wants to be sick or infirm at any time of year, let alone Christmas and New Year’s. We do all we can to meet their needs knowing that there are physician office closures, weather concerns, and last-minute errands to complete. What I choose to focus on are the positives. Every location I visited spoke of patients that had brought in their baking or dropped off chocolates. Merry Christmas well-wishes were prominent and frequent even with longer lineups and wait times.

It’s sometimes easy to take the little things for granted; this time of year causes you to reflect on what’s really important. On this Christmas Eve, I truly wish the best for you and that of your families.

Have a very merry Christmas, and we’ll see you soon in the New Year!

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Musical Replay

Back in the summer, I had written a post regarding my experience in musical theatre https://pharmaspire.wordpress.com/2019/06/11/i-am-fyedka/ and comparing that to how we introduce a narrative to the public with which they may not previously have been familiar. We are relied upon to guide those looking for our assistance, and to do so at their own pace.

Just as the pacing of movements and line delivery is important to the flow of a theatre production, it’s also crucial that body language and counseling are carefully practiced to be effective. I can recognize my own failings in both personal and professional settings. When explaining healthcare concepts to the public, my comfort in pharmacy has sometimes caused me to use medical terms at inappropriate times, or moved through topics too quickly for others to fully grasp.

My reasons for revisiting this topic is actually a combination of my last two posts: the reprisal of my role in Fiddler over a weekend in early November, and the inspiration of Behind the Post where we were orienting a number of new pharmacy team members to our company. Since my personal journey directly contributes to how I carry myself as a professional, my working life is influenced heavily by the relationships I’ve forged inside and outside the pharmacy world.

I was honoured to be recast as Fyedka in another run of Fiddler on the Roof, produced by the Stage Prophets, a theatre company affiliated by the St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church. During the initial run in Wolfville, a town about 45 minutes from where I live, we asked a Jewish Rabbi from Halifax to bless a production steeped with strong religious undertones. In doing so, it brought many people together of different faiths, to learn traditions and help understand love as a shared, underlying value. A partnership ensued with the Beth Israel Synagogue and the show was relaunched in Halifax with the help of a volunteer team of over 100 people. It was a marathon to prepare, but was worth every moment.

After almost 4 months, the cast was brought back together. We knew the show, but the stage had a totally different shape (proscenium vs thrust), meaning we had to rethink every entry, exit, body position and the direction of our actions when delivering dialogue. Some things worked well, maybe even better than the original venue, and some things didn’t. They needed to be modified or removed altogether. Putting some thought into many of these aspects, I attempted to apply some of what I’ve learned into improving our experience behind the pharmacy counter. For instance, if you are a relief pharmacist at a new location, there are plenty of similarities:

  1. You know your professional responsibilities and the rules you are required to follow. There needs to be structure to ensure a consistent performance.
  2. The layout of your work environment may seem familiar in some ways but require adjustment to your routine. Think pick-up and drop-off. Is there an island workstation? How is the staff positioning within the space?
  3. Costumes and uniforms are the same, but some roles are modified, or those playing the roles have changed. For instance, some pharmacy sites have technicians, others have cashiers depending on staffing needs.
  4. Using available props that have been tailored for the workspace. In theatre, the size and shape of canopies, background set pieces, doorways, etc. need to be customized for the best viewing experience. In pharmacy, this is akin to having different counters, balances, or various automation to perform the work. Some sites have basket systems for their clinic rooms, others have mounted drawers.
  5. Expecting the unexpected – even with the best laid plans, in live theatre, or live pharmacy, there is always a chance of a mishap. Whether the sound system goes on the fritz, the timing of a musical cue is off, the third party communications go down, or the drug delivery is late, we need to have strategies in place to regroup and refocus for the next interaction and the next user experience.

At the end of the day, you are still expected to perform at a high level. After all, the audience member, or potential patient, may not know anything about what they will see prior to passing through the doorway.

The impressions we leave are the difference between a simple transaction and the start of a life-long relationship.

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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I am Fyedka

At least I was for a weekend.

For those uninitiated in musical theatre, as I was 20 short months ago, Fyedka is a character in The Fiddler on the Roof, a production originally done on Broadway in 1964. The setting is the fictional shtetl of Anatevka, a small Jewish settlement in eastern Europe under Russian occupation. I was cast to play a young, russian, Christian soldier who falls in love with one of the daughters of a poor milkman named Tevye.

I chose to write about this experience because it’s intensely personal to me, but also because it made me realize a few things about myself and how I form emotional connections with places, things and, most of all, people.

I was never interested in musical theatre. In my pre-teen years, I may have attended one or two shows but they don’t evoke any strong memory; I couldn’t even tell you today what they were. So imagine hitting 40 and being invited to take part in something (mostly because of your kids), and finding yourself immersed in a brand new world of discovery.

My love of singing dates back to preschool, when ordering cassettes from Columbia House mailouts became the rage. I still remember fondly knowing every word to Class of ’57 from the Very Best of the Statlers and proving it to family and friends by sidling up to the boombox in the living room. Acting had never been considered, and no research was ever undertaken to see what was involved. Being part of the ensemble cast for a recent production of Oliver! was such a departure from the life which I had always identified. I was involved in a new process, meeting people who didn’t care about my occupation or my background, but who wanted to come together to tell a story. Even though many of these musicals have been around for decades, I honestly didn’t know the story nor was I familiar with the songs. I had to learn them in real time through the eyes of those cast in the main roles, and from the musicians in the pit band. It was magical how those characters came to life.

I went into the shows with a philosophy that derived from my wonderment towards the talented actors and actresses that supported me: someone in every crowd was brought along with only a casual interest in the show or maybe didn’t know anything about it before arriving at the theatre. If I do my job, if I make the role believable, there is a chance they will leave with my image as the character they remember every time they recount their experience.

Even though it’s not a straight parallel, sometimes we forget that as healthcare professionals, we are just as radical a departure from the general public. The impressions we make when someone ventures into our world have the ability to comfort, inspire, educate, and help improve their quality of life. Sometimes we take for granted that it’s old hat to us, but a brand new experience for others.

I remember my first real experience at a pharmacy. I was 16, and had just come out of a minor surgical procedure with a prescription for Tylenol #3’s. At that point, the anaesthetic was beginning to wear off, and I had never experienced a similar pain before. On this day, did I care that the pills may be constipating? Was I thinking about a weaning schedule after three days or so? Did it matter to me whether it was covered by my parents’ drug plan? All rhetoric aside, it shouldn’t surprise us that when someone avails of our services, they may not be in the mindset to appreciate all the steps involved in filling an order, or consenting to a monitoring plan. Everyone is different, and similar to an actor finding just the right ad-lib when the unexpected happens, we resort to our professional training to determine the best approach to that patient. Perhaps a supportive word, and a quick rundown on the essentials are all that matters today. Would a follow-up phone call, after someone has had the chance to process a new diagnosis, allow for a more productive conversation?

Most of all, the one thing I gleaned from this experience is that you truly can’t fake genuine. I know that sounds weird when the whole point of acting is to play a fictional character and tell a story, but the show is borne from a genuine place. It’s not simply reciting the words on a page or simulating movements that are choreographed, but rather studying the reason why those words need to be said. Why do they have a certain order or cadence? It’s trying to understand how the movements enhance the message and contribute to the scene. How does a gesture amplify the emotion of a song lyric? If you believe in what you do and what you say, those watching begin to trust your ability, and your message.

Whenever a patient asks for you, realize that YOU are the pharmacist they talk about with their family and friends. YOU have brought the world of pharmacy into their lives. YOU have the ability to nudge them towards better health choices and increase their quality of life.

Which role do you want to play?

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Six is the Smallest Perfect Number

It’s true! I used the Google.

As an update, I am currently working on a couple guest posts at the moment. Those pieces, along with some upcoming recruiting events, I expect the spurring of some creative ideas for future content. For today, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge what I consider a mind-bending milestone: yesterday marked the 6th anniversary of the first PharmAspire post.

Sometimes I take for granted this blog journey; what it’s meant for me, what it’s meant for those close to me, and the community that it has created. I can’t be more thankful for this platform, and the feedback I receive when I manage to write something that resonates with people both inside and outside the pharmacy profession.

I thank Laura, my trusted editor from the very beginning, who encouraged me to write and post back in March 2013. In the very spirit of these pages, she is currently on a transformative journey of her own, aspiring to be the best pharmacist she can be. We may even hear more about it in her own words at some point.

To our newest contributor Tammy, thank you for summoning the courage to post here with us. We look forward to developing your ideas and positive energy to keep these discussions going.

Finally, a huge thank you to all of my colleagues and mentors that continue to push me in directions I don’t always want to go. You are the main reason I write. It’s the people I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and work alongside during my two decades in pharmacy, not the job, not the analysis, not the recognition, that keep me grounded and coming back for more.

A dear friend dating from before my first pharmacist job told me this week that I ‘just need to write more.’ She’s right. I believe I do.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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$22 Leadership

This post will discuss leadership, but with a bit of a twist.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be a leader, but from the perspective of a follower. One of the things that strikes me about who we consider to be great leaders, is that they are labeled as such by their loyal followers. People like Gloria Steinem, Barack Obama, Martin Luther King, and Maya Angelou inspire others to make life choices that align with shared values. You can’t be a leader unless someone chooses to follow you. A person can be in a position of leadership and not be perceived as a leader because of an inability to inspire people. History tells us that FDR was considered a great leader. He was a dominant political power who brought the US through the Great Depression and WWII, but he wasn’t MY leader. He didn’t engage ME in any meaningful way. I can admire his speeches, and his ability to bring people together. If I had been alive during the 30’s and 40’s, I believe that much of his messaging would have resonated with me.

So how would YOU describe how YOUR leaders make you feel? For me, it’s a basic emotion: excitement. Regardless of status, or position, or field, there are individuals who excite me. They challenge my thinking. They keep me in suspense about what they will do, say, or write next. They instill in me the belief that I will end up being a better version of myself if I follow, listen, and apply their messages.

I am fortunate enough to have befriended countless leaders in the pharmacy and business profession; each with their own style and passion for their families, their communities, their friends and their colleagues. Some are well-known and involved in advocacy, regulatory, and academia, others shun the spotlight. Some are positional leaders in my company, others are front-line staff on my own teams or with other operations entirely. Some are strong orators, training their peers through sharing real world experience with humour and authenticity. Others are hard-line, demanding disciplined excellence through written communication and a well-articulated, crystal clear vision.

This year, I decided to try something different at Christmas by purchasing copies of a popular leadership book for members of my management team. A colleague picked up a copy and immediately looked at the price of the paperback = $22. Immediately I wondered if we can truly put a monetary value on nurturing leaders. In this case, it was a conscious investment to share a message with them, and the cost of this method came to $22. Will it work as intended? Will it challenge their thinking? Will it prompt a change in how they approach their daily lives? THEY will be the ones who will decide, and it will resonate differently with each of them.

In 2019, it’s all about the why. Why do I write this blog for instance? The why is simple: it all began in 2013 as a way for me to rebuild some lost confidence and share some lessons with a larger audience. I was proud of my pharmacy career to that point, but was finding doubt around every corner that I wasn’t adapting quickly enough to a rapidly changing profession. That the ideas I had been the most proud of were sending me in the opposite direction. PharmAspire was and still is, the forum I use to take negative experiences or perceptions and inspect them for silver linings. It’s also a forum to take positive experiences in the profession, and amplify them in ways I hadn’t considered before.

These past 5 years (soon to be 6!) of writing has been so valuable to my personal growth. Sharing my train of thought isn’t the difficult part; for those who know me well, I talk a lot and often feel remorse afterwards for hogging conversations. However, this is different. Seeing ideas in writing forces more discipline, and more conviction. Words on a page don’t easily change, and may be read, and re-read, and re-read again. Impressions may be made, or opinions formed, and later changed. Speechwriters for famous people have tough jobs for that reason. They need to be conscious of misinterpretation and muddled messaging. Thankfully, editor Laura makes sure that my words truly reflect what I’m trying to say.

So for 2019, I want to get back to the ‘why’ basics. I want to get excited about new prescribing authority coming into effect across the country. I want to channel the energy of the student graduates asserting their independence this spring. I want to share management and leadership tips that others have helped ingrain over the years. I want to explore the psychology of behaviour change and traversing the highs and lows.

Finally, I want to continue this journey pondering this question:
What kind of PHARMacist do I ASPIRE to be?

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Can You See It?

Picture this for a minute:

I’m sitting on a wrestling mat at the end of a practice with a group of young athletes and the coach asks us to close our eyes and to picture a lemon. He then asks “what does it look like?  What does it feel like in your hand? Now I want you to pick up a knife and slice through that juicy lemon.  Smell the sweetness.  Take a bite …”

What?!

You may be thinking what I thought initially, “is he serious?”  At that time I wasn’t aware how powerful visualization can be in the lives of athletes.

After winning her gold medal match at the 2016 Summer Olympics and becoming Olympic Champion, Erica Wiebe wrote to her high school wrestling coach. “Visualization was the key to my success today, and that all started with you.  I woke up today having wrestled that match a million times.”   

Wiebe heard the “lemon story” many years ago at her home wrestling club in Ottawa from this same coach.  I found it very interesting to learn that Wiebe served in a supporting role in the 2012 Summer Olympics but she snuck out onto the mats and closed her eyes to experience how it felt.  She knew how powerful visualization was and she took advantage of that power!

Did you know when you visualize an action, neurons in your brain fire in a fashion similar to when you are physically doing the task?!

We’re not all athletes, I know.  That’s okay!  Although I was first introduced to the concept of visualization in athletes, I’ve learned that visualization can be applied to any area of your life!  Without a vision for success it is difficult to produce positive results.  Visualization is a well-developed method of performance improvement supported by substantial scientific evidence.  Visualization is used by successful people across a range of fields.

Know what you want.

Have a clear idea of what you want and why.  Visualization should not be confused with the “think it and you will be it”.   It does not involve dreaming or hoping for a better future.  However, dreaming and hoping are where the clear ideas are born;  once they’re formed, visualization is the plan to make it a reality.

Start visualizing and create the emotions

Start crafting an image of the thing you want and take as long as you like to build up all of the details.  Make the environment as realistic as possible by doing your best to experience not just the sights but also the sounds, scents, taste, and tactile sensations associated with your goal.

A few years ago I was nervous about a job interview. My husband, who is also a wrestling coach, encouraged me to use what I knew about visualization.  Leading up to the interview day I pictured sitting across a table from the individuals conducting the interview, my choice of words, etc.  It made a tremendous difference as I prepared for the interview.  It increased my confidence and comfort level.

Take daily actions

Get in the habit of putting together a positive vision into your everyday life.  Just 15 minutes out of your busy schedule to visualize yourself succeeding, achieving every goal, completing every task.  Don’t get me wrong – it won’t replace hard work but with diligent effort it is a powerful way to achieve positive results in all areas of our lives.

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.