Book Summary: "Healing a Hospital" by David Herdlinger

It seems strange, I realize, that a hospital would need to be healed. But that was the situation that existed a decade ago at Southeast Georgia Health System. Costs were out of line with revenues, employee morale was awful, doctors weren’t happy, and the patients were not getting the appropriate level of quality care. The situation had to change dramatically if the hospital was to survive, prosper, and operate in a manner that would allow it to best serve its community. The Board was faced with many options, unfortunately “All were frightening options with enormous risks. But the risks of doing nothing were even greater.”

The problems at the hospital and the tremendous turnaround that occurred are chronicled in this book by my friend and fellow business coach David Herdlinger. David was brought in by the hospital’s CEO and board of directors to assist in the sweeping changes that were necessary to help “heal” the Southeast Georgia Health System.

The lessons that abound in this book are relevant not merely to hospitals but to all businesses and organizations. I have extracted some of the most salient points for employees, management and others who want to improve their business’ culture and results.

1. Don’t just bring your problems and concerns…bring your “fixes.” The employees should know what would bring about improvement and suggesting solutions instead of merely reporting problems engenders ownership, pride and creative thinking. Management must promote empowerment so that employees at all levels are truly motivated to look for ways to improve.

2. Working together works. Embrace the value of teamwork. It has been proven time and again that 1 + 1 + 1 can equal 5. Instead of calling each other employees, call yourselves team members. Focus on what can be better and don’t play the “blame game.”

3. Look, listen and learn. Being blind and close-minded to the reality of a bad situation will severely hinder the opportunity for change and progress. Healthy organizations welcome openness and change because they’re focused on achieving excellence. Unhealthy organizations tend to foster secrecy, protectiveness, and fear.

4. Take risks to improve. Management must buy into this so that someone isn’t punished for trying something new. No one wants mistakes…but if you make a mistake and learn from it, that’s a good thing. Admit your mistakes; don’t try to hide from them.

5. Perception is reality. Be careful what you say, especially in front of customers. How you portray and talk about your organization contributes to the image that they see. If you’re having a bad day at home, leave your problems at the door. Otherwise it will reflect unfavorably on the whole organization. “The image we have in our minds determines what we become and what we achieve.”

6. Embrace strategic “advances.” Set aside regular and meaningful time to step away from the day-to-day of running a business to focus on the strategic elements of success. Some businesses call their offsite gatherings “retreats,” but “advances” connotes going forward, not backward.

7. People are naturally resistant to change. Changing the culture of any organization required enormous effort over an extended period of time. Settling for mediocrity comes more naturally than shouldering the burdens and risks of pursuing excellence. Pointing fingers is easier than taking ownership. Making excuses is simpler than striving for excellence. Invest in developing a culture of innovation and change.

As the last item references, it typically takes months if not years for meaningful and sustainable change to occur. The turnaround at Southeast Georgia Health System occurred over the course of several years…resulting in the changes becoming ingrained in the fabric and culture of the organization. I hope there are some takeaways from the lessons learned and employed at this hospital that can benefit you.

Book Summary: "Healing a Hospital" by David Herdlinger

New Book Gives Practical Advice For a 24 Week Journey to Better Health

Marnie Dominy has written a step-by-step book that makes weight loss and better health a practical, realizable, and not overly difficult goal. Rather than offering a “quick fix” to losing weight, which will usually result in gaining it back soon after, Dominy teaches us how to make gradual changes for the better. One can easily read this book alone and follow its suggestions, but Dominy suggests we make losing weight into a party by finding a few friends and forming a “weight loss club” to support us, allowing us to have fun in the process while reading her book a chapter a week and discussing and implementing the changes in it.

Over 24-weeks, Dominy guides her readers through numerous topics, providing knowledge and practical applications to help people lose weight and maintain the weight loss by becoming healthier. The chapters for each week are short, inspiring, and full of stories, examples, and easy-to-understand explanations of everything from walking and water to insulin resistance, fiber, and what to do when you go out to eat.

Unlike many diets, Dominy’s plan does not deprive people of what they want to eat, but it helps them understand the consequences of their decisions, so they can learn how to enjoy themselves while not sabotaging their health. Dominy encourages people to go out to eat-a weight loss club can even meet at a restaurant where the members can support one another in practicing how to eat without “pigging out.” To me, this sounded like one of the best suggestions in the book, and fun besides.

I’ve actually read quite a few books about dieting, weight loss, and improving our health, but I still found a lot of material in this book I did not know. I knew about the wonderful benefits of water, and have quit drinking soda as a result, but I didn’t realize how important water was to help a person have a productive workout. And while I vaguely knew about sugar and diabetes, I did not know that belly fat in men is a sign of pre-diabetes and the result of insulin resistance. Since diabetes runs in my family, Dominy’s explanations made me realize all the more that I need to be careful about what I eat, and I now better understand how sugar plays havoc on our bodies creating cycles that make us hungry, and how we can break those cravings. I also learned how carbohydrates fit into the blood sugar cycle.

Dominy knows what she’s talking about. She warns us that many people out there in the health care fields don’t have proper credentials so we need to be careful about the advice we take, check credentials, and consider the possible self-interest of people who endorse specific products and diets. Dominy herself has been an athlete and an instructor in healthcare for many years, plus someone who knows what it is to battle against a craving for sweets. She recalls how, as a high school student in the 1960s, she broke down barriers by fighting to be allowed to play on the golf team at a time when “only boys could participate in high school sports.” Dominy is an exercise physiologist who has been in the fitness business since 1975. Her experience includes teaching health and physical education at all grade levels from kindergarten to college, coaching a variety of sports, and owning and operating a fitness business. In “Choosing Your Healthy Path,” she shares how she has helped numerous clients lose weight, create nutritious yet satisfying diets, and improve how they feel. She also discusses her own choices in eating out, and how her situation has changed at different times in her life.

In addition, “Choosing Your Healthy Path” is fun to read, with many humorous cartoons throughout. Each week of the program provides a weekly chart to track what you eat, and several ideas for figuring out what will work specifically for you, as well as fun activities for your group to do as it achieves its weight loss and fitness goals.

What I like most about “Choosing Your Health Path” is that it is set up as a weekly program and one that is practical and doable. I think if readers buy this book, form a small group, and follow the chapters which only take a few minutes each to read, that people will stick with this program, rather than just getting excited only to fall off their diets a few weeks later. “Choosing Your Healthy Path” is a friendly, gentle, yet successful way to start down the road to wellness and all the joy that accompanies it.

New Book Gives Practical Advice For a 24 Week Journey to Better Health

"212" by Alafair Burke

I’ve read all the books written by Alafair Burke and haven’t been disappointed yet. She’s outdone herself with, “212.” The plot is intriguing and at times I had to ask myself – what does this have to do with anything? But, in the end, all the disparate threads come together and I found myself saying, “Oh, yes!”

The book starts with a young woman calling 9-1-1 to report “shots fired” in a penthouse at 212 on the corner of Lafayette and Kenmare.” She’s terrified, refuses to identify herself and quickly hangs up and runs off into the rainy New York City night. Then the novel switched to the POV of its main character, Ellie Hatcher, an NYPD detective. She and her partner, J.J. Rogan, arrive at the scene of a homicide at the 212 address. A naked man is sprawled on the bed, nude, riddled with bullet holes. The apartment is in disarray and on first glance, it looks like a home invasion gone bad. Before Hatcher and Rogan have a chance to do much detecting, the owner of the apartment, New York mogul Sam Sparks arrives and starts throwing his weight around. He immediately puts Hatcher’s back up and from then on, she believes he’s involved in the crime – somehow.

Next the story switches to Megan Gunther, a pre-med student at NYU. She is being harassed on a anonymous website called Campus Juice were anyone can post anything about anyone. Megan is freaking out because it’s apparent that someone is stalking her. Her parents are naturally concerned and go to the police for help. Unfortunately, there’s nothing they can do. When Megan is murdered, Hatcher catches that case too. Another body turns up, another case for Hatcher and Rogan to juggle.

You know while reading that somehow, all these stories will intersect at the end. I read a lot of mysteries and write them too, and I can almost always figure out “whodunit.” I was pretty sure I knew in “212″ but wasn’t sure because I couldn’t figure out the motivation. In the end, it’s clear but I challenge all you readers out there to figure out the plot before the end. I sure couldn’t.

Alafair Burke is a lawyer, teacher and great writer. She’s the daughter of novelist James Lee Burke and certainly inherited his good writing gene. I love her character, Ellie Hatcher. She’s a complex modern woman with a few demons of her own, a neat boyfriend, a great job and….she lives in New York City. I eagerly await the next installment in the Ellie Hatcher series.

"212" by Alafair Burke

"My Alien Penfriend" by Faiz Kermani

My Alien Penfriend

Faiz Kermani

Authorhouse (2005)

ISBN 1420858602

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (8/06)

Sometimes differences make for the strongest friendship as Zmod and Darius discover in “My Alien Penfriend”. Faiz Kermani brings us a fantasy tale of two young boys corresponding by spacemail. This book is well written, interesting and an easy read.

Darius lives on planet Earth in the year 2286, Zmod lives on planet Bartoch. Both apply for space pen pals. Soon they are discussing the differences of their planets and lives. Darius has a pet dog, Ranger and Zmod has a pet glod, Darak.

Zmod tells Darius about rocks that can move on their own. The population must live underground due to “telecterium that destroyed the ground and killed many living things.” The planet Bartoch has two moons, and is control by Mind Complex.

Darius tells Zmod about Earth and its government, the World War Council. He tells him about the different countries, football and most importantly the hunt for the Loch Ness Monster.

Soon the two are looking forward to more spacemail. They discuss school, vacations and parents. Although they are from different worlds they find they have a great friendship.

After corresponding for more than a year, Darius becomes concerned when several months pass without a message from Zmod. A volcano has erupted on Bartoch. Many of the inhabitants were killed. Zmod is rescued but separated from his family for a while. Darak saved Zmod’s mother but Darak was lost.

Zmod turns to his space friend for comfort, “At least your spacemails might make me feel a bit better.” Darius offers encouragement, “don’t give up hope even if things seem very gloomy at the moment!” Eventually the two meet face to face. This is a friendship that will last forever.

What a delightful book. Zair has a wonderful light style of writing. His message is easy to identify, in our differences we have strengths. We can befriend those who are different from us. This book would be a great read for a primary student. I intend to share this one with my grandchildren.

"My Alien Penfriend" by Faiz Kermani

Do Dogs Dream Like People?

For anyone who has watched their dog sleep, the obvious answer is yes. But the scientific answer is, “we don’t know.” We know that dogs experience REM, or rapid eye movement, sleep. REM sleep has been associated with dreaming, but we know that, at least in people, rapid eye movement during sleep is not always indicative of dreaming. Our best guess is that dogs do dream, but there is no way to prove it since we cannot ask them.

How would we recognize REM sleep in a dog?

Watch the eyes of a sleeping dog and you will note that periodically, the eyes move back and forth in a quick rhythmic motion. This is recognized as Rapid Eye Movement, or REM, sleep. Many dogs will also move their whiskers and lips, and make licking and chewing motions when they sleep. They may paddle their feet, almost like they are running. Some dogs will vocalize, making little yips or howls.

Are owners sometimes concerned about this behavior?

Some people have seen this behavior when their dog was sleeping and worry that it was a form of a seizure. So how can you tell if what your dog is doing is normal?

If a dog is sleeping normally, he will be easily awakened by calling his name or by jostling his body. If a dog was having a seizure, you would not be able to stop a dog from seizing using those same methods.

But a word of caution: be careful when waking any dog from a deep sleep. When disturbed from a sound sleep, many dogs will instinctively try to bite before they are even awake.

Do Dogs Dream Like People?

Mending Lives and Teaching Friendship With a New Young Author

Recently, we were given the opportunity to review a book written by a young author. When we received it, I noted how beautifully done it was. While often the case – we see beautifully written and illustrated books all the time – but how often do they originate from a 10-year-old? “Sewing a Friendship”, written by a creative and talented young girl named Natalie Tinti is such a book.

The book formed in Natalie’s mind from her own experience when she noticed that many of her classmates and friends were lonely, unhappy and depressed. Natalie came to realize that these kids, including herself, had extremely different opinions and attitudes about the same experiences — the experiences that make us who we are and how we act toward others.

Natalie’s story provides incredible insight about what makes kids interact with others the way they do. Why are bullies, bullies – and why are some kids cruel in ways that hurt and demoralize others who don’t deserve it at all? Developing friendships is an area that Natalie Tinti has researched in her own life. In her book, Sewing a Friendship, she tells what great things can happen if kids go that extra mile in giving others a chance.

Tinti’s characters in Sewing a Friendship are colorful and creative personalities. In her “Introduction of Characters,” Natalie presents an overview of the characters in her book, including her grandma and grandma’s dog, Dogon. Each character has different talents and likes and dislikes. Jonsy Jipsy loves to sing and belly dance, Sokron Blossom lives in a neat and tidy world and loves to read fashion magazines. Meeka likes brain games – the more numbers involved, the better — and Nina is happy with her life and the music it brings her.

All but one of the characters seems happy with their lives. One of the girls, Kiki Shaver, was sad living a small home with her aunt and uncle. She had no friends and didn’t know how to make them. When four girls invite her into the circle of their friendship, it’s no wonder that Kiki is hesitant and apprehensive. She doesn’t want to be hurt.

The story continues as the five girls become a team in an attempt to win a fashion show. How four girls invite and accept a “not so likeable” girl into their lives skillfully acquaints the readers with the characters and the dilemmas that confront them as they invite a hesitant Kiki into their circle and begin to “sew a friendship” that they’ll all benefit from.

Today, it seems that almost every news headline begins with a child’s suicide – or murder – because of being bullied, not having friends or family to discuss issues with and feelings of low self esteem. What’s causing this rash of senseless tragedies? If more ten-year-olds were as insightful as Natalie Tinti, perhaps more kids would invite the outcasts into their circle of friends and lives would be saved as well as pointed in another direction.

Natalie Tinti finds her voice in Sewing a Friendship – and demonstrates a talent that’s rare for such a young girl; especially one who wants to help kids realize that they can help others and accomplish remarkable things that can change the world when they set their minds to do it. Recommended reading for all YA fans.

Mending Lives and Teaching Friendship With a New Young Author

You Are Your Greatest Obstacle to Professional Sales Success

Would you like to be the best of the best in sales? Have you read a lot of sales books and still not happy with your ability to increase sales? Then maybe it is time to step out of the box and read Robert K. Cooper’s book, Get Out of Your Own Way: The 5 Keys to Surpassing Everyone’s Expectations.

In this not so easy read because of the numerous thought provoking concepts and questions posed by Cooper, you have the ability to understand why you are probably in your own way. Cooper brings international research coupled with personal stories and an easy to read writing style to help you better know you so you can secure better sales results.

The 5 keys for sales success are:

1. Direction


2. Focus


3. Capacity


4. Energy


5. Impact

Being a avid fan of Arthur C. Clarke, the first quotation in the first chapter sold me on this book. Clarke said: The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the possible.

If individuals truly want success, then they must be willing to be uncomfortable. Cooper shows them with his 5 keys how to deal with that state of being uncomfortable.

Habits can be a good thing or a bad thing. For example, a good habit Cooper contends is investing 15 minutes a day thinking about where you wish to go (big picture), what you doing to get there (actions) and where you can do better (making course corrections).

Another personal favorite is Cooper’s definition of self-directed behavior where he believes this is proactive behavior. As an educator, executive and sales coach, I have been using this term for over 15 years compared to being a life long learner that is passive behavior.

This book contains many gems and “AH HAs”. After you read it once, then reread it 2 more times to gain the full value. By taking this action, you can increase sales.

You Are Your Greatest Obstacle to Professional Sales Success