Viewpoint from the Co-Editor

New Year’s Resolutions

Put excuses aside: You can find time for improvement. Here’s how.

Bruce Maller, Co-Editor

When we think of the coming year, we often focus attention on opportunities to improve our personal and professional lives. While we start with the best of intentions, few seem able to sustain meaningful change. Excuses abound, but the truth is we have busy lives and are often unable to find an extra 45 – 60 minutes each day for exercise, self-improvement, or continuing education.

Although it sounds trite, remember nothing good comes without sacrifice or struggle. Here are 10 steps to help with that struggle of resolutions.

1. If your goal is important enough, take whatever action is necessary.
2. Don’t try to do too much. Implement realistic goals in “bite size” pieces.
3. Strive to achieve incremental improvement, not perfection. Many allow perfection to be the enemy of a good result or outcome.
4. Keep the fire burning by celebrating small wins.
5. If needed, take a break. Sometimes the stress of our lives is simply too much and having one more thing to do can create a breaking point.
6. To avoid boredom, mix up activities. (With physical activities, such as regular exercise, switching up may even help prevent injury.)
7. Share your experiences with a friend or peer. Having the support of others can help to keep your battery charged.
8. Achieving meaningful goals is motivation by itself. You’ll feel better. Your self-esteem will improve and others will see a new “bounce in your step.”
9. If circumstances suggest tweaking a target objective, adjust your goals.
10. “Own” your development opportunities. Don’t wait for someone else. In the end, what matters is how you feel when you look in the mirror.

Perhaps a meaningful resolution that will enhance your career value is to simply commit to reading OP cover to cover within two weeks of the issue landing on your desk. Although this may take two or three sittings, my guess is you will come away with a better understanding of the business and clinical aspects of ophthalmic practice. In the end, not only will you be a beneficiary, but your peers and employer will also take notice. OP

Mr. Maller is the founder and president of BSM Consulting, which provides business management solutions to hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, medical trade associations, physicians, health care personnel, pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers across the globe.