Comments on: Are You Passionate About Your Valentine?

By: Paule Toon

Paule Toon — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:28:46 +0000

To Ms. Valerie Miller – You Go Girl!

By: Valerie Miller

Valerie Miller — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:58:01 +0000

I would like to send my current job a tumbleweed with a one hand salute!

I am currently on medical leave from a position at a large insurance company. Last April,I had just begun to study the Core Curriculum for Legal Nurse Consulting^® textbook when I was recruited to be part of a project at work and was notified that my ex-husband was being deployed to Afghanistan for a year. Our son was graduating from middle school. I do not have any living family members and since we are divorced, I’m not part of the true military community. My work schedule and caseloads have been changed multiple times at a moment’s notice. While expecting flexibility from me, they have not extended any to me. I neglected my health to meet all my responsibilities which finally culminated in becoming too sick to work, as well as becoming depressed and anxious.

BUT- although I had to reschedule my first certification exam, I attended the apprenticeship with my son along for the ride in September and on 12/8, I pushed myself out of bed to take the exam. I passed with an 88. I was over the moon and SO SO happy!

It’s like Vickie says, if you have the fire in your belly – you let no one stand in your way. I needed to have surgery last week. I have filed for my DBA name in the meantime and as soon as it is approved, I will send my marketing materials to be printed. I listen to my Advanced program CDs daily. I despise the idea of returing to a company that has treated me and many others so shabbily, especially as conditions have gotten worse per my co-workers. Unfortunately, many of them have the attitude that they are “stuck” without any options. I refuse to give up and give in. I have no passion for the company- it is not my calling and it is not my dream.

I am chomping at the bit to “go all in”! I would like to extend roses to Vickie and the Institute for the tools and opportunity to become the CEO of my own life.

I’m still on pain meds – I hope this post makes sense!:)

By: Kevin Robinson, RN, CLNC

Kevin Robinson, RN, CLNC — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 11:12:22 +0000

I hope each and every one of you had a great Valentine’s day! I sent the roses to my wife, I know she enjoyed them.

I’m learning that as we help our passion grow and allow it to flow from us, those passions will bring us to those people we are meant to serve. The road I’ve started building to success is not paved, and has a few potholes and unwanted obstacles. But Vickie has provided me (all of us) with all the foundation building tools needed to make the road smooth. Thank-you Vickie

I’m excited about the future of my CLNC^® practice, I’m not a hot tamale yet but it’s getting hotter.

By: Jennifer Gallaway

Jennifer Gallaway — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:29:08 +0000

I hadn’t thought about buying my business a Valentine. Thanks for the encouragement. Someone asked me last week why I decided to become a legal nurse consultant. He thought most nurses would view that role as a negative thing. I told him it would be a disservice to the nursing profession if there was not some sort of checks and balances. I want to really make a difference. Being a legal nurse consultant allows us to help make nursing better, one case at a time. I know I make a difference to my patients, but now I can make a difference to my profession. I actually like being a nurse and taking care of patients. But I have to admit, I enjoy the legal world as well!

By: Paule Toon

Paule Toon — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:31:24 +0000

I am very passionate about being a nurse. Shortly before I became a CLNC^® consultant I was working for a home health/personal care company. The Director of Nursing told me that I needed to "tone down my passion." It was right after that statement I decided to become a CLNC^® consultant. I am so glad I did and if and when the times comes that I am no longer passionate about what I do I will quit. If we are not passionate about what it is we spend so much of your life doing, what is the point? It then becomes too much like work. It is that passion that will land me my first case. See you at the top!

By: Diana Schmitt, RN, BSN, CLNC

Diana Schmitt, RN, BSN, CLNC — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:03:57 +0000

I wasn’t all in at first. I thought I was. I wanted to be successful. I wanted to make money. I wanted all the right things for the right reasons. But my mind chatter and my actions were lagging way behind. I was sabotaging myself and clinging to other CLNC^® consultants who were doing the same thing.

It was like breaking out of a box after the first post-certification conference. There were business plans that I had to incorporate and pillars to add to my marketing plan and every conference since it has been the same thing.

I too struggle with entrepreneurship qualities and characteristics. Not everything comes by intuition for me. But Vickie says there is nothing magical about it. We can all push our companies forward by using the strategies that she has taught us. If we are consistently taking action steps every day with meaningful activities that put us in front of attorneys, then the business will come.

I have laid down a marketing foundation in my area that has begun to pay off. I am too busy to buy my business roses now. But I owe Vickie many many thanks for knowing how to teach nurses entrepreneurship and how to inspire nurses not to quit. Happy Valentine’s Day Vickie and fellow CLNC^® consultants!

By: Judie Threatt from Connecticut

Judie Threatt from Connecticut — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:06:26 +0000

My business is still in its infancy, but I love being a CLNC^® consultant! Every day I am happy and grateful to have the opportunity to do something I really want to do, something that feels so right and fits so well with who I am. I have always envied people who love their job. They always seemed so happy and content. I get it now. “Those people” were passionate about what they did and that passion came from the inside. (My husband has been that kind of person.) This sounds so flowery and I am not like that at all. I’ve hit walls, gotten frustrated and have had (and still have) obstacles to overcome just like everyone else. Being passionate about being a CLNC^® consultant seems to help me keep focused in spite of all that. I hope all CLNC^® consultants can have Vickie’s passion! Happy Valentine’s Day! PS: I did buy myself a Valentine’s Day treat this week!

By: Becky Anderson

Becky Anderson — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:51:46 +0000

Last week, I hit a brick wall of frustration. Although I had been on a couple interviews, had talked with a few attorneys who gave affirmation of interest in using me in the future, I still had not done my first case. I realized I was still keeping a Plan B in my mind…not going all in. So I took a break from marketing and spent an entire day reading every blog and every comment posted since it began. What an inspiration you all are, and it was exactly what I needed. But I also got some great ideas on how to adjust my strategy. Today (and this was a leap of faith for me), when making follow-up calls, I shared with several that I am offering free educational sessions on healthcare related topics and to please keep me in mind for that as well. All of a sudden, people were more receptive and friendly. One person I thought was a receptionist turned out to be a managing attorney who asked me to resend my packet to her attention.

I am the first to admit I do not have the ideal make-up for entrepreneurship. And because unlike many of you who have been able to keep one foot in another job while starting your business, I had been an unexpected victim of the economy when my position of nearly 19 years in hospital management was abruptly eliminated, and I felt pressure to begin earning money immediately. Last week, I felt God leading me to “go all in” and toss the Plan B and trust Him to provide. And as soon as I made that decision, Vickie and all of you were right there with your encouragement and education. I can’t thank you all enough and I am all in!

So on my to-do list for this week? Write a few articles to post on my website and bring home a single red rose for my business. It is not 12 dozen, but it is a promise to myself and my family that I am going to work hard at my success every day. Thank you again, and Happy Valentine’s Day.