Mountain bikers are taught “don’t look where you don’t want to go.” I’m not crazy enough to be a mountain biker and I’m not even a great biker. But, I have biked up and down some pretty challenging heights in Japan, Morocco and New Zealand. Also, after riding 23 miles down the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii and over the Hải Vân Pass in Vietnam, I can say first-hand that “don’t look where you don’t want to go” is very good advice.
“Don’t look where you don’t want to go” serves RNs as well. If you’re not happy in your nursing job, continuing to look there will only get you where you don’t want to go. In 1982 when I found myself in a dead-end hospital job all I could think about was what would my life look like in 30 years. I couldn’t get the image of a glass of punch and a slice of plain white cake out of my mind. That was one of my biggest fears – a hospital retirement party. That and the thought of un-spiked punch was a deal-breaker for this New Orleans-born gal.
You’re never too old to truly look for where you want to go and to go there. Legal nurse consulting or a different type of nursing adventure may be waiting for you. So start looking where you really want to go. If a hospital retirement party doesn’t motivate you to start looking soon, frankly I’m not sure what will.
I’m Just Sayin’
P.S.Comment here and share your adventures of looking where you did or didn’t want to go.
In addition to being a nurse and a CLNC® consultant, I’m a motorcyclist. I was an instructor at our local community college several years ago and taught the Basic Rider course with my husband who is also a motorcyclist. One of the most valuable “mantras” that I chanted when I was first learning to ride was “look where you want to go” because the bike will follow where your eyes carry you, and if you’re busy looking at that 18 wheeler coming up on your left side, well you’re going to find yourself a bit too familiar with his undercarriage. When I found myself on mountain “twisties”, I would occasionally glance at that threatening cliff edge just feet from my tires and force myself to “look where you want to go. This is a “survival skill” on two wheels doing 50-70 miles an hour. When I was first getting started with my CLNC® business, that mantra came back to me and when I would find myself feeling scared about failure, or getting frustrated trying to figure out where I wanted this to take me, I started reminding myself “look where you want to go!” I started to visualize what I wanted my CLNC® career to look like. In fact, I would say I pretty much obsessed about it day in and day out. I would go to bed at night imagining getting a call from an attorney, what he would ask me in an interview, how I would respond, and it has worked! I’m getting this business going, and your advice is “spot on” Vickie!
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*The opinions and statements made by Vickie Milazzo, the founder of Medical-Legal Consulting Institute, Inc. are based on her experiences and expertise, should not be applied beyond the specific context provided, and do not guaranty or project actual results. Vickie Milazzo is no longer involved in the operations or management of the business, but is involved as an independent education consultant.
Awesome advice…it’s just like any sport. Keep your eye on the target or goal, and keep moving forward!
In addition to being a nurse and a CLNC® consultant, I’m a motorcyclist. I was an instructor at our local community college several years ago and taught the Basic Rider course with my husband who is also a motorcyclist. One of the most valuable “mantras” that I chanted when I was first learning to ride was “look where you want to go” because the bike will follow where your eyes carry you, and if you’re busy looking at that 18 wheeler coming up on your left side, well you’re going to find yourself a bit too familiar with his undercarriage. When I found myself on mountain “twisties”, I would occasionally glance at that threatening cliff edge just feet from my tires and force myself to “look where you want to go. This is a “survival skill” on two wheels doing 50-70 miles an hour. When I was first getting started with my CLNC® business, that mantra came back to me and when I would find myself feeling scared about failure, or getting frustrated trying to figure out where I wanted this to take me, I started reminding myself “look where you want to go!” I started to visualize what I wanted my CLNC® career to look like. In fact, I would say I pretty much obsessed about it day in and day out. I would go to bed at night imagining getting a call from an attorney, what he would ask me in an interview, how I would respond, and it has worked! I’m getting this business going, and your advice is “spot on” Vickie!