Life of Pi! Wow… what to say. If you have not read
the book and/or seen the movie - do so.
You may love it. You may hate it. But…it will make you think.
Life of Pi is a story about struggling
to survive through seemingly insurmountable odds.
Life of Pi shows us that all of us often do extraordinary, unexpected, and
sometimes heroic things to survive, in life, in our chosen careers, and in
business. We all make bad decisions and may
do inappropriate things if pressured or stressed. But, life’s lesson is to
learn by our mistakes and move on.
I loved the book
and the movie. Here are the lessons I took away:
The Importance of Telling your Story
The CEO of my
company is an extraordinary man… a mentor and a teacher. He always tells me to
“tell the Inquisit story”. This is my #1
lesson learned from Life of Pi.
Storytelling is a means of survival. If you don’t tell your own story… who will? So
tell it. The “true” events of Pi’s sea
voyage are horrible and as a young man, Pi tells a different version of his
story that eases the truth… if only for himself.
I equate “telling your story” to going on an interview for the
dream job. It is your story to tell and to sell.
There are Two Sides to
Every Story
The stories Pi tells his investigators drives home that old adage “there
are two sides to every story” like no other example of the cliché. In our daily job in healthcare, there is always the other side to our own viewpoint – always another side to
any story. It is our jobs as a professional to be aware of the two sides,
especially if we manage a team. We
should keep an alert eye on and an alert nose up for any hidden information,
any organizational politics that may be hindering or inhibiting our work and
any hidden agendas of a member of the group.
Always Have a Resource Toolkit
As healthcare professionals, we are faced with regulations, new
technology, constant changes, and countless different patient scenarios and needs.
We need to learn to be innovative by coming up with resources to make our job
as easy as possible. We do not have time
for as a massive whale to do a backflip in the water and send a crashing wave into our
already packed day.
Finding the resources you trust, like Inquisit for your continuing
education needs is a clear advantage to keep afloat. And remember, putting all
of our fish in one "tool or technique" basket is not a good idea. The
tools or techniques that we currently use could be overthrown by that slashing
whale at any time. You must continually expand your toolkit and seek the horizons.
Get a Grip
When Pi is tossed out of the sinking ship into the wild ocean, he cried
like there is no tomorrow. (well…. at
that point….there may not have been). However, he quickly recovered and does
not allow his grief to overcome him. He gets a grip on the reality of the
situation and plans the next steps to stay alive.
With the pace of change today, it is easy to lose sight of reality. As healthcare professionals, we should always
be on the lookout for keeping it real – with the patient at the center. Instead
of whining, it is better to get a grip on the reality which enables you to
respond in a positive manner sooner.
Things are Not
Always as They Seem
During his ordeal, Pi reaches a wonderful island. It is an oasis with
food, fresh water, and shelter. However, as night approaches, he quickly
realizes that the island is dangerous.
We often become part of such a project in our healthcare roles. Things seem wonderful and everything looks
perfect. However, if we don't pause and take the time to realistically look
into ourselves or where the project is headed, we may end up sinking into a
very deep ocean.
Lifelong Learning
You may think that being in the middle of the ocean with a hungry wild
animal is not the best place to learn. Pi has a different strategy. One of the
ways Pi keeps his sanity is by keeping a journal. He reads books and has a
"continuing education plan".
Healthcare professionals have wonderful excuses to not invest in
learning. We often cite ‘too busy’, ‘no budget’, and so forth, as examples to
avoid learning, to stall becoming certified, or even to avoid engaging in easy
and convenient learning activities like listening to audio podcasts. Learn everything you can. It may come in handy
someday. Participate. Be engaged.
I hope you think of Pi when faced with an excuse
to not learn. And, like Pi, always remember that you are the heart of your own
success story. The lessons that you learn from every success and failure that
you endure during your career become part of your character. These valuable
lessons, some as deep as an ocean and as lonely as darkness, define your heart,
wisdom, courage and resilience. As we grow and learn we recognize that to be our best as a human, a
healthcare professional, and team member, or leader, we must draw from the head,
heart, courage, and spirit. We must not give up. And, we must believe, above
all, in ourselves.
