Wow...Q1 is nearly in the bag!  The end of the first quarter is a common time to evaluate the state of our business…to take stock of what’s important about our work, what makes a difference to others, and what actions truly lead us to success (versus what simply wastes our time!).
 
I believe that almost every successful business person has built an operational foundation on these three time-tested truths:
 
1. People, not technology, make an organization successful.
The best companies hire the best people.  Even the most innovative piece of technology can not replace what hiring the best people can do for an organization.
 
2. Quality counts.
A top quality staff, a quality product or service, and high quality treatment of customers and employees.  No organization will ever be faulted for maintaining an unwavering commitment to quality.
 
3. Time is money.
Time is a valuable commodity.  Time can be spent, wasted, borrowed, budgeted, saved, or invested.  Ultimately, time is a limited resource that we must use wisely to accomplish our goals.
 
Remembering these three time-tested truths can have a profound impact on how we structure our everyday activities.  When we consistently focus on hiring the best people, delivering quality results, and investing our time wisely, we’ll routinely find success well within our reach!

With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, you can find “luck of the Irish” almost everywhere you turn…from parades and road races to corned beef & cabbage dinners and special events in the community.  Of course, you don’t have to be Irish to celebrate the patron saint with some good-spirited fun, or to appreciate the value of a little good fortune.

This reminds me of the age-old poem about finding good luck from a random penny lying around:

     Find a penny,
     Pick it up,
     All the day,
     You’ll have good luck.

Now, I don’t really know that finding a penny brings good luck, BUT, I always pick them up when I find one.  We have the same philosophy when it comes to top performers in the Healthcare & Life Sciences industry.  Often times, we meet someone whose experience, motivation, and attitude combine in such a way that we spot them immediately, much like a shiny penny just begging to be picked up.  These “shiny pennies” are the types of professionals who will excel in almost any situation AND have the ability to make those around them shine just as bright.

What I never knew, until a short time ago, is that there's actually more to this poem:

     Give it to a faithful friend,
     Then your luck will NEVER end!

That's even better!  I guess that means now I can share that luck with some deserving clients.  ;-)

We fill our recruiting pockets with shiny pennies throughout our days, weeks, months, and years.  When one of these shiny pennies gives us an opportunity to “pass the luck" (a.k.a. success) to someone else, that’s what we intend to do.  Perhaps your organization could use a shiny penny right now!