Here we go! (Remember, in Healthcare we use SBAR format. It’s consistent, concise, and gets the important details). Feel free to hit play above to hear me narrate this post.
Situation: I get to do a thing
I was presented with an opportunity very recently that has me burbling with excitement. Here’s the low-down, nitty-gritty, as succinctly as possible:
Background: I have ideas about a lot of things
I have a series of short- and long-term goals that I hope will improve care in my community. And then a bunch of other ideas I’ve noodled on during and since the pandemic. My top 3 personal/professional goals at this time are:
Become a fitness instructor — the more that folks keep moving, the less likely they’ll be stuck in bed, right? Healthcare needs as few patients as possible right now.
Improve access to care/support care-givers — formal and informal care-givers (Healthcare Workers and people in the community caring for other humans) are undervalued, overworked, and burning out left and right. The carers need help. Now.
Develop a care co-operative — rather than relying on the existing (malfunctioning) models of care, I see a need for a new one that involves training and support for non-Healthcare workers to get involved in providing that care on a volunteer or sliding-scale system. (This one’s been trickier to flesh out, but I can see it coming together in my dreams). Here’s a post from almost a year ago that will catch you up:
Assessment: Not every idea is a goal
These 3 goals are for, like, the next 10-15 years. They are how I see myself forging a path that feels hopeful for myself and my family.
I’m in school pursuing a certification as a fitness instructor. Work-In-Progress. Stay on task.
Care Co-Op. I don’t have the attention or desire to develop a business plan for a care co-op just yet. I tried, I got tired, I put it away for a while. It’s resting in a drawer, alongside my stethoscope.
But 2. Ohhhh number 2, it’s your turn!
(I wrote myself the following post as a birthday present this year, and it seems to be coming to fruition in a different way than I originally wrote about. How forking cool is that??)
All this is to say: I have been summoned. Invited. A space has been saved for me. To light the fire… in real life. My presence has been requested.
Request: Show up, in real life
I was out of town last week and a few of my friends (local entrepreneurs Brian Retro Glow Cycles, Brooke Soapy Roads of Lombard, and Nick Spiritus Coffee) were collaborating on a Small Business Saturday pop-up event at the soon-to-be-reopened Retro Glow Cycles (yay!!!). At this event (the Saturday after Black Friday after Thanksgiving), they (we) will each have a vendor table to market our wares.
Yes, our.
They each have a business, a product, a thing.
At the moment, I only have ideas. Plans. Noodlings.
And since I’m not yet an entrepreneur in the fitness industry, and I don’t have a care co-op in my sights, number 2 is coming to life: I will be hosting A Bedside Campfire dialogue in real life.
In the post above, I shared this idea with a podcast in mind as it allowed me to have 1:1 conversations that could be disseminated via Substack. I had also considered a support group, but didn’t feel I had the tools to provide support at a time when I was still recovering from my own professional burnout. But this, a dialogue, a conversation, a question — this feels right.
So I got to work.
I’ve reached out to my brand new local library to book a room, developed a flier/poster, and discussed with a few confidants/co-conspirators who may be interested in helping me facilitate such an event.
Up next: a short set of guidelines/behavior expectations for the event so everyone’s on the same page, and maybe a snack or favor to offer to attendees. Get the dates/space booked, and provide an easy way to sign up. Then I can talk about A Bedside Campfire at the Small Business Saturday Pop-Up event. (Tools for the campfire: I have a series of prompts/questions to get a conversation going, and I also have the 3 Minute Mental Makeover exercise that works in large and small groups).
In all my excitement, I’ve nearly forgotten that it’s after midnight and I need to sleep.
Can you feel my excitement?
That is all. I hope you’re well and that everyone’s nice to you.
Love,
Jessie
PS:
Here’s a draft of the poster I’m working on.