I've been thinking a lot lately about the definition of success. Everyone has their own interpretation of what success is, and what it is that successful people do to achieve their success.
One of the things that intrigue me most is how often others use 'financial success' as the definition of success. Is this the only true indicator of success? Certainly for some its an outcome of being successful. What about those that achieve success without it resulting in personal wealth? Are they any less successful for it? I don't think so.
I believe success is something one has to work at, regardless of how one defines it.
Success doesn't happen by chance. That is good luck. Success happens because someone makes a decision to actually do something. Taking action is the difference between those that achieve success and those that only talk about doing so.
Success is not a 'big bang' event. It doesn't happen all at once. Achieving success is an incremental process. A process of doing something, over and over again. A colleague of mine refers to this as the 1%er's. These are the people that do 1 new or different thing every day.
Furthermore success is iterative process. This means you have to keep trying. Rarely does success occur on the first effort. Like top sportspeople, success is achieved by practice and more practice. Every attempt is a part of the learning curve. Success takes time and requires patience.
The other aspect that seperates those that are successful from those that are not is the ability to bounce back from setbacks. Many successful people have failed more often than they have succeeded.
So what is my advice to you. Keep trying. When you fall down, pick yourself up and try again. Keep learning and . . .
Let The Journey Continue
John Coxon
Taking You From Frontline Manager to CEO
Email john@johncoxon.com.au
Skype: john_coxon
Blog: http://healthsector.blogspot.com
Blog: http://nfp-management.blogspot.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/johncoxon
Follow john_coxon on Twitter
Join John Coxon on Facebook
Friday, November 28, 2008
What Are Your Final Wishes - Engage With Grace
A short blog entry. Along with 1000's of other bloggers on health related issues we are participating in a global 'blog rally'. This is where one single topic is picked up and discussed simultaneously around the world.
Now I reckon blog rallies will become messy and confusing in the future and we will have trouble deciding which cause to support - just like donating in the real world. Yet I kinda like this topic. It just isn't something we talk about. When we do, and have with friends, some of the topics have been pants-wetting hilarious, others more sombre. The point being this. You can't tell others of your final wishes **after** you have left this earth, so why not do it now?
Download this slide. It contains five questions. Answer them yourself, involve your friends, partner, lover(s) and soul mates. Take it to dinner, to a restaurant, in the car on a trip or to bed, whatever and wherever, just have the conversation.
Let The Journey Continue
John Coxon
Taking You From Frontline Manager to CEO
Email john@johncoxon.com.au
Skype: john_coxon
Blog: http://healthsector.blogspot.com
Blog: http://nfp-management.blogspot.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/johncoxon
Follow john_coxon on Twitter
Join John Coxon on Facebook
Saturday, November 22, 2008
For Profit Aged Care in Australia
I wonder if it would be preferable for the aged care sector in Australia to operate as a for profit sector. By this I mean the funding for aged care infrastructure is provided by investors while the funding for residential care is provided by the Commonwealth. Accreditation standards and classification standards could remain in place as process of quality assurance. Instead of the Commonwealth issuing 'bed licences' it could instead offer a 'operator licence'. This licence would be dependent upon the operator meeting the minimum standards of operation and care and being subject to visits from accreditation agencies.
No doubt many could think of reasons why this shouldn't happen. There may be some good arguments in favour and maybe the time has arrived for the discussion and the debate. Clearly it is not something that is going to occur overnight. It may be possible to implement a dual process and let market forces sort out the final result.
Would smaller non profit providers be the losers? Undoubtedly. Market force feeds on scale of economy, systems and processes and the ability to share costs over a wide base. Many, larger, non profits have already moved in this direction. It may be that over the next twenty years the majority of smaller non-profit aged care operators in Australia will have been acquired and merged into larger groups anyway.
The age care sector requires a massive investment towards infrastructure over the next three decades, in addition to simply maintaining wages levels in line with cost of living increases. This is a significant drain on Commonwealth taxes. Why not transfer that cost and risk to institutional investors?
Would the consumer be disadvantaged? Those opposed to this concept will raise this scenario immediately, yet it may not be the case. Look around you. Even today, with vastly improved acceditation standards and continuous improvement processes in place over the past decade, still the papers are full of stories of aged care operators who have a complete disregard for the resident. These breaches continue to occur for a number of reasons, including; poorly trained managers and staff, inadequate enforcement of standards, low levels of funding for staff, resources, equipment and infrastructure and last but not least an inherent belief that you have to literally kill someone before you lose your operating licence. Even if that were to occur the financial cost is viewed differently by the facility operator. Private investors would not tolerate losing their licence to generate revenue and would likely be equally or more diligent in meeting the required legislative requirements.
Just a thought . . . .
John Coxon
Taking You From Frontline Manager to CEO
No doubt many could think of reasons why this shouldn't happen. There may be some good arguments in favour and maybe the time has arrived for the discussion and the debate. Clearly it is not something that is going to occur overnight. It may be possible to implement a dual process and let market forces sort out the final result.
Would smaller non profit providers be the losers? Undoubtedly. Market force feeds on scale of economy, systems and processes and the ability to share costs over a wide base. Many, larger, non profits have already moved in this direction. It may be that over the next twenty years the majority of smaller non-profit aged care operators in Australia will have been acquired and merged into larger groups anyway.
The age care sector requires a massive investment towards infrastructure over the next three decades, in addition to simply maintaining wages levels in line with cost of living increases. This is a significant drain on Commonwealth taxes. Why not transfer that cost and risk to institutional investors?
Would the consumer be disadvantaged? Those opposed to this concept will raise this scenario immediately, yet it may not be the case. Look around you. Even today, with vastly improved acceditation standards and continuous improvement processes in place over the past decade, still the papers are full of stories of aged care operators who have a complete disregard for the resident. These breaches continue to occur for a number of reasons, including; poorly trained managers and staff, inadequate enforcement of standards, low levels of funding for staff, resources, equipment and infrastructure and last but not least an inherent belief that you have to literally kill someone before you lose your operating licence. Even if that were to occur the financial cost is viewed differently by the facility operator. Private investors would not tolerate losing their licence to generate revenue and would likely be equally or more diligent in meeting the required legislative requirements.
Just a thought . . . .
John Coxon
Taking You From Frontline Manager to CEO
Friday, November 21, 2008
Boring, boring, boring
This blog is boring. Well that is not actually true. I just wanted to draw your attention to the fantastic offer I am about to make.
Would you like to participate in free management coaching? It’s an easy question to answer. Yes or No. If yes please read on.
Throughout 2009 I will be delivering a series of management workshops throughout Australia and New Zealand. At each event, on either the evening prior or the evening after I will be holding court in a lounge at the venue. I will be providing free, no obligation, coaching to those in attendance. I will help you solve management issues, develop competencies, reduce stress and enjoy your work more. It’s free, no cost, no obligation, no books, no CD’s, no hidden agenda’s or products and definitely no hard sell. If you are there you benefit from the combined knowledge of all in attendance. If you are not there then you miss out. Whether 5, 50 or 500 turn up I will find a place for us to work together. If need be we will move out into the street and work there.
Why am I making this offer? I operate a successful consultancy working with managers in the health, aged care and not for profit sector. The work I do allows me to travel throughout the two best countries in the world. It allows me to spend time with my wife, Liz, to enjoy holidays together and it allows me to spend time with my children, Tara and Byron. I do what I love and I love doing it. I also like to give back as much as I get. Most management advice is freely available. If you had the time you could read all the books, articles, blogs, research reports, white papers I do. After many years as a management coach I have learned one irrefutable fact. Most people can access information. What they need me to do is help them develop and implement the action plans that convert knowledge into results. By coming along, meeting me, letting me meet you, it means that when you do call me seeking my help we already have had contact. You are comfortable with and we spend less time becoming comfortable and move quickly to help you reduce stress and enjoy your work.
How do you register for these events? You don’t. Just turn up. If you wish you may SMS me a message on +61427390376 the day prior, regardless I will be there.
How do you find out about dates and times? Firstly, go our either of our websites, www.johncoxon.com.au or www.johncoxon.co.nz and follow the link to services and to workshops. Here you will find details of cities, venues and dates. Court will be in session from 5.30-7.00pm.
Secondly, sign into www.twitter.com and follow john_coxon, here you will see announcements of dates and venues also. You could also return to this blog in one week and you will see a list dates on here.
Are you in? What have you got to lose? Absolutely nothing. What value on the stuff you learn? Priceless.
Let me help you reduce stress and enjoy your work as a manager.
John Coxon
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