Executive IDN Insights are emailed to you bi-weekly to provide executive supply chain leadership insights from two of the most trusted healthcare supply chain leaders. For decades, they have led large supply chain organizations and now offer you their strategic thoughts on pressing issues you should be considering. Learn more about Brent and Mike.
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Like all of you, I want to be happy in my life. I’ve been successful in my work life, but as I get older, I realize what true happiness is and what it is not. In my opinion, happiness is NOT money, position, or power. Rather, happiness is achievement, service, family, faith, and friends.
I lived in Mexico for four years of my life. The people I grew to know and love are generally happier than Americans, yet they don’t have as much wealth or modern conveniences.
To understand more about what happiness is, I like the story below. It brings a lesson in the beauty of gratitude over the pursuit of money.
The Mexican Fisherman and the Investment Banker (Author Unknown)
An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican replied, “only a little while.”
The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish?
The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, and stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”
The American scoffed. “I have an MBA from Harvard, and can help you,” he said. “You should spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, and eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middle-man, you could sell directly to the processor, eventually opening up your own cannery. You could control the product, processing, and distribution,” he said. “Of course, you would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles, and eventually to New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”
To which the American replied, “Oh, 15 to 20 years or so.”
“But what then?” asked the Mexican.
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time was right, you would announce an IPO, and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions!”
“Millions – then what?”
The American said, “Then you could retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play guitar with your amigos."
Previous Insights
2021
- Elements of a Strategic Plan
- Words of Wisdom: Networking and the Healthcare Supply Chain
- Notes from the 2021 IDN Summit Senior Executive Forum
- Is Selling in Post-Covid Times Harder?
- Trends in Healthcare Reimbursement
- Consolidation and Centralization
- Medal of Honor Recipient Gives Us Thanks
- Growth of Non-Acute: Supply Chain Challenges
- Outcomes-Based Contracting
- The Value of Value Analysis in Healthcare
- Cardiovascular and Orthopedic Trends
- Supply Chain as a Revenue Generator
- Unforeseen Financial Impacts
2019
- It's About Having Integrity!
- Be Careful What You Wish For
- How to Win Friends and Influence People
- What's Your Management Style
- Old School
- The Confusing World of Benchmarking
- Do You Have the Courage to Do the Right Thing?
- Managing Expenses
- Culture Eats Strategy for Lunch
- The Power of Being Happy
- Happy New Year Resolutions?
2018
- Buffaloes and Squirrels
- Getting Educated by a College Student
- The Importance of Work-Life Balance
- Is Someone Ready to Step In
- Payor-Provider Partnerships Impact on Supply Chain
- Addressing Overuse and Waste
- Changing the Roadmap
- Is Your Non-Spend Labor Under Control?
- Creating Supply Chain Credibility
- Working with Physicians
- It's About Talent
- Effective Communication
- Best Practices in Supply Chain Management
- Planning is Not a Luxury, It is Essential
- Supply Chain Leaders Need to be "Leaders of Change"