The New York Times Profiles Vickie L. Milazzo, RN, MSN, JD
On Sunday, February 18, 2001, the Business section of The New York Times profiled Vickie as a leader in the field of legal nurse consulting. This article was exciting for legal nurse consulting as a specialty practice. Attorneys nationwide saw the story, and the powerful reputation of The New York Times gave our profession instant credibility. This kind of visibility, worth more than a fortune in mere advertising, paved the way for you in your marketing efforts.
Please note the following corrections to the article: Ms. Milazzo's company was founded in 1982 and incorporated as the Medical-Legal Consulting Institute, Inc. in 1989. She has trained legal nurse consultants since 1982.
Recently, my husband Tom and I were taking a walk in 39° weather. For me 39° is cold - for Tom this is just a balmy day. To warm up I suggested we jog for a block. He said, "Go ahead. I'll catch up."
I ran the block, then resumed walking. At this stage, Tom could have easily overtaken me, but he didn't. He consciously chose to lag behind. Probably he was thinking, "Sure I could catch up, BUT I'm enjoying having a quiet walk and taking it easy. Why hurry?"
Many LNCs are like Tom was that morning. They lag behind on the road to career success even though they have the skills and expertise to move ahead faster.
If you're lagging behind on a casual stroll around the block, that's probably not a big deal. On the other hand, if you're putting your LNC career on hold because of the "buts," I urge you to take immediate steps to turn those "buts" into "ands."
What do I mean by the "buts" and the "ands"?
Though we do face genuine obstacles along the road to success, often the "buts" are the main things standing in our way and keeping us from moving ahead. Some of the "buts" many of us cling to:
BUT I've never done this before.
BUT no one taught me how to do this in nursing school.
BUT I'm too old, too young, in the wrong specialty...
BUT I feel safe and comfortable where I am.
BUT I'm afraid to go someplace new I haven't discovered yet.
We all have "buts." The bigger your "buts" are, the more likely you won't be able to get off your butt and get on with your life. If the "buts" are getting in your way, then it's time to get off your butt and embrace the "ands" instead.
I've never done this before – AND I look forward to the excitement of trying something new.
No one taught me how to do this in nursing school – AND no one taught me about sex either, but somehow I figured that out, so I can figure this out, too.
I feel safe and comfortable where I am – AND my nursing experience developed many skills necessary to succeed and become comfortable as an independent LNC.
I'm afraid to go to a new place I haven't discovered yet – AND how exciting that I can still learn new things and explore uncharted territories.
You get the idea. Lag behind bogged down by the "buts" or zoom ahead with the "ands" - the choice is yours.
What's stopping you? I invite you to write down all of your "buts," then turn them into "ands." If you can't think of any, use the list above as a starting point. Take the time to do this exercise for yourself. Then vow to get off your butt and get moving toward your goals. I did this - and I can tell you there's nothing more exciting or rewarding than breaking the cycle of "buts" and taking an "and" attitude.
P.S.
Tom finally did get off his butt and catch up - after I waited at a red light for him!
P.P.S.
Your competitors won't be stopping at any red lights!
Organization is one of the critical factors in running an efficient business or office. The easiest way to get organized is to set up systems for every process and to follow these systems over and over until they become automatic. If systems are in place, the office will practically run itself, leaving you time for professional development, marketing and billable hours. Here are some tips on how to get organized:
Office Systems
Invest in technology to increase your efficiency (i.e., a PC, fax machine, Internet access and email).
Use contact management software, such as Act or Goldmine, or other database software for tracking clients and vendors. In addition to keeping this information current, contact management software even lets you record conversations with clients in the database.
Program speed dials on phones and faxes for commonly used numbers.
Set up filing systems, including:
A filing log
Hot files for priority items
Files for incoming mail and outgoing mail - When sorting mail, act immediately, trash it or file it
Financial files for accounts payable and accounts receivable
Set aside time to keep files in order.
Log incoming and outgoing projects for easy reference.
Develop templates for commonly used formats - reports, letters, forms, etc.
Don't reinvent the wheel; purchase forms that will assist you.
Have a place for everything and always put it back after use.
Define your essential systems in written policies and procedures - This step becomes more important as you begin to hire employees.
Have a small information gathering each week (e.g., lunch on Friday) to update employees about office news pertinent and vital to running the office smoothly.
Personal Systems
Use a day planner to record all your appointments, projects, tasks, etc. (Use it for more than just a place to stash your "to do" Post-Its.)
Look at your planner daily and actually use it to plan your day.
Make a list of your daily priorities.
Plan your day around your most productive time and tackle your most challenging projects then. For example, if you get tired by afternoon, plan to return phone calls to keep you active during this time.
Set aside blocks of 2-3 hours for projects (e.g., marketing your business, writing an information newsletter).
Don't forget to schedule marketing time in your day planner.
Take short frequent breaks to maintain focus.
Organize your immediate work space so everything you need is easily accessible and at your fingertips.
Work Product
Develop a project time-line and stick to it.
Develop a library of resources and index them by subject.
File expert witness resumes according to specialty.
Every Friday carry a list of new or incomplete projects over to the following Monday - you can prioritize them Monday.
File reports by subject for easy reference on future cases.
Create and use templates for common report formats.
Marketing
Plan marketing into your day.
Use a contact management system to track vital information about clients.
Set up a tickler file for follow-up calls to potential clients.
Schedule time to make those follow-up calls.
Track and assess the effectiveness of your marketing efforts regularly.
Set up an advertising schedule.
Meet with subcontractors regularly (e.g., weekly) to determine the progress of projects and to assure they are progressing as intended.
Subscribe to a marketing newsletter or Internet Ezine and read at least one article each week that would enhance or create new business for your company.
Managing Employees or Subcontractors
Write policies and procedures for key functions in the office.
Train employees or subcontractors on how you want a process or project done and monitor for effectiveness.
For consistency have employees or subcontractors use templates when creating reports.
Get yearly input from your employees on how to improve office efficiency.
Take a moment to check off the tips you're already using. Next, focus on a tip you've yet to implement. Put that one into practice and move on to the next. Soon, you'll see a much more efficient office, and you'll be left with quality time to work on the real business at hand - becoming a successful legal nurse consultant. Happy organizing!
Karen M. Jones, RN, MS, CLNC, is Director of Operations of the Medical-Legal Consulting Institute, Inc.
When I find something that will enhance and accelerate your success in life both professionally and personally, I immediately feel the need to pass it on to my fellow LNCs. And I've discovered a program that will do just that.
"The 12 Life Secrets – Your Ultimate Answers to Getting What You Want" is a 6-audiotape program by Robert Stuberg. Here are Stuberg's secrets and some of my personal tips for living them:
Your thoughts control your life – Even the Bible states, "A man is as he thinketh" (Proverbs).
You can control your thoughts – Anytime I have a negative thought, I immediately try to think at least one positive thought to neutralize the negative one. Most importantly, I try to be conscious of my negative thoughts, so I can control them.
Goals – Give your dreams a destination. I create both realistic and audacious goals. My most realistic goal is to grow my company 25% annually. My most audacious is to contribute to the cure of breast cancer and to witness a cure in my lifetime. I put all of my goals in writing and review them daily.
The start of a better life is a better you – For anything I want to achieve, whether it's a better relationship or a more satisfying career, my first step is to become a better person. Whenever I deviate from that self-improvement approach, I rarely achieve my ultimate goal.
Wealth can be yours – When I began tithing 10% of my income, I became wealthier than I thought possible. The more I give, the more I receive. I trust that I live in an abundant universe.
Expand your mind – I listen to tapes whenever I'm in my car, and I read at least an hour daily. These experts are my personal coaches and board of advisors. By following their shortcuts, I don't have to take the long road to success.
Problems in life are inevitable; how you deal with them will be the key to your success – I haven't mastered this step, but I always try to see something good in dealing with any problem. I allow myself the necessary pity party, then I try to focus on the solution rather than on the problem itself.
Integrity – What does the way you live your life say about you? I commit to what I can live up to and attempt to walk the talk.
Organize and control your time – I alternate three or four two-hour sessions of focused action on my imperative strategies with 30-minute sessions for handling email, snail mail and phone calls. When I implemented this single procedure for managing my day, my productivity soared.
Success – How much you put into what you do will always equal what you get out of it. Edison was right when he said "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." Every time I think I can sit back and relax, a new challenge arrives.
Vision – Go ahead and vision your goals for the next 5 years. I have a written vision for my company and my life. I know things won't evolve exactly the way I see them, but I'm more likely to succeed with a clear vision statement to guide me. My vision is bold and audacious. I figure my results can only be as great as my vision. If I plan small, I'll get small results. By planning boldly, I've made greater things happen in my life.
Health – To ensure a successful life you must take good care of yourself. I exercise first thing in the morning. I'm just not motivated to do it after work. People often ask where I get my stamina. It's from a combination of exercise, weight control, meditation, and taking good care of myself without guilt.
Success can be yours! This program truly inspired me, and I know it will ignite or reignite your passion and potential for success.
