FROM THE EDITOR
5 Success Promises I Made 20 Years Ago
by Vickie L. Milazzo, RN, MSN, JD
When I started my legal nurse consulting practice 23 years ago, I made 5 commitments that I've continued to make daily for more than two decades now. These are not the only secrets to my success, but I know my business would not be where it is today if I hadn't kept these essential success promises. Make these promises today and start your new career as a Certified Legal Nurse ConsultantCM (CLNC®).
PROMISE #1 — I Will Only Work My Passion
We all know when we discover something we feel passionate about. You will experience a lot more joy if you wake up each day to a career that is your heart and soul – a career you are passionate about. Now is the time to turn on your passion for legal nurse consulting. Don't wait another day.
PROMISE #2 — I will go for it or reject it outright.
If you want to become a Certified Legal Nurse ConsultantCM (CLNC®), don't wait for conditions in your life to be perfect – that will never happen. One thing that helps me overcome my career fears is perspective. Think about the worst thing that could happen if you go for it. Unless it's worse than cancer, I say, "What have I got to lose?"
I have a fear of cliff-hanging heights. Despite that fear, I stepped out of an airplane at 14,000 feet to skydive. Once out of the plane, I couldn't step back in. I was truly committed. Make that kind of all-or-nothing commitment to your own career choice and you'll wake up each day to a career you love.
PROMISE #3 — I will take one action step a day toward my career goals.
Dreams and visions are great, but without action, they are nothing more than hallucinations. I created a new profession and led thousands of nurses to success. How? ONE ACTION STEP AT A TIME. I had to take action every day to build the momentum necessary to live my career dreams.
Where you focus is where you get results. If you want BIG RESULTS, you must guard your time carefully and FOCUS ON BIG THINGS. Every day, take at least one action step on the BIG THING that brings you closer to your new career success.
PROMISE #4 — I commit to being a lifetime student.
I still learn every day – from my students, staff members, favorite writers, speakers and successful CEOs. There are two ways to learn:
The hard way – through trial and error, making lots of mistakes.
The easy way – through the right mentor who has already achieved success. Just about any problem you encounter, that CLNC® Mentor has already successfully managed.
Commit today to be a lifetime student and to learn only from successful mentors.
PROMISE #5 — I believe as a nurse I really can do anything.
Anytime I hesitated to take action toward living my dream, it was because I didn't believe in myself. Today when I face a challenge, I remember, "I'm a nurse and nurses can do anything!"
Think about your ability to make splitsecond decisions that are the difference between life and death for your patients. Now when you face a challenge, remind yourself: I can save lives in the middle of the night when the rest of the world is sleeping and an MD is nowhere in sight. Surely I can succeed as a CLNC®.
Honor yourself daily with this fact: "I'm a nurse and I can do anything!"
Apply these 5 success promises today.
I guarantee your life will become an adventure more powerful and satisfying than you can imagine.
Promise BIG and promise NOW!
Vickie L. Milazzo, RN, MSN, JD
The Pioneer of Legal Nurse Consulting
