BEST PRACTICES FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Integrity and Stepping Out Without Guarantees Are Vickie's 2 Secrets for CLNC® Success
The executive director of the Center for Business Ethics, Dr. Daryl Koehn, interviewed Vickie L. Milazzo, RN, MSN, JD for the cover feature in the Shining Star, a publication of the University of St. Thomas, Vickie's alma mater.
When asked what was the most important thing she learned during her years at the University of St. Thomas, Vickie unequivocally answered: "It taught me the importance of integrity, which pervades every decision I make as a business owner. I have 27 employees, and integrity flows throughout my organization. Integrity isn't part-time – it doesn't turn off and on. Every action counts in your career, your business and your family life. Integrity is the most important characteristic of authentic success. Integrity is something every business owner should understand."
"I can't expect my employees to treat our customers and each other with integrity unless I'm willing to walk the walk," she said. "I want our mission to be about doing the right thing, not about what we can get by with, so I always strive to live up to that standard."
When asked what else is important in her business, Vickie replied: "My dream is to always be stepping out and going for my goals. Sure, I make mistakes and fail. But I know there are no guarantees in this or any other business. When people want guarantees, they won't step out.
"For example, after I started consulting and earned my law degree, a law firm offered me an associate attorney position. I already owned my own business and my passion was teaching so I turned down the law firm's offer. That was an easy decision. Then they offered to make me a partner, a position that promised a lucrative future. Suddenly, the stakes were higher and I was tempted, but I chose to stay on my own. Ultimately, that decision earned me far more than I would have made as an attorney. However, I did not turn down the law firm's offer because I knew today's outcome. I acted on my belief in my passion.
"Acting on a belief means stepping into a future without guarantees. See it and believe it; imagine it and achieve it. But that doesn't mean you're at the mercy of your circumstances. Every action you take must be purposeful and make an impact.
"For me, success isn't about the money; it isn't about the achievements; it's about doing something I love," Vickie concluded.
CLNC® SUCCESS STORY The CLNC® Credential Guaranteed My First Case
by Martha Bishop, RN, CLNC
"RNs earn up to $150.00/hr." Who could pass up an opportunity like this? To a staff nurse earning less than $20.00/hr., this sounded intriguing, so I opened the large white envelope from Vickie Milazzo Institute and read on. I must have read the contents of that envelope four or five times.
Then I called some attorneys in my area and asked them if they were aware of CLNC®s and the services they offer. I also asked if they used those services. Most were very enthusiastic when they learned of my interest in this career.
One of the attorneys, Mr. Brown, said that he used CLNC®s and would love to speak with me and asked when I could meet with him. This certainly was not what I expected to hear. I made an appointment, thanked him for his time and hung up. WOW! Now what?
My next thought was clothes. What on earth was I going to wear? My wardrobe consisted of jeans, T-shirts, scrubs and a few casual dresses. I called my best friend Marcie, a CPA, and told her what had happened. She graciously offered to loan me a business suit.
With the clothing issue resolved, I focused on the upcoming meeting. When the day finally arrived, I was nervously pumped and ready. I left my house an hour early to avoid being late. When Marcie called to inform me of a motor vehicle crash on the highway, I took an alternate route. So did everyone else. Then there was a wreck on the alternate route. I took a second alternate route, as did others. Despite all my efforts, I arrived ten minutes late for my meeting with Mr. Brown. What a way to make a first impression. Fortunately, he had heard of the traffic situation and understood.
Our meeting lasted almost 40 minutes. He asked about the legal nurse consulting program I planned to attend, and I told him I'd be taking the Vickie Milazzo Institute's CLNC® 6-Day Certification Seminar in a couple of months. I explained that I wanted to help patients in a different venue (and the money sounded good too). He told me to come back to see him after I completed the Institute's CLNC® Certification Program and he would assign me a couple of cases and see what I did with them. WOW, again! I had cases waiting and hadn't even taken the CLNC® training yet.
The week of Vickie's seminar was amazing. After learning that I had passed the CLNC® Certification Exam, I called Mr. Brown as promised. We met again. Then he asked about my fees. Nervously, yet confidently, I replied, "$125.00 per hour." He said, "Okay," and handed me a case. On the way to my van, I thought, "WOW! I can do this; I can do anything!"
I screened the case for my new attorney-client. When I finished, I returned the medical record, along with my findings. I mailed him an invoice for my CLNC® services; a few weeks later, he mailed a check.
To celebrate my first case, Marcie and I spent four glorious days in Orlando, riding roller coasters (my husband doesn't ride them). I love roller coasters, the bigger and faster the better.
I have sat at the bedside of a patient dying of cancer. I have played "peek-a-boo" with a sick child in the hospital. I have held a patient's hand during a painful procedure. Now, I have helped a patient who had a meritorious legal case. As Vickie says, "I am a nurse and I CAN DO ANYTHING!"
Martha Bishop, RN, CLNC owns and operates Dre'marc Consultants in eastern Tennessee. She consults on medical-related cases, and specializes in emergency room and neonatal cases.
