Executive Housekeeping Today - July 2008 - (Page 6)

frugal housekeeper Do you have a vision for today, tomorrow, and the future, or are you too bogged down with your work life to have a vision? The purpose of this article is to assist and encourage you to seek out and strive after a vision for your life. In today’s economy and with all the pressures that we face, it is often easy to be overwhelmed and to succumb to the challenges of life. However, by developing a vision, amazing things can happen—as outlined in the real life examples below. Not too long ago, a faculty member at the institution where I work put the following quote at the bottom of his e-mails: “If opportunity doesn’t knock then build a door.” There are times when opportunities may not come to us, so that is the time to extend ourselves, and knock on the door of opportunity. One has little to lose and many blessings to gain. Recently, Linda and I attended a funeral. A beautiful young doctor named Faye attended the same funeral, as it was for one of her dear patients that had died at the age of 89. The young doctor was in a wheelchair after having to give up her incredibly successful practice due to the debilitation caused by Lou Gehrig’s disease. Faye could have given up, but she didn’t—she has built a new door in her life and created an amazing opportunity for herself by painting wonderful note cards that are a both a beauty and miracle to behold. As she left the funeral home, she gave the grieving daughter of her patient that had died a pack of the beautiful hand-painted cards. With tears in her eyes, Linda accepted the cards. What an inspiring gift from a young doctor who could have d Opening Doors of Opportunity! by Alan S. Bigger and Linda B. Bigger given up, but didn’t. However, that is only a small part of Faye’s amazing story. Even though her disease has taken much away from her, Faye keeps on giving back to others. Not only does she paint, she continues giving in the field of medicine as the Director of Introduction to Medicine at the University of Indiana, South Bend. In addition, Faye has become a successful advocate for the not-for-profit Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Therapy Development Institute that is conducting research to discover new treatments for ALS and to accelerate the development of drug therapies for ALS. (http://www.als.net/aboutus/default.asp) As a doctor, Faye touched the lives of many patients. In her new role as an advocate for ALS, she has the potential to impact the lives of so many more. If you’d like to read more about Faye, please visit the following link: http://www.als.net/ffc/familyPage.asp?familyID=167. Things may not always go “right” in your life or mine; however, if we take similar steps as Faye did and explore opportunities, we too can build a door of new possibilities. The media is full of tragic stories of companies closing or downsizing; people are losing their jobs and their careers. Faye’s life makes it clear that there are opportunities, if we make the door and go through it! The year was 1968, and a young fellow traveled to a city in England to get a visa to visit the United States of America. Little did he realize that by knocking and going through the doors of the immigration bureaucracy, a world that seemed impossible would open up to him. He came to America in 1969 with the dream of getting an education—little did he realize that dream was to be fulfilled, that a family would come along in America, and that opportunities galore would open up in all sorts of avenues; including ten years in the United States Air Force, a period as an executive housekeeper in a hospital, time as a training and development specialist, and involvement with custodial work and facilities management. None of this would have been possible if he had not walked through the door of opportunity—scary as that was! His life in America started with only $100 in his pocket. Now may be the time for you to expand your horizons to look for different doors of opportunity to walk through. The young man that came to America in 1969 is now pushing 60, and the world of opportunities in the United States of America would never have opened up to him, if he hadn’t walked through the immigration door. Today, the Frugal Housekeeper is eternally grateful and blessed to have been able to walk through that door. Years ago, I remember hearing Lou Holtz, former coach of the University of Notre Dame’s famous Fightin’ Irish football team. Lou is an inspirational speaker to listen to. Even though I do not remember all that he said, I do remember him clearly stating how important it is for us to have aspirations for our lives, and to keep a list of the things that we would like to achieve. In other words, a list of “doors” that we could make and enter through as we go through various stages of our lives. Lou’s message really stuck with me, when he addressed a fundraising lunch for a local center for the 6 Executive Housekeeping Today/July 2008 http://www.als.net/aboutus/default.asp http://www.als.net/aboutus/default.asp http://www.als.net/ffc/familyPage.asp?familyID=167 http://www.als.net/ffc/familyPage.asp?familyID=167

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - July 2008

Executive Housekeeping Today - July 2008 Contents Executive Corner Inspecting a Different Way Quality in the 21st Century Frugal Housekeeper How Eliminating Nuisance Animals Can Increase Quality Healthcare Goes Green Feature Article IHW Product Information The Green Scene 2008 Call to Convention 2008 Convention Information Inside the Industry Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members CEH/REH Members Advertisers' Index Calendar of Events Inside I.E.H.A. What I.E.H.A. Has Done for Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - July 2008

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