The Top

In my professional life I have the privilege of going to conferences and workshops at which I get to hear amazing speakers. Over the years I have heard billionaires, presidents, CEO's, authors, thought leaders, elite athletes and then there is little old me. Being driven has always been a part of my makeup and while I may have lived a life of humble achievement I come away from these encounters feeling the need to be more, feeling like I have not done enough in life. This weekend as I was at the Academy of Doctors of Audiology Conference in Washington D.C., I was hit by a bit of an epiphany. As much as I feel the need to be like some of these high achievers perhaps offering my expert knowledge to the masses, the core of my being is moved by personal relationship. Being in my clinic allows me to get to know people, to get to know my patients. As I go through the journey of diagnostic assessment and then the process of intervention or remediation or sometimes simply visiting with or counseling the patient, there is a richness that forms in the relationships that occur. I don’t want to just help people I want to really know the person that I help. I don’t want to just share ideas I want to see change actually take place. It is on this grassroots level that I live and thrive. When we work with people in any capacity there is a great deal of pride that should be taken in what we do. The role of service to our fellow man is a worthy one and it is of primary importance that the world is filled with those that take this role on with enthusiasm. Those that care for the individual and work with people on a micro level rather than a macro level also need to know that what they do is important. To affect the life of one person at a time is still a worthy aspiration.