Awe & Gratitude

12/30/2019

I never realized until now…

This is a newsletter of awe and gratitude.

My son’s fiancée has spent most of the past couple of months in the hospital with complications with her pregnancy. I’ve spent time being with them and also watching their two-year old daughter, Willow…whom I adore.

I live in Minneapolis which is home to a mecca of medical-technology and healthcare organizations. I’ve coached many of the leaders who work in those organizations.

I’m dedicated to my work and they are dedicated to theirs. And we do our day-to-day leadership work with persistence and passion.

What I was not as familiar with is the result of their work when it comes to being a patient.

It became personal
To me, medical technology and the medical staff who use it, was a good thing and something that continues to improve. However, when I watched the medical staff use medical technology to save the life of my son’s fiancée and their baby girl, that medical technology became so much more. It was personal.

There were many challenging moments and the expertise, loving care and quick response that came from the medical staff was nothing less than heroic. They built confidence in all of us that things would be okay.

And they were right.

On Saturday, December 14, we welcomed baby Cecelia Rowena Webster at 33 weeks and 3 days, weighing 5 pounds 8 ounces. She’s in the NICU and doing remarkably well. She’s breathing on her own and growing stronger every day with the help of a teeny-tiny feeding tube until she is ready to drink from a bottle.

As I reflect today......
As I reflect today, I’m in awe of the dedication, expertise and extraordinary care my family received from a community of professionals who go above and beyond every day.

It’s impossible to find the words to express my deep gratitude.

Your leadership matters
As you wrap up these last few days of 2019, never underestimate the power of the leadership skills you have learned and that you put into practice every day. The work you are doing matters more than you may know.

May you reflect back on 2019 and celebrate all the good your leadership actions brought to your teams, colleagues and organization.

And may you step into 2020 with renewed vigor and passion for the work yet to be done.

Wishing you and your family all the peace, joy and love the New Year can bring!