Right now I’m referring to it as Phase III for a lack of a better title. Phase I was my Growing Up years (the immature years), Phase II was my career years (also the immature years), and now Phase III. I’m all grown up (that depends on who you ask) and the path ahead is not marked.  I’ve never been here before.  Of course, it’s never been well marked.

Wow!  It’s been a great journey.  I started this career as a sales representative in Nashville October, 1978.  I remember this time of life so distinctly and clearly.  I had married Kathy in July of that same year and was working day and night (literally) as a surgical assistant at St. Thomas hospital.  It required long hours and being “on-call” at night.  I would often enter the door of our small apartment and then be called back to the Hospital to assist with an emergency procedure. Or I would doze off to a sound sleep only to hear the phone ring to let me know they needed me to return to the hospital.  Long hours and stress, and I was making about $13,000 annually.   I had applied to attend medical school and was anxiously awaiting their response. Driving home one dark night, I had not seen the sunshine for several days.  I went to work in the dark and I drove home in the dark.  Once inside the operating suite, there are no windows to allow in the outside rays of warm sunlight.  I remember praying “ok, God, I give up, I can’t do this anymore and I need you to intervene for me.”  I wanted a career, I was desperate for direction and I couldn’t do this by myself. I didn’t know where I was going and I didn’t know how I would get there.  That moment is still etched in my memory as if it happened only yesterday.  That night I received a phone call from a job search firm (head hunter) that changed the course of my life forever.  It launched a series of interviews which eventually resulted in a job offer.

My job has provided me the opportunity to travel extensively to places at minimal personal cost to me that I would never have been able to otherwise afford. I was fortunate to travel in Asia several times over the past 5 years conducting business in China, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and others.   I’ve met famous people along the way;  Cicily Tyson, Kathleen Turner, Glenn Close, Harry Bellefonte, Bella Abzug, Leslie Sthal, Sugar Ray, senators, congressmen, Presidents Bill Clinton (at a distance), and George Bush Sr. (at a distance), and obtained the autograph of Mike Ditka.  I’ve eaten at fine restaurants in the country and slept in the Ritz Carlton. I’ve been able to visit most of the great cities across our beautiful country. I’ve met and worked with doctors who have pioneered new treatments for Women’s Healthcare, cardiology, contraception, diabetes, osteoporosis, and heart disease. I’m not listing this as bragging points or to name drop, I’m just trying to explain the personal benefits my career has afforded me and God’s blessings.

This has been an exciting and interesting career working for one of the best companies in the world.  Pharmaceutical companies have been maligned, targeted and accused of robbing the poor and much worse.  We haven’t done everything right and mistakes may have been made. Many corrective actions have been implemented and new regulations are now a way of life. Pharmaceutical companies are no different from governments, churches, or the UAW  (United Auto Workers) in the sense that you may find unethical and dishonest people in any large institution.  However, my experience has been that 99.9% of people I’ve come in contact with are diligent, honest, ethical, and hard working people.  Our employee parking lot is usually filled by 7 am each day.  Many of the people I work with put in 12 hour days and think nothing of it.  The knowledge obtained from research and the products we make and sell have literally saved millions of lives, extended the life expectancy, decreased suffering and improved the overall quality of life. If you’re reading this, you most likely have first hand  experience of what effective medications used in the appropriate patients, and prescribed in the correct manner can achieve.  If the government continues to support the import of drugs from Canada or other outside countries, and mandate the use of generics, the flow of new drugs and innovative treatments will diminish.  This industry will be extinct as a result of government over-reach.  Today, 8 of the top 10 drugs prescribed in the world are the result of US research, innovation, science, and technology of the pharmaceutical companies.

Fast forward from October 1978 to 2010. Along with Kathy’s loyalty, support, and other family members support, my job has helped purchase houses, cars, food, clothes, healthcare, vacations, retirement plans, savings accounts, 401K, recreation, and expensive educations for 2 boys. They’ve paid for my Master’s Degree which helped to launch my “second” career in counseling. The company’s success has allowed us to give to missions, travel for missions, and help finance others in the ministry. Again, please don’t think I’m bragging, but rather consider it a testimony to God’s provision and faithfulness. Considering depth and the scope of my blessings, my contribution has been negligible.

Enter Phase III.  It shall remain untitled for the time being. In fact, perhaps someone else will provide the moniker after time has passed. Currently, no theme or mile markers are visible. It is a new season of potential.  There are some things I want to accomplish and experience.  First of all, I want to live in the present more.  I can’t change the past and I don’t know what the future holds.  I can know the present and enjoy the moment. Living in the present means stopping long enough to listen and notice the store clerk, neighbors, the waiter and waitress, my family, my friends without regard to my next appointment or item on the “to do list.”  It’s intentional focus on what is being said and what is going on around me in the moment.  Conscious living in the present moment will allow me to experience the smell and scent of country ham frying in a black iron skillet on a cold Saturday morning.  I’ll feel the texture and moisture and warmth of sugary sand under my feet while walking the inlet shore of Oak Island in North Carolina, observe wild sea oats sprouting from white sand hills, gently reaching upward, swaying in the sweet smelling ocean breezes. It’s observing the backdrop to this natural exposition which is an azure clear sky above. In front of me, it’s the shimmering vast ocean which extends from east to west as far as the eye can see. Or it could be hanging out with Kathy on Parksville Lake in the East Tennessee mountains on a hot summer day swimming in clear cool water.  It might be traveling down Rt. 100 headed for family and friends in West Tennessee.  Perhaps it’s further south where Spanish moss hangs from aging oak trees; where noisy locusts and crickets break the silence of evening with screeching tunes and chatter. It’s sitting on my screened in porch on summer evenings facing orange hues of a southwest sunset.

So where do I go from here?  We’re looking at all options which include but not limited to; dedicating more time to my local church (wherever that may be), traveling, teaching at a college or university, working on an advanced degree in counseling, writing, opening a small restaurant, consulting, life coaching, career coaching, wintering in a very warm area of the country, well… you get the picture.  These are my interests and whatever we decide to do (with God’s guidance), it will be something that gives me great satisfaction and a sense of purpose.  Of course this is the planned approach to achieving our dreams.  We can’t see the unexpected, unpredictable and unknown curves that lie ahead.  Hopefully, we’ll continue to have excellent health and healthy kids.  Perhaps a grandchild (or two, or three) will suddenly appear. This much I know is true,

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Although polls have consistently shown that just over half of Americans think the health-care system is in need of reform, a substantial majority say they are satisfied with their own insurance and care. Any hope of change will require their support, according to experts and advocates across the ideological spectrum

I think it may be finally sinking in that in order to cover the 47 million uninsured (including illegals) it’s not necessary to completely overhaul or reform what doesn’t need reforming.  The fact is that most people in this country have access to competent and caring doctors.  Obviously there are exceptions.  Most citizens (253 million) are satisfied with their plan.  Again, I’m sure there are exceptions.  I had an interesting experience today at the pharmacy.  Yes I have a drug plan with a 20 dollar co-pay.  However, what I didn’t know is that the pharmacy I shop has a deal that certain classes of anti-biotics are free.  I know that other pharmacies do the same to attract customers (free enterprise and capitalism at work).  BO, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi or some other Washington bureaucrat didn’t have to mandate it or pass a law to require it.  I also had to pick up another medicine (prednisone, and don’t worry it’s nothing serious).  I took them up on their offer to fill it with a generic (God have mercy on my soul) and it cost me 4 dollars.  So, 2 prescriptions, and a 4 dollar co-pay.  Go figure. Go Reform?

It was Clint’s day and I was the typical proud father of his accomplishments.  Opportunity lies ahead.  What he will do with his degree is now up to him. It’s cost me an arm and a leg, but so be it. Aside from the typical sentimental breakdown that I usually display at these momentous ceremonies for our kids, I once again was ticked by the clearly partisan speech I was forced to listen to our democratic congressman Patrick Murphy.  He has a great story.  A fresh, young face, his father a Philadelphia policeman.  He graduated from Widener University Law School, and ended up in Iraq.  But instead of sharing insights from his arduous journey, which I’m sure would have been interesting and motivational, he exhibited sarcasm for the previous administration, highlighted the poor choices made in Iraq, and engaged in name dropping (Barack Obama) whom he had co-sponsored a congressional bill with to denounce the Iraq war.  Then we got the Al Gore speech on how to save the planet through wind power and solar under the pretense of “we need to be less dependent on foreign oil” never mind that the democrats have blocked every effort to build even new refineries let alone increase drilling efforts here in the US.

When my older son graduated from Drexel University 6 years ago, I was “tortured” to listen to a faculty member (not even an elected official) criticize the Bush administration and extol the criminality of the Patriot Act. It was excruciating for me to sit and listen to bilge and I felt as a prisoner held “captive.”  I was there to see and share in my son’s milestone of  achievement, not to be lectured to about the criminality of the Bush administration.  Never mind that it was his administration that kept us safe for 7 years after 9/11.

I don’t remember who spoke at my older son’s graduation from Bloomsburg University where he received his masters in Instructional Technology (must not have been political).  A famous writer (Judy Bloom) spoke at my younger son’s graduation from NYU.  I recall she did a great job of challenging the grads to achieve their goals without ranting and raving about politics.

Why do some speakers feel as though they have the right to impose their personal political views upon me?  I’m not there to listen to them and I wouldn’t be there at all if not for my kids. I’ve paid thousands of dollars for a ticket to hear this?  Oh well, it will probably be a long time before I attend another graduation so I’ll stop whining … for now.

Instead of turning off the water when I’m finished washing my pinkies, I now find myself leaving the sink, exiting the door and gazing back to see the faucet is still pouring water in anticipation of the automatic shut off kicking in. Paper towels are usually dragging on the floor from the wall hanging dispenser because of the same effect (no auto shut off).  I know, I’m whining but is all this necessary?

As most of you know, I work for a large pharmaceutical company.  Most of the employees have at least a bachelors degree and I would say have at least above average intelligence (present company excluded).  I know we’re all capitalist highway robbers, taking advantage of the weak, the infirmed and elderly to fill our profit coffers, but that’s beside the point.  Today, in addition to all the automatic dispensers and gizmos at our disposal, the swine flu police posted a 14″ x 18″ plastic (yes that horrible substance plastic) giving us step by step instructions on how to wash our hands.  I’m not kidding, Step 1 (with pictures) tells me to wet my hands.  Really?  News Flash! Wet hands please before washing.  Step 2 (with pictures) tells me to add soap from the dispenser.  Step 3 tells me to briskly rub hands together.  Step 4 tells me to rinse and Step 5 to dry my hands (using the automatic towel dispenser of course).  Honestly, do people not have enough to do?  Apparently not, so they come up with knuckleheaded ideas like how to save the planet and instructions on how to wash my hands. But we all feel better about doing our small part to save the planet…..so I guess it’s worth it.  Right?

Develop the ability to communicate how your current and past skills are transferable to the new position you are seeking.  Link your current resume with future opportunities that may in fact be in a completely different field.  This contrasts with the mind set of “I’ve never done this before.”

Develop the ability to move out of your comfort zone.  Look for ways to strengthen your self confidence if necessary.  Move away from fear and be willing to face the unknown.

Make impact in your current position and develop communications that convey and identify to the potential employer what the impact has been.  Provide metrics and specifics.

Determine what you really would like to do.  Where do you want to go?  Where do you want to live?  Once you determine this, make yourself available (eg. relocation), flexible, (eg. taking a lesser position if necessary), develop and convey passion for what you want to do.

When identifying your accomplishments, communicate what YOU have gained personally and professionally along the journey.  What was learned during your past job experience. Provide examples.

What are you known for in your organization?  What do you want to be known for?  Are they different?  If so, then fill in the gaps.  Become and behave in the ways that convey what you want to be known for.

Make others successful who work for you.

Be honest and transparent about what you are good at and where your limitations are.

There is power in having purpose.  Not doing things just to make you look good or just for you releases the power of purpose.

The panel was then asked to identify their biggest past mistakes in their careers.

1. Never be just an observer or zone out during key meetings.  Be ready to offer your professional opinion and anticipate what questions might come up.  Have your “elevator” answer as well.  What would you say if you rode the elevator with the CEO or President of your company and they asked you a question about the business?  Would you have an answer?
2. Realize that most enrichment can come to us during our moments of failure if we will learn from our mistakes.  When mistakes are made, we have a choice to either sink in despair; or we can decide to learn and move on.
3. Remain calm and focused as opposed to frantic and unsettled.
4. Remain adaptable and avoid inflexibility.

Given the vital role of medical products companies and the magnitude of their challenges, one might imagine that this industry would be admired. To some extent, it is. Leading research organizations such as the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s disease proactively build bridges with industry leaders, solicit advice from industry scientists, and fund projects in industry labs.

But this enlightened view of industry is not widespread. This is largely because of the disproportionate influence of a coterie of prominent critics we have previously dubbed “pharmascolds,” who routinely vilify the medical products industry and portray academics working with it as traitors and sellouts. These critics are pious academics, self-righteous medical journal editors, and opportunistic politicians and journalists. Their condemnation of anyone’s legitimate profit — it’s all “corruption” in their book — has in fact materially enhanced their own careers. They extrapolate from occasional behavioral lapses in industry — which is equally, if not more prevalent, in universities — to demonize the market and portray scientific medicine as an ascetic religion, which it is not.

Unfortunately, the industry that has saved millions of lives and saved trillions of dollars (avoiding surgical interventions and hospital costs) has been very reticent about promoting their achievements.  Like any industry, we’ve made mistakes, but overall I think we could all agree that we live better, more healthy, pain free lives because of the progress made in pharmaceutical milestones.