Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

The best way to inspire others is to be inspired. The best way to motivate is to be motivated.

Jeffrey McWilliams, MD
Physician
December 30, 2015
138 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

How do you motivate and inspire?  How do you create an environment where people are eager or excited about their daily work?

This question has created a multi-million dollar industry of motivational speakers, consultants, and higher education learning curriculum.  I have to admit that I’ve been an avid pupil of the movement, focusing on others when the answer is literally staring me in the face each morning while brushing my teeth.  It’s amazing sometimes how we fail to see the forest due to the trees.  Sometimes a person needs to step back and adjust his or her vantage for a clearer picture.  The best way to inspire others is to be inspired. The best way to motivate is to be motivated.

I recently read a short story that has been retold multiple times in various books and magazine articles.  The original author is unknown, but the moral of the story is as enlightening as ever.

Hundreds of years ago, in a city I picture somewhere on an Italian hillside, there was a massive cathedral being build.  These colossal pieces of art, designed as a place of worship often took many years to build.  In fact, the architect or original builders often never saw the completion.  There was a man who noted an artisan chipping away at a large piece of stone.

He asked, “What are you building?”  The man replied, “I’m creating a statue.”  The gentleman encountered another worker and asked, “What are you doing?”  The worker quickly replied, “ I’m working hard to earn an income in order to provide for my family.”  The man encountered a third worker asking again about his current activity.  The worker energetically replied, “I’m building a beautiful cathedral.”

The workers’ replies were very appropriate, sounding much like what may be heard in modern day offices, hospitals, or construction sites.  All were correct and appropriate in context.  As with the first worker, we all have our own dedicated tasks that are vital for the institution as a whole.  Much like the second artisan, we are all working in order to provide for our families and loved ones.

The key lies in the third worker’s response.

I envision a large smile on his face and passion in his voice when he responded, “I’m building a beautiful cathedral.”  Like the others, I assume he had his own assigned project.  Like all of us, he had bills to pay and mouths to feed.  What was different with this guy?  He saw the big picture and was passionate.  I would most certainly assume that he inspired others.  How did he inspire?  He was inspired.

In health care, we are very fortunate to be part of an industry that focuses on saving lives, treating the wounded and advocating for the lost.  Our end game is not corporate growth, sales agenda, or market trends.  Our primary focus is healing and preserving the life of a person in need.  Our central theme is patient care.  Whether you’re transporting a patient to CT, or preparing the evening food tray, patient care is the common underlying thread.  Bed linens become more important and vital signs more vital when you change your perspective, looking at the forest instead of the trees, seeing the patient instead of the task.

How do we inspire and motivate our co-workers?  How do we improve health care?  Like the third cathedral artisan, we become inspired by seeing the big picture and understand the difference we are making in patient care.

Jeffrey McWilliams is an emergency physician who blogs at Advocates Of Excellence.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

Pharmaceutical free speech is anything but free

December 30, 2015 Kevin 14
…
Next

The exotic choice of staying home: Why CME rules have to change

December 30, 2015 Kevin 7
…

Tagged as: Primary Care

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Pharmaceutical free speech is anything but free
Next Post >
The exotic choice of staying home: Why CME rules have to change

More by Jeffrey McWilliams, MD

  • True happiness and fulfillment come in servitude of others

    Jeffrey McWilliams, MD
  • Thank you nurses, for rushing in when we need you most

    Jeffrey McWilliams, MD
  • This doctor defines himself as a Christian, not a physician

    Jeffrey McWilliams, MD

Related Posts

  • A physician’s addiction to social media

    Amanda Xi, MD
  • Physician Suicide Awareness Day: Where are the patients? 

    Jennifer M. Sweeney
  • How this medical student is inspired by pediatrics

    Manar Mohammad, MD
  • Who will inspire millennials in health care?

    Cesar Padilla, MD
  • How to inspire medical students to pursue primary care

    Natalia Maria Calderón
  • This physician is burned out. But not for the reason you think.

    Anonymous

More in Physician

  • The erosion of patient care

    Laura de la Torre, MD
  • Navigating adulthood in the digital age

    Eleanor Menzin, MD
  • The power of business knowledge for medical professionals

    Curtis G. Graham, MD
  • Using the language of art to create work-life balance

    Sarah Samaan, MD
  • Lively communication in the service industry

    Deepak Gupta, MD
  • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

    Kim Downey, PT
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

      Shiv Rao, MD | Tech
    • Pediatricians grapple with guns in America, from Band-Aids to bullets

      Tasia Isbell, MD, MPH | Policy
    • Understanding intersex health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • AI-driven diagnostics and beyond

      Michael Kirsch, MD | Tech
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • Misunderstandings about opioid use disorder

      Amy Baxter, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Understanding intersex health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Debating the role of psychiatric assessments in medical decisions

      Christian Youssef & Francisco M. Torres, MD | Conditions
    • Navigating adulthood in the digital age

      Eleanor Menzin, MD | Physician
    • 5 things to know about weight from a bariatric surgeon

      Maria Iliakova, MD | Conditions
    • Out-of-office infusions in oncology care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • AI Not Ready to Replace Radiologists Interpreting Chest X-Rays
  • Study Confirms Better Survival for HPV-Positive Cervical Cancer
  • FTC Sues Anesthesia Group and Its Private Equity Backers
  • Inmates Escape From Hospitals in Recent Spree
  • 'The Last Straw' Driving Workers Out of Healthcare

Meeting Coverage

  • New Schizophrenia Treatments Are Coming: Don't Panic
  • Loneliness Needs to Be Treated Like Any Other Health Condition, Researcher Suggests
  • Stopping Medical Misinformation Requires Early Detection
  • AI Has an Image Problem in Healthcare, Expert Says
  • Want Better Health Outcomes? Check Out What Other Countries Do
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

      Shiv Rao, MD | Tech
    • Pediatricians grapple with guns in America, from Band-Aids to bullets

      Tasia Isbell, MD, MPH | Policy
    • Understanding intersex health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • AI-driven diagnostics and beyond

      Michael Kirsch, MD | Tech
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • Misunderstandings about opioid use disorder

      Amy Baxter, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Understanding intersex health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Debating the role of psychiatric assessments in medical decisions

      Christian Youssef & Francisco M. Torres, MD | Conditions
    • Navigating adulthood in the digital age

      Eleanor Menzin, MD | Physician
    • 5 things to know about weight from a bariatric surgeon

      Maria Iliakova, MD | Conditions
    • Out-of-office infusions in oncology care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...