2008 October » AchieveMax® Blog

Monthly ArchiveOctober 2008

Resources Harry K. Jones on 31 Oct 2008

Navigating November

November Take a deep breath and slip into your track shoes as it’s time to prep for that mad dash through the chaotic holiday obstacle course which includes Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Some wait all year for this hectic escapade while others dread the challenges like the plague.

The air is brisk as we elect a President, watch football and feast on “Turkey Day” and shop ourselves crazy on Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. Some say this day was created to help us work off the pounds we gained the day before as families gather across the nation.

Weekly Celebrations and Observances:

American Education Week
National Adoption Week
National Bible Week
National Bladder Health Week
National Chemistry Week
National Diabetes Education Week
National Family Week
National Family Caregivers Week
National Health Information and Technology Week
National Lung Cancer Awareness Week
National Medical Staff Services Week
National Radiologic Technology Week
World Kindness Week

Monthly Celebrations and Observances:

Aviation History Month
Child Safety and Protection Month
Christmas Seals Month
Georgia Pecan Month
National Adoption Awareness Month
National Alzheimer’s Disease Month
National Apple Month
National Diabetes Awareness Month
National Epilepsy Month
National Hospice Month
National Model Railroad Month
National Sleep Comfort Month
International Drum Month
Native-American Heritage Month
Real Jewelry Month
Peanut Butter Lovers Month
Vegan Awareness Month

November Daily Celebrations and Observances:

1 All Saint’s Day
1 Book Lovers Day
3 All Souls Day
3 National Bean Day
3 National Sandwich Day
3 National Housewives’s Day
4 Election Day
6 National Saxophone Day
7 National Bittersweet Chocolate With Almonds Day
10 United States Marine Corp Day (1775)
10 Sadie Hawkins Day (girls chase boys)
11 Veteran’s Day (U.S. - End of WWI - 1918)
11 National Young Reader’s Day
12 National Pizza Day
13 World Kindness Day
13 National Accountant’s Day
14 Operating Room Nurses Day
14 Young Readers Day
15 National Teddy Bear Day
15 America Recycles Day
15 National Philanthropy Day
17 World Peace Day
19 National Pencil Day
20 Great American Smokeout
20 Universal Children’s Day
20 Fast For World Harvest Day
21 World Hello Day
22 National Adoption Day
25 National Parfait Day
27 Thanksgiving
28 Black Friday (busiest shopping day)
30 St. Andrew’s Day
30 National Computer Security Day

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Generational Gems for Future Leaders Harry K. Jones on 30 Oct 2008

The Fall of a Nation

Generational Gems for Future Leaders I know you’re probably pressed for time. Everyone seems to be in today’s chaotic environment. However, as we approach a very important election day, I would ask you to take just a moment out of your busy schedule to read the following article … absorb its true meaning and think about what must be done by all of us if we hope to survive the many challenges we’re currently facing. I think you might find the end of this article to be quite surprising … causing you to rethink our current way of life and start demanding those in Washington to represent you as you intended them to. You might even consider sending this piece on to others in hope of opening a few more eyes to the urgency of the situation.

The Fall of a Nation

I would like to tell you the story of a nation. This nation had its beginnings with a settlement of hardy farmers near the sea and so situated strategically to command a large trade area. From this settlement grew a great nation, and its influence would spread over a great part of the world.

Its people became skilled in crafts, engineering, and commerce until they were the most prosperous mankind had ever known. Its soldiers guarded the far corners of the earth.

Its currency dominated commerce.

Its technology was unequaled.

Its standard of living was the envy of the world.

As time went by, its people began to feel the corruptive influences of riches and much leisure. Old values were fading away, and people gave vent to their frustration in spectacular games and entertainment that was becoming increasingly crude.

Drunkenness and adultery became widespread.

Robberies and beatings were making the streets of its great capital unsafe.

The confusion of the times was being reflected in the high rate of suicides and mental disorders. The effects of all of this was becoming evident upon the national character. There was scandal and dissension within the government itself. Alien forces within were making it increasingly hard to unify the nation and one of its great leaders was assassinated.

As time goes on, we find other troubles besetting the nation. The farmers, the backbone of the state, are being ruined by war and an inflation which resists the government’s attempts to fix prices.

The nation has steadily been exporting its gold so that an adverse trade balance has mounted. The benefits of a great trading area are beginning to be offset by grinding taxation, and its currency is rapidly losing its value, posing a threat to the nation’s stability.

On top of all this, invasion at the far reaches of the domain, by Asian forces, less advanced but great in number, threaten our very way of life.

The empire was falling apart and the capital itself fell on a date documented in history as the end of civilization for centuries to come. And that date … the 4th of September, 476 A.D. The nation … the Roman Empire, which had its beginnings with the farmers of Laotia near the Mediterranean Sea.

It is all documented history. The growth of the nation … the giving away to corruption … the entertainment … the scandals … and the assassination of Julius Caesar.

Also the inflation, the adverse trade balance, and the government’s attempts to fix prices all happened. The invasion of savage Asiatic tribes known as “Huns” was led by Attila, who with other Barbaric tribes, eventually overran the empire and plunged the world into what is known today as “The Dark Ages.”

I will leave it to you to decide if history is repeating itself. The story I have just told you is of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. Did you have another nation in mind? It’s something to think about, my friends!

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

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Fact-A-Day from Harry K. Harry K. Jones on 28 Oct 2008

Fact-A-Day from Harry K. - October 28, 2008

Fact-A-Day from Harry K. In the spirit of C.A.N.I. (Continuous And Never-ending Improvement), here are this week’s new facts—one for each day of your coming week. Pass them on to others to keep the spirit alive or invite your friends and family to visit our blog where they can also view previous entries.

It took 20,000 people 22 years to build the Taj Mahal in India.
It would take 268 Rhode Islands to make one Texas.
Kanakaloka is the Hawaiian word for Santa Claus.
Kenny G.’s real last name is Gorelick.
Kraft sells about a million boxes of macaroni and cheese per day.
Maine is the only U.S. state with a one-syllable name.
More than 10 million Easy-Bake Ovens have been sold since 1964.

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Midnight Muses Harry K. Jones on 27 Oct 2008

Cautiously Weigh Your Presidential Choices

Midnight Muses As a frustrated nation, we’ve managed to survive a seemingly never-ending number of brain-numbing political debates as both major parties searched for their Presidential candidates. That behind us, we’ve weathered both party conventions as well. As the world watches, we approach the November finale as more crucial debates dominate the media.

As candidates finesse their final messages to secure our votes, we face the difficult challenge of attempting to decipher truth from empty promise, honest intentions from talking points, and authenticity from prevarication.

Candidates have had years of preparation in conveying a message they feel we want and need to hear before offering our support and, more importantly, our vote of confidence. While I have yet to make that crucial decision myself, I encourage you to join me in doing the necessary homework and research in search of the wisdom necessary to make such a momentous decision—choosing the leader of the most powerful nation on earth. Our future hangs in the balance.

To underscore the importance of intense preparation for this consequential decision, consider the following scenario and the consequences of a poor choice.

It’s time to elect a world leader from three leading candidates, and your vote counts. You see three commercials on televison, each prepared by very talented, but questionable, professional campaign agencies. Based on the promotional content, for whom do you vote?

Candidate A:
He associates with corrupt political bosses and consults with astrologists. He’s had two mistresses. He chain smokes and drinks 8 to10 martinis a day.

Candidate B:
He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon most days, used opium in college and drinks a quart of brandy every evening before bed.

Candidate C:
He is a decorated war hero. He’s a vegetarian, doesn’t smoke, drinks an occasional beer and has never had an illicit affair.

Again, who gets your vote?

Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Candidate B is Winston Churchill.
Candidate C is Adolph Hitler.

Be careful. Do your homework. Research thoroughly. Then vote wisely and hope for the best.

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Meet the Authors Harry K. Jones on 24 Oct 2008

John C. Maxwell

John C. Maxwell Pretty common name. Very uncommon man … for a number of very legitimate reasons. In my travels as a keynote speaker, seminar leader and consultant, I come across more of Maxwell’s books on the shelves of CEOs, managers, and supervisors than any other author I can think of. I’ve dedicated an entire shelf in my own library to Maxwell’s works and can’t imagine a collection that didn’t include at least a few of his classics.

John C. Maxwell is an American author, professional speaker, and internationally recognized leadership expert. Why uncommon? Let’s take a look.

He is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, having written more than 50 books which have sold more than 16 million copies!
Those books have been translated into more than 50 languages.
Maxwell was one of only 25 authors and artists named to Amazon.com’s 10th Anniversary Hall of Fame.
Three of his books, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader have each sold over a million copies.
Every year he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, international government leaders, and organizations as diverse as the United States Military Academy at West Point and the National Football League.
Maxwell serves on the Board of Trustees at Indiana Wesleyan University and has a building named after him there, the Maxwell Business Center.
Maxwell is the founder of INJOY, Maximum Impact, ISS and EQUIP, an international leadership development organization working to help leaders. It is involved with leaders from more than 80 nations.
His organizations have trained more than 2 million leaders worldwide.

In 1985, Maxwell founded INJOY® in San Diego, California, with a mission to develop leaders of excellence and integrity. The company moved to its current location in the Atlanta area in 1997 and established Maximum Impact a few years later to extend that impact reach. Each business develops tens of thousands of leaders each year. This is done primarily through large events, corporate training programs across the United States and Canada, and through high-quality resources in the form of books, audio and DVD training kits, monthly mentoring subscriptions, and small group curriculum.

John C. Maxwell has also achieved the number 1 ranking on the international Leadership Gurus survey for two years in a row. The “Leadership Gurus 30″ award identifies the top leadership professionals in the world by merit and public voting. Contenders are judged on their ability to develop and instil leadership in others. Those in the Top 30 Gurus are the “Cream of the Crop,” the world’s top 30 most influential leadership professionals. All not only apply their own leadership principles to achieve superior results in their organizations but develop and influence leaders and leadership throughout the globe.

The research came from e-mails sent to 22,000 business people, consultants, academics and MBAs around the world for nominations and an in-depth public opinion poll. The criteria for judging the top 30 focused on: originality of ideas, practicality of ideas, presentation style, international outlook, impact of ideas, quality of publications and writings, dispersion of publications and writings, public opinion, and guru factor.

While all of this sounds quite impression, consider the list of competitors who placed below John C. Maxwell. Each is known worldwide for their achievements.

# 3 Tom Peters (In Search of Excellence, etc.)
# 4 Stephen Covey (Seven Habits, etc.)
# 5 Marcus Buckingham (First, Break All the Rules, etc. )
# 7 Ken Blanchard (One Minute Manager, Raving Fans, etc.)
# 8 Anthony Robbins (Unlimited Power, Awaken the Giant Within, etc.)
# 9 Jack Welch (Jack Welch and the G.E. Way, Winning, etc.)
#11 Jim Collins (Built to Last, Good to Great, etc.)
#14 Harvey Mackay (Swim with the Sharks, etc.)

As you can easily see, Maxwell topped a list of some pretty impressive company.

John C. Maxwell was born in Garden City, Michigan, in 1947. His father, Melvin Maxwell, was a minister in a local Wesleyan church. John followed his father into the ministry, completing a bachelor’s degree at Ohio Christian University in 1969, a Master of Divinity degree at Azusa Pacific University, and a Doctor of Ministry degree at Fuller Theological Seminary. Maxwell received five honorary doctorates of divinity (including ones from the California Graduate School of Theology and Liberty University).

For more than 25 years, Maxwell led churches in Indiana, Ohio, and California. In 1995 he left Skyline Wesleyan Church (near San Diego) to devote himself full-time to speaking and writing. Driven by his passion for leadership and joy of adding value to others, John C. Maxwell has spent decades researching and studying leadership and communicating his insights across the globe.

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

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Generational Gems for Future Leaders Harry K. Jones on 23 Oct 2008

Empathetic Customer Service

This is one of my favorite Generational Gems … one which should be passed on to anyone involved with the offer of service in any way.

Once there was a very unique gentleman by the name of Eddie Rickenbacker. He worked as a mechanic and laborer before becoming an American fighter ace in World War I as well as a Medal of Honor winner. He was also a race car driver and automotive designer, a government consultant in military matters, and a pioneer in air transportation.

After surviving the war, he started the Rickenbacker Motor Company to produce automobiles, but the venture flopped. Later, he tried to start Florida Airways, but that flopped too. As a result, he combined Eastern Air Transport with Florida Airways to form his most lasting and successful business endeavor—Eastern Airlines (1938 - 1991). His lifelong leadership of this major international transportation company left an indelible mark on the annals of air travel worldwide. Rickenbacker pushed Eastern into a period of extraordinary growth and innovation. For a time, Eastern was the most profitable airline in the post-war era.

Eastern Airline, one time official airline of Walt Disney World, was known for its exceptional customer service as a result of the insistence and leadership of Chairman Eddie. The following story, told by one of Eastern’s leadership staff members, explains why customer service was high on everyone’s priority list:

In the late 1940s, we were experiencing some major problems mishandling luggage. Rickenbacker tried everything to solve the problem but had little success. The entire leadership team attended a three-day leadership conference in Miami. As we arrived to check in at the hotel, we were informed that our luggage would be delivered to our rooms. We went directly into meetings, assembled for a late dinner, and finally retired to our rooms for the evening. We were shocked to discover our luggage had not arrived.

The next morning we all showed up at the morning session in the same clothes, unshaven, and very uncomfortable. Another day of constant training and strategy sessions, another late dinner, and we again retired to our room to find our luggage still had not yet arrived! Tempers flared, words were shared, and we spent a second very uncomfortable night.

Finally, at 3 a.m., the hotel staff banged on our doors to deliver our luggage. The next morning we arrived at our third day of meetings to be greeted by a stern-looking “Chairman Eddie” who said: “EMPATHY—the grandfather of all wisdom! Now you know how our customers feel!”

Within two weeks after returning home from that conference, we had solved the baggage problem and never again had to deal with it!

This entire country, especially the airline industry, would benefit from a few more great leaders like “Chairman Eddie”!

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

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Fact-A-Day from Harry K. Harry K. Jones on 21 Oct 2008

Fact-A-Day from Harry K. - October 21, 2008

Fact-A-Day from Harry K. In the spirit of C.A.N.I. (Continuous And Never-ending Improvement), here are this week’s new facts—one for each day of your coming week. Pass them on to others to keep the spirit alive or invite your friends and family to visit our blog where they can also view previous entries.

In computer lingo, a nybble is half of a byte, or four bits.
In its 19-month existence, the Pony Express delivered 34,753 pieces of mail.
In Scandinavia, children go trick-or-treating on December 26th.
Iowa is bigger than Portugal.
It’s illegal to own a red car in Shanghai, China.
It takes a combine harvester nine seconds to harvest enough wheat to make 70 loaves of bread.
It takes six months to build a Rolls Royce … and 13 hours to build a Toyota.

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Look-Listen-Learn Harry K. Jones on 20 Oct 2008

E.T.D.T. Spells Success

Look-Listen-Learn What comes to mind when you hear the name Sam Walton? No, I’m not talking about recent visuals like giant superstores, falling prices, or a smiley face. I’m talking about the Sam Walton of old … the traditional baseball hat and tie, the down-home wisdom, and that old pick-up truck he drove from store to store to support his employees and customers. Those were the good old days of hard work and basic principles.

Sam Walton and his family built an empire that today rules the retail industry worldwide and sees little or nothing that will stifle that growth and success in the near future.

However, that empire started with one store, a few dedicated employees and a man who knew how to inspire, teach and lead his employees. He established goals and knew what he had to do to reach them. He also knew how to convey those special talents to his staff and he did so regularly.

One of the first and most effective principles he established within the culture destined for growth and supremacy was very basic indeed. It was introduced to his employees as E.T.D.T. … an acronym created to remind everyone to “Eliminate The Dumb Things.”

A new employee—a bit unclear of the battle cry—once asked Sam what a “dumb” thing was. Sam’s answer was clear and precise: “A dumb thing is anything that impedes our progress, the progress of our customers or vendors.” He went on to explain “anything” might be a policy, procedure, rule, regulation, process, strategy, idea, tool, etc.

Sam Walton Sam went on to say: “If and when you see a dumb thing, bring it to our attention, explain how and why it’s impeding progress, and suggest a better way to do it.” That’s how he achieved critical employee involvement, received many more suggestions than any of his competitors, reached tremendous customer satisfaction levels, and grew to be larger, more productive and more profitable than his next ten competitors combined.

It’s interesting to note that leaders in every field of endeavor seem to encourage the respect and support of the “basics.” Tom Peters, famed author and consultant, says: “The older I get, the less boring the ‘basics’ become!” Maybe more of us should consider that revelation. It does have a successful track record.

Would your organization benefit by a greater focus on the concept of “E.T.D.T.”?

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

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Resources Harry K. Jones on 17 Oct 2008

Chaos Is Newest Category for Words of Wisdom

Our 23rd “Words of Wisdom” category emerges as we focus on a familiar subject for the AchieveMax® team, and that is chaos. Our most requested keynote and seminar offering is titled “Productive Chaos.” We’ve lost count of how many times this program has been presented from coast to coast as well as Canada and Mexico as its popularity continues to grow. One of the several reasons for that growing surge lies in the fact that people are looking for answers as to how to cope with the ever-growing chaos we find. This particular program is updated daily as we add current solutions, examples and strategies as they appear in the news and evolve from our research and experience with clients.

In addition, most everyone has been living in a state of chaos for the past several years, and this political season simply puts a thick layer of frosting on that not-so-tasty cake. As chaos appears as though it’s quickly becoming a staple in our lives, the challenge now moves from acknowledging it to not only coping with it but making it work for us rather than against us. Thus, the title of “Productive Chaos.” Interestingly enough, we find a growing number of examples in the media daily spotlighting those individuals and organizations that have accomplished that goal. Our program highlights those situations as we bridge them to everyone’s challenges for those in attendance. Transforming chaos from a destructive state to a productive state will soon be a necessity for survival at both the individual and organizational levels.

Read what some of the greatest minds in our history had to say about the subject of chaos. You might want to share a few of these thoughts with others who may be interested. You’ll both benefit from the investment of just a few moments.

Also feel free to check out our in-depth offering of quotes on many subjects should you be in need of a refreshing thought, idea, slogan or profound nugget for an upcoming meeting, presentation, or lunch room bulletin board.

We offer interesting quotes on the subjects of leadership, teamwork, customer service, time management, goals, change, motivation, sales, potential, gender, creativity, repetition, enthusiasm, employees, attitude, networking, fear, sense of urgency, passion, empowerment, women, persistence and now chaos.

Click on “Words of Wisdom” in order to review our entire offering.

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Out-of-the-Box Thinking Harry K. Jones on 16 Oct 2008

“Paging Dr. Robot”

Out-of-the-Box Thinking We initiated this particular blog feature for the sole purpose of providing real-life examples of out-of-this-world creativity for those who struggle to find such illustrations on their own. I had no idea when we started that it would be so easy to find so many examples every day in every field of endeavor. The situations we’ve shared are far from futuristic predictions that may materialize some day in the world of TomorrowLand. They’re happening now and they’re happening here, there and everywhere.

To review the previous 20 examples we’ve shared … simply click on Out-of-the-Box Thinking in the column on the right titled Categories. If you have personal examples you’d like to share with us, please send them to us.

While today’s example is rather humorous, it might be a bit frightening for some. What’s really astounding is the fact that it’s taking place right now as you read this piece.

Visualize yourself lying in a hospital bed recuperating from yesterday’s surgery in Hackensack University Medical Center. A nurse drops in to tell you that your doctor will be in to see you in just a few minutes. That’s always good news because everyone wants an update on their progress. As promised, the door opens and in rolls your doctor. Yes, I said rolls. Before you can fully appreciate the message your eyes are sending to your brain, you hear your doctor’s voice greeting you from an image displayed on a flat-screen computer monitor mounted on top of the robot … yes, a robot standing at the foot of your bed. Your doctor’s face is looking you right in the eye from the computer screen connected to the Internet via broadband and a wireless network as his familiar and reassuring voice greets you warmly.

Dr. Robot However, as you look closer you can’t help but notice that your doctor’s face is mounted on a 5 feet, 4 inch remote-controlled adult-sized robot on wheels weighing 215 lbs. On top of the computer monitor is a two-way video and 24-infrared sensors to navigate its travels. The screen rotates 340 degrees and pivots up and down creating personalized mechanical affectations. He views the patient and surroundings through a video camera located above the monitor, allowing live interactive communication. The robot’s body is covered by a physician’s smock complete with the traditional stethoscope. The more you look at it, the more it actually resembles your doctor … and verbally interacting with him, I mean it, seals the deal.

Your doctor is now able to dial up, connect, and see his patients whenever needed. Driving the robot into the room is more personal than a phone call from the doctor’s office. Dr. Rounder, as the robot is affectionately known by everyone in the hospital, also provides access to electronic patient files. The doctor can view vital signs, CT scans, blood tests and much of the technical data needed for patient care. Of course, when Dr. Rounder is visiting other patients, you continue to be monitored by the medical center’s Magnet award-winning nursing staff.

Sounds a bit far-fetched, wouldn’t you agree? This sophisticated mechanical physician is part of an initiative to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care. Physician-to-patient communication is now possible regardless of whether a physician is out of town or out of the country for that matter.

This unique robot is remarkably personal, providing virtual communication, and patients seem to be very comfortable with him, er, it. In essence, the Hackensack University Medical Center is providing extra coverage patients might not ordinarily get. As you watch Dr. Rounder humming through the halls, you get a sense he’s become a familiar face around the medical center as staff passing by quickly greet the doctor currently on the screen as though he’s really there—physically that is!

What’s next? Only the limits of your imagination, creativity and innovation can make that determination!

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

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AchieveMax® Blog

Navigating November

The Fall of a Nation

Fact-A-Day from Harry K. - October 28, 2008

Cautiously Weigh Your Presidential Choices

John C. Maxwell

Empathetic Customer Service

Fact-A-Day from Harry K. - October 21, 2008

E.T.D.T. Spells Success

Chaos Is Newest Category for Words of Wisdom

“Paging Dr. Robot”

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