Put the BAAM Back Into Your Work

Click here to watch a short video on this same subject.

One of Emeril’s trademarks is when he uses his special blend of spices to inject flavor and pizzazz into his food.  But, have you considered putting the BAAM back into your work?  No matter how fulfilling your work as a cancer registrar might be, putting the passion and excitement into the day-to-day work will require regular sprucing up.    

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to putting the BAAM back into your life, here are six things you can do to get started.

Do something bold.  Look at your work and department and identify one process that can be improved upon.  Propose a bold new idea that will make a difference to your cancer program.  Change a policy or workplace process to be more productive or, heaven forbid – fun!

Become a mentor.  Developing personal relationships makes your work more meaningful.  Use the wealth of experience and knowledge you have gained in the cancer registry to help a student or a new cancer registrar.  Sharing your expertise will validate those years of hard work.

Reset your attitude.  Are you looking at the cancer registry future with a glass-half-empty kind of perspective?  Perhaps you think your job, or the future of cancer registrars is bleak.  Look at it another way:  even if you were chief widget maker your job would have value.  As a cancer registrar you ensure that hospitals, physicians, administrators and researchers have the data they need to best treat cancer patients.  

Look for outside inspiration.  There is far more to life than your work.  Find a new hobby, resurrect an old one, volunteer for a cause you believe in, or sign up for a community “go green” activity.  Being part of something beyond yourself brings clarity and purpose to your life.

Focus on the positive, eliminate the negative.  Look for the good in the people in your cancer program.  Give earned compliments and praise freely.  Replace “I can’t…we can’t…” with “How can I help…or Let me figure out how we can make that happen.”  

Reconnect with your faith.  You may be surprised at how many high profile people and celebrities find that religious faith adds purpose and meaning to their lives.  They believe that they are God’s instrument and that they find purpose in doing His work through them here on earth.  Even atheists or those just exploring their spirituality can find faith to be a powerful motivator.  

Most important, if you are looking to put the passion and excitement back into your cancer registry work you will find that it does get better if you put a little thought into it.  Explore these six areas of your life on a regular basis and you will likely improve your impression of the world around you and find yourself living a happier, healthier, more fulfilled life as a cancer registry leader.  

TELL US:  How do you put the BAAM! into your day?  How do you help your coworkers or fellow cancer registrars to reconnect with their passion for this work? 

http://www.RegistryMindset.com.  Michele Webb CTR is, a nationally recognized, certified cancer registrar, committed to Cancer Registry leadership and professional education as a coach, mentor, motivational speaker, and author.  You have permission to repost this article as long as you do not alter it in any way and give a link back and credit to the author on this website.