Success

This was recently shared with the LNC Exchange; an online group for Legal Nurse Consultants.

What is success? The dictionary defines success as “the favorable or prosperous termination of an attempt or endeavor”. Or perhaps you might like the definition “the attainment of wealth, position, honors or the like”. I personally like the definition provided by wikitionary that states “the achievement of one’s aim or goal”. Or could it be simply “the opposite of failure” as wikipedia suggests?

With all this talk about certifications, lack of acceptance and so forth I felt it was important for us to look at the big picture. I, myself, have just learned this lesson.

I have been complaining for some time about a particular LNC group that has no leadership. My husband recently asked my why I didn’t take on that role. I was taken aback. Me?!? How could I take on the role as a leader when I was the one looking for leadership? I felt as if I could not take on a leadership role because I was not a “success”. But if not a success, what am I? I am certainly not a failure.

I attended an LNC course in 2006 and listened as our instructor touted why her course was better than all the rest. When I questioned about the qualifications needed to sit for the LNCC, I was told not to worry about that, it would be years before I was eligible, etc. I could not believe that I was being discouraged from furthering my education.

I sat on a shuttle bus after the conference in Austin and listed to women comparing their education to one another. As the only diploma nurse I felt inadequate as everyone compared their degrees. I highly value education and work hard to learn everything I can about all aspects of nursing which interest me. As an independent consultant the degree programs will not afford me to even recoup the costs of obtaining the degree much less earn me any additional money per year and therefore I have elected not to purse an advanced degree.

A few months ago I launched a new website with information regarding my new services. I asked a group of life care planner friends to help me test the site so I would know if any of the links did not work. I was contacted by one particular person who told me my website was too busy and there was too much information for an attorney to digest. She knew nothing about my business particulars. She was not aware that I have run an independent consulting business for the past four years and provide a variety of services, yet she felt compelled to tell me what I did wrong.

I have let situations such as this make me think less of myself; as a nurse, as a business owner, as a woman. I have wrongly assumed that because I do not have a full-time LNC practice that I am a failure.

I am not a failure. I have worked for myself for several years. I have a very busy case management practice. I was eligible to sit for the LNCC due to my experience and successfully passed the exam on my first attempt. I have provided LNC services on six cases this year. I have sat for and passed the CNLCP and have provided my first life care plan. I have an office outside my home that houses my office as well as an office for my administrative assistant and a full time contract nurse. I also have a network of independent contractors throughout the state.

Many would say I was successful, but I feel I have much more to accomplish before reaching that pinnacle. I don’t have a glossy brochure. I am not an accomplished writer. I have not been published by a journal. I haven’t held an office. I am not wealthy. I prefer to define success as the achievement of one’s aim or goals, but in order to use this definition I suppose I would have to stop making goals. Maybe I should settle on the opposite of failure.