Nearly two years ago, I took a chance, packed my car with
all my belongings, and moved to Seattle, where I had a job interview lined up
for a medical assisting position. The interview seemingly went well, and I was
confident I would hear a ‘Welcome to the team!’ by Monday. Unfortunately, Monday
came and went, then Tuesday, then Wednesday… Somehow, my master plan was not
working out as I intended, and I decided I needed to get back to the hunt (job
hunt, that is). I sent cover letters and resumes flying out to the ether, and
before I could bat an eye, I received a cheery reply inviting me to an
interview at Lake Washington Sports & Spine for the next day. That was
quick!
The following morning, I fought the unfamiliar Seattle
traffic to arrive bright and early, dressed to impress. This interview lasted
nearly until lunchtime, and I don’t remember many specifics aside from the fact
that I left desperately wanting the job, but woefully aware that I had flubbed
it at every turn. I sat in my car worrying over everything I had said and
everything I should have said
instead… I contemplated calling to explain that ‘I can do better! I can show
you! I’m not that anxious of a person!’ (false- I am). While I ruminated over
and over on my performance during the interview (how come I hadn’t felt this
way after my interview from the week before?) I was saved from going down the
rabbit-hole of worry and self-doubt by the ringing of my cell phone. It was
Laura on the other end, asking me “Won’t you join our team?!” I was
flabbergasted. I was convinced I
would not be hearing from them, let alone so soon after the interview. “Holy
buckets! Of course!” I squealed, and I was quickly out-squealed by the ensuing
clamor of cheering and dog barking in the background.
The process of becoming a part of the Lake Washington Sports
& Spine family is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to
story-telling. I could write about the
time I was convinced I had poisoned Dr. Hyman’s pup Nala with sugary sweets
(nope, turns out Dr. Hyman swiped the treats himself), the time Laura scared
the britches off me when she popped her head through the ‘pee collection’
window into my office, or the time Dr. Chimes ran around the office all day testing
everyone’s grip strength and championing our very own ‘Office Olympics.‘ But
these memories are only one piece of the pie. The whipped-cream on top (or ice
cream a-la mode) is the accumulation of invaluable lessons I have learned along
the way, which I will carry with me for the rest of my life. In no particular
order, these are the pearls of wisdom I’ve gained from my time at LWSS:
Lesson #1 (Ok, I lied, lesson #1 is first for a reason): Prioritize. There are only so many
hours in a day, in a week, and in a lifetime, so it is crucial to make clear to
yourself, and others, what your priorities and values are. Say no if something
doesn’t fit under one of your priorities. This time-management tool also helps
me weigh what I’d like to get done
with what I am actually capable of
getting done, and helps me to feel more satisfied with my accomplishments at
the end of each day.
Lesson #2: Keep a growth
mindset. Through consistent and constructive feedback, I learned to be
comfortable with making and learning from my mistakes. I learned that it is
important to seek feedback and to continually strive to improve, otherwise one
stagnates. I also learned first-hand how valuable it is to work with a mentor
who is willing to teach, challenge, and share.
Lesson #3: Sing and
be goofy. “All work and no play makes…” life a lot less enjoyable! Working
alongside Dr. Hyman really impressed upon me the value of being goofy, doing
the things that bring you joy, and occasionally throwing a nerf ball at your
office manager while wearing a superhero cape.
Lesson #4: Bandwidth.
This is a phrase we used at the office all day long, and is something that
I have now adopted into my personal life. My friends and family will often hear
me saying “You know, I’d love to hear your story but I just don’t have the
bandwidth for it right now,” or my partner will ask me what my bandwidth level
is before launching into a story about the fulcrum load effort of his PR squat
press that day. Talking about attention span in terms of bandwidth has proven
to be revolutionary in allowing me to be more intentional when talking with
friends and family.
Lesson #5: Sweat not
sweets. The LWSS Sweat Club (our motley crew of whichever ladies decided to
stay late after work to work out in
the waiting room) inspired me to actually make the lifestyle changes that I
want to see become a reality. Laura and Elianna in particular inspired me with
their dedication to their fitness goals, which has encouraged me to pursue my
own. Also, the office policy of (generally) not keeping sweet treats around is
one that proves quite valuable in my own food endeavors at home; out of sight,
out of mind!
Lesson #6: A/B
testing. There is value in comparison, and not everything works well. I
observed the doctors frequently ‘A/B testing’ their approach to various
situations, and I appreciated that they encouraged everyone in the office to
practice it as well. A/B testing is the idea of trying out strategy A for one
situation, and then trying strategy B in the same situation next time, to help
determine which is the best approach. This is a tool that will help me figure
out my optimal time management plan, study strategies, or more importantly, my favorite
chocolate bar.
All said and done, I cannot thank my Lake Washington Sports
& Spine family enough for all that they have taught me over the past two
years. These lessons will carry me forward as I pursue my next endeavor of
becoming a PA. In the next phase of my career, I can
only hope to find mentors as invested in my growth as both Dr. Hyman and Dr.
Chimes have been, and a workplace as joyous as LWSS. So long! Merci Buckets!
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