It was a memorable day and an extraordinary event for our Rockdale County Hospital Authority as we dedicated our new Day Surgery Center. Under construction for nearly three years, the state-of-the-art facility would enable us to better serve our community. As our Executive Director proudly guided us through the new center, my eyes were drawn to a young woman on her knees scrubbing the new tile floor.
I left the group touring the facility and walked down the hallway to thank her for her obvious commitment to her job. As she looked up, she saw the badge on my suit coat identifying me as a “Board Member, Rockdale County Hospital Authority” and asked why I would bother speaking to her. I told her that her dedication to the facility’s cleanliness would ensure that patients would feel safe to receive care here, and that the future success of the surgical center depended on important people like her.
She seemed genuinely taken aback by my comment, and asked me my name. After introducing myself, she asked what I did. After informing her that I was a general dentist, she surprised me by asking for my business card. Three weeks later, I found myself welcoming her as a patient new to my practice…
Not only did this lovely lady become part of my practice, she referred her brother and sisters and their families to me as well. It was my joy to serve her and her family for many years, and the significant financial impact upon my young practice was not lost on me.
All I did was recognize her contribution to the hospital. She thought she was just a maid cleaning floors, but to me, she was an ambassador to the community, ensuring others that our hospital was a safe place to come for their surgical care.
You never know when a kind and heartfelt comment to a stranger might make all the difference, not just in their lives, but in yours as well…. Always be kind and respectful to others, regardless of their role in life. You might just be surprised, as was I…
“The only certain means of success is to render more and better service
than is expected of you, no matter what your task may be.”
Og Mandino
