Prompt 3: Creating a Movement

Wow Catalyst classmates- my mind has been on overdrive- so stimulated and full of ideas. Thank you for taking the time to read and share your ideas and thoughts with me. I have a feeling that I will end up somewhere quite different than where I began. My previous posts have focused on creating an Alt MBA program, but you have stirred up something in me to consider starting a side business. To be true to this assignment, I will focus on My Why and the other prompts, knowing that I have much more flushing out to do. I likely need to return to the goal setting process again.

My WHY

The theme of my why throughout my career has been to improve health, prevent the unnecessary use of resources (medicine, provider visits, surgeries, etc.), and overall improve the quality of life of those I interact with. As I talked about in my biography, as a personal trainer and health coach I worked with clients directly. As a wellness curriculum developer, I created programs that engaged teams of employees throughout OHSU. Now as a project manager, I work with primary care offices to consider their processes for delivering care to patients and develop policy recommendations for payers to provide additional resources for prevention through the use of community health workers, nurse care managers, or better utilization of office staff. Throughout these positions, my commitment to the above statement remain true. There are many things we can do to be healthier that do not rely on medications.

I feel people have trusted my why, but up to this point, I've been largely a part of someone else's movement. If I continue to speak authentically and communicate well, I believe that people will trust my why. My work has been consistent with my why and I'm insistent that I feel congruence with organizations I work with.

My customers

My previous customers have sought to be healthy and fit and some have had a long way to go. For instance, in my personal training business my target clients were those new to fitness (possibly with significant weight to lose), recovering from injuries, pre- or post-natal women, or seniors. I taught the fundamentals of proper form and exercise planning, every little bit helps, if it hurts- don't do it, and the best exercise is the one you LIKE to do. I am realistic with my clients and myself and know that a strict regimen doesn't work for most people. Most people were coming to me for a lifestyle change and not a crash regimen. I think they wanted to have fun in the process too. Ultimately my clients were looking to feel better, be healthy, and happier.

For example, I would never advocate a strict diet that removes all brownies, cookies and cakes. Desserts are delicious, a wonderful part of celebrating, and something I would never give up myself. Instead, I advocate for more balance and simple habits that lead to overall health. It's not one brownie that will push someone over the edge. It's the day in and day out habits. I've found for myself and others that focusing on eating ample fruits and vegetables throughout the day crowds out the junk. Also, being aware of why I might be reaching for the brownie helps too. Stress management and nutrition are often linked.

It comes down to daily habits and there are proactive things that we can do to set ourselves up for success.

As we discussed in my small group, there may be a business opportunity to create a wellness program geared towards families. Through talking to my co-workers, I know it is very challenging for working mothers to take care of themselves and nationally there is a growing number of children with type 2 diabetes and obesity. With the rise in obesity, type 2 diabetes which used to be called adult onset diabetes, now can affects young children.

There are many things that can be done- from national policies, workplace or school programs- to improve health. An outlet could also be the family unit, a natural team. My program would work to educate families on the basics of health and wellness, with awareness that knowledge is a small part of the equation. Motivation and behavior change are the secret sauce that get us moving and that's what I would weave throughout my program. The focus would be on daily habits and simple, proactive steps families could take. While the program could start out generally, it could be tailored to programs for families who have a child with type 1 or type 2 diabetes or other chronic conditions. There would be an educational component to teach the families about the mechanisms of the condition and steps families can take to support the child with the condition.

Lastly, people don't want to be alone- they want a community. Despite social media, people seem lonelier than ever. In the past, many people relied on their church, sat on their front porch (actually knew their neighbors), and didn't have electronic communication as an option.

With my program, it could be beneficial to explore having monthly family-oriented health and wellness events. Families could meet others going through the program, be social, and do healthy activities. We all need support and it's more fun to go through the journey with others.

I look forward to your thoughts.
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Reflective Script: 

Thank you for your thoughts. I continue to be super impressed with you all and the resources/talents you share. I know in this day and age that a technical approach will be necessary. Enlisting the help of instructional designers, graphic designers, web designers, and experts (MDs) will be necessary to transition from concepts to a viable product. As mentioned by Suzi early on, these are areas that I think I would outsource, but I also don't want to be clueless about them either. I thoroughly appreciate Susan's book recommendation. 

Celine hit on one of my big conundrums: I would want those who can least afford my products to have access. While the private sector doesn't generally work this way, I think creativity could be applied to the way the business is organized so that the program could be available to those in need. Could my business have a partnership with JDRF or American Diabetes Association? Could it donate a percentage of the books/curriculum to those who can't afford to buy them? Give them to libraries? This part gets me fired up because I like the creativity. 

I have research and relationship building to do before creating a curriculum or program for any of the three groups I mentioned in my post above (families with a child who is at risk for developing diabetes, or families with a child with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.) I need to learn more about what these families want and if there is a true need for this product. I would need to talk to families in these circumstances before getting started. In the public health world, this is the needs assessment portion. Laurie's comment of speaking to JDRF is spot on. I would also want an endocrinologist to review my work to make sure it is scientifically sound. This research and relationship building would help me answer Douglas' questions regarding the true needs of my group. I can guess how they feel but I won't really know unless I ask. 


Clearly there are many things to figure out and it appeals to have others to partner with. If I am going to create a side business or side project, I like the idea of working in a team. That's a possibility to explore.