Reflections and Gratitude – 25 Years
Retirement is a word I hear often, as in “So when DO you plan to retire?” My response varies depending on the time of day and the fullness of the moon. My peers, friends and relatives are enjoying retirement. It’s a logical question. January 2014 was my 25th anniversary in healthcare search. Realizing that caused some serious reflection. What is it about this crazy business that keeps me so engaged and staves off any thoughts of truly retiring?
Joy; Independence; Joy; Incredible learning experiences; Joy; A broader, more in-depth involvement and knowledge of healthcare than I could have ever imagined; Joy; Getting to know incredible, passionate healthcare professionals; Joy; I could go on. You get the picture: I am so grateful.
This work uses everything I’ve learned since starting nursing school and it still challenges and teaches me. I’m a people person with the good fortune to have met thousands of people from across the spectrum of healthcare. To all of you who have shared your stories with me, thank you. Many of you have become close friends. Your friendship and support continues to enrich my life.
The team of women who joined me here are incredible for so many reasons. These smart, hardworking, understanding, compassionate and good friends get the job done. Our passion to improve healthcare sustains us in good times and bad. We all go the extra mile to achieve our goal: Improving healthcare one successful placement at a time. Thank you Lisa, Rosie, Bev, Donna, Lu, Ronni, Julianne and Alex. To our incredible support staff, Nicole, Cindy, Jennifer – you make us better every day – Thank you.
In 1988 when I left Sierra Health Services, I had no idea what was next. For the first time in my life, I took a sabbatical to reflect, rejuvenate and plan for the future. Moving to San Francisco made it easy to get up, get out, exercise, and lose the extra pounds that building five companies, nine ambulatory care centers, five health plans and an FSA had added to the waistline. A friend read an article about an Executive Recruiter and said, “Paula, you could do this.” Thank you, Peter. You were right. I can do this and still love doing it.
In 1989, Robert Grant, a seasoned veteran in the recruiting space, took a chance on me and taught me the value of retained search. Thank you, Robert. I learned and earned with you, built a managed care practice in your San Francisco office and benefited from your gracious mentoring.
My late husband, Jack Coyne, encouraged me to set up my own company and in the end joined me and Molly Richardson to form Morgan Consulting Resources. Morgan, Coyne, Richardson – get it? We opened in the San Francisco Financial District in January 1995. We built something wonderful together. We did it Our Way, always focused on what was best not only for the client, but for the candidates we evaluated, developed and placed. What we did made a difference and we were committed to doing it to the very best of our ability. We also committed to work/life balance and started traveling more. Thank you both for all that I learned from you
Aviation was a major part of my life in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Thank you Tony Marlon, for teaching me business like a tough Harvard Professor AND for giving me the opportunity to be an instrument rated pilot. You kept stretching me to nearly beyond my ability in work and in flight! We took startup to a new level.
Finally, thanks to my wonderful fiancé, Griff, my flight instructor in 1974 who somehow reappeared just in time to help me pick up the pieces when I so unexpectedly lost my husband. To have this kind of life partner twice seems almost unfair. I am incredibly grateful.
To all of you who have touched my life and taught me so much, thank you. The opportunities to improve U.S. Healthcare have never been more apparent or more critical. It’s much too exciting to stop now. Even though I won’t be retiring any time soon, I’ll be working on the bucket list. For now, getting current and flying again with my personal flight Instructor is right at the top. Lucky me!
Paula Morgan is the Founder and a Principal of Morgan Consulting Resources, a healthcare executive search firm celebrating over 20 successful years in business.
