Greetings from the University of New Hampshire! I tried to go out for a sunrise paddle last week, but I wasn’t feeling well, and by the time I got down to the water, I realized it just wasn’t a good idea to be in a kayak an hour from shore and be having GI issues (TMI? We’re all friends here). So I made the call and just stood for a while on the shore appreciating my river. The temperatures are bouncing down into true fall range, with lows in the 40s overnight. It’s really my favorite weather of the year - light jacket, brisk air, the bugs are mostly gone, and pretty soon we’ll be lighting up a fire in the stove. I look forward to the foliage change, but it makes me a bit sad because I know we will be looking at bare trees for the next six months. But the snow comes and makes it all beautiful again, so you have to appreciate each season for what it brings.
My juniors are taking their first health econ exam as I work on this draft. A lot of determined faces in front of me. But this past weekend my colleague Anne and I were invited to a reunion of the HMP Class of 2018 down in Boston. I remember when these were the kids sitting in front of me with determined looks on their faces as they struggled through the material I was testing them on. Now they are out in the world doing great things. They’re really an impressive bunch. The really magical thing about HMP is how tight-knit each year’s cohort of students is. I think about my own college experience and I literally don’t remember anyone from my major, and I don’t remember any of my undergraduate professors (I remember many of my graduate professors). I wish I had had this experience.
I want to acknowledge that the links I am sharing with you these days are not strictly about healthcare leadership. I’m going to be discussing some rebranding soon. But what do we have in this letter? Some management/leadership stuff, some marketing and strategy, some health economics/policy stuff, but also some international affairs, because as concerned citizens and leaders, that’s really important, too. I hope you find these links interesting.
Also, tomorrow I am recording my third Being in the World podcast interview. Once I have that one edited, I will be officially launching the podcast. I think maybe by the end of next week. I am super excited to share this new project with you.
I’ll be back on Sunday with the essay. As usual, willing good for all of you!
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Read
What: WSJ, What If All Your Meetings Were Just 15 Minutes?
Why: I wish I had learned this discipline when I was a young leader. I think it would have been a useful tool. I’ve come to question the value of meetings as information sharing, now that we have such robust technological tools. One of the boards I am on has staff members prepare videos for the board members along with written pre-work. For that one-to-many communication, an email or video is really more efficient.
But I am also the kind of person who really wants to have the face time to get to know you and know what's going on with you. I do not believe in the sterile “no work friendships” idea that is hinted at in this article. Organizations are groups of people with relationships. Knowing a bit about what is going on with you helps me understand your communication and your priorities so that I know better how to interpret what you are doing. An organization is more than just a nexus of employment contracts.
Still… there is something here. I sat in way too many information sharing meetings when I was in the Army. It was exhausting and wasted a lot of my time.
Something to think about.
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What: AEI Ideas, The Likely Effects of Removing Medical Bills from Credit Reports
https://www.aei.org/health-care/the-likely-effects-of-removing-medical-bills-from-credit-reports/
Why: Short article about the unintended consequences of what sound like good ideas.
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Watch
What: Condoleezza Rice on Russia, China, and Great Power Conflict (33 min)
Why: I did not appreciate Condoleeza Rice when she was in government. Mostly because I wasn’t paying that much attention, and I reflexively discount anything people in power have to say. It’s just a libertarian thing. But my wife overheard me listening to this video, and she said, “Is that Condoleeza? She’s thoughtful and smart. I really like her.” And I was like, “Me, too.” You don’t know what you got till it’s gone. If you don’t yet have an opinion on Condi, check out this video. Also you will learn about Russia, China, and great power conflict.
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Listen
What: The Journal, The Twinkie: From Bankruptcy to Billions (20 min)
Why: I loved Hostess when I was a kid. And by “kid” I mean through my mid-40’s. My particular poison was the Hostess Cherry Pie. I would often stop at a gas station on my way to the office and pick up a bottle of diet coke and a Hostess Cherry Pie for my commuting breakfast.
This pod does a nice job summarizing the journey of Hostess Brands from leading food company to twice bankrupted, to now just brands. It’s an interesting business story with some fun cultural observations (Wonder Bread was pitched as modern health food - can you believe that?).
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What: Conversations with Bill Kristol, Fred Kagan on Ukraine: Where Things Stand
Why: Insightful, calm discussion about the status of the war in Ukraine. The discussion of tactics is useful to keep in mind. I am hopeful for the Ukrainians, and for us. Defeating Russia here is critical for our national security.