Shipping down to Boston

RWL #403

Greetings from … North Station, Boston! I came to town today to visit my students at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, a specialty hospital focused on, you guessed it, eyes (ophthalmology) and ears (otolaryngology). I can’t really express in words how much I hate driving in Boston, so I take the Amtrak (which actually has a stop on the UNH campus) into the City, then walk from there. Luckily MEEI is only about 0.6 miles from North Station. 

As I was riding in, I was reflecting on how grateful I am to all of these organizations who are willing to host our students each summer. This is my fourth year managing the internship program for our undergraduate major, and I know each of these sites and each of these preceptors could make their lives a little easier by saying “no” to me when I call and ask if they are willing to take an intern this summer. I am, by training and belief, a free market economist. But free market does not mean exploitive or extractive. Civil society is largely built on the willingness of private individuals to freely and graciously give toward the well-being of their communities, whether that is a gift of resources or time. It strikes me that this was understood better in a pre-Progressive era, before we expected the Government to provide all communal resources. Government entities are bound, for good reason, in ways that private individuals are not, and it makes government a sledge hammer when a screwdriver is the right tool. We expect too much from government, and not enough from our social elites. When I interact with senior leaders who are willing to make time for my students, I am heartened that there is still a sense of social obligation at least among some of society.

On to the links! As usual, willing good for all of you! 

Read

What: Inc., 5 Key Hiring Lessons You Should Learn From Trump's VP Pick

https://www.inc.com/suzanne-lucas/5-key-hiring-lessons-you-should-learn-from-trumps-vp-pick.html 

Why: A fun analysis of the VP selection by the Evil HR Lady from an HR perspective. 

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Watch

What: Peter Zeihan, Can the French Lead the EU into the Future? (13 min)

 

Why: Zeihan provides a great primer on the origins of the EU. Great short piece that helps understand how institutions like the EU emerge and are not born fully formed.

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Listen

What: Health Leader Forge, Chris Dougherty, CEO, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital

 

Why: My latest Health Leader Forge interview is with Chris Dougherty, the CEO of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in Brattleboro, Vermont. Brattleboro is the next town over from Keene, NH, where I graduated from high school and my family lived for close to 30 years, so I have a personal connection to the area.

Chris has a great story. He spent much of his career working in children’s hospitals, and as you listen to him speak, you will hear in his voice how much you would want him to be the leader of a children’s hospital if your child ever needed one. His career criss-crossed the USA, serving in Delaware and Philadelphia, Dallas, and Los Angeles, before finally coming home to roost in Southeastern Vermont. 

We talk about grasping opportunities when they present themselves, which is an especially valuable lesson for early careerists.