Can Studer Provide Insight on The Current Crisis?

When deciding where to travel next, our usual conversations revolve around the environment: winds, seas, tides, inlets and good anchorages.  Our conversations now have a new aspect: safety.  Between a worldwide pandemic and riots occurring all across the nation, we are definitely concerned about our safety.  We knew we would have these discussions at some point about the safety of the places we want to visit and where we needed to avoid due to political unrest, violence, crime and infectious diseases.  We just didn’t anticipate the need to address these concerns when travelling within the United States.

COVID-19

Corona virus (COVID-19) is a scary infection.  We have seen it in action, taking relatively healthy people and making them fight to get enough oxygen in the system to nourish the tissues.  I think there is nothing scarier for a patient than that feeling of not being able to breathe…suffocating and helpless to get enough air.  However, it is a virus.  In my 25 years of nursing, I’ve seen a lot of scary infections.  Nick remembers the days of wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE) to care for patients with AIDS.  Back then, we didn’t understand how the virus was transmitted so caregivers suited up in all their PPE every time they entered the room.  Now we know that isn’t necessary because we understand a lot more about it.  Research on COVID-19 is ongoing and soon we will understand more about that as well. 

In the meantime, we still know a lot about how to protect ourselves.  On Seeking Kokomo, we are quite isolated.  At sea and at anchor we are never closer than 50 feet from the next boat.  At the dock, we maintain our distance from others.  When we need to stock up on groceries or other provisions, we have masks and hand sanitizer for trips into public spaces.  We know how to protect ourselves.  That knowledge decreases our fear.

Riots and Violence

What scares us today is the violence and crimes taking to the streets all across the United States.  Unlike the virus, we don’t know how to protect ourselves from this or how to anticipate where the next outbreak will occur.  Since our only land-based transportation is walking or bicycling, we feel extremely vulnerable.  That is frightening.

I have to wonder what is the purpose of this violence?  Why destroy entire neighborhoods?  Why hurt other citizens of this country?  Why try to destroy history?  How is that making a difference?

Applying the Studer Principles

Quint Studer, in his book Hardwiring Excellence, discusses three principles for engaged employees: Having a purpose, feeling like your work is worthwhile, and feeling like you are making a difference.  I believe those principles apply to life outside of work as well.  When considering the violence and riots occurring across the nation, I have to wonder if these people feel they have a purpose.  Do they feel they are somehow making a difference?  Or have they lost that altogether?

With unemployment rates skyrocketing, unemployment benefits declining and people worried about how to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads, have they lost their sense of purpose?  How much of our sense of self is tied to our careers, jobs and ability to provide for our families?  Are people searching for something that gives them the feeling they are making a difference?

I am extremely grateful that I am still employed and able to make a living.  As a teacher I know I make a difference, not just in the lives of my students but the knowledge they gain from my classes improves the care of every patient they touch.  With over a decade experience teaching emergency nursing and thousands of students I’ve taught over the years, I certainly feel that I’ve made a difference in the care of a lot of patients.  I am truly blessed.

The question remains, how can we make a difference in this crazy world today?  How can we improve the safety and security of our communities?  How do we maintain our purpose in this difficult economy and political upheaval?  How do we ensure our safety?  Where do we go from here?

Reference: Studer, Q. (2003). Hardwiring Excellence.  Gulf Breeze, FL: Firestarter Publishing.