Finishing the Race

The 2008 Elections have come to a conclusion and our new President-elect has made history in many ways. I am an Obama supporter so I am very excited, too. I am also aware that there is a lot of work to do and all of us as health care professional and those committed to diversity in health care.

One of the most powerful lessons I learned watching this election season was one that speaks to how we finish the races we run.

During the primary, Senator Clinton in her attempt to come from behind, winning several key states, would often reference Mr. Obama's inability to "close the deal". It was a challenge for Obama. Of course, he eventually one, but many headlines at the end of the primary stated, "Obama Limps to the Finish Line". Of course Obama finished with the nomination in hand and while doing so learned a very important lesson--Finish Strong and Take Nothing for Granted.

There was a point during the primary campaign in which Senator Clinton took for granted the nomination, in fact, she in some people's opinions she acted as if she was entitled to primary victory and the nomination and in a sense she took it for granted. Now, I am not sure if she relaxed and did not strategize in preparation for unknown threats or in search of unseen opportunities. Nonetheless, what it looked like was that she was not taking a 360 degree view and making sure all of her bases were covered. As a result, she gave her the opponent the chance to make his move.

Senator Clinton re-grouped and made a valiant come back, and if she had recognized that she was missing opportunities to finish each phase of her campaign more powerfully earlier, the outcome of the primary may have been different and perhaps history would have been made in another fashion. However, she missed finishing when she had the chance.

Fortunately, she taught our soon to be 44th president a lesson about finishing a race powerfully. During the general election, Obama dotted every proverbial "i" an crossed every proverbial "t". He never stopped campaigning up until election day and for everything thrown at him he had a response that met the specific need for each moment.

When you are looking for a job, candidate, or working on an important project, how well do you finish the race?

Where your diversity and cultural competency efforts are concerned, are you taking a 360 degree view and assuring that you are being inclusive of the needs of all patients, clinics, and staff? If not, get started now and know that there will be a series of races in front of us and that if we complete them, the possibilities of the kind of high-functioning organizations we desire. And of course, we can also move towards health equity.

The next time you get close to the finish line remember what Senator Clinton taught President-elect Obama: Take Nothing for Granted--go harder, it will take you to victory without doubt!