Scott Adams
3 Feet
As you know, periodically I write about personal events. So please forgive me for this Publisher’s Note. Last week, my youngest son, Nicolas Adams (who many of you will remember from the ad with the glove on his head), graduated from the University of North Georgia.
There are a few reasons why I share this information:
1. I’m a proud father (Duh)
2. My days of college tuition are over (Yes!)
3. The real reason – Rodney Bullard, vice president of corporate social responsibility at Chick-fil-a
Bullard was the keynote for the commencement, and his speech made me think of distributor reps and the space we work in. Bullard told a story of a little lady (Ms. Adams, no relation) who changed his life as a 6-year-old boy. In elementary school, Bullard wasn’t reading at grade level, so Ms. Adams volunteered to tutor him the summer between first and second grade. He said as a 6 year-old it felt like a life sentence spending his summer with Ms. Adams reading. What he realized later was that Ms. Adams had given up her summer as well, and made a difference in his life.
From this story, Bullard pivoted to the students and their ability to change what he called the 3 feet around them. “We’re all superheroes within our own 3 feet,” he said. If you want to change the world, make an impact every day on your 3 feet. Think about the 3 feet that surround the 6,000 med-surg reps that read Repertoire Magazine each month. Think of the number of lives you touch. Think of the support and knowledge you bring your customers for new products, technology, and efficiency. In my opinion, your 3 feet are as important to our nation’s health as anyone in healthcare.
Two final thoughts: Only you control your 3 feet, and thank you for everything you do daily! I am honored to be in an industry that saves and heals lives every day.
Dedicated to the industry,
R. Scott Adams