Shifting gears to the corporate landscape. Enter the CEO, the director of a company's destiny, weaving visionary leadership, strategic goals, and the orchestration of overall operations. This individual is the linchpin in decision-making, from hiring to firing, ensuring the company's trajectory towards success, growth, and sustainable health.

Now, let's transpose this narrative onto you – envision yourself as the CEO of you! You're in charge of leading the operations and performance of your own life. Correct? Yet, consider a scenario: a first encounter with someone new who, armed with a mere sliver of information, assumes a position of authority, and astonishingly, you, the CEO of you, allow it. I have made this mistake countless times in my life. Intriguing, isn't it? Thankfully now, my instinct screams, "WTF!?" regardless of their age, wisdom, education, or experience. A mere 15-minute interaction hardly scratches the surface of truly knowing a person. 

Let’s spice up the plot. This person is a doctor. Would you blindly follow their directives after a brief meeting? Perhaps, if their reputation came with a trustworthy endorsement. But without that, what compels you to yield to their guidance? Is it the prestigious "MD" after their name?

How about we dismantle the ingrained belief that letters after names equate to inherent wisdom. Newsflash: that assumption often falls flat, and that person certainly doesn't possess a superior understanding of you than you do yourself! 

The essence is this: when you engage with any healthcare provider, you're essentially interviewing them for a job – your health, your rules. If they are not a suitable “employee” then don’t hire them!

When you engage with any healthcare provider, you're essentially interviewing them for a job – your health, your rules. 

When navigating health, having a caring and competent healthcare team can not only make or break your experience but can also make or break your outcomes. Therefore, a few suggestions as you aim to onboard an effective care team:

1. Determine, through your insurance company, what providers you have access to. Your options could be affected if you don’t have insurance or if opting out of network is doable

2. Identify providers to “interview” considering these factors:

   1. Education—where did they go to medical school; where did they do their residency; and if they pursued a fellowship, for what and where

   2. Practice—How long have they been in practice

   3. Hospital—what are their hospital affiliations (important for surgical procedures and emergency care)

   4. Professorship—do they teach in a university or teaching hospital 

   5. Research—do they conduct research and are they published authors

   6. Referral—have they been recommended by someone you trust who has first hand experience with them

3. Schedule appointments (“interviews”) with at least two to three providers

4. Lookout for the following when meeting with potential new “hires”:

   1. Do they know something about you when the meeting starts (if you take the time to fill out forms, they should take the time to look at them)

   2. Do they make eye contact, listen and ask questions

   3. Do they make you feel comfortable

   4. Do they offer a realistic plan for next steps

When navigating health, having a caring and competent healthcare team can not only make or break your experience but can also make or break your outcomes. 

Transform your health by owning your leadership role. You are the CEO! With active involvement and a commitment to advocating for your own well-being, you have the best shot at optimal health.