The Navigator
February 2021 Newsletter
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Scott's Thoughts.
You Can't Steer a Parked Car
By, Options for Senior Living Founder, Scott Fischer
I was at a business conference many years ago, and the speaker during one of the sessions made the following statement, "... you can't steer a parked car. "
It's one of those things that just kind of blows your brain when you hear it for the first time. I was so busy scribbling all kinds of notes from other things he was saying. But that stuck with me. "You can't steer a parked car." Hmmm. "You can't steer a parked car."
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Over the years, I have thought that to be such a profound statement. I can't even remember one other thing he said that day. As a matter of fact, I don't even remember his name. I think in pictures. I think this is such a wonderful visual of how life plays out, particularly in the area of business and work. 18 years ago, in February 2003, I had grown completely frustrated and discouraged with my career in the healthcare industry. I had worked predominately in our private mental health system up until that time. I was a home health nurse that had a specialty psychiatric nursing practice, and I was also teaching for Maricopa county community colleges in their colleges of nursing. I had a nice career. I just had no control over the amount of time it took to earn a living. I literally had to work two jobs for my family to make ends meet. I wanted more than anything to be my own boss, but I had no idea how to get that done. This business idea of helping families research and select senior living was brand new to me. Very few people were on the ground actually involved in this endeavor. It was certainly not an industry or a business that people thought highly of as we do now. Placement agents at that time were referenced as "body brokers" and "bounty hunters." It was lots of cash paid out of the table and many practices that we would consider corrupt now. But I had control over myself and my effort. I remembered, "you can't steer a parked car." If I was going to make it happen, it had to be me. I wanted the outcomes so badly that I was willing to take the car out of park and drive it.
I began to understand this universal principle. "You can't steer a parked car. "
Suppose we are willing to pick up the phone and make appointments.; If you are willing to call people and tell them what you are doing and offer yourself as a resource; if you are willing to get way outside your comfort zone, then good things can come. Nothing was going to change if I didn't put that car in the drive and start applying myself. I began applying myself on a very part-time basis. I quickly replaced my income and quit my full-time job with the home health agency. I spent 20 hours a week working on what became Options for Senior Living. Within a couple of years, I was able to quit my part-time job as an educator and dedicate all of my effort to Options.
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March 1 is the day I celebrate the anniversary of Options For Senior Living. This year makes 18 years. Starting with the premise of "you can't steer a parked car," I know the truth of what I'm gonna ask next. Am I the only one that was fortunate enough to be able to do something like this? Am I so unique that this worked for me but wouldn't work for anybody else? And the answer is obviously no. We live in a world where opportunity is all around us. I get the pandemic. I get economic challenge. I get the social injustices. I get the inequality that exists in the world. I also get this. We live in the land of opportunity. If anyone wants to get up and create something, you can create it. We are only held back by the size of our dreams and our willingness to put forth the effort. Fear and a negative self-image have a lot to do with keeping people stuck. I had people around me in 2003 that believed in me and encouraged me. They didn't do it for me, but they were in my corner. I still have a wonderful tribe of friends and family that are always in my corner, encouraging me and supporting me in the journey.
As Options has evolved over the years, I wanted to create a platform where others could join me to build a business that would afford them the same gifts of life I've been able to be blessed with. Tammy was the first to join me. Followed by Nathan and then Kerri Ann. Subsequently, Lanie, Glenda, then Stephanie, and Barbara have joined the crew over the last two years. 18 years ago, I never could've foreseen that I will be joined by professionals who loved their work and wanted to positively impact the lives of families during a very difficult time.
I'm grateful to all of them as well as my current Client service manager, Kim Metzler and her predecessor, Amy Dirks. I would never have gotten to 18 years without a phenomenal team. I'm also so grateful for my wife, Stacey, for her everyday love and support. She spent three years with Options from 2015 to 2018, helping us become the company we are today. Her impact is unmeasurable.
I hope you take away the idea that I took away so many years ago that you can't steer a parked car.
Make something great happen for yourself and for the people that you may touch by simply taking the car out of park and putting it into drive.
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The Storm Clouds of Dementia Podcast.
The Storm Cloud of Dementia is a new podcast with our very own Tammy Luna and Pam Ostrowski, Author of It’s Not That Simple – Helping Families Navigate the Alzheimer’s Journey. Join them, and family members caring for those with dementia, to find day-to-day tips and guidance. Pam's 14 year journey with her mothers dementia and Tammy’s extensive experience working with families bring a unique perspective and knowledge base to those in need.
Keep an eye out for the first episode scheduled to drop on March 5th!
Check out Pam's book on Amazon: It's Not That Simple: Helping Families Navigate the Alzheimer's Journey: Ostrowski, Pam: 9781735709611: Amazon.com: Books
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Partner Spotlight.
Pacifica Senior Living Paradise Valley
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COVID-19 has undoubtedly changed Senior Living communities in a very major way. We recently sat down with Tori Baker at Pacifica PV and were so inspired to hear about their continued growth and ingenuity during these challenging times. At Options, we try to focus on the good and felt that Tori and her team's spirit were worth sharing.
When Pacifica Senior Living occupied their Paradise Valley campus 10 years ago, nobody would have guessed they'd be continuing to grow to this day (much less during a global pandemic). Yet, less than 6 months ago they opened an entirely new assisted living complex to their already sought after memory care. "We have 19 new AL apartments. Our cottages are unique in that they are very boutique like with an open door concept. It has been very well received!"
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Tori also shared some of the creative ideas that they have implemented to keep families and residents engaged during times of limited access. "Our team has still hosted tons of activities, We just had to think out of the box. Social events have moved outdoors. The residents actually love it!". Many of those events include socially distant concerts via horseback or truck bed, photo booths, theme parties, veteran celebrations, family feast and even same room family visits done with plastic partitions. "Our team continues to pull together and stay close with our families to keep the residents happy".
To Tori and the Pacifica PV Team, we applaud your hard work and wish you all the best. Take a peek at the slideshow of some of their 2020 affairs.
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Leaving A Legacy.
There’s an African Proverb that says, “When an elder dies, a library burns to the ground.” We are all libraries of our own experiences. No two people experience the world in the same way. And no one can tell his or her story better than the person who is currently living it. The problem is, none of us live forever. Eventually we take our wisdom and our precious stories with us unless we do something to save those stories today. This is why recording or writing our stories is incredibly valuable and an important part of our overall legacy. These are three companies who have creatively found ways for us to persevere our loved ones legacies.
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Remembered Well
Michele Trent
Imagine if you could hear your great-great grandfather share about his life in his own words. Wouldn’t that be powerful? What he learned and the time he lived is far different than what you experience today. Yet, stories of struggle, growth, love and loss connect us. We have all lived this human experience and it is beautiful. It is worth preserving. That’s why I wrote the book “Wisdom is a Gift. A Guide to Preserving Family Stories.” It’s a how-to guide for families to use to capture and preserve the stories of those closest to them so that future generations can learn from those who have gone before them. Legacy is far more than passing along money and stuff. A true legacy is passing along wisdom and stories that connect generations and inspire the future. Inside “Wisdom is a Gift. A Guide to Preserving Family Stories,” you’ll find step-by-step instructions, an abundance of conversation-starting questions, and the encouragement needed to complete your story project. Make 2021 the year you make a generational impact by saving your story and those of your loved ones!
Wisdom Is a Gift: A Guide to Preserving Family Stories: Trent, Michele: 9781973689874: Amazon.com: Books
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Story Worth
If you're looking for a personal, heartfelt gift to give, look no further: StoryWorth is a service that can collect your loved one's favorite stories and memories and preserve them in a beautifully bound book. Once a week, they email your loved one questions you’ve never thought to ask. They simply reply with a story, which is shared with you each week. At the end of a year, their stories are bound into a beautiful keepsake book.
Refer a friend – StoryWorth
Alfred.
Alfred transition assistant helps you easily organize important information and preserve every detail about your legacy that you want remembered. You can store everything from memories of loved ones, to photos, journals, personal and family histories, heirlooms and possessions, charitable giving instructions, and more. Their easy-to-use software walks you through identifying the aspects of your legacy that you want preserved, and sharing them with the people you love. Learn more and get a free demo video.
www.alfredta.com/optionsfsl
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Your Referral Is Our Biggest Compliment.
We wouldn't be able to make the impact we do without your trust and referrals. Thank you!
If you have a loved one, neighbor, friend or coworker in your life in need of assistance, please contact us at 602.845.1320. We are here to help.
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