Make a Difference Again

QIDPs or QDDPs are unique individuals.  These hard-working and often underpaid staff members are given an ultimate charge in their jobs...They are to "Coordinate" and oversee the "Services" for a client.  The "Client" naturally, is a human being, a person, an individual, a resident, a consumer, or perhaps the most important title....they have their own individual names.  That name is known by the QIDP, the needs of that person is known by the QIDP, and the services have to be coordinated and overseen by the QIDP are known.  That's an awesome responsibility.  At the core of everything a QIDP does, rest the client.  It is the QIDP's ultimate responsibility to make a difference in the lives of the people he or she serves.

Many years ago I watched a Star Trek movie that featured both the famous Captain Kirk and Captain Picard.  During one scene in the movie, Kirk asked Picard, "Are you close to retirement?" in which Picard answered, "I hope not."  Then Kirk asked, "Are they going to promote you?" and Picard answered, "Not that I'm aware of."  At that point, Kirk said, "Don't.  Don't let them retire you, don't let them promote you because as long as you sit in that chair, you can make a difference."  The movie goes on to eventually have Picard challenge Kirk to "Make a difference again," and so goes the movie, but the point was that as Captain of the ship, Picard did not have to do everything, but he had to "Coordinate" and oversee the "Services" of the entire ship.  Those decisions, his knowledge, and his commitment to his crew can be akin to the knowledge and commitment a QIDP has to have to the clients...the people, that he or she serves.  It doesn't matter whether you are a QIDP for one year, ten years or twenty years, the fact is as Kirk said, "...as long as you sit in that chair, you can make a difference."

It's been a while since I posted an article here.  I would like to think its because I've been "Making a difference," or more importantly Changing Lives.   Perhaps the more narrow view to take would be to promote the question, "Am I changing a life?"  If the answer is "yes," then I'm doing not only my job, but I'm making a difference.  If on the other hand, the answer is "No."  Then it's time to take the same challenge that Picard issued to Kirk..."Make a difference again". 

Remember, as long as you sit in that chair, you're the QIDP and you can make a difference...you can change lives for the better.  It takes work, it takes dedication, it takes knowledge, but the reward is a life changed for the better and not much can beat that.