Don’t Expect What You Don’t Inspect : Meet @GrandpaBob

Member Spotlights feature interviews with fellow Connect members. Learn more about members you’ve connected with and some you haven’t met yet. Nominate a member you think should share the spotlight.

JOHN: What brought you to Mayo Clinic Connect?

@grandpabob: I was directed to Mayo Clinic Connect by Lindsey Peterson, L.G.S.W., M.S.W., a wonderful Mayo Clinic social worker. She felt it may at some point be a benefit during my recuperation from chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)T-cell therapy. I had some side effects I wanted to know more about. Mayo Clinic Connect was where I received insight into my questions. 

JOHN: What motivates you to take part in the community?

@grandpabob: I appreciate the fact that I can use the Mayo Clinic Connect forum to ask questions and gain knowledge from folks in similar circumstances as mine. It is comforting knowing the information gained is from someone who is or was traveling the same path as me. I also find it fulfilling to be able to offer support to queries by others.

JOHN: What about Connect makes you feel comfortable to share and to be open with the community?

@grandpabob: I take comfort in knowing that Mayo Clinic Connect members are a community of people that have undergone or will soon be on a path that I am currently experiencing or have traveled myself.

JOHN: What groups do you participate in?

@grandpabob: I participate in Blood Cancers & Disorders, Cancer: Managing Symptoms and CAR T-Cell Therapy.

JOHN: Tell us about a meaningful moment on Connect. 

@grandpabob: I find Mayo Clinic Connect meaningful anytime I can read a reply to someone’s query. It is comforting knowing that there are people who are brave enough to ask a question, and even more so, the fact that there is someone equally willing to share their experiences. This is especially true when people have been through circumstances that are extremely difficult to overcome and may be reluctant to share or don’t know how to share what they have gone through.  

JOHN: What surprised you the most about Connect?

@grandpabob: I was surprised by the wide range of discussion groups that have been developed. The number of responses received to questions I have posed has also been very satisfying.

JOHN: What energizes you, or how do you find balance in your life?

@grandpabob: I get energized by being around family and friends. Never a dull moment as we all encourage each other to be open. I am able to find balance by keeping busy with hobbies, a bit of participation in sports and enjoying the out-of-doors.

JOHN: Tell us about your favorite pastime or activity.

@grandpabob: I really enjoy reading; fiction is my favorite, but I am spreading my wings a bit and for the most part enjoying most anything in print. 

JOHN: Do you have a favorite quote, life motto or personal mantra?

@grandpabob: “Don’t expect what you don’t inspect,” W. Clements Stone. 

This carried me in good stead in my career. As I moved along in my position, I became more responsible for the actions and accuracy of those under my direction. Upon realizing I could no longer closely monitor the individual results at a micro level, I implemented an operation standard where accuracy was inspected at a team member level within individual business units. Thus, I only needed to get more deeply involved in exceptional cases, freeing up a lot of time.

Once the unit leaders saw the results of “inspecting expectations,” accuracy was achieved. Everyone wants to do a great job, but in some cases, folks just need to be coached on how to achieve the desired results. I found inspecting allows for these coaching opportunities. 

JOHN: What do you appreciate the most in your friends?

@grandpabob: First and foremost would be their support. A friend’s willingness to share their time on this earth is priceless.

JOHN: What food can you simply not resist?

@grandpabob: Dessert, any kind.

JOHN: What do you love about where you live or vacation?

@grandpabob: I love the change of seasons here in the North; it is always a pleasant break changing from warm spring to hot summers, then to the cool fall and onward to cold winters then back again.

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