Changing Jobs: Mid-life Crisis or a Personal Journey For Success
By Larry Dunham, RHIA, CHP

I have been one of the luckiest HIM professionals in the country! I have worked with some of the best institutions in the country; I have traveled as a consultant all over the United States; I have been exposed to a number of opportunities for learning and growing; I was a partner in my own consulting company; I served as a professional volunteer at the local, state and national level, yet I was always seeking to better myself…..at least I thought, or to "top" the last job. After making career changes several times, I can truly say it is not the job that I seek personal growth from, but the balance between life and work…..finally, I think I have it.

What is Important to You?

I wish I knew what the answer really is to share with you regarding the directions I took to get to where I am today, but I know it is rooted in how I was raised by my parents. It is not until you get out on your own that you appreciate the structure and guidance they put before you. My parents were hardworking middle class folks who worked for everything they had in life. They always provided for their children….even if we did not always feel it was enough. What they gave me was their love and support which sheltered me from even the possible idea that I would not succeed in life. With this support, I know it was the self confidence I gained from that conviction that drove me to better myself in any way possible. I have to confess, I was the typical nerd who loved school, was in every social club and event not only to fit in but to observe and soak in what the world would offer.

Your Values

This self confidence, coupled with core values of doing what is right, is something I know is at the middle of my core being……and wow, I feel blessed to know that I have that simple trait of personal integrity that will support me in whatever choices I make in life. These values are something that you cannot learn after you become a teenager; they are what nurtures the child up to the teenage years.

I say all of this to make a very simple point; whatever choices you make in life and career, you need to make them from the heart and to learn through the whole ordeal. Not that each step is easy, especially the unboxing and re-establishment of friends, but your personality and knowledge will make you the person for the job, make you new friends, open new doors, and sustain you through the times of uncertainty. You cannot let your peers, boss, or others define your job path for you. You either find a perfect fit with regard to the job or you adjust; and just like a bad fitting suit, you are bound to get the itch for change when it doesn't quite fit.

Personal Courage

Just like the cowardly lion in the "Wizard of Oz", once you put yourself out there to experience and to "make" yourself challenge the status quo, the next time becomes easier. When you are reluctant to change, ask yourself, "Why?" Are you too comfortable where you are, or are you scared of changing? I would personally answer both questions as a "yes", but if you determine to discover your rationale by listing pros and cons of change, you will find out for certain. You can make a pretty good argument either way. Now, take it to a new level, and list the risks that this move might mean for you. Will it be a resumé trigger showing multiple job hopping? Will it be perceived by peers as a negative? This is where your core values have to support the decision. Is it a right decision based on your "gut" feeling? That is the real thing you will need to live with after you make a decision. I think as I have gotten older, my focus on what is important to me is much more essential to me than a big salary, prestige, etc. I have to feel that I am making a difference and am productive in a way that does not compromise my integrity or self worth.

Making the Decision

I share with many students that you always keep an eye open to opportunity, yet you do have to weigh the impact of change on your personal feelings by asking yourself, “Is this right for me, right now?” I have to say, each job has offered me so much opportunity to gain knowledge of the profession and has also awarded me great reflection into my personal beliefs as a manager. Never compromise on what is important to your core values, but put yourself "out there" to check out what the opportunities have to offer. And, seek the opportunity to learn, grow, change!

Larry Dunham, RHIA, CHP is a long-time contributor and former editor of the TxHIMA Journal. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Record Administration from Louisiana Tech and is currently pursuing his Masters degree. He is in the process of transferring from the University of Texas at Arlington , where he was in the Masters in Healthcare Administration program, to a program closer to his new home in New Orleans . Larry is looking into Tulane University , which has a similar Masters program.

Larry is currently working for Ochsner which is a major referral and treatment center for the Southwest, South and Central America . They offer services across the entire south of Louisiana with the main campus being in New Orleans , which is where both clinical and hospital based services are offered.

We wish Larry all the best at his new job and new location!