Observations from the Front Line

This week marked the one year anniversary of the devastating Christchurch earthquake. I’m sure you joined me in sending your thoughts and sympathies to our Cantabrian colleagues, and the many people affected by this disaster, on Wednesday.

What a Response…

Wow – what an enthusiastic, supportive and absolutely overwhelming response to last week’s suggestion for staff to collectively lose 1000kg. I was blown away by your level of interest and the number of responses which flowed in to ceoblog@middlemore.co.nz. Thanks to everyone who emailed me and shared their hopes, dreams, challenges and fears. Clearly many of us are in the same boat.

A Big Idea?

My heartfelt thanks to everyone who replied to last week’s post offering advice on how I can lose my stubborn 8kgs. I really appreciate your support and suggestions (or maybe lots of you just want your CEO to jump out of a plane!?!). On a serious note, it was heartening to hear from you. I will certainly be following up on your ideas and will keep you updated on my progress.

Taking Stock

It was a delight to welcome the 1.5 millionth Aucklander at Middlemore Hospital on Wednesday. The birth of Ramonah Patience Toomalatai really reinforced what a vibrant and growing community we have, both here in Counties Manukau and in Auckland city.

It also made think about the fact that I’ve recently turned 50.

Sustainability and Excellence

After getting a lot of feedback from you asking the same question, I promised that I’d discuss how the work we’re proposing and the changes we have ahead of us contribute to the bigger picture. I’ve spent much of the last month pulling together a framework that, I think, helps put a lot of our work in context. Today’s blog will hopefully give you that context and a better sense of the journey ahead.

The Year Ahead

Happy New Year. Thanks to those who held the fort by working through the break, and to the rest, I hope you had a restful Christmas season. I have to admit feeling slightly cheated when, having put up with three weeks of rain, I arrived back at work last Monday to be greeted by sunshine out the window! But these things happen and I was lucky enough to have a really good break which has left me looking very forward to all that is in store in 2012.

2011 In Review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 7,600 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.