When the inspiration you share comes back to you

Adding value to others is the surest way to add value to our own lives – John Maxwell.

Recently, a doctor said to me, “You don’t know me, but you spoke at my school when you were president of the American Optometric Association (AOA). You discussed InfantSEE and the importance of early detection and intervention. That resonated with me, as I pursued a career in pediatric optometry.”

You cannot imagine how much comments like these mean to me. Yes, they add value to my life.

Here, I discuss the value of these comments.

Going on tour

The comments started with a school tour. In my years as president-elect and president of the AOA, I visited every U.S. school and college of optometry. I met with four groups at every school: students, student leaders, faculty, and the dean or president. For the students, I brought a motivational message about why involvement in our profession is essential.

Take-home lessons

One of the valuable benefits of the tour for me was that, even though I was presenting, I learned many things. I learned about the people in our profession. I learned about each school and what was important to faculty and students. I even learned communication tips.

For example, my conversations with faculty were more effective if I sat with them as equals.

Making a difference?

When the tour started, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the students. I hoped to be informative. I touched on InfantSEE and spoke about the history of the profession, and why we refer to optometry as a legislated profession. Some of the stories were humorous; others demonstrated how important our profession is to quality of life.

My conversations stressed the importance of involvement in the profession as students and, more importantly, after graduation. I hoped to be inspirational, but sometimes never quite knew whether I was making a difference. Did my message resonate with students?

Valuable accomplishments

One of my proudest accomplishments from the school tour, which occurred about 10 years ago, is what I see at meetings and in journals — that is, involvement from a core group of optometrists who were in school during the tour. I affectionately refer to them as “my students.” Several are lecturers. Others have taken on positions of leadership in state associations or societies. Some are involved with industry.

And then there are the folks I never really met personally who tell me I inspired their path in the profession, much like the experience of the young woman at the beginning of this column.

A few years ago, a woman greeted me at a meeting. In her case, I had spoken at her graduation. She said something I will never forget: “You made me believe I could be and do anything I wanted.”

Adding value to others can truly add value to our own lives. OM

DR. CARLSON was the first woman to serve as president of the American Optometric Association. Most recently, she was a 2019 recipient of Women of Optometry’s Theia Award for Leadership. In addition to her optometric leadership, Dr. Carlson is a 2020 graduate from the University of Jamestown, with a Master of Arts in Leadership, as well as a John Maxwell-certified speaker and trainer.