#HFMA1000daresproject: ‘Share the Dare’ challenges you to do bold things

What do you know about this thing called the HFMA 1000 Dares Project?

I introduced 1000 Dares in my first column here in June and during my presentation at the HFMA Annual Conference in Orlando. I also talk about it when I’m out speaking with chapters and regions across the country about my Dare You 2 Move (DY2M) theme. DY2M is all about breaking out of what’s comfortable, easy and familiar and daring yourself to do something bold. The HFMA 1000 Dares Project adds an element to that idea: It says there are no disposable moments and that no action is too small or insignificant when you move to make a difference, take the dare or leave the safety of the familiar.

So let’s do bold things at work, at home and as we serve others in HFMA and elsewhere. And as you meet that challenge, use the hashtag and the “Share the Dare” page on LinkedIn, and share your stories. I want to see 1,000 bold stories shared.

When I was talking to a group of finance leaders at OSF HealthCare recently, a woman raised her hand and said she was 40 years old before she found the courage to jump on a trampoline for the first time. That’s a great story!

Everybody’s moments are different. I started the thread with my own DY2M moment. You can read it on the project web page, but many more stories have rolled in since mine. I want to highlight a few of them here.

Jennifer told us about her daughter, a 16-year-old cancer survivor who was diagnosed with a form of leukemia at age four and had a bone marrow transplant as part of her treatment. For her DY2M moment, Jennifer is going to register to be a bone marrow donor. Not a small commitment but one that someday may save a life.

Camie changed roles from working in the C-suite of a health system to become the CFO of her state’s department of health and human services — a completely different type of organization and job. This move brings a new scope, new accountabilities and a chance to make a difference across the state for people who have great needs.

Rich and his wife created a comedy podcast. Now that’s putting yourself out there!

And Heather set a goal to serve 1,000 people in need over the next year. What a great heart to serve and a great commitment. She ends her dare by challenging others with, “What you got?”

What great stories and dares! There’s never a better time to step up. Get your dare together and post it at hfma.org/HFMA1000DaresProject.

What’s your trampoline moment?