It’s truly amazing the impression Marty Campanello made on me. After all, I only knew Marty for a couple of years and probably was face-to-face with him a half dozen times. But I can honestly say I will never forget my friend nor will I ever forget the impact he made on my life.
I first met Marty at a CHS Regional Marketing meeting in Shelby. This was Marty’s way of team-building with the various marketing departments scattered throughout the Carolinas. We spent the morning discussing a variety of campaigns and strategies. It was time well spent according to Marty. And then he said something I’ll never forget. He told us that we saved lives. He proceeded to explain to us that it was not until we educated our communities of a new service or let people know the symptoms of a disease, that they sought help. As healthcare marketers we started the ball rolling. We started the conversation that so many people would finish with their doctor. We were making a difference and he wanted us to know that. Marty never failed to deliver that message whenever he could. Regardless of employer, Marty praised our profession and urged that we strive to connect with our communities. I remember him talking to a group at one of our CHPRMS conferences in Asheville. It was a casual setting with 7 or 8 people from different systems. In true Marty-form, as we began to break up and go our separate ways, Marty gave us the pep talk. “You guys are making a difference,” he said.
I’ve never forgotten his sincerity or persistence.
I also remember that Marty was constantly teaching the “kids” around him. I tried to soak up as much as I could from him. I don’t think Marty considered himself a teacher, but he was. I remember him constantly asking questions, always wanting to know how we were doing something or why did we pick this color or that font. Healthcare marketing and all its aspects fascinated him. You could see that love for what we do in his eyes and hear it in his voice. That enthusiasm is contagious – you can’t help but catch it when you’re around someone like Marty.
My friend passed away last year at the young age of 55. I will never forget him. His passion for our profession has left its mark on me. Although I love the creative aspects of our business, I realize the higher purpose behind the brochures and commercials. Don’t get me wrong – I still get a deep satisfaction when completing a project. I love it when someone says they liked my article or brochure or ad. There’s something special about having a completed project in-hand, tangible and real. But there’s something even more special about being able to make a positive difference in someone’s life. I believe that I work in a noble profession and I’m proud to be a part of it.
I have tried to adopt two of Marty’s habits. First, I try to “cheerlead” whenever possible. Only if I believe in myself as a healthcare marketer will others believe in me. Positive outlooks fuel positive outcomes. Second, I want to share what I have learned during my career as I learn from others. I believe I was on a very successful team at Blue Ridge and that I helped make it successful. Although my team at hospice was much smaller (just two of us), I employed the same tactics.
It just occurred to me while writing this that ROI can have a different meaning. Return On Investment is very important and cannot be overlooked, but there’s also the Return On the Individual. Not every project can be successful in financial terms, but every project can be successful for the individual or team. As a manager and a team player, it’s my responsibility to learn from each project and improve our skill sets so we can be even more effective next time.
I love making a difference - making a difference in the communities we serve and in the people around me.
I first met Marty at a CHS Regional Marketing meeting in Shelby. This was Marty’s way of team-building with the various marketing departments scattered throughout the Carolinas. We spent the morning discussing a variety of campaigns and strategies. It was time well spent according to Marty. And then he said something I’ll never forget. He told us that we saved lives. He proceeded to explain to us that it was not until we educated our communities of a new service or let people know the symptoms of a disease, that they sought help. As healthcare marketers we started the ball rolling. We started the conversation that so many people would finish with their doctor. We were making a difference and he wanted us to know that. Marty never failed to deliver that message whenever he could. Regardless of employer, Marty praised our profession and urged that we strive to connect with our communities. I remember him talking to a group at one of our CHPRMS conferences in Asheville. It was a casual setting with 7 or 8 people from different systems. In true Marty-form, as we began to break up and go our separate ways, Marty gave us the pep talk. “You guys are making a difference,” he said.
I’ve never forgotten his sincerity or persistence.
I also remember that Marty was constantly teaching the “kids” around him. I tried to soak up as much as I could from him. I don’t think Marty considered himself a teacher, but he was. I remember him constantly asking questions, always wanting to know how we were doing something or why did we pick this color or that font. Healthcare marketing and all its aspects fascinated him. You could see that love for what we do in his eyes and hear it in his voice. That enthusiasm is contagious – you can’t help but catch it when you’re around someone like Marty.
My friend passed away last year at the young age of 55. I will never forget him. His passion for our profession has left its mark on me. Although I love the creative aspects of our business, I realize the higher purpose behind the brochures and commercials. Don’t get me wrong – I still get a deep satisfaction when completing a project. I love it when someone says they liked my article or brochure or ad. There’s something special about having a completed project in-hand, tangible and real. But there’s something even more special about being able to make a positive difference in someone’s life. I believe that I work in a noble profession and I’m proud to be a part of it.
I have tried to adopt two of Marty’s habits. First, I try to “cheerlead” whenever possible. Only if I believe in myself as a healthcare marketer will others believe in me. Positive outlooks fuel positive outcomes. Second, I want to share what I have learned during my career as I learn from others. I believe I was on a very successful team at Blue Ridge and that I helped make it successful. Although my team at hospice was much smaller (just two of us), I employed the same tactics.
It just occurred to me while writing this that ROI can have a different meaning. Return On Investment is very important and cannot be overlooked, but there’s also the Return On the Individual. Not every project can be successful in financial terms, but every project can be successful for the individual or team. As a manager and a team player, it’s my responsibility to learn from each project and improve our skill sets so we can be even more effective next time.
I love making a difference - making a difference in the communities we serve and in the people around me.