Leading Greats #14

Hello Friends,

Thank you for reading my newsletter - Leading Greats!

This is where I bring reflections from my wealth of knowledge and experience in healthcare and leadership incorporating well-being, plus new innovations.

I hope that you benefit from this information if even in some small way.

I appreciate your support!!

Thank YOU for being GREAT!

It has been another week of interesting conversations, discoveries, and breakthroughs…

Summer Solstice - The longest day of day light for the Northern Hemisphere was just days ago, in case you missed it.

Now our day light starts to get shorter as we enter H2 2023.

AI in Healthcare

AI is making advances in healthcare - in the improved diagnosis of ICU patient delirium.

According to a recent study as many as 80% of critically ill patients develop delirium which increases the need for institutionalization and higher morbidity and mortality rates.

Clinicians detect less than 40% of delirium if using validated screening tools commonly known. EEG is a resource intensive standard delirium monitoring approach. .

Such an approach with AI may shorten hospital length of stay, increase discharge to home, decrease mortality, and reduce the financial burden associated with delirium.

This is being accomplished with AI assisted EEG, showing an accuracy rate of over 95% in diagnosis.

The promise of early delirium detection can help reduce the need for long term skilled care and help reduce the financial burdens which are reported in a few reports to range from $44k to over $64k annually per patient.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-35004-y#Sec9

Healthcare needs more Healing!

Well-being | Gratitude

There is plenty alarming news with multiple massive job lay offs and the economy in uncertainty for many.

This is a great time to realize how things could always be much worse by being grateful in the moment and realizing how we are enough, and that we have enough in the present moment.

Many involved in mindfulness and self-help work share that “gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.”

A gratitude practice has shown many personal benefits backed by research:

1. Happiness

2. Better health

3. More optimism

4. Increased positive emotion

5. Relationships that are healthier and longer-lasting

6. Increased determination and alertness

7. Increased empathy and generosity

8. Fewer disappointments

9. Improved self-esteem

10. Better sleep

A simple Gratitude practice can lead to more happiness - that alone is reason to give this a try!

https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/want-more-gratitude-in-your-life-embrace-the-present-0517194

I share with all of my coaching clients how practicing gratitude has made such a positive impact on other clients, and in my daily life - in work and in relationships with increased engagement and desirable outcomes.

Brain Food

The book “Grain Brain” by David Perlmutter, MD was recommended to me and it ties into diet and lifestyle changes made by some who read it - with great benefits.

I wanted to share these concepts for those who may be less aware, so here goes.

In the book Grain Brain, the emphasis is on reducing grain consumption while pointing out several neurological advantages suggested by maintaining a low-carbohydrate, high fat diet(LCHF).

Not all claims were widely embraced, but it supported a shift in diet awareness and practices for many.

Here are the highlights:

• Enhanced cognitive function: adopting a LCHF diet can potentially improve cognitive function, including memory, focus, and concentration. By stabilizing blood sugar levels and reducing inflammation, the brain may function more efficiently.

• Reduced risk of neurological disorders: adopting a grain-free, low carb approach may help reduce the risk of neurological disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and other issues. The rationale is that by minimizing inflammation and supporting brain health through dietary changes, the risk of these conditions may be mitigated.

• Improved mood and mental well-being: the impact of diet on mental health and suggests that a LCHF diet can positively influence mood and mental well-being. By reducing grains and balancing the blood sugar, individuals may experience reduced anxiety, depression, and mood swings.

• Weight management and metabolic benefits: it is argued that adopting a LCHF diet can help regulate body weight and improve metabolic health. By reducing carb intake and increasing healthy fats, the body may shift into a state of ketosis, where it utilizes fats for fuel. The metabolic state is believed to provide sustained energy levels and potentially support brain health.

• Potential reduction of ADHD symptoms - explored are the relationship between diet and ADHD. It is suggested that eliminating grains, particularly gluten-containing grains, may help reduce ADHD symptoms and improve focus and attention.

The World needs more Great Leaders!

Meet Will Nitz of IQBAR

Will had brain interests early on, he minored in psychology and neuroscience at Harvard, afterwards he was not sure what career direction to take.

He tried work with software. As Will worked long hours he experienced chronic fatigue and headaches. He sought solutions. He was interested in nutrition and as the paleo diet was expanding he got interested in cutting back carbohydrates in his diet.

He experienced a mindset shift around diet when he read the book: Grain Brain mentioned above, first published around 2013.

From this book Will became aware that eating grains can cause your energy to crash, and how this degrades brain function.

Will also got interested in consumer packaged goods, he read other books such  as “Mission In a bottle”, related to creating a successful business - and the importance of creative problem solving, and mission-driven businesses.

https://www.amazon.com/Mission-Bottle-Business-Differently-Succeeding/dp/0770437494

Will got frustrated by a lack of options for his new diet preferences - as he was interested in low sugar, nutritional benefits. So he chose to make brain food.

He took action - and got started in his kitchen on his own.

He had a job selling marketing software while working nights and weekends on his product. Then he went part time as he gained leverage on his brain food idea.

After several iterations over the course of a year, Will launched a Kickstarter campaign in late 2017 and the first version of IQBAR protein bars was born!

Will created IQBARs.   https://www.eatiqbar.com/.

Early on Will sold $90K of product on kickstarter right away, then it took off on Amazon. Keto diet awareness was getting big, and he rode that wave.

He is an example of how consistent determination with a passion project and the power of the internet and social networking have helped create a successful business - one Will feels good about.

The IQBAR mission is to empower doers(busy people) with superior nutrition that is 100% plant based, nutrient dense ingredients that are super low carb and zero gluten, dairy, soy, or GMOS to boost brain and body performance.

The team at IQBAR identifies as functional foodies who want to empower doers like them! His company has 8 total employees and is very successful.  

I met Will on LinkedIn, he can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-nitze/

I asked Will about his path to success, his leadership style and how he maintains the success of this idea that has grown in demand. 

He admits that it is stressful but gets less stressful over time.

Will leads by example, he works hard on the front line. He is seen as doing the work. He learns at a central level all the roles, and steps back, not to micromanage.

“Results come or do not. No one ever quit, people were eventually replaced as skills rarely scale as sales increase from $0-1M, $1-5M, $5-10M and beyond, for a Head of Sales for example.”

This gives you an idea how successful IQBAR has become.

Here are a few of Will’s key realizations and practices in starting a business with no experience in the area - but with passion, and learning to scale, and survive:

• There is no play book but many gray areas.

• Test rapidly and adjust, rinse and repeat.

• Go To Market strategy varies, what works for one may not work for you.

• There were no go to mentors, he took mentors as they were found.

• Have peers who are going through similar things for support.

• Be ready for the personal sacrifice, by deferring gratification.

• This product business path looks like a 10-15 year plan minimally.

• Exercise to manage stress, Will does cardio for fitness.

In a short statement this is what Will says about IQBAR attributes:

“Threads the dietary needle of low sugar, plus low carb, 100% plant based, paleo friendly! They taste good, at a reasonable price.”

Availability is covered on the website, https://www.eatiqbar.com/

These benefits are of interest to me personally for personal performance, and also to offer benefits to my coaching clients who are seeking peak performance daily.

That is all - for this issue - of Leading Greats!

I hope that you got something of benefit here - Thank You for your support!

• Feel free to reach out to me and connect - with any questions, feedback, suggestions, to inquire about my work, etc. !

I am interested in keeping it great here!!

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Til next time - Keep it Great,

-Ronnie

Transformational Leadership Coach | Healthcare Leader | Advisor

• I help transform limiting beliefs - lead with increased engagement, effectiveness, and well-being.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronniekinseymba/

• Reach out to schedule a call to inquire about my work @ ronniekinsey.net