Spring has finally arrived in central Florida. It has become warm enough not to need to wear cool weather clothing but cool enough to keep windows and doors open for most of the day. This is the time of year when I want to be outdoors even though the air is full of pollens. I experience a strong need to get my hands in the soil and new plants into the ground or into my hydroponic gardening units…or out riding a bicycle.
The biggest difficulty Spring provides for me is that it is hard for me to stay task-focused. This has been the case since I was a child. I just don’t much feel like being indoors, so working on indoor responsibilities comes much harder. As an adult, work is no exception. It is hard for me to focus on tasks that need to be accomplished. I would much rather be playing….or at least doing different work.
As a result of this year’s Spring fever, it was not difficult to decide that the celebration of Synergistic Office Solutions‘ 25th anniversary should happen at home rather than in a restaurant. It may cost me a bit more work, but it is not my usual work. I get to have a party instead of focusing on the changes I need to make to our web site or some other such task.
Yes, our software company has now been around for 25 years. Seth started doing consulting to other psychologists in 1985. Our billing software for mental health and medical practitioners followed in the next year. Florida psychologists were our first customers, but we started selling nationally in 1988 or 1989. Our electronic clinical record product was released in 1990. We made the transition from full-time practice of psychology to full-time software business in 1992-1993. Sometimes I am sure we jumped from the frying pan into the fire!
The primary benefit of the change from providing services to mental health clients to providing products and services to mental health providers has been that we have met so many wonderful folks who embody in their work their mission to care for others. Behavioral health providers and service organizations are the BEST! We are grateful for the opportunity we have had over the past 25 years to work with so many talented and caring people. Thanks to each and every one of you!
As you can see, my Spring Fever is so bad this year that I could not even write a blog article that would have the usual links to information you could use. It contains nothing about behavioral health electronic medical records or HIPAA or HITECH. Oh well, maybe next week will allow a return to those serious issues.
How do you respond to the appearance of Spring? Are you one of those wonderfully responsible people who can just put your head down and keep on taking care of business? Will you share with me how you do that? Or maybe you are just like me and want to have a party!
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Bruce Hyman says:
Kathy–it’s so very refreshing to hear a sense of balance that is generated by the natural change in the seasons. I know exactly what you’re talking about as I’m sitting at my computer at home dutifully working on a writing project but yet longing for the outdoors. It’s a great time of year to be in So Fla. Snow birds have returned home, the roads are less congested and lines at stores and restaurants are shorter. The humidity is bearable for another month or so. So, I’m all for saying the heck with “tasks” and getting our hands dirty, or enjoying the beauty around us.
BTW, congrats on your anniversary. I met you late 1980’s, was using OM starting in 1991 and have used it ever since. Your integrity as professionals and commitment to your products has kept me a loyal customer for all these years.
Kathy says:
Thanks so much for your note, Bruce. I’m going to head home now to have a late lunch on the porch and enjoy this gorgeous weather!