While recently in Boston, I was having dinner at Legal Seafood, known for its fresh fish and the best clam chowder you can find anywhere. My paper placemat was covered with marketing information about the restaurant, including the history of the company. Their “From Pier to Plate” philosophy intrigued me. It stated, “We are not a restaurant selling fish, but rather a fish company in the restaurant business.” Clearly, they draw the clientele because they place value on their products.
NBCF’s Beginning
The origin of the National Breast Cancer Foundation began when my husband, Neal, and I founded it in 1991. At the age of 34 I found out I had breast cancer, with no history of breast cancer in my family. I didn’t drink or smoke, ate healthy, and exercised regularly. Breast cancer side-swiped me from out of nowhere. That was an event in my life that could not be changed, but I knew I didn’t have to let it destroy me. So, NBCF was birthed.
The philosophy of NBCF has always been to serve the women we help with excellence.
For two generations, the Hail family has continued this tradition of serving needy women with the highest quality of care and concern. We seek out the finest hospitals available to get the best quality of service for women who cannot afford mammograms.
The vision has grown and our staff has expanded far beyond our family with our outreach across the United States, but the pursuit of excellence burns brightly at NBCF. We care about the women we serve. They have a right to good health care. They have a right to have a mammogram instead of having to choose between their health and putting food on the table. They have a right to live.
The Pursuit of Excellence
Excellence must be a way of life, not just a goal. And, yes, excellence has to be pursued. The real question is how can one find a pathway of excellence and then maintain it during difficult times?
Strategize Your Life
A long-time friend of our family, Robert Montgomery, co-authored, Become Strategic or Die. The book introduces this interesting concept, “A strategic warrior can always reduce the size of the battlefield by changing the rules of engagement.” He tells about a man who owned a Dollar Day store in Arkansas. The story is told, “He closed down his store and moved his business to a smaller town where he could be the elephant in the local department store business. We understand Wal-Mart has done very well.”
Having breast cancer is a devastating experience for many women. But, when life is out of control, you must grab the reigns and reduce the size of the battlefield. I remember when I found out I had breast cancer, I said aloud one day, “Breast cancer, you tried to kill me. You tried to destroy my life. Now, I’m coming after you. I am going to shine a light on you in the darkest areas of fear and ignorance and drive you out into the light where knowledge and faith will challenge your existence. Breast cancer, I’m coming after you.”
It took standing up to my own fears to reduce the size of my battlefield. Breast cancer became less frightening when I educated myself about the disease. I was more willing to get treatment and to seek good health. My perception of my changed body became healthy as I looked beyond the scars to seeing myself as a whole human being. And, my outlook on life became optimistic as I allowed faith to grow in my life.
Cancer can have smaller boundaries in your life when you look beyond your fears.
Clear Out the Junk
Every day that you hold onto bitterness, hatred, or other bad emotions, you shorten your lifespan of happiness. The excellence of life begins as you clear the junk out of your mind. Wash it away with tears of forgiveness. Maybe you need to first forgive yourself for past mistakes or for blaming others for your troubles. You may be angry at life or God for getting breast cancer. There are people surrounding you who want to help you, but you will never see them through angry eyes. Clear vision comes from clear thinking. And, clear thinking comes from right thinking. And, right thinking comes from thinking on good things.
Find the Pathway
The pursuit of excellence has to be strategized by clear focus, clearing the pathway of obstacles of wrong emotions, and seeking excellence as a way of life. As you pursue excellence, seek out breast cancer education on our website with our DVD Beyond the Shock. Surround yourself with positive-thinking friends in our online community, MyNBCF. Begin a journey of excellence for peace and fulfillment in your life.
Thought for Today:
“If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.” – Colin Powell
Live Life,
Janelle