Recently, as my children enjoyed their Spring Break, we took a trip to the North Carolina mountains to get away and rest for the sprint to the end of the school year. It was a time to pause and reflect when a lightning bolt moment hit me. This was the week 20 years ago I started my career at Boston Scientific. Did 20 years happen just like that?
On March 23, 2005, I started my first day at Boston Scientific as a Territory Manager in the Women’s Health business. My first territory was called the Allentown (PA) territory, which is far from a major metropolis, but I was excited at my first opportunity in medical device sales. I was grateful for the opportunity extended to me by my first manager, Carrie Soroush, and for this new world that I was about to enter.
To say that the next 20 years have far exceeded my prior expectations would be an understatement. Our Women’s Health business fell under the Urology Division, which amounted to roughly $200 million in global sales at the time. It was a fledgling division, a bit of an afterthought at the time, but one with enormous potential.
What has happened over the last twenty years has truly been astonishing. The meteoric growth of this division is a masterclass in how a strong culture, smart and well-timed investments, and disciplined execution can converge for a seismic impact. That tiny $200 million business has grown up. It’s now a $2 billion+ juggernaut that is a major player in Boston Scientific’s growth story. A Boston Scientific Urology product is now used every 21 seconds in a new patient.
To name all of those I am grateful to would be too numerous to count, from division leaders to former managers to influential peers and the next generation of talent that gives me confidence in our future. I’ve had seven or eight different roles, worked in various product franchises and divisional functions, and moved locations a few times. I’ve also had the opportunity to travel the world to help launch new products that make a difference in patients’ lives.
Every week, I have someone new reach out to ask for mentoring advice and questions they can consider for their career. Through this wild ride, I have come up with the top lessons I learned during this fulfilling career journey.
Top Lessons Learned
Explore change with curiosity: The #1 lesson I have learned is to look for opportunity in change and use it as an accelerator for growth. Humans naturally resist change, but overcoming that can create a whole new reality that you never deemed possible.
Bloom where you are planted: There are microcycles in your career where things are moving quickly and macrocycles where you feel like you are on a plateau. Regardless of where you are, be great at what you do in the moment you are in. If the next moment depends on this moment, doesn’t it make sense to be our best right now? All circumstances are learning opportunities.
The lost art of delayed gratification: I’ve never turned down an opportunity to learn and plant seeds for future growth. This could be taking a course, reading a book, making a networking connection, pursuing a new degree, or making a lateral career move. If I can learn something new, I will invest in planting new seeds. Have confidence that these seeds will reap a harvest later, and make a bet on yourself!
Run to the fire: Pursuing easy opportunities to stack up wins and look good can be tempting. Still, honest leadership and growth come when you jump into the challenges and opportunities that nobody wants anything to do with. You will learn more through the challenge than in the easy win.
Assume best intent: Giving people the benefit of the doubt will ease your daily frustration and speed up collaboration. Whenever I’ve had a difference of opinion with someone and have taken the time to understand their perspective, I can see why they came to the conclusions they did 99% of the time. Sometimes, I learn something new. Sometimes, they learn something new. Together, we grow.
Empowered teams win: 10 years ago, when leading a significant product launch, it felt like I needed to be everywhere in the world, all at once. This isn’t possible, so letting go of control and empowering teams that know their markets the best allowed us to maximize a successful $100 million+ launch. By letting go of control, I gained more authentic connections with others because they felt like their talents mattered. The group’s wisdom beats a lone wolf any day of the week.
What’s good for the hive is good for the bee: Sometimes, companies undergo transitions and must decide to reorient towards their future state. While these changes can be disruptive, they set the business and people up for success. As the organization strengthens, so do the opportunities for those within it.
A rising tide lifts all boats: This expression came from John F. Kennedy, Jr. and can be applied to a fast-moving organization. Success isn’t a fixed-sum game with limited pieces of a pie to go around. On the contrary, as those around you succeed, it elevates the standards and opportunities where we all can benefit. Cheer on your teammates for their wins!
Make room for deep work: It’s easy to be busy and not get anything done. While there is a time when we need to hop from meeting to meeting and make quick decisions, there is also a time for the opposite. Carving out time to focus without distraction is paramount to producing strategic and creative work. I love to read and write at 5 am and don’t use WiFi when on a plane to give my brain a chance to think.
Pay it forward: I have been the beneficiary of great work from the people who have come before me, and it would only be fitting to help pay that to the next generation. Whatever your role in the organization, how can you contribute meaningfully to chart a better path for the next person?
It’s ok to love your job: The average person spends 90,000 hours at work in their lifetime. With those types of statistics, it pays to find something that fulfills your purpose and unlocks your best self. Many people talk about work/life balance. Having the right conditions in your personal and professional lives can complement one another. Be proud of that!
Where do we go from here?
It’s been quite a journey, and I am beyond grateful for the experience that I have had. As proud as I am of the Division’s past, I am even more excited about our future. I can’t wait to work alongside this team as we contribute more prominently to Boston Scientific and improve the quality of care worldwide. What will the new lessons be learned in the next five years? As we enter the golden age of Boston Scientific, our possibilities are endless.
The best is yet to come.
Gratefully,
Brian McGee
