Internationally acclaimed speaker and bestselling author D.J. Vanas delivered an inspiring keynote at the 2023 Healthcare and IT Marketing Conference (HITMC23). D.J. drew on his Native American heritage and extensive cultural knowledge to reframe what it means to be a “warrior” in today’s society. True warriors are resourceful, put their tribes first, and are driven by service, not by personal glory.
D.J.’s rousing and unforgettable session was filled with personal stories, humor, and practical lessons. He drew from his latest book “The Warrior Within” where he explains the warrior spirit.
Your warrior spirit is the driving force to face and overcome challenges and to develop yourself so you can serve and contribute to your tribe. It is a can-do, persistent, resilient, optimistic, uncompromising attitude composed of grit, determination, love for what is fought for, consistent focus, courageous commitment, and a willingness to own mistakes. Your warrior spirit is that voice inside you that shouts, “I will find a way forward!” and surpasses motivation.
Using what is at hand
During his keynote, D.J. spoke of the many warrior principles, but one really stood out for me: using what is at hand. D.J. cited an example from his own tribe, the Anishinaabe. His tribe used birchbark for everything – housing, containers, and for transportation. It was readily available and easy to obtain, so his tribe found creative ways to adapt birchbark to their needs.
“Our birchbark canoes have hulls less than a quarter-inch thick,” said D.J. “Yet they are strong, fast, maneuverable, and light – a canoe eighteen feet long could weigh as little as thirty-five pounds.”
A typical solo canoe made of plastic weighs over 50 pounds. Only the latest canoes made of composite materials come close to being as light as one made of birchbark.
D.J.’s point was that warriors are resourceful. They realize they are always surrounded by an embarrassment of riches and resources. They have an optimistic perspective that allows them to see past obstacles and limitations. They don’t dwell on what they lack, but rather on what they have at hand.
One of the principles of being a warrior for indigenous peoples was having a tribal-centric view of resources. Use what you have around you. Be adaptable and see things in new ways. Birch bark as transportation. Seeds as food. @DJVanas #HITMC23 #HITMC pic.twitter.com/K7BWKHHWnz
— Colin Hung (@Colin_Hung) February 2, 2023
D.J.’s point is especially relevant for healthcare leaders in 2023. In these uncertain economic times, leaders will need to be resourceful in order to achieve the ambitious goals their organizations have set for them. We will all need to maximize the resources we have on hand rather and find creative ways to use them.
Service, Courage, and Joy
D.J. dropped dozens of other insightful “truth bombs” during his keynote. Here are a small selection of them.
Fostering joy gives us the ability to be resilient. Hell. Yes. #hitmc pic.twitter.com/exyErUUT69
— Kate-Madonna Hindes (@girlmeetsgeek) February 2, 2023
Warriors face fear with courage. – @DJVanas #HITMC
— Stephanie Nelson (@SBNatFP) February 2, 2023
“Who you impact while you’re here is the legacy you leave behind.” ❤️ @DJVanas on how warriors lead by example (but aren’t perfect), and are put on this world to serve. #HITMC2023 #HITMC pic.twitter.com/Q66R4aqK1H
— Ashley Dauwer (@amariedauwer) February 2, 2023
A calm mind can find solutions. Great advice from @DJVanas at #HITMC
— larrykaiser (@LarryKaiser) February 2, 2023
“It’s not just learning what to say yes to, it’s learning what to say no to as well” — so difficult, but so necessary. @DJVanas #HITMC #HITMC23
— Dalton Patterson (@MrDollyPat) February 2, 2023
Feeling reinvigorated and inspired after @DJVanas’s #HITMC keynote. Change is hard but can bring out the best of us, so how do we navigate it?
– stay calm
– stay philosophical
– stay grounded
– stay connected
– stay focused
– stay flexible pic.twitter.com/1sxW9evV6D— Erin Dixon (@ErinDixonPR) February 2, 2023
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