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C. E. Nash
Biographical Sketch
I like to think of myself as one of the first in a long line of baby boomers. Born between the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I was raised in post World War II America whe...view moreBiographical Sketch
I like to think of myself as one of the first in a long line of baby boomers. Born between the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I was raised in post World War II America when telephones and TVs were yet to become commonplace in the American home and girls were expected to marry, provide a peaceful well organized home life and produce children for a working spouse. Fortunately, my parents were supportive of all endeavors I attempted, contrary to traditional expectations and firmly believed I would be able to succeed at whatever I undertook. The only career options my father ruled out for me were, of course, my first two choices; firefighter and professional football player. He didn't think I would do well at either, partially due to my sex; and partially my diminutive size. I was raised with five siblings in an atmosphere of strict obedience as were most children during the 1950's; the era of “spare the rod, spoil the child”. However, as long as house rules were followed, personal creativity and accomplishments were wholeheartedly supported provided we were willing to work for the funds needed to make our endeavors possible. Nothing was ever arbitrarily handed out. My parents simply had virtually nothing to hand out. They were, in fact relatively poor with little money left at the end of a work week to spend on anything frivolous. Just feeding, clothing and educating six children was an enormous and financially consuming task.
I began my professional career at the age of 17; the day after I graduated from high school. One of the unbreakable house rules; upon completion of high school, we were required to land a full time job and pay room and board. I had a full time job at the Quaker Oats Company in their finance and accounting division by the end of the first day in my job hunting adventure. I spent nine years in the financial division of the same company before deciding I didn't like my job. However, it was time well spent. Both the formal and business educational experiences I received during those years were certainly put to good use in later life.
By the time I was 18, I had moved from home into an apartment with two friends and was essentially on my own, albeit with considerable assistance from my parents who firmly believed they had raised me with sufficient knowledge and good sense to enable me to survive on my own. In their eyes, I was an early success; out of the nest sooner than my siblings other than two brothers who had joined the military. During their all too brief lives, I maintained a close and loving relationship with my parents who were both deceased by the time I reached my 29th birthday; my father at the age of 51 and my mother at the age of 52.
During my stint in the business world, I also did the appropriate thing and married a young man who was considered a "good" potential provider and an excellent candidate for the job of future father to my unborn children. My children remained unborn and I spent nineteen years in the relationship before deciding I didn't like my marriage any better than my career in accounting.
I changed careers, became divorced before it was a commonplace everyday occurrence and began my advanced educational process all over again, studying biology, math, humanities and American history (just for fun) with a major in the field of respiratory care. However, once again, after spending ten years working in the healthcare setting, I decided I didn't like my job. I did, however, like my career choice, so I knew I was edging ever nearer to my own brand of personal and professional satisfaction.
I left the hospital setting to set up the first of three companies I would sequentially start up and run. My time in the financial and hospital setting was well spent. While working in the hospital, I taught medical residents and respiratory care students in the clinical setting and spent five years engaged in medical research projects under the guidance of my medical director. As one promotion after another came along, I was instrumental in developing medical policies and procedures as well as development of educational programs within the structure of the healthcare industry. I have no idea what possessed me to strike out on my own in the business world and I nearly starved while setting up my first company; living on an extensive diet of ramen noodles and peanut butter.
Within a year, I had a viable teaching company established which realized small year end profits, and was teaching CPR and Fist Aid to small business. I liked the concept of having succeeded at what I set out to do, but got very tired of the repetition in the day to day activities of my company.I found that managing employees was much like trying to herd cats; exhausting on a good day. I liked being my own boss but still didn't really like my job yet.
I had not completely abandoned my healthcare career and provided medical support to air and ground ambulance transport teams throughout the world while running my education company. The travel was extensive, challenges were consistently difficult and the pay stunk. Now, I finally liked my job, but didn't like the constant focus of my employers on getting in the money; making a profit at any cost, then providing care for the patients. I certainly did not like my income. I thought I could and should do a better job.
I started my second company by providing contract Nurses and Respiratory Therapists to the ambulance transport industry while personally continuing to do transports as well. Within a year from startup, I once again had a viable small business which netted a very small profit at the end of its first year. I liked that job but its time was limited. Early on, the handwriting on the wall told me it was only a matter of time before the ambulance companies hired their own medical staff to provide these services. I really liked that job, however, it was self-limiting.
I opened my third company by simply expanding into the ambulance transport business with my own vehicles where I have remained active and relatively content. This time, it took five years to financially stabilize the company and simply break even. I really think I like this job and may have finally decided what I would like to do when I grown up. I’m satisfied with paying decent salaries to my staff, managing to keep nearly even with business expenses and occasionally come out with a small profit at the end of the fiscal year. Having worked in all aspects of the healthcare industry has given me sufficient education, experience and insight into the industry to enable me to write “Jiggered”.
I really don't know what I’ll do next. I’ve never really planned my life in advance with the exception of a marriage which really didn’t work well for me anyway. I’ve simply explored the opportunities placed in front of me; some of which have worked and others which have not. At the age of 65, I don’t feel any need to actively seek challenges. Based on my previous life experiences, challenges will certainly come along unbidden and like a moth drawn to a flame, I will continue to be drawn to new challenges as long as I am physically and mentally capable of responding. I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m only truly happy when challenged.
I love to read and make time to do so every day. I would consider myself lost if I ran out of reading material and would most likely resort to reading the nutritional contents on my cereal boxes to prevent reader’s withdrawal.
I studied fine art for two years at the American Academy of Art in Chicago and someday hope to return to painting in oils. At present, I content myself with spending time working with many old fashioned forms of needlework which my grandmother began teaching me as a small child.
I have always loved the history of my country and wish time machines were a reality. I’d travel by wagon train, go to California during theview less
Books by C. E. Nash
Jiggered: The Healthcare Insurance Industry; Unraveled, Explained and Exposed