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{{{FEAR}}} and SUCCESS!

{{{FEAR}}} and SUCCESS!

by Linda Andrews -
Number of replies: 7

When you make it to a certain point in this course, you may panic. That's okay. That' normal when you're learning at the professional level taught at The Andrews School. It may make you wish at times that you had enrolled in an easier course. 

That's okay. You can do this!  Some of the best medical coders who graduated from this course felt the same emotions, took a deep breath, and kept moving forward when those with weaker motivation would have given up. The only way your fear can defeat you is if you give up and quit.  You're not a quitter or you most likely wouldn't have enrolled in this course.

It's just 'Fear of Success' rearing it's ugly head - showing itself to see if it can make you quake and shake and give up.

Don't think of all that you have ahead of you to learn. Instead, think of all that you've learned already - an impressive amount of information!  Remember all those successes. Remember also how scary it was when you first started.  But YOU DID IT!  

You learned things at the level you didn't think existed, was necessary, or maybe even possible! Now, looking at it from the other side you realize that it WAS possible and it was also necessary for the best career success results. From this side you can also appreciate the value of that higher level of understanding rather than just an inadequate educational overview or 'Introduction' to medical coding.

You did it then...you can do it again!     Get out your books and Make It Happen!


Re: {{{FEAR}}} and SUCCESS!

by Deleted user -

Linda, thanks.  This couldn't have come at a better time for me.  I am having those fears, they are bugging me and I constantly have to say, "Yes, I can."  But then the reality pops up and reminds me of how many questions I have to send to the instructor.  I can get most of the codes fine, but maybe just one letter or digit in a code would be incorrect, choosing a 4 instead of a 3, or open instead of percutaneous and that one tiny wrong digit or letter will make my whole question be marked wrong.  My instructors have been great and I have learned from their guidance, but they are not going to be sitting at my elbow when I take the CPC or later the CCS nor are they going to go to work with me. I'll be on my own.  So yes, I am quaking.  So much hinges on passing those exams.  Now I am going to try to stop quaking with fear but quake for success.  Oh, dear, even as I type this I realize haven't stopped quaking but am saying "I can't" but the other side of me says "Yes, you can."  

You have made me look back a few years and remind myself of where I have been, the trials of life I have gone through and what I have accomplished (only with the Lord's help, a lot of prayers, a lot of faith) but this coding is, whew, it's rough.  

Again, your timing was great with your note.  Thanks again.

Donna G


Re: {{{FEAR}}} and SUCCESS!

by S Wi, CCS, CCS-P, CRC, CUC, CHONC -

Thanks again for your inspiring words Linda! I'm so grateful for you replying to my message that day!  When I started courses through the other program I was in, I just assumed I would get what I needed to learn. I'm so excited, and just ready to accomplish this goal! 

Re: {{{FEAR}}} and SUCCESS!

by Deleted user -

Thank you for this advice, Linda.  This came at the perfect time for me as well.  I got my first "bad grade" towards the end of Module III.  I was kind of shaken up and thinking all those thoughts that come with that kind of thing.  I had to take a deep breath and remind myself of all the things I've learned and how far I've come since I first started in Module I.  I went from not knowing how to even use a coding book to being able to code the intermediate and advanced cases.  I did my best to put it behind me and moved on to the next.  I ended up getting a really good grade on my last exam.  As I've started working in Module IV and going back over the Coding Handbook it's really taken me back to the beginning and really showed me how much I've truly learned through all of this.  There are going to be mistakes, but I'm going to learn from every one of them.  That has been my #1 goal through my studies - to learn from every mistake and make sure I don't repeat them.  I've also realized that sometimes you learn more from a mistake than from a perfect score.  I know Module IV is probably going to be my biggest challenge, but I'm so excited to be learning more and more.  I think failure every now and then can be a big motivator for success!

Re: {{{FEAR}}} and SUCCESS!

by Deleted user -

Thanks, Linda, for the words of encouragement, which I so badly needed. I printed out your post and have it displayed at my work station. This was one more example of your going the extra mile for us students! 

Re: {{{FEAR}}} and SUCCESS!

by Deleted user -

Yes I needed to hear this too right now Linda!  Thank you for talking with me the other day also. You gave me some much needed encouragement to keep pushing on!