Blog 1: Empathy Map of Mike

[THINKING AND FEELING]:

For Mike, life revolves around the legacy you leave behind. At the end of the day, your family is what matters most, and Mike works tirelessly to provide for his family day in and day out. He is preoccupied with ensuring that the wife he loves feels cared for, and that the children he has raised have access to opportunities that lead to a good life and career. He worries about retirement, which is slowly impending and weighing on his mind. He hopes to continue to lead a successful career. He hopes to maintain his marriage with his wife of 32 years. He hopes to one day play with his grandchildren and see the homes his children will build. Yet above all, he aspires most to leave behind a strong legacy for himself – one that inspires his sons to be men of character, dignity, success and virtue.

    

[SEEING]:

The floors are sparkling white tile. The walls are painted in tan and adorned with framed pictures of the UT campus. The shelves are sterile and impeccably clean, scenting the air with touches of Lysol. Mike’s everyday environment is the office of his own otolaryngology practice. Patients, nurses, and fellow surgeons surround him, tasking him with the responsibility to constantly display leadership and good judgment as he cares for the well-being of those who have entrusted him with their health. Mike is exposed to offers in the market that seek to provide high quality medical equipment, the latest in medical breakthroughs, or personal financial saving.

   

[SAYING AND DOING]:

Self-control guides Mike throughout his everyday life. He rarely allows rage or frustration to get the best of him and compromise his poise and integrity. Each day, he displays confidence and respect. He comes across to others as serious, dedicated, and hardworking. Mike values manners – he treats others the way that he would like to be treated, and he has taught his children to do the same. He believes in the power of first impressions; consequently, he places value in his appearance. He practices healthy habits, looks clean cut, and always dresses well.

[HEARING]:

The voice Mike hears the most is that of his wife of more than 30 years, Judy. She influences everything from his personal habits to his professional decisions. In times of hesitation and reservation, Judy pushes him to make decisions and step out of his comfort zone. The media commands Mike’s attention through online advertisements, radio blurbs during his morning commutes to work, and print advertisements that span the pages of his favorite medical journals and magazines.

 

[POINTS OF PAIN]:

As the main provider for a family of five people, Mike’s worries revolve mainly around attaining and maintaining a position of financial stability for his family. He finds himself constantly focused on ensuring that an ample amount of money exists in savings to provide for his family well into the future. The recent burden of college tuitions and expenses impede upon Mike’s ability to save as much as he desires. Outside of his personal life, Mike is pained by the changes in the healthcare system. Government healthcare regulations inflicted upon Mike have not only increased his workload, but have also caused an increase in expenses. As the owner of his own practice, Mike constantly battles with the dilemma of having less and less time to see patients due to the added responsibilities brought on by the ever-changing world of healthcare.

   

[GAINS]:

For Mike, success cannot be defined by just one thing. Professionally, Mike hopes to achieve success simply by avoiding failure. He seeks to perform surgeries without making mistakes in order to maximize the benefit and life improvement for the patient. Personally, success would be measured by the happiness of both he and his family. Mike hopes to retire with enough money in savings to live a very comfortable lifestyle – one that would still allow him to play golf with friends, take trips with his family, and enjoy trying new restaurants with his wife.