Hello! Welcome!
When I was eight years old, I started writing a book about Native American Indians living by a river. I titled it, "The Last Days at Sandy Shores". Dad mocked my writing and embarrassed me, so I stopped, but my passion to write continued into adulthood and later wrote Don't Pick Up All the Dog Hairs. Please enjoy!
Don't Pick Up All the Dog Hairs
This is my first published book about lessons learned from Failures, Adversities, Mistakes and Enemies (FAME). Having been in a variety of leadership roles, I discovered the value of mistakes and failures early in my career. I learned to embrace and value their contributions to help me grow and become a better boss and person.
This book is a collection of short stories about failures and mistakes I have experienced and witnessed since childhood. Perhaps replaying these experiences and describing the lessons learned through this book will help others become better leaders.
Endorsements for "Dog Hairs"
In Don’t Pick Up All the Dog Hairs, Dr. Ronald Dwinnells, a highly respected health care professional, shares lessons learned from his many years of management experience in a fun and compelling must read. Incorporating humor and examples, the author makes it easy for the reader to remember and apply the lessons to a variety of situations and improve his or her management skills.
Renee W. Dean, Renee W. Dean Health Care Consulting
Ron Dwinnells is a leader and role model. His gentle wisdom, warm sense of humor, and true humility shine through every line of this valuable set of learnings and teachings about leadership.
Ellen L. Beck, M.D., Faculty Director of Faculty and Leadership Development and Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine
I have known Dr. Ronald Dwinnells for over 30 years. We have worked together on multiple levels and in multiple venues. I have observed him over these many years as he has blossomed into an outstanding and revered leader in the healthcare industry and a blessing to underserved communities. Therefore, I can attest to the truth of his warm and insightful narrative on leadership principles. He walks the talk and people listen. His lessons on leadership F-A-M-E are easily digestible and instructive on how to navigate and negotiate one’s journey of leadership. Ron speaks directly to those who intend for their journey to lead to personal fulfillment and sustainability of those who would follow.
Walter J. Clark, Jr., MD, MSHCM, FASAM Vice President Primary Care Service Line, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Dr. Dwinnells has won our Outstanding MPH Community Faculty Award more times than any faculty in the program—with great reason. His stories and case examples on leadership are the highlight of the class, and I have heard students practicing what he has discussed in class (one student had one of his sayings posted on her wall during her doctoral program)! I have heard Dr. Dwinnells teach year after year and never get tired of his creative approach and stories! Amy Lee, MD, MPH, MBA, Professor and Program Director Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health, Northeast Ohio Medical University
I enjoyed the life lessons shared by Ron in “Don’t Pick Up All the Dog Hairs”. Dr. Dwinnells distinctive anecdotes told from his relatable perspective are both amusing and edifying. He reminds us that our failures are one of the most important steppingstones to our success. His tales of what not to do constructed from his own experiences in leadership roles offer an insightful and entertaining guide. I am proud to call Ron a friend and leader in our community.
Edward W. Muransky, CEO, The Muransky Companies
“Every leader will gain significant insight while enjoying Dr. Dwinnells’ Don’t Pick Up All the Dog Hairs. The format is perfect for the busy professional, and the wisdom is extraordinary. A must read for those seeking to be a servant leader.”
James P. Tressel, President, Youngstown State University
“Ron has been a visionary leader in one of the great successes in our US healthcare system, the community health center movement, for over 30 years. Over nearly 20 of those years, I have known and found Ron to be a dedicated, humble, and innovative leader with a wonderful sense of humor. It is so exciting to see his learnings, lessons, and teachings in this book in 30+ accessible and motivating chapters. This book is like having Ron at your side quietly telling you what not to do with those brilliant insights and entertaining style that are uniquely his. Thank you, Ron for sharing and inspiring us with your commitment, caring, and endearing wit!”
Kyu Rhee, MD, MPP Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, CVS Health
Reviews
Publishers Weekly
In this savvy debut, Dwinnells, a pediatrician and CEO of an Ohio health center, explains what not to do (rather than what to do) in one's work and career life. His guiding principles are summed up in his FAME strategy--failure, adversity, mistakes, and enemies--which posits that nothing truly innovative can be accomplished in a comfort zone. Instead, Dwinnells advises, one should recognize failures, embrace and accept them, learn from them, be optimistic, and take action. Refreshingly, his program applies outside the workplace, as well, and readers are encouraged to let go of the pressure of saying "yes" to everything, and to stop small problems from growing by confronting them early. Most of all, Dwinnells notes, remember that while kindness is a two-way street, one should not allow niceness to become naivete. The author caps each chapter with a "food for thought" summation of the salient points in each lesson. The common sense on offer here is nothing short of refreshing. (Publisher's Weekly, Sept. 21)