My name is Troy. For some sake of privacy I will keep it at that. A couple tid-bits about myself: I was born and raised in a small town in the Northeast. I come from an amazing, loving, supportive family who mean the world to me. I have a chemistry degree from a large public university in Florida and graduated in 3 years flat. I taught college level organic chemistry at the ripe age of 20 years old, to hundreds of students my own age, 90% of the time after raising hell and being out the entire night before. Never missed a class and was nominated for TA of the year by the chemistry department. I’m not an author nor the best writer in the world and to boot I have never blogged before in my life, but I’m ready for the challenge. I have been looking for a way to productively spend some of my “free time” as well and to be able to spread some of my knowledge and life experiences is just a bonus. Disclaimer: I am not one of those “rich kids” of Instagram nor did I come from any type of substantial family money. My parents worked very hard (and still do) and provided an amazing upbringing for my brothers and I but did not spoil us or buy us everything we wanted. I saved $1200 raking seaweed for my paraplegic neighbor for 3 summers to buy my first vehicle, a 1992 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS. I thought I was the coolest dude in the world with the stick shift and eyelid headlights! Anyways,  I truly believe my parents need to write a book on parenting because they sure as hell had some unique and highly successful methods with us 3 boys. I will also discuss these in a later post. But what I want you all to know is that I have accomplished some feats in my life, yes, but have many more in my sights. The most common combination of successful things I have accomplished have come from hard work, dedication, persistence, luck, and the best family in the world behind me.

Currently, I am a 28 year old medical device representative and a self proclaimed “Jack of all trades” in my personal life. I pride myself on knowing a little bit of something about everything. It’s in my warrior Scottish and stubborn Polish blood to treat life as a competition and boy how true have I found that to be over the years. I also love to learn new things, travel, join adult leagues in every sport possible (literally), and work my ass off. I have an entrepreneurial mindset but still like to stop and smell the roses. I love sailing, cooking, exotic food, golfing, classic rock, my beautiful fiancé (I don’t know how she puts up with me sometimes) and my rescued puppies.
Glimpse into my life (literally right now) – Currently I’m in the Operating Room supporting a neurosurgeon in a multilevel spinal fusion, discectomy and 2-level kyphoplasty combo case while writing this. Sounds fun right? Don’t worry, I have a few minutes free time while he decompresses the L4-L5 disc space. This profession has amazing upside and one of the last sales positions out there that has the potential to make unlimited amount of income. The only limiting factor in this profession is the amount of time in the day and how damn hard you want to work. Not to mention the following: stamina, likability, persistence, dedication, intelligence, being able to deal with every personality on earth, and being told “NO” 100 times a day without getting even a tad bit discouraged. I actually kind of like the “No’s” it gives me a challenge to overcome. My older brother and my biggest role model/mentor has always told me he doesn’t believe the selling cycle even begins unless the target individual says “No” first. Once you get told “No” that’s when you actually have to “sell” the individual and change their mindset on how to bring value to the customer…more on this at a later date for sure. In the medical device rep profession you have to stay humble and always know you are only renting your business. Some surgeons will drop you like it’s nothing and not remember your name after working with you for 5 years. Other surgeons I would invite to my wedding because they are so genuine and down to earth good people. You have to deal with both everyday and bring value to your customers.

All of the sudden I glance up at the C-ARM monitor and notice that something is not right. The surgeon looks directly at me and asks a potential life or death question putting me on the spot in front of the entire OR staff. Quickly, calmly and confidently I respond  “Too medial Doc, I recommend you retract the jamshidi needle to the lateral aspect of the pedicle and re-direct”. Bam, nailed it. That’s what I call a walk in the park. That’s what I call thriving under the pressure, and as my heart races underneath my powder blue scrubs my laser focus narrows in on the job at hand. I receive a look from the surgeon as he proceeds to follow my instructions, then I give him another nod of confidence while staring straight into his  eyes noticing his sweat soaked forehead in the process. The surgeon uses my knowledge, follows my recommendation and safely accesses the thoracic 6 vertebral body of the spine. The rest of the case will be smooth, I think while I exhale a deep breath. Then the surgical tech drops one of my vertebral balloons on the OR floor rendering it unsterile and unusable. Once again my mind springs into action, carefully calculating the situation and the timing on the bone cement. I instruct the circulating nurse in the room to open the extra “just in case” balloon I had already brought in the room. I instruct the tech on how to open and prepare it within 30 seconds. We didn’t miss a beat with the surgeon and we proceed as if nothing had occured, actually I don’t even think the surgeon noticed. Double whammy. Case finishes, doc asks me about my fantasy football lineup and I tell him who my sleeper pics are for this Sunday. All in a day’s work.
I’ll be in touch with you all soon.
Troy