An accomplished healthcare administrator with over a decade of hands-on leadership experience in long-term care and rehabilitation facilities, Gary Lane Allen II serves as the administrator of Nesbit Living and Recovery Center in Seguin, Texas. In this role, Gary Lane Allen II is responsible for day-to-day operations, budgeting, regulatory compliance, and staff oversight. During his time at the facility, it received Trinity Health Care’s Facility Award for “Best Community Evolvement and Community Spirit.” His work spans clinical and business aspects of facility management, with experience navigating both operational needs and resident care. Mr. Allen holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southwest Texas State University, and an MBA from the same institution. He was also a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. Before his current role, Mr. Allen served as the administrator of Parkview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Lockhart, Texas, where the facility was recognized locally for several years. He holds certifications as a nursing facility administrator and assisted living facility manager, and he is also a certified preceptor for Texas Health and Human Services. He is affiliated with the American Healthcare Association and the Texas Health Care Association. In his free time, he enjoys swimming and kickboxing.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
Make a list of all the thing I need to do. Focus on working my way down the list till I get it done. What I don’t get done I re-prioritize to the next day. This job can be very overwhelming, it’s important not to burn yourself out.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Get people excited about a new idea. Then find a good staff member to help me pilot the idea and get people to buy in on the process.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Being positive.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Staying focused.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t worry so much about taking risks. When you get older, you will often regret not taking that chance.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Good luck is a real thing.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Save money.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Take a deep breath and walk around for a few minutes.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Building a good team and motivating that team to work as a team.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Letting a minor problem slow done the whole process of a project. Some problems can be worked out during the process.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Microsoft Excel. For almost all my business applications every day!
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I like to listen to self help books: Atomic Habits, 12 Rules for Life, Think Like a Monk.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Big Bang Theory. Reminded me of my youth. Lord of the Rings trilogy. A great story, lots of action.
Key learnings
- You can learn from the past and you can prepare for the future, but spend the bulk of your time living in the present. It is the only thing you have control of. Don’t let mistakes of the past and anxiety toward the future consume you.
- Fear is truly the “Mind Killer”. Don’t let it dominate your life and prevent you from taking chances and living your life to the fullest. At its’ best, fear is only a short-term motivator, use it sparingly.
- Focus on being grateful everyday for the things you have instead of the things you do not have. Putting out positive energy will attract more positive energy. It will ultimately create a more productive work environment as well as a healthier, happier and more fulfilled personal life.
- Never give up on the idea that people can change to the better. Sometimes it takes just the right amount of inspiration from you or desperation from them to help with that change. I have often found that the greatest employees and friends I have had in my life, originally started out with the most faults.