Brian Taylor started his career in healthcare more than four decades ago, working as a sales rep for Welch Allyn. He later became a regional manager with the same company, and then in 1983 he started an independent rep firm, selling products through distributors throughout the southeast.
In 1993 Taylor and his partner, Chris Kelly, founded Medical Distribution Solutions, Inc. (MDSI) and launched their first product—Repertoire Magazine. Repertoire, still going strong today, is a unique publication specifically serving the healthcare distribution channel.
In addition to Repertoire Magazine, MDSI now offers multiple products and publications supporting and serving the healthcare distribution channel, including the Dail-E News, Education OnLine (EOL), the MAX, and the Journal of Healthcare Contracting.
In looking back over his long and successful career in the healthcare industry, Taylor reminisces over the lessons he’s learned along the way:
“When I left Welch Allyn, I was 32 years old. I was quite young, and I learned a lesson that I’m so blessed to have learned at such an early age: that I was not cut out to be a big company guy, and I learned that then… Welch Allyn was as good of a company as there is, but I realized there was just something I was missing… the ‘big company gene.’”
Another lesson Taylor is glad to have learned over the years is how to “give up the ball.” As a youth he was extremely competitive in athletics, and as a basketball player, always wanted the ball. “I was very, very competitive. I always wanted the ball. Give me the ball. At the end of the game, I want the ball. I might have thrown an air ball up, but darnit I wanted the ball! People who know me still tease me about it.” After leaving school and entering the workforce, Taylor’s competitiveness served him well as a salesman, but his reluctance to “give up the ball” impaired his ability to be an effective leader.
“I think I was a horrible manager. I really do. I think I was successful in sales because it was my competitiveness and so forth—I wanted to win. But then I became a manager at age 25, and I was horrible. I didn’t think I was horrible at the time, but looking back I see it, because I couldn’t give up the ball. I would do things myself instead of trusting my team.”
Looking at MDSI today and how far he’s come since that early managerial experience at Welch Allyn, Taylor is grateful for what he’s learned. “One of the things I’ve really learned and makes me really proud is, I’ve learned to give up the ball. And I get great pleasure from that now, to give an assist instead of a shot. That’s what empowers your people.”
When asked what is the best advice he has ever received, Taylor recalled his parents instilling in him the values of integrity, hard work, always giving his best, and overall, developing strong character. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” Taylor says, “I think that’s the best advice, and my parents instilled it in me early.”
Looking to the future, in the next few years Taylor expects to probably move on from his current position, but wants to stay active and engaged with MDSI on a project basis. He doesn’t foresee ever leaving the healthcare industry completely; once he has more time, he hopes to get involved as a volunteer—probably on the business side—at a newly opened local hospital.
In addition to his desire to volunteer, Taylor looks forward to more time spent on the golf course; as he puts it, “I’m a golf fanatic. I have a lot of courses I haven’t played that are on my bucket list.” He also is eager to spend more time with his grandkids, and looks forward to traveling with his wife.