Springing Forward, Bougainvillaea

Florida - 2004

How the Unnatural Origin of Words Render Them Meaningless

The purpose of language is to communicate ideas effectively. The use of words best serves that goal when their meaning accurately describes reality. Throughout millennia, mankind has strived to deal with the successes and failures of communication.

One example of the inaccurate use of words is the term “retirement.” 

My Encounter With “Retirement”

For many years I used that term as commonly used in the United States. That is, until the time came that I faced the unexpected end of my career as a Plastic Surgeon.

The diagnosis of cancer, its treatment and aftermath had a vivid way of broadening my perspective about life. The good news, is that am cured, healthy and well!

Questions as Teachers

Questions and answers have a way of broadening one’s perspective. Questions like Why and What?

It is especially at times of triumph, tragedy and transition...

Long and Winding

Madison River

Yellowstone National Park - 2021

Critical Questions to Ask Yourself…and Answer

You have decided to begin to prepare for your End of Career and have probably asked yourselve a variety of questions. They may include how to begin to prepare and more specifically, what to do and in what order.

Some of these questions are about professional matters that will vary according to your type of practice. Others are personal in nature, as I have discussed in a previous article.

It is important for you to reflect on these questions and create clear answers. It is so important that I suggest you write them down and review them. They will not only add clarity to your lifestyle plan, but the answers are essential for preparing yourself professionally.

In this article, I address some of these questions as examples that I know are professionally important to you. I use the setting of a physician in solo practice as a point of reference. Many of these...

Living the Dream

North Shore, Kauai, HI - 2021

Critical Questions for You and Your Spouse to Consider

You have decided to begin to prepare for your End of Career and have probably asked yourselves a variety of questions. They may include how to begin to prepare and more specifically, what to do in what order.

I Know That…

Some of these questions are personal in nature, while others are directed to professional matters that vary according to your type of practice.

It is important to have clarity about these matters. This will not only provide the foundation of your lifestyle plan, but the answers are essential for preparing your practice properly.

In this article, I address some of those concerns that I know are personally important to you and your spouse.

Your Next Lifestyle: the Big Picture

• Do you want to stop practicing completely or have a gradual transition?
• What will you and your spouse do afterwards?
• How will those activities meet your needs to continue to fulfill your...

The Path to Transition

Tundra in Autumn, Alaska Range

Denali N. P., Alaska - 2011

This Is the Time to Summon Clarity, Conviction and Courage 

Tranquility and Equanimity

It is commonly familiar that it is in those quiet moments when our mind is free to wander, that we are the most creative.

For me, it is commonly during morning coffee or perhaps fly fishing on a beautiful river for trout or salmon.

There are other times when feeling the rhythm of my heartbeat and breathing is the only perceptible activity.

I usually make no effort to think about anything in particular. And yet, the more my mind wanders, the more meaningful are the insights, ideas and innovations that emerge.

I believe that this simple discipline can be beneficial as you plan your End of Career. 

It is then that you will have a window of opportunity prior to embarking on the next great phase of your life. This is the time for you to create plenty of time and space to comfortably design your roadmap. The map...

Path and Pinnacle, - 2021

Path to Taggart Lake and The Teton Range

Grand Teton National Park

Proactive Preparation Benefits You Now and Supports Success in the Future

The preparation of your practice for succession involves undertaking a series of measures that elevate your practice performance, profitability and value beyond its present state. You will benefit now and at the time of acquisition. So will the physician that acquires it and succeeds you in the future.

Practices and Preparations 

Just as there are a variety of practice settings, the nature of corresponding preparations also vary significantly. These are primarily private solo or group practices and physicians who are otherwise employed.

In this article, the example is that of a solo, private practice. Many of the characteristics of this model are shared by other types of practices.

There are two areas of preparation that apply to most types of practices. By applying some variations in preparation, individual needs...

Facing the Facets, Pioneer Peak, Alaska - 2015

Factors That Can Affect Your Perspective

It is common for individuals to look forward to their End of Career Transition. There are others who, for variety of reasons, do not look forward to it. Both have in common some degree of apprehension born of many concerns that coexist with their positive aspirations. Yet, this is not an either/or perspective. Indeed, there are varied attitudes that differ greatly, as they reflect diverse personal and professional concerns.

Amidst these seemingly opposite viewpoints, there is yet another major one that is relatively common. It is that of colleagues that derive so much satisfaction from their role as a physician that they just want to keep practicing for as long as they are able.

I personally know colleagues that have each of these major perspectives. It is common to see a blend of these as well. As I reflect on my personal experience, understanding of human nature as well as that of the...

Gibraltar Rock, Sedona, AZ - 2008

How Your Clarity and Conviction Sustain Your Purpose

It is common in our culture for individuals to think of and describe themselves by what they do…their title, profession, vocation, etc. You may often witness this in social settings when someone introduces you to another person. Commonly, they may ask you: “What do you do for a living? or what kind of work do you do?” Seldom does someone ask you to tell them about yourself.

Why is that? There are cultural and personal reasons for this. 

As to the cultural, we are taught to identify ourselves with a “What?” This begins early in life as when uncle Joe visits the family at a special occasion and with a kind smile asks Sammy or Susie: “What are you going to be when you grow up?” There are many variations of this that are experienced during formative years…and often beyond that.

However, it readily becomes clear that you are not a...

Coursing Undeterred 

Tributary, Madison River, MT - 2004

The Next Step

Part Five of a series…

The End of Career is not an event. It is a process that affects you personally and professionally. For that reason, it takes time to prepare for and experience it. This becomes increasingly clear as you progress from the conceptual to the practical application of your plans.

So far, this series of articles has provided you with a blueprint that describes a logical and actionable planning sequence. The first articles have discussed the planning process. That included the first step, the Post Career Lifestyle Plan  and then, the Post Career Financial Plan.

These plans address your personal needs and desires as you aspire to the next great phase of your life. The topics discussed are largely applicable to the personal and professional challenges that are common to physicians in various practice settings. 

Considerations and Conclusions

Upon completion of these two plans,...

Punctuating Paradise

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)

Kauai, HI - 2021

A Practical Methodology for Evaluating Your Readiness

Part Four of a Series...

There will likely come a time in your life when you will think of a projected date for your End of Career and begin to plan for it. When you do, you may take action and begin by doing what you are familiar with. You may get an update regarding the status of your retirement plan from your investment advisor(s).  

After that, you might schedule a meeting with your financial planner. It is certainly a prudent thing to do. You go with the expectation of getting some answers and clarity about your future prospects.

Stumble and Recovery

Charles asks you few questions and then suggests that there is some preliminary planning that you and your spouse should do in order to optimally advise you on your financial readiness. He asks you to prepare a fairly clear description of how you envision your...

Stability and Resilience

North Shore, Kauai - 2021

 Your Transition Is a Stimulus for Personal Development and Fulfillment

Part Three of a Series...

Change and transition are words that are often used interchangeably. However, these two words have different meanings and what they describe have distinctly different purposes.

Lessons Learned in My Life’s Journey

My personal experience with change and transition illustrates this point. Years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer and then developed other medical problems. Together they created a change that ended my Plastic Surgery career and triggered my End of Career Transition. Thankfully, years later I am cured, renewed and fulfilled in my new career. 

My Transition was not an event that occurred spontaneously. It was the result of sustained, focused and deliberate effort over a period of time.  That effort was directed at a particular envisioned outcome: to experience renewal and fulfillment. The means for...