The Alaska Range - 2015

Alaska

Resilience

When the topic of human resilience comes up in writing or conversation, it’s natural to think about strength, toughness, adaptability, flexibility, etc. These attributes are commonly associated with an individual’s character, personality and is reflected in his responses to significant challenges.

In the course of your life, you may encounter major trials, trauma and perhaps tragedies. I refer to these as “life’s exclamation points.” They have in common that they often elicit resilience born of urgency and at times, the desire to survive.

Endurance

There’s another human quality that is the companion of resilience. The kind that is not readily evident in a person’s response to occasional crises. That attribute is endurance.

While resilience is a manifestation of flexibility, the ability to “bounce back,” endurance is the will to persist toward a grand goal, deliberately and purposely…sometimes over a long period of time. 

Endurance is a ...

Factors That Can Affect Your Perspective

It's common for physicians to look forward to their End of Career Transition. Yet, some don’t look forward to it for a variety of reasons. They share a degree of apprehension born of many concerns that coexist with their positive aspirations.

I know physicians that have one or the other perspective. However, more commonly, they experience a blend of both. As I reflect on my personal experience, understanding of human nature as well as that of the transition process, it's not surprising.

However positive the outlook, besides financial and other questions, there are usually other preoccupations that need to be resolved. These questions and answers reside within you and it's up to you to identify and answer them. You will benefit, as doing so will help you achieve your renewal and fulfillment that is the essential purpose of a successful transition.

The Personal Experience

The End of Career Transition is not an event. It's a process that can b...

Transition to Triumph - 2013

Grand Teton National Park, WY

The Time to Think 

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

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

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 desired lifestyle after the End of Career. Now is the time for you to create plenty of time and space to comfortably design your roadmap. The map that will take you in the direction that you want your life to go…with confidence.

The best time to study a map is before you begin your journey.

The Illusion of Abundant Time

When the moment arrives, you may find that the time you have at your disposal seems unlimited compared to your previo...

Splendor Amidst Transition - 2013

Carson Canyon, CA 

 On Planning and Prospering 

When you start thinking about preparing for your end of career, personal and professional matters will likely come to mind.

Whether you're in group practice, a solo practitioner or otherwise employed, there are important professional matters that are necessary for you to address.

When to Begin?

It’s very difficult to know exactly when is the right time to begin to plan, primarily because this is an unfamiliar experience.

I have discussions with colleagues who find themselves in the initial phase of their planning. It’s often the case that they have waited much too long to begin to develop their plans, let alone implement them.

This is a tip for timeliness: The process of transition really begins personally when you begin thinking about it considerably more often than you’re used to. When you find yourself in that situation, your transition has already begun. That’s a clear signal to begin planning...

A Solid Path Amidst Evanescent Obstacles - 2019

Sierra Nevada, CA

Timing: First Things First

Your End of Career Transition involves a multitude of matters that require thoughtful, timely planning in order to experience a smooth and successful outcome. They include personal, professional and practice preparations…in that order. This article addresses the solo practitioner practice model. Knowledge of preparation for this type of scenario has the broadest usefulness to other practice types.

As you read this, please review references to previous articles that discuss these topics in greater detail.

Unfamiliar Realities

There are two major realities that you should be aware of and consider as you plan and prepare.

The first is to acknowledge that your End of Career Transition is a process, not an event. It begins as a very personal experience when you find yourself thinking about it more often than usual. As time wears on, a myriad of questions will probably preoccupy you. Among the...

Exuberant Expressions - 2009 

Midway Geyser Basin and Firehole River

Yellowstone National Park

Summary:

Fulfill Your Needs and Desires

It is commonly familiar that it is in those quiet moments when our mind is free to wander, that we are the most creative. This simple discipline can be beneficial as you plan your end of career. 

That is when you can create a window of opportunity for creating your roadmap prior to embarking on the next great phase of your life. This is the guide that will take you in the direction that you want your life to go…with confidence.

When the time comes, you will initially find that the time you have at your disposal is seemingly unlimited compared to your previous lifestyle. That can be a fallacy. Like other vacuums, there's a natural tendency for it to be filled. 

Will you create the a la cart menu of your life? Or will you simply react to what life presents you?

To help answer that for yourself, it is useful engage in deliberate, purposeful thi...

Flowering in Tranquility - 2022

Summary:

Essential Elements of Well-Being

One of the great challenges of life as we know it in the “modern” world, is to live with a feeling of tranquility that favors creativity, well-being and productivity. This, while serving the needs of others.

Beyond that is equanimity. It is a quality, a personal trait that is based on a state of tranquility.

It requires your deliberate, purposeful effort to achieve and nurture it.

How to do so? 

To begin, you must be convicted of its importance and be committed to achieve it.

In this audio, I have some suggestions you may find helpful.

Updated: September 3, 2022

PS: By the way, do you want to learn more from me about how to get the most out of your life now and begin to prepare for your End of Career Transition as well as the next great phase of your life? I would like to help you. I provide consulting and coaching services that are tailored to your specific needs. Click here to apply for a complimen...

Tenaya Creek and Lake - 2006

Yosemite National Park

Summary

Your Potential and Life’s Panorama

When considering the matter of actualizing your potential, you may reflect on what you have accomplished, a promotion, a career or a title…and rightfully so.

These are laudable achievements that were based on your character, personal qualities, and diligent effort. 

There is, however, a more expansive, dynamic and beneficial perspective that describes the actualization of your evolving potential. One that is based much more on the nature of your character from which your life’s purpose expresses itself. 

This attitude supports your ability to more fully express your character and purpose in diverse ways as you live through the phases of your life.

It is beneficial to you now and as you progress toward your end of career.

For more on this, listen to the audio above.

Updated: Saturday, August 27, 2022

PS: By the way, do you want to learn more from me about how to get the most out ...

Sunset to Sunrise

Rocky Mountains - 2005

Planning and Preparedness

A common life experience is the feeling of uncertainty that arises from an inevitable, yet unfamiliar change. The kind that looms large in your horizon and is accompanied by significant challenges. 

There are some challenges that minimize your feeling of uncertainty by virtue of education, training and devoted effort to a particular achievement. Most often, your education and training occurs relatively early in life, prior to launching your career. Then there are some events for which it is usually very difficult to prepare far, far in advance.

(With the recognition that there are a variety of practice settings, the model described here is that of a solo practitioner, as there are many elements of that which apply to other types of practices.)

Timely Training

A relevant example is the end of your career. My experience as a consultant/coach on this and related maters is that there are some physicians who begin to ...

Giant Sequoias - 2004

Mariposa Grove, Yosemite N. P.

On Visions and Planning for Success

When the time comes that you begin to seriously consider ending your medical career, you will find yourself thinking about a variety of personal and professional concerns as well as matters related to your practice.

The myriad of concerns that you will have to address will vary significantly according to your type of practice: solo, group or otherwise employed. There will also be variations in practice preparation, particularly if you are in solo practice and want to execute a succession plan or close your practice. Nevertheless, across the spectrum of practice types, there are some common matters, duties, and tasks that must be accomplished. 

It’s my personal experience that you will need more than just knowledge about what’s now unknown about what you are going to embark upon. You will need and greatly benefit from applying a method for planning and executing a successful End of Career Trans...