Tranquil Flow, Madison River - 2004

Yellowstone National Park, WY

On Transforming Visions Into Joyful Reality

One fine morning with coffee in hand, you still savor that last sip of your custom brew.  You feel peaceful. Then a fleeting thought stirs up an awareness that you are thinking more and more about your future End of Career and the next great phase of your life. You smile and feel warmer inside…and then you feel a twinge of angst.

These are mixed emotions: joy and apprehension. They swirl around your mind stirred up much like the sweetener you blended into your coffee.

You wonder whether this is a common experience and how other successful colleagues deal with it. You might ask when is the right time to begin to deal with your ever increasing questions. 

You sense that you must do something. 

A Fictional Character that Reflects a Real Person 

This is the familiar story of Alex, a physician like many others you may know.

Alex is at that time of his (or her) career when h...

Your Path, Your Destination

Buffalo River, Idaho - 2021

When to Create Your Strategy and How to Execute the Tactics

Your future End of Career is an event about which it is natural to experience feelings of excitement as well as some concerns.

As the time nears, your concerns may become more prevalent. A major reason is the recognition that this is an unfamiliar process.

But how do you know when is the right time to start planning, let alone what the end date will be?

As you try to answer that question, it becomes apparent that it is very difficult to determine when to begin to prepare when the necessary scope and duration of preparation is unknown.

The reality is that because this is a such a personal and professional matter, with so many different facets, it is impossible to predict how much work and time it will take. You can only anticipate so much…and there will probably be more to do than you thought necessary. 

The best way to know is to engage the challenge by beginning ...

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 that we tend to reflect and...

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 yo
...

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, you will have rea...

Radiant Jubilation - 2022

My best wishes to you and your family. May you have abundant health and happiness in 2022...and beyond!

Sparkling Joy, 2021

My best wishes to you and your family for a healthy and joyful holyday season!

Enrique

Tranquil Transitions

Makua Bay, Kauai, HI - 2021

Choose Your Language, Change Your Perspective

The end of your career is one of the most significant events of your life. It is a time when you may feel joy, pride, excitement, grief, regret, uncertainty, and other feelings that are unique to each individual.

You may be looking forward to this new phase of your life with stressful uncertainty or joyful  anticipation.  As it is for others, it is also a time when you may experience a sense of loss of what you are leaving behind. 

An optimistic view is that this is a moment of your life that presents you with the opportunity for ongoing personal achievement that is manifested as renewal and fulfillment.

My Life and Lessons

I have experienced some of those feelings and many more. 

My life experience includes three lessons and observations.

One, is my own end of career Transition. It was difficult and painful. But it provided me the challenge to grow, evolve and succeed again on my te...

Flowing Through the Palette of Life

Yellowstone River and Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park - 2004

To Know How is the Key to Decide Where

There are many questions related to the End of Career Transition that most of us and probably you as well, will need to answer.

Beyond matters related to your practice or business, there are core questions that will determine the nature and quality of your life. They are very personal and are essential for you to answer.

One of those, is Where to live. Most individuals initially and instinctively seek to answer that particular question. It is at the core of the visions they create as they fashion their post career lifestyle.

That is quite natural. However, by focusing narrowly on the Where, you are unlikely to answer it in a way that will optimally fulfill your vision and aspiration.

There is yet another question that is best to explore and answer first.  By doing so, you will more clearly be able to describe not only your...

This painting by John Trumbull (1756-1843), depicts the moment when the first draft of the Declaration of Independence was presented to the Second Continental Congress on June 28, 1776.

 The Seldom Declared History of its Writing

The summer of 1776 was a time of escalating conflict with England.  It was a dangerous time for the American colonies and in particular, its leaders.  Military and political uncertainties abounded.

The conflict between the American colonists and British soldiers that began in April, 1775 had grown into the Revolutionary War during the summer of 1776.

In the meantime, there had developed a significant movement in favor of Independence from England.  Delegates to the Continental Congress were faced with the necessity to vote on this critical issue.

In order to do so, the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia for the purpose of voting on the question of independence. To accomplish that, there was a parliamentary and political need to draft a resolution up...