Doctor, If You’re Thinking About Leaving Your Clinical Career, Ask Yourself This Question.
As a medical doctor who transitioned into entrepreneurship, I’ve encountered many fellow clinicians contemplating a similar shift away from clinical medicine. It’s a journey filled with introspection and crucial decisions, one that I navigated through my own experiences and reflections.
I looked up to senior doctors, admiring their professional prowess, and asked myself a pivotal question: Among these accomplished individuals, was there anyone whose life I aspired to have in my 40s? Surprisingly, I couldn’t find a single one.
There was a defining moment in my career when I started to question my path. I looked up to senior doctors, admiring their professional prowess, and asked myself a pivotal question: Among these accomplished individuals, was there anyone whose life I aspired to have in my 40s? Surprisingly, I couldn’t find a single one. This realization was a wake-up call. These were undoubtedly impressive individuals, but their lives didn’t resonate with the future I envisioned for myself.
This introspection is crucial for anyone in medicine. We start our careers fueled by a passion for healing and service, but it’s essential to periodically reassess our goals. Are we climbing the right hill? Or are we just climbing because we’re good at it? For me, this meant acknowledging that while I was adept at scaling the professional ladder, it might not be leading me where I truly wanted to go.
I also think about friends outside the medical field who regret not pursuing a career in medicine. One of them is in his fourties, now successful in real estate, still dreams of becoming a doctor. His experience illustrates that our career choices often linger with us, shaping our thoughts and future aspirations. It’s a reminder that the path not taken can sometimes haunt us, urging us to reconsider our choices.
This journey of career transition isn’t just about professional fulfillment; it’s about aligning our careers with our personal lives and broader aspirations. It’s about understanding that success in a profession doesn’t automatically equate to a fulfilling life.
In my conversations with a Buddhist, I was introduced to a profound saying: “If you see Buddha on the road, kill him.” This metaphorically speaks to the idea of not placing unrealistic expectations on any one aspect of life, including our careers. Just as we sometimes idealize places like Paris only to find them flawed in reality, we can do the same with our professions.
So, for clinicians at a crossroads, I encourage you to reflect deeply. Ask yourself if the path you’re on is truly the one you want to tread. It’s not just about the choices we make, but also about how we make them. Remember, it’s perfectly okay to realize in your 40s, or at any age, that the path you chose isn’t what you thought it was. What matters most is the courage to reassess and realign your career with your evolving vision of a fulfilling life.
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Best wishes from Berlin,
Sven Jungmann
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