I want you to imagine for a moment two doctors. Maybe these two doctors are your friends from Dental School or you know them from a local study club or a perhaps a continuing education course. Each started out at the same point with the same motivation to become a Dentist and own a practice.
Now, take yourself through the years or decades of their career. Think through the decisions they’ve made, the practice they’ve built, the people they’ve hired, the procedures they’ve added, and even the experiences along the way. Next, extrapolate forward into the future to their retirement.
So, I’ve laid tout he context from the beginning of their careers all the way through to the end. Do you have the two pictures in your mind?
The question I want you to ponder is… if everyone starts at the same point, why then are the “end points” all so different, in financial stability, fulfillment, fun, health, wealth, and family.
A career path similar, industry the same, business operations relatable, livelihood comparable, and yet not just the end but the journey along the way are all so incredibly different and diverse. Each has its own challenges, changes, evolutions, and most of all outcomes.
So, do you have an answer? Why does one finish strong, go out on top, check every item off their bucket list, realize great personal fulfillment, and arrive at true financial independence and the other sells at a fraction of their practice value after working for too long and too hard while struggling to find an identity outside of being a Doctor.
I don’t mean to paint a bleak picture or criticize anyone. The fact is you probably know some of both types of doctors. Both are honest, dedicated, caring, and passionate Doctors.
Here’s a more important question…
Which one are you going to choose to be?
The bottom line is most decide too late to do anything about it. Dentistry gets the best of them, quite literally and figuratively, which leaves less for their families, health, hobbies, and everything else in it.
This year so many went through the exact same thing. Yes, some local and state governments were more authoritarian than others but the environment you lived through was similar no matter where you were at.
Many doctors reading this worked through the crash in the 2000’s, the HIV fear decades ago, and so many other things. That’s not to mention the personal trials and tribulation that everyone faces, perhaps multiplied for Doctors who carry so much responsibility.
And with all of this, there are and will always be this extreme dichotomy of the difference between the two doctors… emotionally, financially, physically, mentally.
While one struggles to get by with work a grind, ownership a burden. The other thrives and remains invigorated and fulfilled.
I can tell, and in fact, I will next week exactly what the differences between these two doctors are.
Today, my challenge for you is incredibly simple and it will make the decision which one you are going to be.
No matter whether you are just starting out with your career or you are close to wrapping it up. No matter whether your grandkids are going to college or your kids aren’t even old enough to go to school yet.
The more clarity you have on what you want your life to look like (regardless of where you’ve been or how you’ve started), where you are going, and where you want to “end” – the more you will be able to create it. First decide what you desire, then commit to doing what is necessary to achieve, and let nothing stand in your way.
Before I tell you the differences between these two doctors, let me tell you the similarities.
They happen to have in common: everything. All the challenges, the circumstances, the ups and downs, the setbacks, the self-doubt, the stock market, the industry, and on and on. Yet, somehow, their lives are very different.
There is always crisis and unfortunate events that happen. No one asked for or expected any of it. This can cause someone (perhaps most of us) to lose track, detour away from the plan, or even give up on the possibility of what someone can achieve.
However, it’s only when you give up control that you let go of the responsibility of your own success. It can be taken away by death or disability or destruction… but it shouldn’t ever be given up voluntarily.
Most doctors will go through many of the very same situations in their lives but they will always divert down two different paths heading into two different directions.
One deliberately chooses their path, finds joy on the way to the destination, embraces the work required, and never relinquishes control over their future.
The other resents their journey, upset it can’t be over sooner, never accepts that it’s their choice, hangs onto the past, and focuses on what isn’t instead of creating all that can be.
There’s no coincidence to where they end up and the life they lead along the way. It’s decided one way or another – either on purpose or by default.
Ultimately it doesn’t matter where you start because it doesn’t determine where you finish. It is all of the decisions we make along the way.
So, which path will you choose?
Next week, I’ll tell you exactly how doctors achieve things they once thought impossible and wouldn’t even dare to dream.
Get ready, but first, you’ve got a decision to make!
