This is what it\u2019s all about folks.\u00a0 They say, it\u2019s not how you start but how you finish.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t that just so true.\u00a0 Nobody remembers the rookie year or even your own first years of school \u2013 people remember the good times, the record breakers, the achievements that meant something special.<\/p>\n
In our lives and professional careers one year begets the next and, other than memories, we have to live in the real time \u2013 in the present moment.<\/p>\n
And what really matters is not only what is going on in your career right now but what\u2019s going to happen next.<\/p>\n
We have explored so many different options and possibilities each with their own pros and cons as each comes with different variables and customized decisions that you can make your own.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the thing: you can\u2019t just sit back on your heels, flat on your feet, sitting on your ass and expect things to work out.\u00a0 You\u2019ve got to keep pushing and making smart decisions if you want to go out on top.<\/p>\n
I know for certain if you are reading this you have thought through the changes you expect to have happen in your career during the remaining years (no matter how many you plan to have).\u00a0 The way you envision evolving clinically and with your lifestyle; what you might like to do if you had more free time; or that you predetermined you will practice as long as your body is able, your mind is sound and your hand is steady.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not really sure what you have thought about personally, how you feel you\u2019ve done so far, what lies ahead and what has yet to be accomplished.<\/p>\n
We can both agree on this: the final years ought to be the peak, the best, highest earning, most rewarding years you have.\u00a0 Finishing strong means something different to every different doctor, but it should be a goal for us all.<\/p>\n
It matters because you need a vision for how you will transition from chapter to chapter all the way through the end (even if that\u2019s far away for you or you hope it is).\u00a0 You can always change it but without a plan you will have no say in how it unfolds.<\/p>\n
There are five areas I like to challenge my doctors on when it comes to this type of significant discussion and planning decisions.\u00a0 It\u2019s not necessary to be in this order but it\u2019s helpful.<\/p>\n
1st<\/sup> \u2013 What do you enjoy doing most?\u00a0 What would you like to do more of?\u00a0 If you are going to stay in the game is there anything you would change or do differently than what you are doing right now?<\/p>\n 2nd<\/sup> \u2013 If money were no issue, you had nothing to worry about and you could just do what you want \u2013 what would your relationship and schedule with your practice look like?\u00a0 What about outside of the practice?<\/p>\n 3rd<\/sup> \u2013 When you think about your team, your patients and the future of your practice after you are no longer involved, do you have a thought as to how important your legacy is or the continuation of the practice would be?<\/p>\n 4th<\/sup> \u2013 What would you do with more time for yourself or your family?\u00a0 Travel more, be healthier, more time with kids and your spouse, other interests or passions or charities? Finally, any bucket list items left (gosh I hope so)?<\/p>\n 5th<\/sup> \u2013 After considering all of these questions and items\u2026 what is the number you need to maintain without suppression of your lifestyle but actually enhancement of it in order to compensate for this?\u00a0 What is the number you need in annual sustainable income?\u00a0 What amount of invested assets would make this possible?\u00a0 And finally how much more between that number and what you have today exist in your wealth and investment accounts or passive income sources today?<\/p>\n These are all considerations of finishing strong and making sure everything from now until the end is done on your own terms.\u00a0 Terms that facilitate and result in your experiencing, enjoying and achieving everything you have outlined in these 5 key areas.<\/p>\n Let go of limits; you deserve it all.\u00a0 Life is lived in the future, not back in the past.<\/p>\n Your practice and your career is your greatest investment of all that makes and has made everything else possible.\u00a0 If you factor in compounding interest in a bank account and you relate this to your practice, knowledge and career \u2013 then it should be worth more to you now than ever before.\u00a0 It should be providing you more fruits from your labor now than ever before.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what we are going to do \u2013 we are going to make certain that is exactly what happens.<\/p>\n Whether the light at the end of your tunnel is a year or a few or a couple decades, that only determines how much you have left to invest in your career.\u00a0 The longer you\u2019ve been here, the more you should be rewarding yourself for it.\u00a0 The more time you have left to go, the more important it is to be proactive and clear minded about the future.<\/p>\n Work through these questions.\u00a0 Reach out to me when you are ready to finalize your plan and realize all of the happiness and prosperity it can deliver.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"