Here’s what we got for y’all this week:
Book I am Reading: Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Articles I am Pondering
Book Review:
Excerpt Discussions: Start with Why by Simon Sinek
“When [you] are unclear about your WHY, WHAT you do has no context
In his book, Start with Why, Simon Sinek explains that your WHY is the center of the Golden circle and in this circle one “finds order and predictability …it helps us understand WHY we do what we do.” He uses many examples of different companies who failed because they understood WHAT they were doing or WHAT they were selling; and, they understood HOW they were supposed to deliver it or sell it, but they never focused on the WHY they were doing what they do.
Sinek famously uses the example of Apple the tech company that sells beautiful computers, fancy smart phones and tablets, and has some of the best software to compliment their hardware. But he goes on to explain that it is the company’s WHY that makes them successful.
‘Everything we do, we believe in challenging the status quo. We believe in thinking differently.’
Your WHY is your purpose, your meaning, your cause or belief. Why did you want to become a doctor? Why didn’t you choose a different career? Why are you still practicing medicine? Is your Purpose in life solely to take care of other people? Did you go into medicine to be successful only in the clinic, hospital, or business?
So, I ask you again? What is your Why? What is your purpose?
Are you doing what you were called to do, what you were called to get up every morning and go and perform / operate / heal / post/ catch /show /create/ play/ sing/ act etc?
My guess is that most physicians and healthcare professionals will say that their WHY, their belief, their Ikigai, their purpose, is to help people. Bottom line – we went into the healthcare profession to help those who are in need physically, mentally, and spiritually. To DO NO HARM and make this world a better place.
We see ourselves as healers, ones who have studied the anatomy and pathophysiology of disease and have mastered the pharmacology and surgical techniques that will make patients better.
What we didn’t see coming, was the infiltration of corporations telling us the WHAT and HOW in our daily jobs. Corporations and VC firms can’t change our WHY, but they can make the WHAT and HOW difficult, which in turn makes you question whether or not your WHY is still alive inside of you. Whether or not your purpose has changed?
Their WHAT and their HOW to push physicians and healthcare professionals to the brink isn’t the WHY we went into medicine. This is the reason the healthcare profession is seeing an alarming rate of physicians leave the practice of medicine.
The big corporations have a WHY – squeeze every dollar out of the working professionals and patients regardless of outcome – but if you don’t get a good outcome, Doctor, then you are to blame; you are the one whose hands gets slapped. But keep up the good work and the good fight, says the corporate non-medical entities. We know that you will because you have studied your craft for 10+ years and are invested physically, mentally, spiritually and monetarily. The corporations know that. They play on that. They know that they have us trapped.
My WHY I went into medicine has been shaken and rattled to the core. My purpose for going to medical field to aid those who were sick in my community has floundered. This is part of the reason that I write these blogs each week. I am searching for and trying to reaffirm that my Ikigai is still aligned with my job title. I am trying to resurrect my WHY, or to at least do a deep dive into my soul to make sure that my purpose, my WHY, and my Ikigai, are still alive and well, and centered on medicine.
The WHY behind our practices should define the all-encompassing purpose of the reason for practicing medicine, giving patients a more meaningful healthy outcome. I don’t want to diminish that because patients deserve our best. If we are to heal our patients, we have to be our best at all times because lives are at stake. And nothing is more important than that.
We have to Be_Full of purpose and continue impress upon ourselves just how important purpose is because if being doctors isn’t aligned with our purpose, then we will not be able to self-actualize put forth the best version of ourselves for our patients and families.
“Regardless of WHAT we do in our lives, our WHY—our driving purpose, cause or belief—never changes.”
Reel Docx FB Posts Coming in Hot
Check out other Reel Docx posts here in the FB group!!
Every week more and more doctors from all different specialties and disciplines are sharing their wins on the water. Join other Reel Docx - and share your wins with the group!!
Here is a list of guides and lodges by state that we were putting together on the Reel Docx FB Page
Reel Docx Pics:
Wild Med - Live | Learn | Explore
Check out other Wild Med posts here in the FB group!!
A montage of pics from Wild Med Trips
Check out New and Upcoming Trips at Wild Med Adventures
I have been on the Montana Fly Fishing trip 3 years in a row and I am headed to Brazil to catch peacock bass in Sept 2023. Check out this article here:
I have made more connections and had more fun on these trips than I have ever had at large national conference.
If you want to be more than a number at a large conference; if you want to create life-long relationships; if you enjoy the outdoors; if you need CME - then I encourage you to sign up for a trip.
Connect with Healthcare Professionals who share your same passions
Take your next Wild Med Adventures - Wild Med Adventure Calendar
Every week more and more doctors from all different specialties and disciplines are sharing their adventures. Join other doctors - and share your adventures with the group!!
FLIP THE SCRIPT ON BURNOUT
There are a lot of articles being published about physician burnout, moral injury, work-life balance, work engagement, and work-life integration.
The purpose of the Outdoor Rounds Newsletter is to keep that discussion going by focusing on actionable steps that we, as healthcare professionals, can take to maintain a healthy mind, body, and spirit that enables us to show up for our patients, families, and, most importantly, OURSELVES.
Articles:
Why our quest for self-improvement is failing: Uncovering the immunity to change in health care
Physicians in crisis: the battle for autonomy and happiness in a broken system
Fossil Hunting for Sharks Teeth
Two weeks ago, my family and I took a short trip to the center of Florida to look for sharks teeth on the Peace River in Wachula, FL. Trust me, if you haven’t been fossil hunting, you need to try it. Put down the phones and computers, and take an adventure into the center of the state of FL for a trip of a lifetime. Trust me.
Check Out My Blog on Fossil Hunting Here
SWAG Store:
Check out the SWAG - we have new shirts and designs for 2023.
If Anyone is interested in contributing to the Newsletter - please email me at reeldocx@gmail.com. I would love to feature you all in the newsletter and on the blog.
Thank you for reading Outdoor Rounds. Please share with your colleagues whom you think would enjoy reading this.