Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?
For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been No for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
Steve Jobs, 1955-2011
When I was 14, out of nowhere I went from totally healthy to suddenly hospitalized. I was bedridden and unable to walk or move. I experienced constant, severe pain as inflammation affected all my joints. I decided that if I were to live through this experience, then I would become a doctor to help people like me.
Fast forward 15 years, I received my medical degree from UBC and was in my final year of medical residency at UWO. I was working 80 hours a week, seeing 40 patients a day and on call every third day. I had pursued medicine to help people. But, with only 12 minutes per patient, I didn't feel like I was actually helping anyone. Being a doctor reminded me of how my father was stuck working “inside” his laundromat and dry cleaner businesses. He worked 7 days a week from 7 am to 11 pm, serving as many customers as possible.
Question 1: Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?
I had spent the last 15 years with the singular goal of becoming a doctor. I achieved it but now felt disillusioned. I was newly married and had a beautiful newborn daughter on the way. Needless to say, I was at a big crossroads.
I pondered whether this was what I wanted to do for the next 40 years of my life. I still wanted to help people but this was clearly not the way to do it.
Question 2: What do I really want to do with my life?
I knew that I wanted the following:
To help patients avoid getting sick in the first place rather than just recover from disease.
To spend more time on health education than on “diagnose and prescribe in under 12 minutes”.
To be free from the shackles of financial constraints.
Question 3: What do I not want in my life?
I knew that I did not want the following:
To spend my time putting band-aids on problems. I want to explore them deeply and get to their root.
To be on call, working nights. My mom was a nurse who did graveyard shifts. It was very hard for the family. Much respect to all the doctors and nurses who take these night shifts.
To be shackled “inside” a business, like my dad had been.
Today, ask yourself these 3 questions:
Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?
What do I really want to do with my life?
What do I not want in my life?
Spend some time each day writing the questions and answers in a notebook. Yes, physically use pen and paper. Post this by your computer, bathroom mirror or some place you can see it daily.
And, if your actions do not align with your answers for too many days in a row, you know you need to change something.
What do I really want to do?
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” — Confucius (551-479 BC)
I wrestled with what to do. I felt trapped, the momentum of my life decisions since age 14 driving me to a path that wasn't what I had envisioned.
After much soul searching, I finally decided to make a big career change while completing my medical residency and getting my medical license.
I wanted to transition and become an Internet entrepreneur.
Life Lessons Then:
It’s not too late to make a decision to change the trajectory of your life.
Next week: Starting Something New: The Entrepreneurial Blueprint
My Simple Plan to make $10,000/month within months
See you next Thursday!
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