Skip to main content

Everyone wants to get established. And we run, we run day and night to achieve a name, a reputation, and a steady job. What happens next?

 -

Most of the docs I know are very hard working. Many are compulsive workers. It is very difficult to keep them away from their work. I used to be the same, constantly on the run, clinical work a priority; everything else being secondary.


In the initial years, everyone wants to get established. And we run, we run day and night to achieve a name, a reputation, and a steady practice. Contrary to popular perception, it is mostly not about the earnings. Yes, the earnings do matter, but primarily one is not running to earn, but to create an identity.


Physicians run from hospital to hospital seeing admitted and out-patients. Surgeons run around operating. Corporate full-timers wind up at their jobs and run private clinics till late in the night after their job commitments are over. Many government-employed doctors do private consultations, sometimes legally, sometimes not. Everyone seems to have one major goal: how to squeeze in the maximum amount of clinical work into 24 hours.


Everything else is secondary: spouse, kids, parents, friends, health, hobbies, everything.


The motivations to keep running change with time. Initially, it may be to get established and then to stay established. A few decades down the line, with wave after wave of new, ambitious doctors entering the ‘market’ every year, it may then become an attempt just to stay relevant!


There is always the surgeon’s ego which says that you are the best for your patients, or that others are less capable. There are always younger guys coming in who are equally or more skilled and equally or more competent. But a surgeon’s ego keeps him in a state of constant denial. Most surgeons steadfastly refuse to acknowledge that the next generation can be as good as or better than them.


Then there is this false belief that your patients are your diehard followers. Sorry to break your fragile hearts: they aren’t! We have occasionally read reports of people dropping dead or even committing suicide when their favourite movie star or political leader died, especially in the South Indian states. However, no patient ever stopped getting treated because his or her favourite doctor died or moved to another city. They will go and get treated by someone else, whoever is the current ‘number one’ or ‘top doctor’ at that time: a simple fact that very few of us seem to acknowledge. Even when taking a vacation, I hear this constant refrain: “What will happen to my patients?”. I, too, make alternative arrangements for my patients when I am away. While being concerned about one’s patients is a desirable attribute, getting obsessed is definitely not. Mind you, the obsession here is with oneself and one’s ego, not with the patients.


The last factor is the fear of losing your patients to others, the fear of becoming less relevant. For some, this factor is strong from the beginning, and for others, it may set in after many years of practice. There are very few contented characters who aren’t much affected by such thoughts. But it is a fact, that in one’s clinical practice, everyone has faced days and weeks with less patient loads, low footfalls in OPDs and few surgeries. These are the times when one’s faith in oneself and one’s skill may get shaken. Everyone has faced this real fear of becoming irrelevant, or less relevant, or less popular at some time in their practice. And, in this phase, many start running around again, seeing patients or operating at many places or maybe just soliciting referrals; mainly to satisfy one’s ego rather than for one’s patients.


As I had stated initially, everything comes at a cost. The cost may be tangible like loss of health or wealth; or intangible, like strained relationships, missing out on the kids growing up or even forgetting your own hobbies and interests.


Who bears this cost?


The biggest victims are our spouses, who keep worrying over our lifestyles, worrying about our health, and who are never given the credit they deserve for all that we are able to achieve professionally. And if or rather when our health fails, they have to bear the brunt of that too!


The next are our children, who are provided the best of comforts, the latest gadgets, who go to the most posh schools, but who miss out on our physical presence during their formative years. Your reputation, all the money you have earned and will ever earn, will never bring back their childhood.


Also our parents, who worry about our stress levels, and in turn increase their own, often just by worrying if we had our lunch on time or not.


And lastly, we ourselves, by following punishing schedules, by not eating on time or sleeping adequately, by missing out on family time, by losing touch with our friends, by giving up hobbies and activities which used to interest us. We spend a healthy youth slogging for what may well turn out to be a sick old age.


Before we lecture our patients on improving their lifestyles, let us put our houses in order first.


Physicians (and Surgeons); Heal Thyself first!


NB: A few months ago, a very young, dynamic and active Cardiologist died in Gujarat. Within a week of his passing, the hospital which employed him had put out an ad to fill the post he had worked on. We are all replaceable professionally, but never as a father or mother or as a spouse or a child.

Note: This is not only for doctors, it applies to all the professionals who see to balance life between the professional, the personal, family and the community life.

Source: received through WhatsApp message 

Popular posts from this blog

Building Bridges: Cultivating Positive Relationships:

 - Strong relationships with family and friends form the bedrock of a fulfilling life. They provide essential emotional support, offering a safe haven during challenging times and amplifying our joy during celebrations. These connections foster a sense of belonging, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation. Moreover, they contribute significantly to our mental and physical well-being, as studies have shown that strong social ties can lower stress levels and even improve our immune systems. Ultimately, nurturing these relationships enriches our lives, providing a network of care, support, and shared experiences that make life more meaningful. Think about the people who bring light into your life. What makes those relationships feel so special? Often, it's the simple act of choosing to focus on the good, to appreciate the small moments, and to communicate with kindness.  Building positive relationships isn't about avoiding conflict or pretending everything is perfect. It...

Is anybody happier because you passed his way?

 - Is anybody happier  because you passed his way? Does anyone remember  that you spoke to him today? This day is almost over,  and its toiling time is through;  Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you? Did you give a cheerful greeting to the friend who came along? Or a churlish sort of "Howdy"  and then vanish in the throng? Were you selfish pure and simple as you rushed along the way,  Or is someone mighty grateful for a deed you did today? Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that's slipping fast, That you helped a single brother of the many that you passed? Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said;  Does a man whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead? Did you waste the day, or lose it, was it well or sorely spent? Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent? Source:  taken from Edgar Albert Guest poem. Reflection of above poem: "Is anybody happier because you passed his way?" is a po...

Judging Others: (Poem)

 - Judging Others: Sadly, we are always critiqued,  By the people that we know.  By title or occupation,  And by the possessions  that we show. We judge by skin colour,  Or by awards received.  By the denomination,  And by what we believe. We're judged by what we spend,  Or by what we give.  We're judged by age and gender,  And by where we live. We're judged by our past,  And by our education,  By the language that we speak,  Or by our nation. We evaluate cosmetically.  We judge both fat and small.  We judge by ones appearance.  Fact is, we judge it all! Some judge because they're paid to.  Some judge intentionally.  Some judge to build self worth,  Some judge unwillingly. BEWARE, for there is only One,  Who evaluates every stain and smudge.  Good luck amateur critics of humans,  When you face that  Wise & Mighty Judge! Source: received through WhatsApp message

What makes great organizations great:

Most great organisations are pulling itself to greatness. And one thing we need to agree is they care for their people and also care for the culture in which their employees work in. On the list of organizational priorities, culture often comes last. But research shows if you want to improve results, start by defining, implementing and improving your culture. When people feel appreciated and trust is high, they are more engaged and work better as a team. In turn it improves productivity, service, retention and performance. What is culture? Culture refers to people's 'way of life', the way groups do things. We need to believe that different groups of people may have different cultures. As genetics are passed on by heridity, the culture is passed on to the next generation by learning. The learning which needs culture to be imbibed in to people does not come by formal teaching or training. Yes, the concept of culture could be taught, but actual culture gets on to people...

Thank and appreciate the people you care for, that they are important:

A beautiful story, do read...it makes a difference One day Maths teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers. That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. 'Really?' she heard whispered. 'I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!' and, 'I didn't know others liked me so much,' were most of the comments. No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with...

(Mind maps) 10 ways to build emotional intelligence:

- Click to watch the mind map in a very excellent approach: (Mind maps) 10 ways to build emotional intelligence- is from the book written by Daniel Goleman. Source: Directly linked to youtube. Further reading: Emotional intelligence (otherwise known as emotional quotient or EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict. Emotional intelligence helps you build stronger relationships, succeed at school and work, and achieve your career and personal goals. Intellectual ability or your intelligence quotient (IQ) isn’t enough on its own to achieve success in life. Yes, your IQ can help you get into college, but it’s your EQ that will help you manage the stress and emotions when facing your final exams or stresses in real life.  Click to read full article from source:

Shine in your SSLC* Karnataka State Board Exams:

 - *Study material Flipkart order link:* *Maths-* https://rb.gy/j334op -----^----- *Science-* https://rb.gy/dau4ic -----^----- *Social-* https://rb.gy/cmazkk -----^----- *English First Language-* https://shorturl.at/nvY13 -----^----- *Kannada- Second Language-* https://shorturl.at/dmX23 -----^----- *Hindi Third Language-* https://shorturl.at/msuwM -----^----- *Urdu Third Language-* https://shorturl.at/wC267 -----^----- Click to *watch video* about books- https://youtu.be/8ZmzjmMORO4 *Shine in your SSLC* Karnataka State Board Exams with the Best Study Material! The material that best suit your learning style and needs. * Now available online on flipkart. * SSLC exam is an important step in a student's life. It determines your future and open up new opportunities for you. That's why it's important to *be well-prepared* for these exams. *Limited time offer:* Order Now, start preparing for success! *Contact:* 73495 95307 * Study material Flipkart order link :* *Maths-* https://...

Happier you.

Volunteer : Find ways to get involved in your community or help out a friend in need. You’ll help yourself, too. It can improve your mental health and well-being. Win-win. Bonding : Bond with the best. Make sure to maintain lifelong connections. Studies show the more connected you are, the happier you are. Count Your Blessings : Nobody is spared of blessings. Write down everything that’s good in your life. Ex: a connection, a good quality in you, a small thing etc. When you make an effort to look on the bright side, it helps you stay focused on the positive. Forgive and Forget : Are you holding a grudge? Let it go. Most often if we do not forgive a person it hurts and disturbs a lot only to us. Forgiveness frees you from negative thoughts and makes more room in your life for inner peace. And that brings you happiness. So, forgive to free yourself. Know where you are heading towards : It will give us a confidence when we know where are we heading in life...

Tool to understand how people learn and think:

It's very important to understand how people learn and think. It is also helpful in terms of maintaing good relationship with family, friends and peers. It is highly recommended for teachers, coaches, and trainers. To put in a line, it is required for folks who work more with people. It is helpful if we can understand various models of learning and thinking, such as (MBTI)  Myers-Briggs Type Indicators . What is MBTI ? The Myers–Briggs Type Indicator ( MBTI ) is an introspective self-report questionnaire with the purpose of indicating differing psychological preferences in how people perceive the world around them and make decisions. The  MBTI  was constructed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers. Click to find more from 'skills you need' website:

Improving your perspective-taking skills can help you build stronger relationships:

 -  Ever notice how sometimes it feels like other people just don't get you? Or maybe you've had that feeling about someone else? A lot of this comes down to something called "perspective-taking"—basically, the ability to see things from someone else's point of view. It's like trying to walk in their shoes for a bit. But it turns out, this isn't always easy, and many of us struggle with it. So, why is it so hard to see things from another person's perspective, and what can we do about it? What is Perspective-taking: Perspective-taking is the ability to understand another person's thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It is an essential skill for building empathy, compassion, and understanding in our relationships. However, many people struggle with perspective-taking. There are several reasons why this might be the case. Why some people lack it: One reason is that people may be too focused on their own thoughts and feelings. When we are constan...