Renaissance Trophy Wife

For the past couple decades, I’ve had a 10-year+ career plan with definite endpoints:  get into medical school, graduate, finish residency +/- fellowship, make attending.

Ever since I abruptly truncated that plan a couple years ago post-graduation, my long-term focus has become, well, more unfocused.  I love the liberation from tests and schedules and deadlines, but it’s just my personality to feel more secure with a long-term goal.  Instead of being constrained by academic guidelines, I can now define my own timelines and take time to explore side paths along the way.  That’s not to say my goals won’t change, but at least I’ve got something to work towards.  Why start there?  An end is more easily influenced than a beginning.  Don’t know about you, but I haven’t figured out a way to turn back time.

What do I want?  For me,  a large component of happiness includes  autonomy.  I don’t like feeling hemmed in, and even mistakes are more palatable if they’re my own rather than a result of a forced choice.  Almost every decision I make is based upon the freedom it gives me to make smart investments at a future date.

More specifically, I want to be able to make valuable contributions to my community, and also enjoy the security of knowing that my family is provided for.  A lot of my perspective is colored by my experiences in healthcare– I’ve seen adults have to choose between supporting their aging parents or provide better opportunities for their children, and that’s a choice I don’t want to make.

My vision includes a great partner to enjoy life with, a house to raise our future children in, quality time spent with family and friends, and a challenging career that is both interesting and doesn’t exclude any of the previous things.  In essence, what I’m working toward is a feeling, not a set of material milestones.  While assets are undoubtably helpful in achieving security, money is only a means to an end.

Taking stock of my current position, I’m in good shape, considering I thought it would take me several more years to get here… but that’s all the more reason to continue working on the other elements.  Hence, my consideration of a career change (although not as drastic a shift as the previous one) even in this turbulent environment.   Sometimes the unexpected moves turn into the best opportunities.

So, plan your goals first, then figure out an exit strategy to get you there.  If you’re not certain of the endpoint, it helps to take a path that leaves the most number of attractive options open.  And even if you are certain, be flexible and remember to evaluate opportunities that come up along the way. Detours can lead to some pretty incredible sights you might’ve missed.

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(Re)Invention Roadmap