It’s important we slow down and acknowledge our successes from time to time, look back and reflect on what we have accomplished. Let’s set aside our perfectionist tendencies and focus on our impact.
This is the 50th episode of the SurgeonMasters Mini-Podcast and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with you. Here’s to 50 (or 500) more!
Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…
Jeff welcomes to the mini-podcast internal medicine physician and physician coach Helane Fronek, MD.
The topic of discussion in this episode is Comparison!
It’s safe to say that physicians are a competitive bunch. There’s a certain driven personality attracted to medicine, and it often helps inspire our success. Helane notes how the culture often stacks us up against one another to get into the top medical school, residencies, and fellowship programs. As we move through training comparing ourselves to others, the strategy can add undue stress. We take this mindset into practice, continually striving (at whatever cost) to be better than the physician next to us.
Our competitive side fuels us, until it ceases to power improvement and instead stalls forward steps and impedes progress.
How can we shift our thinking to limit stress and be our best?
Helane offers three steps:
Step 1 – Become Aware. Recognize when you are comparing yourself to others.
Step 2 – Shift Your Focus. Start thinking about what YOU are doing. How am I learning? How am I growing?
Step 3 – Move Forward Toward Your Goal. Ignore everyone else’s lack of progress.
Most importantly, quit comparing yourself to others and focus your energy on YOUR own progress and goals!
Guest: Helane Fronek, MD, FACP
Helane Fronek, MD trained in internal medicine and spent 30 years as a vein specialist. Dr. Fronek is also a coach who assists other physicians to regain their love of being a doctor while they enjoy a life full of other fulfilling activities. Her combination of fierce kindness and total commitment to her clients’ goals encourages them to dream big, think creatively, and find new and exciting ways of having the life they want. She is also an internationally recognized speaker whose ability to clearly explain difficult subjects and enthusiasm for her work continue to inspire and enlighten her audiences.