Reconsidering your research career

100:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,860Welcome to the Clinician Researcher podcast, where academic clinicians learn the skills200:00:05,860 --> 00:00:11,260to build their own research program, whether or not they have a mentor.300:00:11,260 --> 00:00:17,340As clinicians, we spend a decade or more as trainees learning to take care of patients.400:00:17,340 --> 00:00:22,380When we finally start our careers, we want to build research programs, but then we find500:00:22,380 --> 00:00:27,780that our years of clinical training did not adequately prepare us to lead our research600:00:27,780 --> 00:00:29,200program.700:00:29,200 --> 00:00:35,480Through no fault of our own, we struggle to find mentors, and when we can't, we quit.800:00:35,480 --> 00:00:40,580However, clinicians hold the keys to the greatest research breakthroughs.900:00:40,580 --> 00:00:46,200For this reason, the Clinician Researcher podcast exists to give academic clinicians1000:00:46,200 --> 00:00:51,800the tools to build their own research program, whether or not they have a mentor.1100:00:51,800 --> 00:01:01,080Now introducing your host, Toyosi Onwuemene.1200:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,320Welcome to the Clinician Researcher podcast.1300:01:03,320 --> 00:01:08,440I'm your host, Toyosi Onwuemene, and as always, it is a pleasure to be speaking with you today.1400:01:08,440 --> 00:01:13,160I want to thank you for taking the time to tune in and listen to this episode, because1500:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,080honestly, if you weren't listening, I wouldn't be talking.1600:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,960And yes, I may have already recorded this episode, but it wouldn't matter if you were1700:01:20,960 --> 00:01:21,960not listening to it.1800:01:21,960 --> 00:01:28,960So I want to thank you so much for just tuning in and listening to this episode.1900:01:28,960 --> 00:01:36,960I am excited to share with you this episode titled, Reconsidering Your Research Career.2000:01:36,960 --> 00:01:43,640And I feel like it's a really important topic to discuss because many people have these2100:01:43,640 --> 00:01:48,320thoughts and they're buried deep inside because there's a little bit of shame associated2200:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,680with it because it's the Holy Grail.2300:01:51,680 --> 00:01:54,640It's a thing you've pursued for so long.2400:01:54,640 --> 00:02:00,400And sometimes to even have the thought feels like a great betrayal, feels like a great2500:02:00,400 --> 00:02:05,900disloyalty to the people who've supported you to this time.2600:02:05,900 --> 00:02:10,680And so there's a little bit of shame and concern mixed in with this feeling.2700:02:10,680 --> 00:02:14,960And sometimes people are afraid to express their thoughts that they're actually reconsidering2800:02:14,960 --> 00:02:16,440their research career.2900:02:16,440 --> 00:02:22,400And so I am here to talk to you about it, to let you know that, hey, this is actually3000:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,100a common problem.3100:02:26,100 --> 00:02:28,400And to just say that it's a safe space.3200:02:28,400 --> 00:02:29,400It's me and you.3300:02:29,400 --> 00:02:30,760It's one and one.3400:02:30,760 --> 00:02:34,880And I'm going to share with you some things to consider as you're reconsidering your research3500:02:34,880 --> 00:02:35,960career.3600:02:35,960 --> 00:02:36,960It's interesting.3700:02:36,960 --> 00:02:38,600This is the Clinician Researcher podcast, right?3800:02:38,600 --> 00:02:43,440So I'm here to support and encourage people who want to lead research programs.3900:02:43,440 --> 00:02:49,440And I recognize that along the way, we may change our minds or at least doubt our initial4000:02:49,440 --> 00:02:50,720convictions.4100:02:50,720 --> 00:02:51,920And it's okay.4200:02:51,920 --> 00:02:53,440So I'm here to talk about that.4300:02:53,440 --> 00:02:59,200And I want to say more than any other conversation we've had, this is a confidential conversation.4400:02:59,200 --> 00:03:01,080I don't want you to be afraid.4500:03:01,080 --> 00:03:03,120And I don't want you to hold back your thoughts.4600:03:03,120 --> 00:03:09,640I really do want this to be an episode that stimulates your thoughts and that allows you4700:03:09,640 --> 00:03:14,200to think deeply about the way you feel without judgment.4800:03:14,200 --> 00:03:15,320Okay?4900:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,440I will share that I've always asked myself this question.5000:03:19,440 --> 00:03:24,200And to be honest, it's a question I asked myself today, especially when challenges come5100:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,040and it's like, goodness, this is so hard.5200:03:26,040 --> 00:03:28,240Is this worth it?5300:03:28,240 --> 00:03:34,300And one of the things I also think about is, you know, I want to have a bigger career than5400:03:34,300 --> 00:03:35,740just medicine.5500:03:35,740 --> 00:03:36,740And I love medicine.5600:03:36,740 --> 00:03:38,400I think it's a great, great, great...5700:03:38,400 --> 00:03:43,640Oh my gosh, it's a great platform to really, really benefit humanity.5800:03:43,640 --> 00:03:50,360And there's so much more beyond just administering healthcare and also investigating healthcare.5900:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,320And sometimes the challenges feel overwhelming.6000:03:53,320 --> 00:03:59,800And so I want to say that I resonate firsthand with every time somebody says, I'm not sure.6100:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,480I'm not sure this is what I want to do.6200:04:02,480 --> 00:04:07,040And I had a conversation with someone along these lines yesterday who we had this, you6300:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,600know, it was a small group conversation.6400:04:09,600 --> 00:04:10,600Conversation was over.6500:04:10,600 --> 00:04:12,200It was time for lunch.6600:04:12,200 --> 00:04:17,600And she just kind of pulled me aside and said, I'm not sure if this is really what I want6700:04:17,600 --> 00:04:18,600to do.6800:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,600And she said it in a way that was so quiet.6900:04:20,600 --> 00:04:24,640She said it in a way that just, you know, made it feel as if she was saying something7000:04:24,640 --> 00:04:30,840bad, but like she was like afraid that I would betray her trust or judge her.7100:04:30,840 --> 00:04:36,040And I felt for her because we have this feeling like, well, people have made all these investments.7200:04:36,040 --> 00:04:37,280You submitted all these grants.7300:04:37,280 --> 00:04:39,920They said we're going to do all these things.7400:04:39,920 --> 00:04:41,320But what if this is not what I want to do?7500:04:41,320 --> 00:04:46,520And so I just want to encourage you that there are so many people having these same thoughts7600:04:46,520 --> 00:04:48,000and they are absolutely worth exploring.7700:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,020And I want to talk to you about it today.7800:04:51,020 --> 00:04:56,240So the first thing I want to encourage you to do is to not be afraid to ask that question.7900:04:56,240 --> 00:05:02,800I want to tell you that the breakthrough for your career lies on the other side of that8000:05:02,800 --> 00:05:08,800question because for you to come to a place where you're asking the question, is research8100:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,800really the right career for me?8200:05:11,800 --> 00:05:17,160You have come to actually a really important defining point because you've been feeling8300:05:17,160 --> 00:05:18,760it all along.8400:05:18,760 --> 00:05:24,000It's been somewhere in the back of your mind nagging you as you've been submitting grants,8500:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,440nagging you as you've been moving forward papers.8600:05:27,440 --> 00:05:31,560All of a sudden for you to stop and ask the question is for you to acknowledge a thing8700:05:31,560 --> 00:05:38,320that's been brewing in your mind for days, weeks, months, possibly even years.8800:05:38,320 --> 00:05:44,960And the challenge of academia, the challenge of our clinical scientist training is that8900:05:44,960 --> 00:05:46,240there's so much to do.9000:05:46,240 --> 00:05:51,840It's easy to just keep going through the motions without ever asking, well, is this even really9100:05:51,840 --> 00:05:53,960what I want to do?9200:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,280And we're not surrounded by people who support us in asking that question.9300:05:57,280 --> 00:06:02,560So for us to be able to ask that question represents a real breakthrough.9400:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,640So I just want to first of all congratulate you if you're thinking along these lines.9500:06:06,640 --> 00:06:10,880I want to congratulate you for asking that question because I do think it's an important9600:06:10,880 --> 00:06:15,440question and it's an acknowledgement of the thing you're already feeling.9700:06:15,440 --> 00:06:20,840So you're giving voice to a feeling that's been lying around inside you for a long time.9800:06:20,840 --> 00:06:25,560Or maybe you're listening and you're still in denial about the way you feel about your9900:06:25,560 --> 00:06:26,560research.10000:06:26,560 --> 00:06:30,960You're still in denial because if you even entertain the thought that you stopped this10100:06:30,960 --> 00:06:35,080hamster wheel and you can't afford to stop, not now.10200:06:35,080 --> 00:06:36,560And it's okay too.10300:06:36,560 --> 00:06:40,560I just want to say that whatever feelings are inside you are valid.10400:06:40,560 --> 00:06:43,560Whether you accept them or not, that's valid as well.10500:06:43,560 --> 00:06:48,720But I do want to say that if the feeling, if you're having feelings that maybe this10600:06:48,720 --> 00:06:52,800is not what you want to do, it is okay to acknowledge them.10700:06:52,800 --> 00:06:54,580And that really is the first step.10800:06:54,580 --> 00:06:56,120It doesn't mean you're quitting.10900:06:56,120 --> 00:07:00,000It doesn't mean you're walking away from years worth of investment.11000:07:00,000 --> 00:07:05,560It just means that you're taking time to acknowledge the way you feel about something that feels11100:07:05,560 --> 00:07:07,320so important.11200:07:07,320 --> 00:07:11,000And you may be a little bit worried that somebody else might read your thoughts and discover11300:07:11,000 --> 00:07:12,680it and be really upset.11400:07:12,680 --> 00:07:19,060So do not be afraid to ask the question, is research the right answer for me?11500:07:19,060 --> 00:07:24,480Do not be afraid to reconsider your research career.11600:07:24,480 --> 00:07:30,560The second thing I want to share with you is to ask you not to focus on what you're11700:07:30,560 --> 00:07:36,000doing, but to really focus on the impact you want to have.11800:07:36,000 --> 00:07:40,720So focus not on what you do, but focus on impact.11900:07:40,720 --> 00:07:45,020Sometimes this question about reconsidering our research careers comes when we're thinking12000:07:45,020 --> 00:07:47,560about our life beyond just our careers.12100:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,640When we're thinking about our lives beyond just our research.12200:07:50,640 --> 00:07:52,840You're like, I'm a husband and father.12300:07:52,840 --> 00:07:54,880I am a wife and mother.12400:07:54,880 --> 00:07:55,880I'm a daughter.12500:07:55,880 --> 00:07:56,880I'm a friend.12600:07:56,880 --> 00:08:00,440I've got so much more I want to do.12700:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,320Writing these grants time after time after time.12800:08:03,320 --> 00:08:08,280Is this really the best use of my career?12900:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,200Is this what I want to do?13000:08:11,200 --> 00:08:17,720And I think it's a good thing because really what you're asking is a question of your impact.13100:08:17,720 --> 00:08:22,440You are asking the question of your investment relative to your impact.13200:08:22,440 --> 00:08:27,800And when you focus on the investment, especially when you're first starting, it feels like13300:08:27,800 --> 00:08:30,800a lot has been invested for very minimal return.13400:08:30,800 --> 00:08:34,880And so yes, it makes sense that you're stepping back and saying, wait a minute, wait a minute.13500:08:34,880 --> 00:08:36,440Does this make sense?13600:08:36,440 --> 00:08:38,360Am I spending too much?13700:08:38,360 --> 00:08:40,960But what you want to do is you want to pause.13800:08:40,960 --> 00:08:45,720You want to take a step back and you want to ask your big picture question.13900:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,240What is my career in service of?14000:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,520What is the impact I'm going to make?14100:08:50,520 --> 00:08:55,640And for many of us when we started, there was a sense of, I just want to help patients.14200:08:55,640 --> 00:08:57,840Not very specific, but very clear to us.14300:08:57,840 --> 00:08:59,000I just want to help people.14400:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,120I just want to help patients.14500:09:01,120 --> 00:09:06,440But now that we recognize the vast world that is medicine, there's a little bit more specificity14600:09:06,440 --> 00:09:07,440to it.14700:09:07,440 --> 00:09:11,080I want to help people with diabetes live well.14800:09:11,080 --> 00:09:15,160I don't want any more limbs taken off of people who are underrepresented.14900:09:15,160 --> 00:09:16,840I don't want that.15000:09:16,840 --> 00:09:21,600You have a very, very specific question that you're asking that you're concerned about.15100:09:21,600 --> 00:09:28,060And so really what I want you to do is to take a step back and focus on the impact.15200:09:28,060 --> 00:09:29,060Focus on the impact.15300:09:29,060 --> 00:09:31,560What impact did you come to have?15400:09:31,560 --> 00:09:33,360What impact did you come to have?15500:09:33,360 --> 00:09:34,640Don't be focused on the grants.15600:09:34,640 --> 00:09:39,280Don't be focused on requirements or promotion or tenure or any of that.15700:09:39,280 --> 00:09:45,240But really ask yourself, what impact did I come to have?15800:09:45,240 --> 00:09:50,600And the reason you want to ask that question is because, you know what?15900:09:50,600 --> 00:09:55,240Can you have that impact outside of your research program?16000:09:55,240 --> 00:09:58,660It's a question you're going to want to consider.16100:09:58,660 --> 00:10:01,680But the second question you're also going to want to consider is, can you continue to16200:10:01,680 --> 00:10:06,480have that impact within your research program, but where you're not necessarily the biggest16300:10:06,480 --> 00:10:10,880driver of how that impact is being made?16400:10:10,880 --> 00:10:12,440And maybe I should put it in another way.16500:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,960If you're going to have impact, you're always going to be the driver of the impact.16600:10:15,960 --> 00:10:22,160But who else can serve you on your way to making that impact?16700:10:22,160 --> 00:10:26,880Because sometimes we become overwhelmed when we're the only ones grinding and we're the16800:10:26,880 --> 00:10:30,600only ones trying to move things forward, where we don't have people to support us.16900:10:30,600 --> 00:10:37,340But our journey is really about bringing people alongside us to establish the dream.17000:10:37,340 --> 00:10:42,420And so you want to be clear about the impact you want to make so that you can think about17100:10:42,420 --> 00:10:47,120what are all the strategies to make this same impact?17200:10:47,120 --> 00:10:51,320And you want to think about the strategies within your research program and you want17300:10:51,320 --> 00:10:55,040to think about the strategies outside your research program.17400:10:55,040 --> 00:10:56,400Because you came to make impact.17500:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,440You came to make your life count.17600:10:59,440 --> 00:11:02,200And research is not the only way you can do that.17700:11:02,200 --> 00:11:06,680So you want to think about how you can make that same kind of level of impact with or17800:11:06,680 --> 00:11:10,140without your research program.17900:11:10,140 --> 00:11:14,240The third thing I want you to ask is what are the benefits that have come to you from18000:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,440leading a research program?18100:11:16,440 --> 00:11:20,240What benefits have come to you from leading a research program?18200:11:20,240 --> 00:11:21,240Think about it.18300:11:21,240 --> 00:11:26,520Think about things like flexibility, things like the opportunity to pursue your own intellectual18400:11:26,520 --> 00:11:27,800pursuits.18500:11:27,800 --> 00:11:32,180Think about if you love writing like me, the opportunity to write.18600:11:32,180 --> 00:11:38,400Think about all the benefits that have come to you, maybe funding, recognition, awards.18700:11:38,400 --> 00:11:40,240Think about all the benefits.18800:11:40,240 --> 00:11:43,800The reason I want you to think about the benefits is that when we focus on the things that are18900:11:43,800 --> 00:11:48,840not working, it tricks us into believing that nothing has ever worked.19000:11:48,840 --> 00:11:53,720And so to some extent, what I'm asking you to do is a gratitude journal for your research.19100:11:53,720 --> 00:11:56,000How has your research served you?19200:11:56,000 --> 00:11:58,620How has it helped you move forward?19300:11:58,620 --> 00:12:02,320How has it helped you become a better clinician?19400:12:02,320 --> 00:12:04,960How has it helped you become a better thinker?19500:12:04,960 --> 00:12:09,560How has it helped you in your relationships with people within and outside healthcare?19600:12:09,560 --> 00:12:12,240How has it expanded your networks?19700:12:12,240 --> 00:12:17,600So I'm asking you, I'm asking you to write, write it down, keep a gratitude journal of19800:12:17,600 --> 00:12:19,880how your research has helped you.19900:12:19,880 --> 00:12:24,840And the reason for this gratitude journal is not to tell you, well, great, now don't20000:12:24,840 --> 00:12:25,840turn back.20100:12:25,840 --> 00:12:29,760It's because sometimes you get to the end of the gratitude journal and you say, wow,20200:12:29,760 --> 00:12:31,460this career has really served me.20300:12:31,460 --> 00:12:33,680And now I want to say thank you and goodbye.20400:12:33,680 --> 00:12:35,640Yeah, that may be your response.20500:12:35,640 --> 00:12:38,960Or it may be, wow, this career is really serving me.20600:12:38,960 --> 00:12:40,960I want to stay.20700:12:40,960 --> 00:12:45,680And the conclusion you come to is neither right nor wrong.20800:12:45,680 --> 00:12:48,000It just is.20900:12:48,000 --> 00:12:52,240But to acknowledge the benefits, either so that you can thank your career for how much21000:12:52,240 --> 00:13:01,300it served you until now, or to acknowledge the benefits and say, okay, let's keep going.21100:13:01,300 --> 00:13:05,680You don't know yet which direction you're going to take until you've acknowledged those21200:13:05,680 --> 00:13:07,520benefits.21300:13:07,520 --> 00:13:10,600So consider what are the benefits that have come from your research?21400:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,560And that's number three.21500:13:13,560 --> 00:13:18,880The fourth thing I want you to consider, and this is whether you choose to stay or not,21600:13:18,880 --> 00:13:22,520is who else can help lead your research?21700:13:22,520 --> 00:13:25,400Who else can help lead your research?21800:13:25,400 --> 00:13:33,160One of the most recent books that has really made a great impression on me is the book21900:13:33,160 --> 00:13:40,720by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy.22000:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,880And it is called Who, Not How.22100:13:43,880 --> 00:13:48,040I love that book because you keep thinking, okay, how do I learn to do this?22200:13:48,040 --> 00:13:49,320How do I learn to do that?22300:13:49,320 --> 00:13:52,400And what you really know is you're coming into your own independence.22400:13:52,400 --> 00:13:54,880You're coming into your own as an individual.22500:13:54,880 --> 00:13:59,520In that particular book, it's talking specifically about business, but as someone leading a research22600:13:59,520 --> 00:14:03,600program, you kind of are your own business owner.22700:14:03,600 --> 00:14:07,960And really it's asking, well, not how do I do more?22800:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,080How do I go learn more so I can do it?22900:14:10,080 --> 00:14:12,840But really who can cut the shortcuts?23000:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,720Who already has access to this information?23100:14:15,720 --> 00:14:18,800Who knows exactly what to do?23200:14:18,800 --> 00:14:22,120And to invite them to the table to do it.23300:14:22,120 --> 00:14:26,880So that's the question I'm asking you today is who else can help you lead?23400:14:26,880 --> 00:14:30,400Who else can help move projects forward so that whether you're there or not, projects23500:14:30,400 --> 00:14:31,640are moving forward?23600:14:31,640 --> 00:14:35,400Oh, I like what one senior scientist told me yesterday.23700:14:35,400 --> 00:14:39,000He was like, if you are still doing all the work within your research program, you're23800:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,920not ready.23900:14:42,920 --> 00:14:49,400But this applies whether you stay or you leave, because if you stay, you still do want somebody24000:14:49,400 --> 00:14:50,400else.24100:14:50,400 --> 00:14:54,560You still want others who are moving the research forward, whether or not you're involved in24200:14:54,560 --> 00:14:55,920it.24300:14:55,920 --> 00:14:57,240You still want the...24400:14:57,240 --> 00:15:02,600You don't want to be involved in the day to day to day to day like you were when you first24500:15:02,600 --> 00:15:03,600started.24600:15:03,600 --> 00:15:06,160And if you're there where you're like, oh, wait a minute, it's just me right now.24700:15:06,160 --> 00:15:07,640That's okay.24800:15:07,640 --> 00:15:11,400Your goal ultimately would be to get to the place where other people are going to help24900:15:11,400 --> 00:15:12,400you lead.25000:15:12,400 --> 00:15:16,860But you want to start asking who's going to help me lead or who can help me lead today25100:15:16,860 --> 00:15:18,480or who will help me lead tomorrow.25200:15:18,480 --> 00:15:23,200But you want to ask that question because if you're going to let go, you want to know25300:15:23,200 --> 00:15:28,000that you're letting go and the work can continue.25400:15:28,000 --> 00:15:33,000Or you want to stay and know that even though you're turning your interest to different25500:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,760things, your work still continues.25600:15:35,760 --> 00:15:42,240And so you want to make sure to clarify who else can help you lead, who can be a co-leader25700:15:42,240 --> 00:15:47,360with you, who can you bring alongside you to keep the work going.25800:15:47,360 --> 00:15:54,840The fifth thing I want to ask you to do is to connect with people outside your institution.25900:15:54,840 --> 00:15:59,320It's time to move to safe spaces to talk about your challenges.26000:15:59,320 --> 00:16:04,680And I'm not saying that your institution is not a safe place, please don't hear what I'm26100:16:04,680 --> 00:16:05,680not saying.26200:16:05,680 --> 00:16:10,560I'm not saying your institution is not a safe place.26300:16:10,560 --> 00:16:16,200But if you consider whenever you've had the thought of, oh, is research the right career26400:16:16,200 --> 00:16:17,720decision for me?26500:16:17,720 --> 00:16:22,120The first person you've thought to tell is not your mentor, because you wonder if that26600:16:22,120 --> 00:16:24,960will make them pull back or make them be disappointed.26700:16:24,960 --> 00:16:29,460You feel nervous and anxious because you don't want people to know.26800:16:29,460 --> 00:16:32,140You don't want them to think this is your final decision because you're still thinking26900:16:32,140 --> 00:16:33,520about it.27000:16:33,520 --> 00:16:38,360You really want a safe space to talk about your decision making.27100:16:38,360 --> 00:16:41,640Because for some of us, especially for those of us who didn't come to research during our27200:16:41,640 --> 00:16:45,600clinical training, there's the sense that, wait a minute, there's so much else I could27300:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,160do and this path is so hard.27400:16:48,160 --> 00:16:49,640Is it still worth it?27500:16:49,640 --> 00:16:51,440Is this even worth it?27600:16:51,440 --> 00:16:58,200And you want to have those conversations in safe and secret places before you're ready27700:16:58,200 --> 00:17:00,340to reveal the answer.27800:17:00,340 --> 00:17:04,120Because at the end of these conversations, it may be that you say, you know what, research27900:17:04,120 --> 00:17:06,060is still right for me.28000:17:06,060 --> 00:17:09,120But it also may be that you say, oh, it's not right for me.28100:17:09,120 --> 00:17:13,600So you don't want anybody to be confused who's relevant to helping you move research forward.28200:17:13,600 --> 00:17:20,000You don't want the person who's helping you mentor you, who's helping mentor you, you28300:17:20,000 --> 00:17:23,800don't want to give them the impression that you quit before you do quit, in case it means28400:17:23,800 --> 00:17:24,800they pull back as well.28500:17:24,800 --> 00:17:27,720And you're like, wait, wait, wait, I was just kidding.28600:17:27,720 --> 00:17:32,320So you want to connect with people outside of your immediate environment.28700:17:32,320 --> 00:17:39,640I want you to go and find a safe space, a safe place where you can have a conversation28800:17:39,640 --> 00:17:45,040really is focused on you, what you want, what you need.28900:17:45,040 --> 00:17:46,680And so you want to connect.29000:17:46,680 --> 00:17:50,920And these connections are especially important actually outside your institution, the safest29100:17:50,920 --> 00:17:53,760spaces where nobody knows and can make connections.29200:17:53,760 --> 00:17:58,080And so you're not going to talk to your mentor's primary collaborator.29300:17:58,080 --> 00:18:01,760Or maybe you might if you really trust them.29400:18:01,760 --> 00:18:06,240But you want to move outside of your immediate environment to a place where nobody judges29500:18:06,240 --> 00:18:09,760you, where nobody feels like they've invested their life in your career succeeding.29600:18:09,760 --> 00:18:11,520And now you're about to give up.29700:18:11,520 --> 00:18:13,800Because you know, that really does, it really does.29800:18:13,800 --> 00:18:14,800People are human, right?29900:18:14,800 --> 00:18:15,800It really does bother them.30000:18:15,800 --> 00:18:19,120It's like, wait a minute, I've invested in you so you can succeed.30100:18:19,120 --> 00:18:21,440And now you're going to tell me you quit?30200:18:21,440 --> 00:18:23,200People are human.30300:18:23,200 --> 00:18:27,160And in their first thought, they may discourage you.30400:18:27,160 --> 00:18:30,920So you want to go to a safe space so you can make sure that you can have these conversations30500:18:30,920 --> 00:18:33,920free of judgment.30600:18:33,920 --> 00:18:38,160The sixth thing I want to tell you is to take time to investigate your options.30700:18:38,160 --> 00:18:40,440You have many options.30800:18:40,440 --> 00:18:43,760Okay, I want to say that again.30900:18:43,760 --> 00:18:47,280You have many options.31000:18:47,280 --> 00:18:48,280You are a clinician.31100:18:48,280 --> 00:18:51,480And before you were a clinician, you had many options.31200:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,020Your clinician now, you have many options.31300:18:54,020 --> 00:18:56,640You lead research, you have many options.31400:18:56,640 --> 00:19:02,580Those options are traditional, like they could be maybe in a different role in academia,31500:19:02,580 --> 00:19:08,160maybe moving into an industry role, maybe moving to a government agency like the FDA.31600:19:08,160 --> 00:19:11,040There are many possible options.31700:19:11,040 --> 00:19:15,720But so I want you to know that so that you're not kind of going into this place of scarcity31800:19:15,720 --> 00:19:19,720saying, well, if I don't do this academic career, I can't do anything else.31900:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,840No, that's not true.32000:19:22,840 --> 00:19:28,440But before you make any decisions about what you can or cannot do, investigate the options.32100:19:28,440 --> 00:19:30,080What are the options?32200:19:30,080 --> 00:19:33,240And it's important because you may investigate all the options and then say, you know what,32300:19:33,240 --> 00:19:37,560this is still the best option for me for this phase of my life, for this stage of my career,32400:19:37,560 --> 00:19:39,800this is still the best option for me.32500:19:39,800 --> 00:19:42,180It's okay to investigate.32600:19:42,180 --> 00:19:43,640It's a minimum requirement.32700:19:43,640 --> 00:19:48,360What are all the possibilities so that you can make an informed decision?32800:19:48,360 --> 00:19:49,360This is your career.32900:19:49,360 --> 00:19:50,860This is your life.33000:19:50,860 --> 00:19:52,880Your family is impacted.33100:19:52,880 --> 00:19:55,320Your significant others impacted.33200:19:55,320 --> 00:19:59,000People care that you are healthy and happy.33300:19:59,000 --> 00:20:01,680People care that you're healthy and happy.33400:20:01,680 --> 00:20:06,200And so you want to do this for you and for everyone around you who loves you.33500:20:06,200 --> 00:20:10,040You want to take time to make sure that you investigate the option.33600:20:10,040 --> 00:20:15,460And the seventh thing I want to tell you is to take only one step.33700:20:15,460 --> 00:20:19,620It can feel overwhelming when you consider all the possible options.33800:20:19,620 --> 00:20:21,360It can feel so overwhelming.33900:20:21,360 --> 00:20:26,920But I'm asking you, I'm inviting you to take only one step.34000:20:26,920 --> 00:20:29,800And what is that step going to be today?34100:20:29,800 --> 00:20:34,840Maybe your first step is to ask yourself the question, honestly, how do I feel about this34200:20:34,840 --> 00:20:35,840research career?34300:20:35,840 --> 00:20:37,160What are the things I hate about it?34400:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,280And what are the things I love?34500:20:40,280 --> 00:20:42,080Only one step today.34600:20:42,080 --> 00:20:43,080Only one step.34700:20:43,080 --> 00:20:49,760So I'm inviting you to take a step today and just look at your research career and say,34800:20:49,760 --> 00:20:54,280well, what one step do I need to take today to help me clarify whether this is for me34900:20:54,280 --> 00:20:55,280or not?35000:20:55,280 --> 00:20:57,960Who do I need to talk to?35100:20:57,960 --> 00:20:59,960Take one step, send them an email.35200:20:59,960 --> 00:21:00,960Take one step.35300:21:00,960 --> 00:21:01,960Maybe you send them a text.35400:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,120Maybe it's your colleague at a different institution.35500:21:04,120 --> 00:21:06,100Take one step.35600:21:06,100 --> 00:21:07,100Just one step.35700:21:07,100 --> 00:21:10,920And I invite you to tell me what that step is.35800:21:10,920 --> 00:21:16,240And perhaps you can do it by sending me a DM on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.35900:21:16,240 --> 00:21:21,040Or you can leave a podcast voicemail for me on the podcast website, clinicianresearcherpodcast.com.36000:21:21,040 --> 00:21:28,440Or you can send me a message through my coaching site, coechcoach.com, C-O-A-G-C-O-A-C-H.com.36100:21:28,440 --> 00:21:30,920Yeah, but those are the seven things.36200:21:30,920 --> 00:21:34,920I want you to, one, not be afraid to ask the question.36300:21:34,920 --> 00:21:41,000Two, focus not on what you do, but focus on the impact you want.36400:21:41,000 --> 00:21:45,160Number three, think about the benefits that have come from your research.36500:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,840Number four, think about who else can help you lead, whether you stay in your research36600:21:48,840 --> 00:21:49,840program or not.36700:21:49,840 --> 00:21:52,800Number five, connect with people outside your institution.36800:21:52,800 --> 00:21:56,280Number six, take time to investigate your options.36900:21:56,280 --> 00:21:59,160And number seven, take just one step.37000:21:59,160 --> 00:22:00,440Just one step today.37100:22:00,440 --> 00:22:02,000Don't wait till tomorrow.37200:22:02,000 --> 00:22:03,000Take the one step today.37300:22:03,000 --> 00:22:04,000All right.37400:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,480It has been a privilege talking with you today.37500:22:06,480 --> 00:22:13,920And thank you for what I feel has been a vulnerable and sacred space.37600:22:13,920 --> 00:22:17,880And know that as you're considering your career decision, I wish you well.37700:22:17,880 --> 00:22:21,160And if you want to reach out and get some coaching around it, I'd be happy to do that37800:22:21,160 --> 00:22:22,160for you.37900:22:22,160 --> 00:22:23,160All right.38000:22:23,160 --> 00:22:24,160I'll talk to you soon.38100:22:24,160 --> 00:22:25,160Take care.38200:22:25,160 --> 00:22:38,480Thanks for listening to this episode of the Clinician Researcher Podcast, where academic38300:22:38,480 --> 00:22:43,760clinicians learn the skills to build their own research program, whether or not they38400:22:43,760 --> 00:22:45,280have a mentor.38500:22:45,280 --> 00:22:51,240If you found the information in this episode to be helpful, don't keep it all to yourself.38600:22:51,240 --> 00:22:53,120Someone else needs to hear it.38700:22:53,120 --> 00:22:57,160So take a minute right now and share it.38800:22:57,160 --> 00:23:02,640As you share this episode, you become part of our mission to help launch a new generation38900:23:02,640 --> 00:23:15,520of clinician researchers who make transformative discoveries that change the way we do healthcare.