Reconsidering your research career

1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,860 Welcome to the Clinician Researcher podcast, where academic clinicians learn the skills 2 00:00:05,860 --> 00:00:11,260 to build their own research program, whether or not they have a mentor. 3 00:00:11,260 --> 00:00:17,340 As clinicians, we spend a decade or more as trainees learning to take care of patients. 4 00:00:17,340 --> 00:00:22,380 When we finally start our careers, we want to build research programs, but then we find 5 00:00:22,380 --> 00:00:27,780 that our years of clinical training did not adequately prepare us to lead our research 6 00:00:27,780 --> 00:00:29,200 program. 7 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:35,480 Through no fault of our own, we struggle to find mentors, and when we can't, we quit. 8 00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:40,580 However, clinicians hold the keys to the greatest research breakthroughs. 9 00:00:40,580 --> 00:00:46,200 For this reason, the Clinician Researcher podcast exists to give academic clinicians 10 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:51,800 the tools to build their own research program, whether or not they have a mentor. 11 00:00:51,800 --> 00:01:01,080 Now introducing your host, Toyosi Onwuemene. 12 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,320 Welcome to the Clinician Researcher podcast. 13 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:08,440 I'm your host, Toyosi Onwuemene, and as always, it is a pleasure to be speaking with you today. 14 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:13,160 I want to thank you for taking the time to tune in and listen to this episode, because 15 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,080 honestly, if you weren't listening, I wouldn't be talking. 16 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,960 And yes, I may have already recorded this episode, but it wouldn't matter if you were 17 00:01:20,960 --> 00:01:21,960 not listening to it. 18 00:01:21,960 --> 00:01:28,960 So I want to thank you so much for just tuning in and listening to this episode. 19 00:01:28,960 --> 00:01:36,960 I am excited to share with you this episode titled, Reconsidering Your Research Career. 20 00:01:36,960 --> 00:01:43,640 And I feel like it's a really important topic to discuss because many people have these 21 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:48,320 thoughts and they're buried deep inside because there's a little bit of shame associated 22 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,680 with it because it's the Holy Grail. 23 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:54,640 It's a thing you've pursued for so long. 24 00:01:54,640 --> 00:02:00,400 And sometimes to even have the thought feels like a great betrayal, feels like a great 25 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:05,900 disloyalty to the people who've supported you to this time. 26 00:02:05,900 --> 00:02:10,680 And so there's a little bit of shame and concern mixed in with this feeling. 27 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:14,960 And sometimes people are afraid to express their thoughts that they're actually reconsidering 28 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:16,440 their research career. 29 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:22,400 And so I am here to talk to you about it, to let you know that, hey, this is actually 30 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,100 a common problem. 31 00:02:26,100 --> 00:02:28,400 And to just say that it's a safe space. 32 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:29,400 It's me and you. 33 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:30,760 It's one and one. 34 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:34,880 And I'm going to share with you some things to consider as you're reconsidering your research 35 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:35,960 career. 36 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:36,960 It's interesting. 37 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:38,600 This is the Clinician Researcher podcast, right? 38 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:43,440 So I'm here to support and encourage people who want to lead research programs. 39 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:49,440 And I recognize that along the way, we may change our minds or at least doubt our initial 40 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:50,720 convictions. 41 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:51,920 And it's okay. 42 00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:53,440 So I'm here to talk about that. 43 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:59,200 And I want to say more than any other conversation we've had, this is a confidential conversation. 44 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:01,080 I don't want you to be afraid. 45 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:03,120 And I don't want you to hold back your thoughts. 46 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:09,640 I really do want this to be an episode that stimulates your thoughts and that allows you 47 00:03:09,640 --> 00:03:14,200 to think deeply about the way you feel without judgment. 48 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:15,320 Okay? 49 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,440 I will share that I've always asked myself this question. 50 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:24,200 And to be honest, it's a question I asked myself today, especially when challenges come 51 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,040 and it's like, goodness, this is so hard. 52 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:28,240 Is this worth it? 53 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:34,300 And one of the things I also think about is, you know, I want to have a bigger career than 54 00:03:34,300 --> 00:03:35,740 just medicine. 55 00:03:35,740 --> 00:03:36,740 And I love medicine. 56 00:03:36,740 --> 00:03:38,400 I think it's a great, great, great... 57 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:43,640 Oh my gosh, it's a great platform to really, really benefit humanity. 58 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:50,360 And there's so much more beyond just administering healthcare and also investigating healthcare. 59 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,320 And sometimes the challenges feel overwhelming. 60 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:59,800 And so I want to say that I resonate firsthand with every time somebody says, I'm not sure. 61 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,480 I'm not sure this is what I want to do. 62 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:07,040 And I had a conversation with someone along these lines yesterday who we had this, you 63 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,600 know, it was a small group conversation. 64 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:10,600 Conversation was over. 65 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:12,200 It was time for lunch. 66 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:17,600 And she just kind of pulled me aside and said, I'm not sure if this is really what I want 67 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:18,600 to do. 68 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,600 And she said it in a way that was so quiet. 69 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:24,640 She said it in a way that just, you know, made it feel as if she was saying something 70 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:30,840 bad, but like she was like afraid that I would betray her trust or judge her. 71 00:04:30,840 --> 00:04:36,040 And I felt for her because we have this feeling like, well, people have made all these investments. 72 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:37,280 You submitted all these grants. 73 00:04:37,280 --> 00:04:39,920 They said we're going to do all these things. 74 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:41,320 But what if this is not what I want to do? 75 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:46,520 And so I just want to encourage you that there are so many people having these same thoughts 76 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:48,000 and they are absolutely worth exploring. 77 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,020 And I want to talk to you about it today. 78 00:04:51,020 --> 00:04:56,240 So the first thing I want to encourage you to do is to not be afraid to ask that question. 79 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:02,800 I want to tell you that the breakthrough for your career lies on the other side of that 80 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:08,800 question because for you to come to a place where you're asking the question, is research 81 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,800 really the right career for me? 82 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:17,160 You have come to actually a really important defining point because you've been feeling 83 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:18,760 it all along. 84 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:24,000 It's been somewhere in the back of your mind nagging you as you've been submitting grants, 85 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,440 nagging you as you've been moving forward papers. 86 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:31,560 All of a sudden for you to stop and ask the question is for you to acknowledge a thing 87 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:38,320 that's been brewing in your mind for days, weeks, months, possibly even years. 88 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:44,960 And the challenge of academia, the challenge of our clinical scientist training is that 89 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:46,240 there's so much to do. 90 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:51,840 It's easy to just keep going through the motions without ever asking, well, is this even really 91 00:05:51,840 --> 00:05:53,960 what I want to do? 92 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,280 And we're not surrounded by people who support us in asking that question. 93 00:05:57,280 --> 00:06:02,560 So for us to be able to ask that question represents a real breakthrough. 94 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,640 So I just want to first of all congratulate you if you're thinking along these lines. 95 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:10,880 I want to congratulate you for asking that question because I do think it's an important 96 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:15,440 question and it's an acknowledgement of the thing you're already feeling. 97 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:20,840 So you're giving voice to a feeling that's been lying around inside you for a long time. 98 00:06:20,840 --> 00:06:25,560 Or maybe you're listening and you're still in denial about the way you feel about your 99 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:26,560 research. 100 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:30,960 You're still in denial because if you even entertain the thought that you stopped this 101 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:35,080 hamster wheel and you can't afford to stop, not now. 102 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:36,560 And it's okay too. 103 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:40,560 I just want to say that whatever feelings are inside you are valid. 104 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:43,560 Whether you accept them or not, that's valid as well. 105 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:48,720 But I do want to say that if the feeling, if you're having feelings that maybe this 106 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:52,800 is not what you want to do, it is okay to acknowledge them. 107 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:54,580 And that really is the first step. 108 00:06:54,580 --> 00:06:56,120 It doesn't mean you're quitting. 109 00:06:56,120 --> 00:07:00,000 It doesn't mean you're walking away from years worth of investment. 110 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:05,560 It just means that you're taking time to acknowledge the way you feel about something that feels 111 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:07,320 so important. 112 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:11,000 And you may be a little bit worried that somebody else might read your thoughts and discover 113 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:12,680 it and be really upset. 114 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:19,060 So do not be afraid to ask the question, is research the right answer for me? 115 00:07:19,060 --> 00:07:24,480 Do not be afraid to reconsider your research career. 116 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:30,560 The second thing I want to share with you is to ask you not to focus on what you're 117 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:36,000 doing, but to really focus on the impact you want to have. 118 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:40,720 So focus not on what you do, but focus on impact. 119 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:45,020 Sometimes this question about reconsidering our research careers comes when we're thinking 120 00:07:45,020 --> 00:07:47,560 about our life beyond just our careers. 121 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,640 When we're thinking about our lives beyond just our research. 122 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:52,840 You're like, I'm a husband and father. 123 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:54,880 I am a wife and mother. 124 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:55,880 I'm a daughter. 125 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:56,880 I'm a friend. 126 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:00,440 I've got so much more I want to do. 127 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,320 Writing these grants time after time after time. 128 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:08,280 Is this really the best use of my career? 129 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,200 Is this what I want to do? 130 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:17,720 And I think it's a good thing because really what you're asking is a question of your impact. 131 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:22,440 You are asking the question of your investment relative to your impact. 132 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:27,800 And when you focus on the investment, especially when you're first starting, it feels like 133 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:30,800 a lot has been invested for very minimal return. 134 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:34,880 And so yes, it makes sense that you're stepping back and saying, wait a minute, wait a minute. 135 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:36,440 Does this make sense? 136 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:38,360 Am I spending too much? 137 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:40,960 But what you want to do is you want to pause. 138 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:45,720 You want to take a step back and you want to ask your big picture question. 139 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,240 What is my career in service of? 140 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,520 What is the impact I'm going to make? 141 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:55,640 And for many of us when we started, there was a sense of, I just want to help patients. 142 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:57,840 Not very specific, but very clear to us. 143 00:08:57,840 --> 00:08:59,000 I just want to help people. 144 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,120 I just want to help patients. 145 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:06,440 But now that we recognize the vast world that is medicine, there's a little bit more specificity 146 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:07,440 to it. 147 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:11,080 I want to help people with diabetes live well. 148 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:15,160 I don't want any more limbs taken off of people who are underrepresented. 149 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:16,840 I don't want that. 150 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:21,600 You have a very, very specific question that you're asking that you're concerned about. 151 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:28,060 And so really what I want you to do is to take a step back and focus on the impact. 152 00:09:28,060 --> 00:09:29,060 Focus on the impact. 153 00:09:29,060 --> 00:09:31,560 What impact did you come to have? 154 00:09:31,560 --> 00:09:33,360 What impact did you come to have? 155 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:34,640 Don't be focused on the grants. 156 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:39,280 Don't be focused on requirements or promotion or tenure or any of that. 157 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:45,240 But really ask yourself, what impact did I come to have? 158 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:50,600 And the reason you want to ask that question is because, you know what? 159 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:55,240 Can you have that impact outside of your research program? 160 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:58,660 It's a question you're going to want to consider. 161 00:09:58,660 --> 00:10:01,680 But the second question you're also going to want to consider is, can you continue to 162 00:10:01,680 --> 00:10:06,480 have that impact within your research program, but where you're not necessarily the biggest 163 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:10,880 driver of how that impact is being made? 164 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:12,440 And maybe I should put it in another way. 165 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,960 If you're going to have impact, you're always going to be the driver of the impact. 166 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:22,160 But who else can serve you on your way to making that impact? 167 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:26,880 Because sometimes we become overwhelmed when we're the only ones grinding and we're the 168 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:30,600 only ones trying to move things forward, where we don't have people to support us. 169 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:37,340 But our journey is really about bringing people alongside us to establish the dream. 170 00:10:37,340 --> 00:10:42,420 And so you want to be clear about the impact you want to make so that you can think about 171 00:10:42,420 --> 00:10:47,120 what are all the strategies to make this same impact? 172 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:51,320 And you want to think about the strategies within your research program and you want 173 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:55,040 to think about the strategies outside your research program. 174 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:56,400 Because you came to make impact. 175 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,440 You came to make your life count. 176 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:02,200 And research is not the only way you can do that. 177 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:06,680 So you want to think about how you can make that same kind of level of impact with or 178 00:11:06,680 --> 00:11:10,140 without your research program. 179 00:11:10,140 --> 00:11:14,240 The third thing I want you to ask is what are the benefits that have come to you from 180 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,440 leading a research program? 181 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:20,240 What benefits have come to you from leading a research program? 182 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:21,240 Think about it. 183 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:26,520 Think about things like flexibility, things like the opportunity to pursue your own intellectual 184 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:27,800 pursuits. 185 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:32,180 Think about if you love writing like me, the opportunity to write. 186 00:11:32,180 --> 00:11:38,400 Think about all the benefits that have come to you, maybe funding, recognition, awards. 187 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:40,240 Think about all the benefits. 188 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:43,800 The reason I want you to think about the benefits is that when we focus on the things that are 189 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:48,840 not working, it tricks us into believing that nothing has ever worked. 190 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:53,720 And so to some extent, what I'm asking you to do is a gratitude journal for your research. 191 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:56,000 How has your research served you? 192 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:58,620 How has it helped you move forward? 193 00:11:58,620 --> 00:12:02,320 How has it helped you become a better clinician? 194 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:04,960 How has it helped you become a better thinker? 195 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:09,560 How has it helped you in your relationships with people within and outside healthcare? 196 00:12:09,560 --> 00:12:12,240 How has it expanded your networks? 197 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:17,600 So I'm asking you, I'm asking you to write, write it down, keep a gratitude journal of 198 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:19,880 how your research has helped you. 199 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:24,840 And the reason for this gratitude journal is not to tell you, well, great, now don't 200 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:25,840 turn back. 201 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:29,760 It's because sometimes you get to the end of the gratitude journal and you say, wow, 202 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:31,460 this career has really served me. 203 00:12:31,460 --> 00:12:33,680 And now I want to say thank you and goodbye. 204 00:12:33,680 --> 00:12:35,640 Yeah, that may be your response. 205 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:38,960 Or it may be, wow, this career is really serving me. 206 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:40,960 I want to stay. 207 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:45,680 And the conclusion you come to is neither right nor wrong. 208 00:12:45,680 --> 00:12:48,000 It just is. 209 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:52,240 But to acknowledge the benefits, either so that you can thank your career for how much 210 00:12:52,240 --> 00:13:01,300 it served you until now, or to acknowledge the benefits and say, okay, let's keep going. 211 00:13:01,300 --> 00:13:05,680 You don't know yet which direction you're going to take until you've acknowledged those 212 00:13:05,680 --> 00:13:07,520 benefits. 213 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:10,600 So consider what are the benefits that have come from your research? 214 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,560 And that's number three. 215 00:13:13,560 --> 00:13:18,880 The fourth thing I want you to consider, and this is whether you choose to stay or not, 216 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:22,520 is who else can help lead your research? 217 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:25,400 Who else can help lead your research? 218 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:33,160 One of the most recent books that has really made a great impression on me is the book 219 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:40,720 by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. 220 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,880 And it is called Who, Not How. 221 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:48,040 I love that book because you keep thinking, okay, how do I learn to do this? 222 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:49,320 How do I learn to do that? 223 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:52,400 And what you really know is you're coming into your own independence. 224 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:54,880 You're coming into your own as an individual. 225 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:59,520 In that particular book, it's talking specifically about business, but as someone leading a research 226 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:03,600 program, you kind of are your own business owner. 227 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:07,960 And really it's asking, well, not how do I do more? 228 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,080 How do I go learn more so I can do it? 229 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:12,840 But really who can cut the shortcuts? 230 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,720 Who already has access to this information? 231 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:18,800 Who knows exactly what to do? 232 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:22,120 And to invite them to the table to do it. 233 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:26,880 So that's the question I'm asking you today is who else can help you lead? 234 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:30,400 Who else can help move projects forward so that whether you're there or not, projects 235 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:31,640 are moving forward? 236 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:35,400 Oh, I like what one senior scientist told me yesterday. 237 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:39,000 He was like, if you are still doing all the work within your research program, you're 238 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,920 not ready. 239 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:49,400 But this applies whether you stay or you leave, because if you stay, you still do want somebody 240 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:50,400 else. 241 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:54,560 You still want others who are moving the research forward, whether or not you're involved in 242 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:55,920 it. 243 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:57,240 You still want the... 244 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:02,600 You don't want to be involved in the day to day to day to day like you were when you first 245 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:03,600 started. 246 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:06,160 And if you're there where you're like, oh, wait a minute, it's just me right now. 247 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:07,640 That's okay. 248 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:11,400 Your goal ultimately would be to get to the place where other people are going to help 249 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:12,400 you lead. 250 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:16,860 But you want to start asking who's going to help me lead or who can help me lead today 251 00:15:16,860 --> 00:15:18,480 or who will help me lead tomorrow. 252 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:23,200 But you want to ask that question because if you're going to let go, you want to know 253 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:28,000 that you're letting go and the work can continue. 254 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:33,000 Or you want to stay and know that even though you're turning your interest to different 255 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,760 things, your work still continues. 256 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:42,240 And so you want to make sure to clarify who else can help you lead, who can be a co-leader 257 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:47,360 with you, who can you bring alongside you to keep the work going. 258 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:54,840 The fifth thing I want to ask you to do is to connect with people outside your institution. 259 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:59,320 It's time to move to safe spaces to talk about your challenges. 260 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:04,680 And I'm not saying that your institution is not a safe place, please don't hear what I'm 261 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:05,680 not saying. 262 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:10,560 I'm not saying your institution is not a safe place. 263 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:16,200 But if you consider whenever you've had the thought of, oh, is research the right career 264 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:17,720 decision for me? 265 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:22,120 The first person you've thought to tell is not your mentor, because you wonder if that 266 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:24,960 will make them pull back or make them be disappointed. 267 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:29,460 You feel nervous and anxious because you don't want people to know. 268 00:16:29,460 --> 00:16:32,140 You don't want them to think this is your final decision because you're still thinking 269 00:16:32,140 --> 00:16:33,520 about it. 270 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:38,360 You really want a safe space to talk about your decision making. 271 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:41,640 Because for some of us, especially for those of us who didn't come to research during our 272 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:45,600 clinical training, there's the sense that, wait a minute, there's so much else I could 273 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,160 do and this path is so hard. 274 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:49,640 Is it still worth it? 275 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:51,440 Is this even worth it? 276 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:58,200 And you want to have those conversations in safe and secret places before you're ready 277 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:00,340 to reveal the answer. 278 00:17:00,340 --> 00:17:04,120 Because at the end of these conversations, it may be that you say, you know what, research 279 00:17:04,120 --> 00:17:06,060 is still right for me. 280 00:17:06,060 --> 00:17:09,120 But it also may be that you say, oh, it's not right for me. 281 00:17:09,120 --> 00:17:13,600 So you don't want anybody to be confused who's relevant to helping you move research forward. 282 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:20,000 You don't want the person who's helping you mentor you, who's helping mentor you, you 283 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:23,800 don't want to give them the impression that you quit before you do quit, in case it means 284 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:24,800 they pull back as well. 285 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:27,720 And you're like, wait, wait, wait, I was just kidding. 286 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:32,320 So you want to connect with people outside of your immediate environment. 287 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:39,640 I want you to go and find a safe space, a safe place where you can have a conversation 288 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:45,040 really is focused on you, what you want, what you need. 289 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:46,680 And so you want to connect. 290 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:50,920 And these connections are especially important actually outside your institution, the safest 291 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:53,760 spaces where nobody knows and can make connections. 292 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:58,080 And so you're not going to talk to your mentor's primary collaborator. 293 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:01,760 Or maybe you might if you really trust them. 294 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:06,240 But you want to move outside of your immediate environment to a place where nobody judges 295 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:09,760 you, where nobody feels like they've invested their life in your career succeeding. 296 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:11,520 And now you're about to give up. 297 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:13,800 Because you know, that really does, it really does. 298 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:14,800 People are human, right? 299 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:15,800 It really does bother them. 300 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:19,120 It's like, wait a minute, I've invested in you so you can succeed. 301 00:18:19,120 --> 00:18:21,440 And now you're going to tell me you quit? 302 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:23,200 People are human. 303 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:27,160 And in their first thought, they may discourage you. 304 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:30,920 So you want to go to a safe space so you can make sure that you can have these conversations 305 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:33,920 free of judgment. 306 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:38,160 The sixth thing I want to tell you is to take time to investigate your options. 307 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:40,440 You have many options. 308 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:43,760 Okay, I want to say that again. 309 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:47,280 You have many options. 310 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:48,280 You are a clinician. 311 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:51,480 And before you were a clinician, you had many options. 312 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,020 Your clinician now, you have many options. 313 00:18:54,020 --> 00:18:56,640 You lead research, you have many options. 314 00:18:56,640 --> 00:19:02,580 Those options are traditional, like they could be maybe in a different role in academia, 315 00:19:02,580 --> 00:19:08,160 maybe moving into an industry role, maybe moving to a government agency like the FDA. 316 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:11,040 There are many possible options. 317 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:15,720 But so I want you to know that so that you're not kind of going into this place of scarcity 318 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:19,720 saying, well, if I don't do this academic career, I can't do anything else. 319 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,840 No, that's not true. 320 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:28,440 But before you make any decisions about what you can or cannot do, investigate the options. 321 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:30,080 What are the options? 322 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:33,240 And it's important because you may investigate all the options and then say, you know what, 323 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:37,560 this is still the best option for me for this phase of my life, for this stage of my career, 324 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:39,800 this is still the best option for me. 325 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:42,180 It's okay to investigate. 326 00:19:42,180 --> 00:19:43,640 It's a minimum requirement. 327 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:48,360 What are all the possibilities so that you can make an informed decision? 328 00:19:48,360 --> 00:19:49,360 This is your career. 329 00:19:49,360 --> 00:19:50,860 This is your life. 330 00:19:50,860 --> 00:19:52,880 Your family is impacted. 331 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:55,320 Your significant others impacted. 332 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:59,000 People care that you are healthy and happy. 333 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:01,680 People care that you're healthy and happy. 334 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:06,200 And so you want to do this for you and for everyone around you who loves you. 335 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:10,040 You want to take time to make sure that you investigate the option. 336 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:15,460 And the seventh thing I want to tell you is to take only one step. 337 00:20:15,460 --> 00:20:19,620 It can feel overwhelming when you consider all the possible options. 338 00:20:19,620 --> 00:20:21,360 It can feel so overwhelming. 339 00:20:21,360 --> 00:20:26,920 But I'm asking you, I'm inviting you to take only one step. 340 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:29,800 And what is that step going to be today? 341 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:34,840 Maybe your first step is to ask yourself the question, honestly, how do I feel about this 342 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:35,840 research career? 343 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:37,160 What are the things I hate about it? 344 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,280 And what are the things I love? 345 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:42,080 Only one step today. 346 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:43,080 Only one step. 347 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:49,760 So I'm inviting you to take a step today and just look at your research career and say, 348 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:54,280 well, what one step do I need to take today to help me clarify whether this is for me 349 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:55,280 or not? 350 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:57,960 Who do I need to talk to? 351 00:20:57,960 --> 00:20:59,960 Take one step, send them an email. 352 00:20:59,960 --> 00:21:00,960 Take one step. 353 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:01,960 Maybe you send them a text. 354 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,120 Maybe it's your colleague at a different institution. 355 00:21:04,120 --> 00:21:06,100 Take one step. 356 00:21:06,100 --> 00:21:07,100 Just one step. 357 00:21:07,100 --> 00:21:10,920 And I invite you to tell me what that step is. 358 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:16,240 And perhaps you can do it by sending me a DM on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 359 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:21,040 Or you can leave a podcast voicemail for me on the podcast website, clinicianresearcherpodcast.com. 360 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:28,440 Or you can send me a message through my coaching site, coechcoach.com, C-O-A-G-C-O-A-C-H.com. 361 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:30,920 Yeah, but those are the seven things. 362 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:34,920 I want you to, one, not be afraid to ask the question. 363 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:41,000 Two, focus not on what you do, but focus on the impact you want. 364 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:45,160 Number three, think about the benefits that have come from your research. 365 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,840 Number four, think about who else can help you lead, whether you stay in your research 366 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:49,840 program or not. 367 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:52,800 Number five, connect with people outside your institution. 368 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:56,280 Number six, take time to investigate your options. 369 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:59,160 And number seven, take just one step. 370 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:00,440 Just one step today. 371 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:02,000 Don't wait till tomorrow. 372 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:03,000 Take the one step today. 373 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:04,000 All right. 374 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,480 It has been a privilege talking with you today. 375 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:13,920 And thank you for what I feel has been a vulnerable and sacred space. 376 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:17,880 And know that as you're considering your career decision, I wish you well. 377 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:21,160 And if you want to reach out and get some coaching around it, I'd be happy to do that 378 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:22,160 for you. 379 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:23,160 All right. 380 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:24,160 I'll talk to you soon. 381 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:25,160 Take care. 382 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:38,480 Thanks for listening to this episode of the Clinician Researcher Podcast, where academic 383 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:43,760 clinicians learn the skills to build their own research program, whether or not they 384 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:45,280 have a mentor. 385 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:51,240 If you found the information in this episode to be helpful, don't keep it all to yourself. 386 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:53,120 Someone else needs to hear it. 387 00:22:53,120 --> 00:22:57,160 So take a minute right now and share it. 388 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:02,640 As you share this episode, you become part of our mission to help launch a new generation 389 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:15,520 of clinician researchers who make transformative discoveries that change the way we do healthcare.