What to do when the job you have is not the one you want

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 --> 00:01:01,060Now introducing your host, Toyosi Onwuemene.1200:01:01,060 --> 00:01:04,640Welcome to the Clinician Researcher podcast.1300:01:04,640 --> 00:01:08,500I'm your host, Toyosi Onwuemene, and it is such a pleasure to be talking with you today.1400:01:08,500 --> 00:01:15,280I want to thank you for tuning in, because if you didn't tune in, I wouldn't be speaking.1500:01:15,280 --> 00:01:20,320I'm excited to share with you today's episode, which talks about what if you got the job1600:01:20,320 --> 00:01:22,960you didn't want.1700:01:22,960 --> 00:01:28,020This conversation has come up quite a bit in some of the symposiums and workshops that1800:01:28,020 --> 00:01:34,240I've attended or served as a panelist on recently, and I really did want to address that concern.1900:01:34,240 --> 00:01:38,280I wanted to address that challenge, because it's a real thing.2000:01:38,280 --> 00:01:44,340I resonate with the experience that people are sharing of being in job situations that2100:01:44,340 --> 00:01:47,200they feel like they don't want.2200:01:47,200 --> 00:01:53,840For many reasons, we get into these situations because we don't feel like we have a choice.2300:01:53,840 --> 00:01:57,760You don't feel like we have enough information or that people are fighting for us.2400:01:57,760 --> 00:02:02,560When I started my faculty career, I feel like I took my job really reluctantly, because2500:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,720what I wanted to do was to lead a research program.2600:02:05,720 --> 00:02:09,440And then I was told I wasn't really qualified, and there was still so much more that I would2700:02:09,440 --> 00:02:10,920need to do to be able to do that.2800:02:10,920 --> 00:02:15,640And I was like, well, okay, I guess I'll take this job because they're promising to support2900:02:15,640 --> 00:02:17,400me later if I can make it work.3000:02:17,400 --> 00:02:22,120But it wasn't the job I wanted, but it was also in the location I wanted, and it was3100:02:22,120 --> 00:02:23,200close to family.3200:02:23,200 --> 00:02:25,120So there were good points of the job.3300:02:25,120 --> 00:02:32,600It wasn't all bad, but it was also not the job I wanted.3400:02:32,600 --> 00:02:37,600And so I will tell you that I'm still in the same job as when I first started, and I love3500:02:37,600 --> 00:02:38,600my job today.3600:02:38,600 --> 00:02:42,880It's so fulfilling, and it's so great and so awesome.3700:02:42,880 --> 00:02:48,320And it is because over the course of 10 years, I've been remaking my job, and there have3800:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,720been some major remakes and there have been some minor tweaks.3900:02:51,720 --> 00:02:56,320There have probably been more minor tweaks that led to major breakthroughs that led to4000:02:56,320 --> 00:02:58,760more minor tweaks.4100:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,240And it's really been an ongoing journey.4200:03:01,240 --> 00:03:05,920It's still continuing to evolve because our careers continue to evolve.4300:03:05,920 --> 00:03:10,440And that's why I want to share with you today what to do if you get the job that you didn't4400:03:10,440 --> 00:03:11,440want.4500:03:11,440 --> 00:03:17,080There are about seven things, seven strategies to consider, because I think it's important4600:03:17,080 --> 00:03:23,800to recognize that the X factor in any situation is you.4700:03:23,800 --> 00:03:28,520You are absolutely the wild card in this game.4800:03:28,520 --> 00:03:29,520It's not the job.4900:03:29,520 --> 00:03:30,520It's not the institution.5000:03:30,520 --> 00:03:31,940It's not your mentor.5100:03:31,940 --> 00:03:33,800It's not the person who's your division chief.5200:03:33,800 --> 00:03:35,240It's you.5300:03:35,240 --> 00:03:36,240It's you.5400:03:36,240 --> 00:03:37,240You're the wild card here.5500:03:37,240 --> 00:03:42,440And in reality, there are many challenges that surround us, and we would prefer life5600:03:42,440 --> 00:03:43,800without the challenges.5700:03:43,800 --> 00:03:47,280But the reality is that we're up to every challenge.5800:03:47,280 --> 00:03:53,220We absolutely can adapt and grow and expand to match the challenge.5900:03:53,220 --> 00:03:57,600And every time a challenge comes before you for whatever reason, for example, you have6000:03:57,600 --> 00:04:04,680a job that you don't want, I want to tell you that, you know, you can make it a job6100:04:04,680 --> 00:04:05,680you want.6200:04:05,680 --> 00:04:07,720And no, it's not going to be easy.6300:04:07,720 --> 00:04:13,840But the real question is, do you accept the challenge?6400:04:13,840 --> 00:04:19,720And that's why number one strategy for what if you got the job you didn't want is to accept6500:04:19,720 --> 00:04:25,800your mission Impossible Challenge, accept your challenge, your mission Impossible Challenge.6600:04:25,800 --> 00:04:32,000I don't know if you recall the series of movies, Mission Impossible, that had as its star Tom6700:04:32,000 --> 00:04:36,080Cruise, and it was like, oh, my gosh, this mission is impossible, and yet they would6800:04:36,080 --> 00:04:41,680always do it with extra dramatic flair, right?6900:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,600This is the same challenge that lies before you.7000:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,440Because if you're someone who's aspiring to lead a research program, and instead you've7100:04:48,440 --> 00:04:53,000been given a full time clinical job, hmm, how do you make it work?7200:04:53,000 --> 00:04:55,600Do you give up on your dream altogether?7300:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,560Do you just decide that maybe it was never meant to be?7400:04:58,560 --> 00:05:00,000Do you just quit academia?7500:05:00,000 --> 00:05:04,680And I think the answer to all of that is no, don't do any of that.7600:05:04,680 --> 00:05:06,260Fight for the job you want.7700:05:06,260 --> 00:05:09,600Fight for the mission that you want to accomplish.7800:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,400Fight for what you want to do.7900:05:12,400 --> 00:05:14,560And I hear many people say I'm tired of fighting.8000:05:14,560 --> 00:05:15,840I've been fighting all my career.8100:05:15,840 --> 00:05:19,840I've been fighting to get into med school, and I fought again to get into residency,8200:05:19,840 --> 00:05:22,300and then I fought again to get into fellowship.8300:05:22,300 --> 00:05:28,280And now you're telling me I finally got into the pinnacle of all of my training, I'm done?8400:05:28,280 --> 00:05:31,040You're telling me I need to fight again?8500:05:31,040 --> 00:05:32,320And I get it.8600:05:32,320 --> 00:05:33,320I get it.8700:05:33,320 --> 00:05:39,520And that's my number one is really asking you do you accept the Mission Impossible Challenge.8800:05:39,520 --> 00:05:40,520It's a choice.8900:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,040Do you accept it?9000:05:43,040 --> 00:05:49,000Because on the other side of accepting the challenge is the career you want.9100:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,180It's the experience you want.9200:05:51,180 --> 00:05:56,840It's a rich, wonderful experience as a faculty member.9300:05:56,840 --> 00:06:02,680If you cross over to the other side, but you're right now on the side that you don't want9400:06:02,680 --> 00:06:03,680to be on.9500:06:03,680 --> 00:06:09,780And yes, in between you, where you are right now, and where you're going, that amazing9600:06:09,780 --> 00:06:12,400place is a big chasm.9700:06:12,400 --> 00:06:13,640Is that a chasm?9800:06:13,640 --> 00:06:15,880I think maybe it's a chasm or a chasm.9900:06:15,880 --> 00:06:17,440It's a chasm.10000:06:17,440 --> 00:06:20,760A big chasm between you and where you want to go now.10100:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,280And you're staring at the chasm and you're like, I don't think so.10200:06:23,280 --> 00:06:25,640I'm not going to do that.10300:06:25,640 --> 00:06:30,440What I want you to do, and I'm inviting you right now to close your eyes and imagine the10400:06:30,440 --> 00:06:32,760career you want.10500:06:32,760 --> 00:06:37,040Imagine the way you feel.10600:06:37,040 --> 00:06:43,280Imagine what people are saying about you, how they're in awe of the way you expertly10700:06:43,280 --> 00:06:48,120answer questions as you give presentations.10800:06:48,120 --> 00:06:54,000Imagine how patients are transformed because of the work that you've done.10900:06:54,000 --> 00:06:58,440Imagine when you go and present your clinical trials and people are like, oh my goodness,11000:06:58,440 --> 00:06:59,440thank you so much.11100:06:59,440 --> 00:07:03,120They give you a standing ovation.11200:07:03,120 --> 00:07:05,520Imagine the possibilities.11300:07:05,520 --> 00:07:13,880Imagine your life with you having a fully funded research team that you direct and people11400:07:13,880 --> 00:07:17,860bring you data and you help them analyze and interpret it.11500:07:17,860 --> 00:07:23,120And they're first authors who are writing manuscripts with you as senior author.11600:07:23,120 --> 00:07:26,800Imagine the possibilities.11700:07:26,800 --> 00:07:34,560And if you imagine the job you want, then the question is, do you accept the challenge?11800:07:34,560 --> 00:07:40,840Do you accept your mission impossible challenge to take the job before you and to make it11900:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,520what you want it to be?12000:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,400And I kid you not, it's an impossible challenge.12100:07:46,400 --> 00:07:52,080But like Tom Cruise's character, I think Ethan Hawke probably, I forget, in all those12200:07:52,080 --> 00:07:55,720movies showed, it's like, yeah, it's hard impossible, but you can make it.12300:07:55,720 --> 00:07:57,040You can absolutely make it.12400:07:57,040 --> 00:07:59,400Do you want to?12500:07:59,400 --> 00:08:00,400You can.12600:08:00,400 --> 00:08:05,880And if you're going to take on this mission impossible challenge, you're going to do things12700:08:05,880 --> 00:08:06,880in a way that's not orthodox.12800:08:06,880 --> 00:08:11,760You're going to do things uniquely and innovatively.12900:08:11,760 --> 00:08:14,200You're going to do things differently.13000:08:14,200 --> 00:08:17,480So everyone's like, yeah, we're going to enter through the front door of the building.13100:08:17,480 --> 00:08:23,360You're like, no, I'm going to scale the building and enter through the roof.13200:08:23,360 --> 00:08:28,080But this is the kind of mission impossible challenge that's before you.13300:08:28,080 --> 00:08:30,080And the question is, will you accept the challenge?13400:08:30,080 --> 00:08:32,640I mean, you don't have to accept the challenge.13500:08:32,640 --> 00:08:37,640You can decide that you quit because that's a decision that other people have made.13600:08:37,640 --> 00:08:39,960Or you can decide that, you know what, you're trying too hard.13700:08:39,960 --> 00:08:42,000Just settle and do what everybody else is doing.13800:08:42,000 --> 00:08:43,880You can do that.13900:08:43,880 --> 00:08:47,160And if you do what everybody else is doing, you'll likely get the same results that everybody14000:08:47,160 --> 00:08:48,160else is getting.14100:08:48,160 --> 00:08:53,960But if you say, I accept the challenge, then you've got to be willing to embrace some unorthodox14200:08:53,960 --> 00:09:02,360strategies, some unorthodox methods to move it forward.14300:09:02,360 --> 00:09:06,640So if you don't accept the mission impossible challenge, you can't pass scale and you can't14400:09:06,640 --> 00:09:07,640collect 200.14500:09:07,640 --> 00:09:10,280Just, you know, just, I guess, settle.14600:09:10,280 --> 00:09:14,760But you don't want to settle because if you wanted to settle, you wouldn't be listening14700:09:14,760 --> 00:09:16,160to me right now.14800:09:16,160 --> 00:09:20,400You want what you want because you know that what you want changes lives.14900:09:20,400 --> 00:09:21,840It changes your life for sure.15000:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,840But it also changes the lives of the people around you.15100:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,520It changes your experience in the academy.15200:09:27,520 --> 00:09:31,280And it changes the impact that you've come to make.15300:09:31,280 --> 00:09:36,500And so I'm believing that you're going to accept your mission impossible challenge and15400:09:36,500 --> 00:09:41,320you're going to move forward to create out of what you don't want exactly what you want.15500:09:41,320 --> 00:09:45,420And I want to invite you to say that there was no challenge before you that's too great15600:09:45,420 --> 00:09:49,640for you because you've demonstrated over the course of your life and your career that this15700:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,360is the kind of thing you do.15800:09:52,360 --> 00:09:58,400And because it's the kind of thing you do, don't let it phase you.15900:09:58,400 --> 00:10:00,080You're going to do this one too.16000:10:00,080 --> 00:10:01,080Okay.16100:10:01,080 --> 00:10:02,140All right.16200:10:02,140 --> 00:10:04,380So accept your mission impossible challenge.16300:10:04,380 --> 00:10:05,640That's number one.16400:10:05,640 --> 00:10:10,160It's a challenge and you can do it only if you choose to.16500:10:10,160 --> 00:10:12,920The second thing I'm going to invite you to do is get a coach.16600:10:12,920 --> 00:10:16,040I am inviting you to get a coach.16700:10:16,040 --> 00:10:21,720And I have benefited so much from coaching and I am a coach.16800:10:21,720 --> 00:10:25,680So it seems like a little bit of a conflict of interest to say, hey, I'm a coach.16900:10:25,680 --> 00:10:26,680You go get a coach.17000:10:26,680 --> 00:10:28,200But I really do mean it.17100:10:28,200 --> 00:10:30,840And I'm not saying have me as your coach though.17200:10:30,840 --> 00:10:32,360I'm a great coach.17300:10:32,360 --> 00:10:34,200You should absolutely come coach with me.17400:10:34,200 --> 00:10:36,880Then I'm saying you should get a coach.17500:10:36,880 --> 00:10:42,880Because if you're going to play any game at the level of the Olympics, you cannot do it17600:10:42,880 --> 00:10:43,880by yourself.17700:10:43,880 --> 00:10:46,920It doesn't matter how amazingly raw your talent is.17800:10:46,920 --> 00:10:48,800It's difficult to do.17900:10:48,800 --> 00:10:49,800Is it impossible?18000:10:49,800 --> 00:10:50,800No.18100:10:50,800 --> 00:10:54,240But it's difficult to do.18200:10:54,240 --> 00:10:59,560And your coach is not going to play the game for you.18300:10:59,560 --> 00:11:04,200They probably wouldn't even run beside you when you're doing all these hard exercises.18400:11:04,200 --> 00:11:09,140What they do do is help you fulfill your potential.18500:11:09,140 --> 00:11:13,900Because only you can discover how far you can go.18600:11:13,900 --> 00:11:18,360Only you can discover how much your capacity can expand.18700:11:18,360 --> 00:11:21,360Only you can do that work.18800:11:21,360 --> 00:11:25,080But a coach will support you to do that work.18900:11:25,080 --> 00:11:33,080And if you are a clinician trying to make a transition to a research leadership position,19000:11:33,080 --> 00:11:34,760you're going to want to think differently.19100:11:34,760 --> 00:11:36,920You're going to want to be innovative.19200:11:36,920 --> 00:11:37,920You're going to want to be strategic.19300:11:37,920 --> 00:11:39,880You're going to want to negotiate.19400:11:39,880 --> 00:11:43,280You have a lot of things you're going to need to do.19500:11:43,280 --> 00:11:46,240And it is hard to do it by yourself.19600:11:46,240 --> 00:11:50,560And I invite you to not do it by yourself because doing it by yourself has likely gotten19700:11:50,560 --> 00:11:52,600you to where you are.19800:11:52,600 --> 00:11:56,440Or maybe you haven't done it by yourself and you've done it with someone who hasn't supported19900:11:56,440 --> 00:11:58,760you all the way through.20000:11:58,760 --> 00:12:02,820Or maybe you've done it with someone who's kind of halfway supported you or given you20100:12:02,820 --> 00:12:07,720advice that now you're questioning whether that was okay to do.20200:12:07,720 --> 00:12:11,600And saying whatever you do, don't go this journey alone.20300:12:11,600 --> 00:12:13,200Don't go it alone.20400:12:13,200 --> 00:12:18,360Have someone by your side in your corner who's rooting for you to win, who's rooting for you20500:12:18,360 --> 00:12:23,660to accomplish the goals you set for yourself, not the goals they set for you.20600:12:23,660 --> 00:12:26,680And so I'm inviting you to get a coach.20700:12:26,680 --> 00:12:30,060And yes, it is an investment in your future.20800:12:30,060 --> 00:12:33,960It is not cheap to have a coach.20900:12:33,960 --> 00:12:37,640No, it is not.21000:12:37,640 --> 00:12:38,640It is not.21100:12:38,640 --> 00:12:42,680You may go once or twice when you hear what the rates are for coaching.21200:12:42,680 --> 00:12:49,520But it's absolutely worth the investment because you are worth the investment.21300:12:49,520 --> 00:12:54,080And until now, you have been investing in yourself.21400:12:54,080 --> 00:12:58,400You made a major investment in yourself in going to medical school.21500:12:58,400 --> 00:13:03,780You made a major investment, not just financially, but you made a major investment in terms of21600:13:03,780 --> 00:13:04,780your time.21700:13:04,780 --> 00:13:08,200You gave up most of your 20s to do this thing.21800:13:08,200 --> 00:13:10,080And so why stop investing now?21900:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,760Why say, hey, I'm done investing?22000:13:12,760 --> 00:13:16,000You keep investing because you're worth it.22100:13:16,000 --> 00:13:19,600And so number two, number two is get a coach.22200:13:19,600 --> 00:13:25,040Number three is with the help of your coach or even if you decided to be hard headed and22300:13:25,040 --> 00:13:32,920not get a coach, get clear about what success means to you.22400:13:32,920 --> 00:13:37,320Be very clear and it will take time for you to figure this out, but it's really important22500:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,160work that you need to do.22600:13:40,160 --> 00:13:45,200Because for some of us, success in our careers is part success.22700:13:45,200 --> 00:13:49,120I mean, it's a big driver of our success.22800:13:49,120 --> 00:13:54,280But what you also want to do is you want to be successful in your personal relationships22900:13:54,280 --> 00:13:57,860and you want to be successful in your personal goals.23000:13:57,860 --> 00:14:00,600And so get clear about what success means.23100:14:00,600 --> 00:14:09,280Yes, we know that success in the academy means published papers and grants and national recognition23200:14:09,280 --> 00:14:11,680and people inviting you to be on committees.23300:14:11,680 --> 00:14:16,240And we know what that looks like because it's in the AAP&T handbook.23400:14:16,240 --> 00:14:17,240That's fine.23500:14:17,240 --> 00:14:18,240But what about you?23600:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,520What does success look like to you?23700:14:21,520 --> 00:14:25,960Forty years from now, will you be excited about the count of like 300 papers that you23800:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,760have or will you feel empty inside?23900:14:29,760 --> 00:14:33,640What does success mean to you?24000:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,760You got to get really clear about that.24100:14:36,760 --> 00:14:40,440Because if you're in a job situation that you didn't want or a job situation that you24200:14:40,440 --> 00:14:43,760didn't choose, chances are you're doing a lot of things or people are asking you to24300:14:43,760 --> 00:14:48,640do things that you might not necessarily choose as the first thing that you would want to24400:14:48,640 --> 00:14:50,180do.24500:14:50,180 --> 00:14:55,320And so when you're very clear about what success means to you, then you become strategic about24600:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,920the way you craft your experience.24700:14:57,920 --> 00:15:04,720But you can't craft your experience until you understand what success means and how24800:15:04,720 --> 00:15:07,440you're going to achieve that success.24900:15:07,440 --> 00:15:15,640So get clear about what success means to you in your spiritual life, in your career, in25000:15:15,640 --> 00:15:19,800your family life, in your health.25100:15:19,800 --> 00:15:22,680Very clear what success looks like.25200:15:22,680 --> 00:15:27,320And you may not know the destination of the success, but you know, you know where you25300:15:27,320 --> 00:15:28,320want to go.25400:15:28,320 --> 00:15:29,840You have a sense of it.25500:15:29,840 --> 00:15:34,000You know, you've looked at people and you're like, I don't want to do this thing where25600:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,920I'm in the office every day of the week, seven days of the week.25700:15:36,920 --> 00:15:39,120You know, you know.25800:15:39,120 --> 00:15:44,040And so get clear, not just about what you don't want, but be clear about what you do25900:15:44,040 --> 00:15:49,240want and how you want to show up in this world and how you want to incorporate all your amazing26000:15:49,240 --> 00:15:51,080medical knowledge.26100:15:51,080 --> 00:15:54,120Get clear about what success means.26200:15:54,120 --> 00:15:57,360The fourth thing you want to do is ask questions.26300:15:57,360 --> 00:16:02,120One of the biggest tools that you have to you in advancing your career is your power26400:16:02,120 --> 00:16:05,400to ask questions and to ask good questions.26500:16:05,400 --> 00:16:14,160Now not will you increase my salary or not, because that's a yes or no closed ended question.26600:16:14,160 --> 00:16:19,940You know about closed ended questions, but an open ended question of, hmm, I see here26700:16:19,940 --> 00:16:24,440that I'm at below the 25th percentile of national benchmarks.26800:16:24,440 --> 00:16:25,440How come?26900:16:25,440 --> 00:16:29,720It's a different, it's a different, it's a different conversation.27000:16:29,720 --> 00:16:33,000Those two questions will elicit different answers.27100:16:33,000 --> 00:16:40,200And so you're going to get good at not just formulating great open ended questions, but27200:16:40,200 --> 00:16:43,660having the courage to ask these questions.27300:16:43,660 --> 00:16:46,360And who do you ask these questions of?27400:16:46,360 --> 00:16:50,280You ask these questions of everybody and anybody around you.27500:16:50,280 --> 00:16:54,920You ask these questions of the people who look like they have the kind of job you actually27600:16:54,920 --> 00:16:56,360wanted.27700:16:56,360 --> 00:17:02,020You ask these questions of the people who look like they're in charge of defining your27800:17:02,020 --> 00:17:03,880job description.27900:17:03,880 --> 00:17:08,480So division chief, chair, dean, those kinds of people.28000:17:08,480 --> 00:17:13,880You ask questions of your family and how they see you in this world and what would make28100:17:13,880 --> 00:17:18,480them happy if you have a significant other?28200:17:18,480 --> 00:17:24,160Ask questions about what about your current work situation may not make them happy.28300:17:24,160 --> 00:17:30,200Ask questions about salary and what is an equitable salary and where do your salary,28400:17:30,200 --> 00:17:35,720what is your salary compared to national benchmarks and across the board of your institution?28500:17:35,720 --> 00:17:37,720Ask those questions.28600:17:37,720 --> 00:17:42,680The worst thing that will happen is that you end up exactly in the same place as you were28700:17:42,680 --> 00:17:47,720before you asked the question, which is ignorant of the answer.28800:17:47,720 --> 00:17:51,800But the best thing that will happen and most likely thing that will happen is that you28900:17:51,800 --> 00:17:57,960get an answer that allows you to cross over from uninformed to informed.29000:17:57,960 --> 00:18:00,640And so you ask questions.29100:18:00,640 --> 00:18:02,760You ask questions.29200:18:02,760 --> 00:18:04,640How do we move forward in research?29300:18:04,640 --> 00:18:07,280How do I buy down my clinical time?29400:18:07,280 --> 00:18:10,880How does this grant coming in change my experience?29500:18:10,880 --> 00:18:16,600How will you support me in the letter that you write for my career development award?29600:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,520Ask lots of questions.29700:18:19,520 --> 00:18:21,700Ask lots of questions.29800:18:21,700 --> 00:18:26,440Before you ever make any ask, ask lots of questions.29900:18:26,440 --> 00:18:31,760Before you say give me, I want, ask lots of questions.30000:18:31,760 --> 00:18:36,760And the reason you ask lots of questions is because of number five, get information.30100:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,840There's stuff you're going to ask and get information because you ask and then there's30200:18:39,840 --> 00:18:41,440stuff you're going to go dig up by yourself.30300:18:41,440 --> 00:18:46,960You're going to go find the AP&T paperwork for your institution and you're going to read30400:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,600and say, okay, is this what it takes to be promoted?30500:18:49,600 --> 00:18:51,360Okay, I got it.30600:18:51,360 --> 00:18:54,600Get information about the most recent people who've been promoted.30700:18:54,600 --> 00:18:56,200Like okay, what did they do?30800:18:56,200 --> 00:18:58,080Okay, I got it.30900:18:58,080 --> 00:19:03,180Get information about those people who are succeeding in the way you want to succeed.31000:19:03,180 --> 00:19:07,840Get as much information as you can.31100:19:07,840 --> 00:19:13,800And the reason you get as much information as you can is because of number six, you begin31200:19:13,800 --> 00:19:17,040the series of negotiations.31300:19:17,040 --> 00:19:21,360So I've talked a little bit on this podcast about negotiating and negotiating is such a31400:19:21,360 --> 00:19:23,680critical component of our career as academics.31500:19:23,680 --> 00:19:27,080We're pretty good at negotiating on behalf of our patients.31600:19:27,080 --> 00:19:34,320We're a little bit less sure as far as coming to negotiating on behalf of ourselves.31700:19:34,320 --> 00:19:39,400But we're going to begin a series of negotiations to move us towards the job we actually want31800:19:39,400 --> 00:19:44,240and we're going to do it strategically.31900:19:44,240 --> 00:19:47,960But we're also going to recognize that it's going to take time to achieve the goals that32000:19:47,960 --> 00:19:49,880we want.32100:19:49,880 --> 00:19:52,560And that's why it's a series of negotiations.32200:19:52,560 --> 00:19:54,560And sometimes we have unrealistic expectations.32300:19:54,560 --> 00:19:57,280We've kind of accepted a job we didn't want.32400:19:57,280 --> 00:20:00,160And to be honest, we chose.32500:20:00,160 --> 00:20:02,040You may have been like, well, I didn't have any choice.32600:20:02,040 --> 00:20:09,520We always have choice because walking away from a job you don't want is a choice.32700:20:09,520 --> 00:20:13,880Finding something different to do outside of academia and yet continuing to be academic32800:20:13,880 --> 00:20:18,240within the non-academic workspace is a choice.32900:20:18,240 --> 00:20:21,880And you've made choices.33000:20:21,880 --> 00:20:30,240And so when you're thinking about your series of negotiations, you want to recognize that33100:20:30,240 --> 00:20:35,800you're going to really work gradually to get to where you really want to be.33200:20:35,800 --> 00:20:43,240And so that gets me to number seven, which is you're here to play the long game.33300:20:43,240 --> 00:20:49,600If you're very clear what your career direction is, where you want to end up, then you know33400:20:49,600 --> 00:20:52,360that you're here to play the long game.33500:20:52,360 --> 00:20:56,520You're here to negotiate and to negotiate and to negotiate again.33600:20:56,520 --> 00:20:59,920And then when you're done negotiating, you're satisfied and you negotiate again.33700:20:59,920 --> 00:21:05,080You know because you're playing the long game.33800:21:05,080 --> 00:21:10,400Your career will span decades.33900:21:10,400 --> 00:21:12,680Does that feel like a long time?34000:21:12,680 --> 00:21:14,000You stay in academic medicine.34100:21:14,000 --> 00:21:19,400In fact, even if you don't stay, no matter what you do, have a good solid decades of34200:21:19,400 --> 00:21:21,960working life left.34300:21:21,960 --> 00:21:26,320You're here to play the long game, whether you agree or not.34400:21:26,320 --> 00:21:31,560And if you're going to play the long game, then you know that your job is to win the34500:21:31,560 --> 00:21:33,880war and not just the battle.34600:21:33,880 --> 00:21:38,300And there are some battles you're going to give up because you have the bigger picture34700:21:38,300 --> 00:21:39,300in mind.34800:21:39,300 --> 00:21:42,320You're very clear where you're going.34900:21:42,320 --> 00:21:46,920And so what you want to do is recognize that in your career, you're playing the long game.35000:21:46,920 --> 00:21:53,280You are biding your time for the opportunity or for the opportune moment to come up where35100:21:53,280 --> 00:21:57,360you can move forward in a way you've wanted to move forward.35200:21:57,360 --> 00:22:02,000You are strategizing, walking and talking with mentors outside of your institution,35300:22:02,000 --> 00:22:06,880within your institution to move you closer and closer to the goal.35400:22:06,880 --> 00:22:12,560You're working hard on a daily writing schedule where you're moving research projects and35500:22:12,560 --> 00:22:17,720manuscript writing and grant writing forward every little bit at a time.35600:22:17,720 --> 00:22:23,440You're working to get the resources needed to write for grant funding, to submit high35700:22:23,440 --> 00:22:26,680quality and competitive proposals.35800:22:26,680 --> 00:22:31,040You're going and getting the training you need to improve the quality of your writing.35900:22:31,040 --> 00:22:35,120You're going and seeking the mentorship you need so that you can move research projects36000:22:35,120 --> 00:22:36,280forward.36100:22:36,280 --> 00:22:41,080You're reaching out and you're looking at collaborations that help you move forward.36200:22:41,080 --> 00:22:46,320Oh, you're here to play the long game.36300:22:46,320 --> 00:22:52,720And so I say all those things just to remind you that you can have the career you want,36400:22:52,720 --> 00:22:55,320but only if you shape it.36500:22:55,320 --> 00:22:57,160It doesn't depend on anybody else.36600:22:57,160 --> 00:22:59,760It depends on you.36700:22:59,760 --> 00:23:04,840And I don't say this to not recognize that there is a power differential that exists36800:23:04,840 --> 00:23:09,920between you and whoever is in the position of leadership at your institution.36900:23:09,920 --> 00:23:12,800I'm not here to deny that gap.37000:23:12,800 --> 00:23:16,480What I am here to tell you is that you have greater power than you know or understand37100:23:16,480 --> 00:23:18,760in shaping your own career.37200:23:18,760 --> 00:23:22,240That's because the greatest power you have is over yourself.37300:23:22,240 --> 00:23:24,320And you may not be able to change a mentor's mind.37400:23:24,320 --> 00:23:29,000You may not be able to change a division chief's mind, but you can change your mind.37500:23:29,000 --> 00:23:35,600And part of this journey is you experiencing and understanding your power to transform37600:23:35,600 --> 00:23:40,920you so that you begin to transform your experience as a faculty member.37700:23:40,920 --> 00:23:41,920Yeah.37800:23:41,920 --> 00:23:48,480Seven things I told you about what to do if you get the job that you didn't want.37900:23:48,480 --> 00:23:51,320Number one, accept your mission Impossible Challenge.38000:23:51,320 --> 00:23:55,560It is impossible and you can do it because you're just that kind of person who can make38100:23:55,560 --> 00:23:56,560it work.38200:23:56,560 --> 00:24:00,720Number two, get a coach because you're going to want someone by your side who's going38300:24:00,720 --> 00:24:04,880to encourage you all the way through, who's going to help you maximize your potential38400:24:04,880 --> 00:24:06,320throughout your experience.38500:24:06,320 --> 00:24:10,000Number three, get clear about what success means.38600:24:10,000 --> 00:24:11,680Don't accept their word for it.38700:24:11,680 --> 00:24:14,560Don't believe just what the mentors have told you success looks like.38800:24:14,560 --> 00:24:15,560You decide.38900:24:15,560 --> 00:24:17,420And don't just think about one aspect of your life.39000:24:17,420 --> 00:24:19,640You think about all aspects of your life.39100:24:19,640 --> 00:24:21,120What does success mean?39200:24:21,120 --> 00:24:24,280Number four, you're going to get good at asking questions.39300:24:24,280 --> 00:24:28,540You're going to stop requesting things and you're instead going to ask for questions39400:24:28,540 --> 00:24:30,000that get you information.39500:24:30,000 --> 00:24:36,120You're going to get good at asking people open-ended questions.39600:24:36,120 --> 00:24:40,400The number five is you're going to get information because information allows you to negotiate39700:24:40,400 --> 00:24:41,400well.39800:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,720And number six, you're going to begin the series of negotiations.39900:24:44,720 --> 00:24:49,240Number seven, you're going to recognize that this career you're building, you are playing40000:24:49,240 --> 00:24:51,520the long game.40100:24:51,520 --> 00:24:54,680You're not going to be anxious or worried about finances.40200:24:54,680 --> 00:24:58,200You're not going to be anxious or worried about the next manuscript.40300:24:58,200 --> 00:25:04,120You're going to recognize that you are in this game to have the career that you want40400:25:04,120 --> 00:25:07,160over the arc of years, decades of your experience.40500:25:07,160 --> 00:25:08,160All right.40600:25:08,160 --> 00:25:10,560It's been a pleasure talking with you today.40700:25:10,560 --> 00:25:14,960I invite you, if you are looking for a coach to work with, please reach out to me.40800:25:14,960 --> 00:25:16,400We'd love to work with you.40900:25:16,400 --> 00:25:21,720We can set up a coaching consultation call and you can decide within that call.41000:25:21,720 --> 00:25:26,200We can both decide if it's a mutually agreeable thing for us to move forward with.41100:25:26,200 --> 00:25:30,360But I do want to invite you, don't do this alone.41200:25:30,360 --> 00:25:31,360Don't go in alone.41300:25:31,360 --> 00:25:32,360All right.41400:25:32,360 --> 00:25:35,080Somebody else needs to hear this episode and I invite you to share it with them.41500:25:35,080 --> 00:25:40,000I want to thank you again for being part of the Clinician Researcher podcast.41600:25:40,000 --> 00:25:45,920Please subscribe and leave us a five-star review if this podcast has been beneficial41700:25:45,920 --> 00:25:46,920to you and it's been helpful.41800:25:46,920 --> 00:25:47,920All right.41900:25:47,920 --> 00:25:50,000It's been a pleasure to talk with you today.42000:25:50,000 --> 00:26:00,760I look forward to talking with you again the next time.42100:26:00,760 --> 00:26:06,120Thanks for listening to this episode of the Clinician Researcher podcast where academic42200:26:06,120 --> 00:26:11,840clinicians learn the skills to build their own research program whether or not they have42300:26:11,840 --> 00:26:12,960a mentor.42400:26:12,960 --> 00:26:19,060If you found the information in this episode to be helpful, don't keep it all to yourself.42500:26:19,060 --> 00:26:20,800Someone else needs to hear it.42600:26:20,800 --> 00:26:24,840So take a minute right now and share it.42700:26:24,840 --> 00:26:30,320As you share this episode, you become part of our mission to help launch a new generation42800:26:30,320 --> 00:26:36,280of clinician researchers who make transformative discoveries that change the way we do healthcare.