Career and Life Planning Guidebook for Medical Residents

R E A D : Life is a journey Where is this journey of life taking you? Do you know? If I asked you where you will be in seven years, could you tell me? Do you have goals you are in the process of achieving? Have you written them down? There are two ways to sail through life. One is in a boat that has no rudder or sail; content to float wherever the wind and waves take you. If this is your plan, you are not likely to be happy with where you end up, especially if it is in the rocks. The second way to navigate through life is with a rudder, sail, map, compass, and a PLAN. In this case, you are very likely to end up exactly where your plotted course leads. This chapter is all about making that plan. Deciding where you are going in life is the first step to getting there. What do you really want in life? Maps are a great tool. They help you get from here to there. But even the best map in the world is useless if you don’t know where you currently are and where you want to go. Without both pieces of information to plot your course, the map becomes just another pretty picture. You most likely know where you are, but do you knowwhere you are going? Controlling the direction you are headed is a function of setting goals. Goals are the things you plan to do to get you where you want to be. The goals you set should align with your priorities in life. Priorities are the fundamental philosophy and rules under which you will live your Recommended Tool Defining Your Values and Life Purpose Statement Use this tool to explore core values and concepts to guide you personally and professionally. http://md.careers/E-34 “If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes.” — Andrew Carnegie SECTION II: T MINUS TWO YEARS CAREER AND LIFE PLANNING GUIDEBOOK FOR MEDICAL RESIDENTS 136