After attending my first software conference this week, I've been thinking about why I'm diving into software. It's the first non-medical business I'm trying.

A big turning point came when I asked myself, "What does my ideal life look like?"

It sure doesn't involve seeing 60 patients a day while the system finds new ways to pay doctors less.

Here's what I want in my ideal life:

1. Not Trading Time for Money

   I don't want my income tied directly to the hours I work. Owning a business can offer this freedom. But in a medical practice, if you're not seeing patients, you're not making money.

2. No Limit on Earnings

   Most businesses offer unlimited earning potential, although this is more realistic in some businesses than others. If my lemonade becomes more popular than Coca-Cola, I'd be a billionaire, right?

3. Time Freedom

   I don’t want to have appointments all day. I want time to dig deep on current problems, think, reflect, and explore future opportunities. I want a balanced life where I have time for exercise, family, friends, and fun.

4. Work from Anywhere

   I don't want to be stuck in one place to make money. Being able to work from anywhere—even vacation spots—is a huge plus.

Goals 1 and 2 are possible in many businesses. But goals 3 and 4 are what really matter to me. If I just wanted financial freedom in 7-10 years, I might choose a roofing or HVAC business. But those would need a big time commitment and come with the hassles of running a large operation.

Why Software?

Although success is very unpredictable, selling software has big benefits that make it worth trying now.

Freedom of Location

I've spent years working over 40 hours a week in hospitals and clinics—places many find depressing. I'm ready to join those who can work wherever they want.

Scaling Up

Software is amazing for how much it can grow. The effort-to-reward ratio can be huge. And now, with AI, this is even more true.

The AI Boom

AI-assisted programming is changing everything. Tasks that took weeks or months can now be done much faster. It's not just about coding quicker; it's about opening doors that were closed before for small teams or individuals.

Some industry leaders think we'll soon see a one-person software company worth a billion dollars. That might sound crazy, but it shows how powerful AI is in software.

Catching the Wave

So, I'm ready to jump into this new area. I know there will be challenges, but the chance to match my work with the life I want is too good to pass up.

To my fellow doctors thinking about a change: now is a great time to look at options beyond clinical medicine. Whether it's software or something else that fits your dream life, the possibilities are greater than ever.

Let's grab them together.

Thanks for joining me on this journey. If you have thoughts or stories to share, I'd love to hear them. Together, we can make this transition and build the lives we've always wanted.

When I wrote about quitting caffeine before, I overlooked something important. While it wasn't a big deal for me, it could be significant for others.

Unexpected Evening Blues

Without caffeine, I sometimes felt bouts of sadness in the evenings. This was unusual - I don't often experience unprovoked sadness. Fortunately, these mood dips only occurred in the first six months after quitting.

I could recognize these moments and write off the evening. But it made me wonder: how would this affect someone who is already dealing with depression?

The Morning Caffeine High

Early in my caffeine-free journey, I frequented r/decaf. Someone there complained about how overwhelming caffeinated people can be in the morning. Soon after, I experienced this firsthand.

At a 7 a.m. meeting with coffee and bagels, I had an epiphany. The room erupted in laughter at a mildly amusing work joke. It hit me - these people were under the influence of a powerful drug. There's no way they'd have this enthusiasm at 3 p.m.

Chemically induced euphoria is fine if that's how people choose to live. But I suspect most don't realize caffeine's full effects.

The takeaway? Caffeine influences how we feel and act. We need to remember this if we decide to quit.

The Science is Mixed

Some studies link increased caffeine consumption to lower depression rates. Others show the opposite. Factors like sleep disturbances, anxiety, and caffeine dosage may play a role.

So we can't even agree on how caffeine affects people on average. We certainly can't know everything about how it affects you. Be mindful of your own individual response to continuing or stopping caffeine.

What This Means for You

1. Notice how caffeine impacts your mood and energy.

2. Recognize caffeine's influence on your daily interactions and performance.

3. If quitting, prepare for possible mood changes.

4. Remember, negative mood effects may be temporary but can last for months.

5. If you have a history of mood disorders, consult your doctor before quitting.

Conclusion

Caffeine affects more than wakefulness. It impacts our feelings and interactions throughout the day. From experience, stopping caffeine can depress your mood. Although it's likely due to your body recalibrating, be prepared and be careful.

Have you changed your caffeine habits? What did you notice? Share your experiences in the comments.

I recently learned that another colleague is leaving clinical practice.

What's he going to do instead? Real estate.

Why? He's bored.

While I'm as sympathetic as they come to physician career changes, the news is a bit jarring. It prompts me to wonder: are doctors more prone to boredom than the general population? And if so, why?

The Path to Medicine: Not for the Faint of Heart

It's a common belief that people become doctors for a guaranteed path to a comfortable life.

Yet, becoming a doctor is anything but safe. It involves putting oneself out there in ways that many find uncomfortable. The premed stage comes with plenty of uncomfortable risks. They must excel in academics while building a strong set of extracurriculars. Pursuing med school is too risky and challenging for many.

This desire to do what others won't may foreshadow later boredom as a doctor.

The Rollercoaster of Medical Training

The last day of my first clinical rotation was a sad moment. A sudden end after a month of intense shared experiences with my team. We'd faced life-or-death situations and made inside jokes. But I'd likely never see most of them again. This cycle of hello and goodbye becomes a defining feature of medical training.

A doctor becomes accustomed to the novelty of a new job every month. It's hard to match that once you become an attending physician with a steady job.

The Reality of Clinical Practice

There's no denying that being a doctor can be fascinating. We learn continuously, practices evolve, and we make big decisions. Yet, like any job, much of the day-to-day work can become routine. The thrill of solving complex medical puzzles can fade.

So can the excitement of performing intricate procedures. These tasks become commonplace. As one heart surgeon confided, "Nothing about my job is exciting anymore. And the only time it is exciting is when I'm worried about getting sued."

The ideal of an exciting medical career clashes with the reality of routine practice. This gap can cause deep boredom and dissatisfaction.

The Grass Is Always Greener

Physicians are in a unique social position. They earn enough to mingle with people who are much more successful. These non-doctors might be bored in their jobs too. But, physicians see they're getting the short end of the stick on work-life balance.

Take my colleague transitioning to real estate, for instance. He'll soon control his schedule. He can work from home or on vacation. There's potential to earn more and live a better life. Constant exposure to greener pastures can make clinical practice feel stifling. It can worsen boredom and dissatisfaction.

The Future of Medical Careers

Unless drastic changes occur, more doctors will move to jobs with large organizations. Yet, younger generations of physicians increasingly value flexibility and quality of life. This shift will lead to more casual relationships with healthcare organizations. It will increase job-hopping for better conditions and raise pressure for higher reimbursement. Ironically, this flexibility might bring back some of the variety that made medical training interesting.

Navigating the Boredom Epidemic

Some doctors may feel a strong urge to pursue non-clinical paths. Yet the world still needs good clinicians. Ideally, doctors would find joy in one great job. They would also have a great personal life and become financially independent. But this is often wishful thinking.

Doctors today must recognize they will likely become dissatisfied at some point. They should understand the reasons and work to reduce them. At any career stage, it's vital to make choices that resist dissatisfaction. Keep your options flexible to maintain variety and maximize the reward-to-boredom ratio.

Conclusion

Boredom will eventually creep into any job, and medicine is no exception. As doctors, we need to be proactive in managing our careers and life satisfaction. Whether to stay in clinical practice or explore other paths is up to you. But understanding these challenges is key to a fulfilling career.

What are your thoughts on physician boredom? Have you experienced it, or found ways to keep your medical career engaging? Share your experiences in the comments below.

The Decision to Quit

Eight months ago, I made a significant decision: I quit caffeine. It wasn't easy, as caffeine had been a part of my life for as long as I could remember. My use varied, increasing during stress and decreasing when I tried to cut back. At times, it reached excessive levels. I disliked the anxiety and confusion that caffeine caused. Caffeine let me work with intensity. But I often found I hadn't accomplished much.

I had attempted to quit before, but it was challenging. I'd abstain for a few months, then return when motivation lagged.

This time has been different. I find myself in a better position to live the life I desire. It's hard to credit changes to quitting caffeine with so many other things changing in my life. Still, if my performance stays the same or improves, it's proof I can manage without it. Let's explore how quitting caffeine has affected various aspects of my life.

Sleep Quality and Quantity

Sleep Duration

After quitting, my sleep increased. I'd sleep 12 hours daily, with regular naps. This initial period of increased sleep helped me feel more balanced and restored.

Now, I average seven hours of sleep per night, even with the chance to sleep longer. I suspect that, with better sleep hygiene, I could sleep for more than eight hours and feel even more refreshed.

Sleep Disturbances

Some believe that recovering from caffeine dependence only takes a few weeks. Yet, the sleep disturbances I've had argue otherwise. For at least two periods during this process, I'll wake up in the middle of the night, unable to fall back asleep. This problem occurs less often, now happening only a few times a month.

Increased Dream Vividness

Caffeine suppresses REM sleep. Since quitting, I've noticed more vivid dreams. Dreaming helps to process thoughts, giving me clarity when I'm awake.

Energy and Motivation

Morning Energy Levels

In my caffeine-consuming days, I'd often wake up energized, even before my first drink. I suspect it was due to the ever-present caffeine in my system or the anticipation of my first drink of the day.

Now, I wake up refreshed on most mornings. But sometimes there's a tiredness that is hard to shake. A bit more sleep resolves this, when I can get away with it. Otherwise, I move forward with my daily routine and soon feel fine. Either way, my morning energy is more calm, which is perfect for most of what I need to focus on anyways.

Consistent Energy Throughout the Day

Maintaining optimal energy levels to live my best life is a top priority for me. Yet I was so tired of caffeine's artificial energy that I didn't care how much energy I lost. The good news is that my energy is not only better than ever, but also consistent throughout the day.

Improved Focus and Flow

While on caffeine, I associated feeling wired with productivity. If I didn't feel like I was a rocket taking off, I believed I needed more caffeine or a nap. In the first few months after quitting, I had to retrain myself. I had to stop confusing that feeling with motivation.

I'm pleased to report that my energy and focus are now at their best without caffeine. The right task can put me in a flow state, immersing me in my work and making it hard to disengage. I rarely had this experience with caffeine, but it has become more common since quitting.

However, caffeine can make boring tasks seem interesting. This can help make a tedious life tolerable, which can be a trap.

Mental Clarity and Life Choices

Evaluating Priorities

As expected, my motivation bottomed out when I quit caffeine. Fortunately, I timed this to happen around Christmas, making it more manageable. As I began to recover, I saw that caffeine-fueled zeal had driven some parts of my life. After removing the caffeine, the excitement disappeared. This realization highlighted the potential dangers of relying on caffeine for artificial motivation.

Quitting caffeine may lead to one of the most significant changes in my life. It has allowed me to see what excited me and what didn't, enabling me to choose the life I want to build.

Increased Calm

I now feel a calm, steady energy without caffeine. I am less reactive to small annoyances, which is a big benefit.

Caffeine's anxiety-inducing effect has played a major role in this progress. A key change is the removal of nervous energy, the kind that makes people over-apologize. I suspect caffeine-related anxiety is a big, unrecognized problem. Many could reduce their anxiety by cutting back on caffeine.

It's convenient that society normalizes caffeine. Not only does it make work seem more engaging, but it also prevents you from noticing that the work is boring.

Challenges with Exercise

Exercise is the primary area where I can't tell if life without caffeine is better. Since quitting, my workouts have been less consistent and intense.

It's challenging to disentangle these issues from other ongoing life changes. I perform best when I exercise in the morning, but that is also when I'm most productive in my work. I'm in a critical transition in my life, so I've decided to use my mornings for work.

Since I'm less inclined to exercise later in the day, I'm more likely to skip working out altogether. I'm testing new ways to boost my motivation and will update you on my progress.

I'm unsure if I'll ever regain the energy that caffeine once gave me for intense weightlifting. Time will tell if my potential is truly capped or if there's a way to fix this.

Reduced Soda Consumption

I made the switch from regular Coke Zero to the caffeine-free version. The taste is the same. But, the urge to drink it is less without caffeine. This shows the reinforcing effects of caffeine in action.

Caffeine makes you pee more due to various physiological mechanisms. Combined with cutting my fluid intake, I'm making a lot fewer trips to the bathroom. Which is useful for focused productivity.

Conclusion

I realize speaking ill of caffeine is not going to be popular. Everyone's different, and it might be right for you. It was valuable to hear the stories of colleagues who have quit over the years, so I'm sharing mine.

I'd love to hear about your personal experiences with caffeine.

See you next week.

Thinking about leaving your full-time clinical job to start a business? It's a big step that needs careful planning. This guide will help you get ready for this change, based on what I've learned from my own experience.

Get Your Money Right

First, figure out your current budget. I use a tool called YNAB (You Need A Budget), which will give a very clear picture of your expenses after a few months of use.

I categorized my expenses into two general categories: ones that will go away in my new life and ones that will remain. This will show you which expenses you'll actually need to plan for.

Then, think about how your life might change. Are you moving to a big city or a small town? Even if you're staying put, now's a good time to cut out things you don't really need, like unused subscriptions. After this, you'll have a good idea of how much you'll spend each month in your new life.

Save Up a Safety Net

Your income will probably go down for a while, so you need to save up. Sometimes you just have to quit and figure things out later, but it's much better if you can plan ahead.

Now that you know your monthly expenses, decide how many months to save for. Saving enough for two years feels safe to me. But the right amount depends on your situation:

• How badly do you want to leave your job?

• When does your current work contract end?

• Could you go back to being a full-time clinician if you needed to?

• Will you miss a business opportunity if you wait too long to start?

Also think about how quickly your new business might make money. If you're starting something like a coaching business with clients already lined up, you might make money pretty fast. But if you're like me, trying to create small software products, it might take longer. In my field, only about 1 in 20 startups actually pay the bills, so I needed a bigger financial cushion.

Balancing Clinical Work and Your New Business

You might think about working part-time as a clinician, either to avoid saving as much or to keep your skills sharp. I do this, working half-time as an anesthesiologist. It's nice to know I have this backup if my business ideas don't work out. But it does take energy away from my new work.

When I work Monday to Friday in clinical practice, it affects more than just those days. On Sunday, I have to prep for the week. Then after the work week, I'm tired for a few days and not in the right mindset for creative business thinking. It's different when I have two or three weeks off between clinical work. By the second week, I'm in a good routine and full of new ideas. But then I have to go back to the hospital and lose that momentum.

Also, some new businesses need you to be available at short notice, which might not work with some clinical jobs.

You could try not doing any clinical work for a while, but be mindful that gaps could cause problems with your licenses or certifications. If you do keep some clinical work, don't count on that money when you're planning how much to save. Part-time work can be unstable. Employers usually prefer full-time employees, especially over those who might quit soon when their side business takes off.

Changing from being a full-time clinician to running your own business is a big step. It takes careful planning and flexibility. By understanding your finances, saving enough money, and thinking carefully about part-time work, you can set yourself up for success. Remember, there's no one right way to do this – your path will be unique to you.

Thanks for reading. I’m trying to grow my audience, so if you know someone who might find my newsletter useful, please share.

Hey there,

What happens when you ditch a prestigious career and the internet explodes?

Ex-neurosurgeon Goobie's story has taken some unexpected turns. Here's the twist:

• At work: Confusion reigns

• Outside work: Surprising support emerges

Buckle up – we're unpacking the real aftermath of a career 180 that's got everyone talking.

🎭 The Outsider's Perspective

Goobie's big revelation? No one from your old life will fully get your decision. Here's what he's experiencing:

• Difficulty explaining his choice

• Feeling misunderstood by former colleagues

• Struggling to convey a complex decision in casual conversation

Sound familiar? It's like telling people you're moving into a tent. It's so far off the "normal" path that it's hard for others to comprehend.

💡 Pro Tip: Prepare a concise explanation for your decision. It might not cover everything, but it'll help in those quick conversations.

🤔 The Assumption of Sadness

Here's a tough pill to swallow: People might assume something's wrong when you leave a "good" career. But remember:

• Your definition of success might differ from theirs

• Change doesn't always stem from negative experiences

• Sometimes, it's about pursuing a different kind of fulfillment

🔑 Key Insight: You can't control others' perceptions. Focus on your own journey and reasons for change.

👥 Reconnecting with Your Past

Goobie's made some interesting discoveries about his old relationships:

• He assumed some bridges were burned when they weren't

• Many people were actually excited for his new path

• Proactive reconnection often yielded positive results

The Lesson: Don't let assumptions stop you from reaching out. You might be pleasantly surprised by the support you receive.

🤝 Meeting Them Where They Are

Remember, you're the one changing the status quo. Here's how to navigate this:

• Avoid coming across as judgmental of their choices

• Recognize that different life paths can coexist

• Understand that stability and predictability are valid goals for many

💡 Pro Tip: Frame your change as a personal choice, not a universal recommendation. It's okay for others to want different things.

🎬 The Bottom Line

Making a major life change is tough, and explaining it to others can be even tougher. But remember:

1. You don't need universal approval to pursue your goals

2. Many people might be more supportive than you expect

3. It's okay to outgrow certain relationships or situations

What's Your Take?

Have you made a big career shift? How did you handle explaining it to others? Hit reply and share your experience. Your insights could be gold for fellow career-pivoters!

Until next week, keep charting your own course.

-Keith

P.S. If this resonated with you, share it with a friend contemplating a big change. And if someone forwarded this to you, subscribe here for weekly insights on carving your own path.

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Hey there,

Remember Goobie? The young neurosurgeon whose YouTube video about leaving medicine went viral? With over 10 million views, his story clearly struck a nerve. As a pain doc who's walked a similar path, I've got some thoughts.

🧠 The Struggle is Real

Goobie's main beef? Realizing his surgeries often didn't make the impact he hoped for. He noticed patients who thrived typically had:

• Healthy lifestyles

• Solid social support

• Effective stress management

Sound familiar? It's a stark reminder of how our healthcare system often falls short. We’re equipped to fix bulging discs, but when it comes to lifestyle issues or complex social factors? The system leaves us hanging.

🚪 The Exit Strategy (or Lack Thereof)

Here's where it gets interesting. Goobie didn't meticulously plan his departure. He hit a wall and knew he had to leave. But he wasn't flying blind:

• Worked for 9 months after deciding to quit

• Saved up a few years' worth of living expenses

• Not enough to retire, but a cushion for his next move

The lesson? Sometimes, the decision to leave is the catalyst you need. It's not ideal, but Goobie shows that even an abrupt exit can open doors if you've got some financial runway.

🔍 The Devil in the Career Details

Remember those warnings about your specialty's downsides? Goobie's experience highlights an important lesson:

• You don't truly understand those warnings until you've lived them

• The reality often differs from what you imagined

For Goobie, "difficult patients" turned out to mean complex life problems he couldn't solve as a neurosurgeon. It wasn't about challenging personalities, but about the limitations of his role.

🤔 What This Means for Your Next Move

If you're eyeing a career change, this insight is gold. Here's how to apply it:

1. Reflect on your current role: How did the warned-about negatives actually play out?

2. Use this lens for future options: Look beyond the surface-level warnings

For example, if you're considering real estate investing:

• Common wisdom: "It's not passive income"

• Your doctor insight: "It might be like being on call – unexpected issues needing quick responses, potentially at any time"

Now ask yourself: How did you handle being on call? Did you absolutely hate it or just not mind it much? This perspective can help you make a more informed decision.

💡 Adapting Your Approach

If you’re thinking real estate, but never want to take call again, you might:

• Explore triple net leases where tenants handle most issues

• Investigate hiring a property management company

• Consider more hands-off approaches to real estate investing such as trusts (REITs)

The key is to figure this out before making the jump, using your unique medical experience as a guide.

🔑 Key Insights for the Restless Doctor

1. Space to Explore: Sometimes, you need to step away to see clearly.

2. Share Your Story: Goobie's authenticity resonated with millions. Your experiences matter.

3. Reassess Your Toolkit: How else could your skills give you an unfair advantage in your new life?

4. Deeper Understanding: Dig into warnings to avoid another career mismatch.

What's Your Take?

Have you experienced surprises in your medical career that could inform your next move? Hit reply and share your thoughts. Your insights could help fellow doctors navigating similar waters.

Until next week, keep questioning and stay curious.

-Keith

P.S. If you found this valuable, share it with a colleague who might need it. And if someone forwarded this to you, subscribe here to get next week's insights directly.

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Previously, I planned to build a part-time pain management practice as a financial engine to fuel entrepreneurial pursuits. This week, I'll share the major reasons I abandoned this plan.

Overhead

The primary problem was overhead. Some expenses, like clinic space and an x-ray machine, cost the same whether you use them six days per week or two.

Staffing is an even bigger challenge. It's difficult to hire in the current economic landscape, especially for part-time positions. But the real issue relates to an important rule of thumb I've learned: only hire people already competent at what you need them to do. Unfortunately, a pain clinic requires many different roles, leading to significant staffing overhead.

Staff Who Interact with Patients

A large pain practice typically employs the following staff members:

1. Schedulers: Part receptionist, they handle patient scheduling, cancellations, and appointment changes.

2. Medical assistants: Bring patients from the waiting room, check vitals, provide post-appointment instructions, and prepare rooms.

3. Nurses: Administer medications, assist with procedures, and address patient questions.

4. Radiologic technicians: Operate the x-ray machine needed for most pain procedures.

5. Practice manager: Ensures smooth operation of the practice.

That's at least five roles. Plus, you need backup staff to maintain efficiency and cover for sick days.

Successful solo pain doctors have found ways around this by cross-training staff to perform multiple roles. However, this training requires significant time and energy from the doctor – time that isn't compensated. It's one of the biggest challenges for modern doctors with private practices.

The complexity of these all-in-one jobs also means that many new employees don't make it past the probation period, exacerbating staffing problems.

Staff Who Don't Interact with Patients

The billing side of the practice presents even less scalable staffing challenges. A large organization typically hires separately for:

1. Coders: Ensure insurance is charged for the correct/optimal services.

2. Billers: Submit bills and follow up on initial problems and rejections.

3. Prior authorization specialists: Proactively address insurance company concerns about coverage.

4. Collections: Pursue payment from insurance companies and patients who haven't paid.

5. Revenue cycle management: Oversee the entire revenue process.

For a small private practice, scaling or outsourcing these jobs is problematic. You can allow a larger organization to handle these tasks, but you lose too much autonomy to truly call it your own practice.

Alternatively, you can hire multiple specialized services, but this is expensive and requires additional oversight to ensure quality.

Furthermore, despite how well a doctor might understand the billing system, they can't effectively cross-train employees to handle all these specialized roles. The complexity and daily nuances of each position mean that even the doctor themselves couldn't adequately fill in if an employee called out sick. These jobs require consistent, hands-on experience that a doctor, focused primarily on patient care, simply can't maintain. This makes it impractical for a doctor to train a single person to cover all these billing-related tasks in a small practice, unlike the more feasible cross-training for patient interaction roles.

You Didn’t See This Coming?

I envisioned eventually partnering with multiple doctors working at the practice with dozens of staff members, sharing overhead costs. This would have allowed me to scale back and explore non-clinical business opportunities.

However, building such a practice requires 5-10 years of very hard work, during which I'd likely earn less than I would as an anesthesiologist. Moreover, as an anesthesiologist, I'd have the option for a flexible, part-time schedule without the stress and responsibility of running my own practice. This makes the prospect of building a pain management practice less appealing from both a financial and lifestyle perspective.

Considering my age and career goals, investing a decade into building something that essentially results in a highly paid part-time job doesn't make sense. I need to take advantage of my peak years and build things that directly lead to the life I want, rather than serving as stepping stones towards it.

As we kick off this newsletter, I want to give you a quick overview of my life and plans. I'll dive deeper into specifics in future issues.

My Background:

I'm a physician specializing in anesthesiology with a sub-specialty in chronic pain management. About a year ago, fresh out of training, I started my own pain management practice.

Outside of medicine, I'm passionate about entrepreneurship. My initial vision was to use my medical practice as a financial springboard to explore other business ventures.

The Change:

I've come to realize that running a pain practice can't be a part-time pursuit, at least not for many years, if ever. This realization made me reevaluate my original plan.

I faced a choice: dedicate years to building a pain practice for its own sake or find a different path. While I appreciate the privilege of helping people manage their pain, the current challenges in the medical profession have made this decision easier than I expected.

My New Direction:

I'm now pursuing a life where my endeavors have unlimited potential. I eventually want:

• Massive freedom over my schedule and work location

• To run businesses that generate income even when I'm not actively working

• The ability to delegate responsibilities and potentially sell my ventures in the future

I aspire to be like the entrepreneurs I've studied - creative problem-solvers who build businesses that enable this lifestyle.

The Path Forward:

There's no clear roadmap to my goals. I'm excited about the learning journey ahead, but I'm also prepared for multiple failures before finding success.

My Strategy:

1. Leverage my anesthesiology background to work part-time, ensuring financial stability.

2. Use my free time as 'startup time'.

3. Continue building my personal brand, which I believe will be a valuable long-term asset.

4. Develop internet-based businesses (currently in early stages).

If you're interested in following my entrepreneurial journey, be sure to subscribe to this newsletter!

I look forward to sharing more details, insights, and experiences with you in the coming weeks.

After a hiatus, I'm relaunching my newsletter. Here's what went wrong before and what I’ve changed:

My vision wasn’t clear

Initially, I aimed to create a newsletter for doctors interested in entrepreneurship, primarily by aggregating content. This approach failed because:

1. The physician entrepreneur content landscape is too limited for effective aggregation.

2. I preferred sharing my personal journey over maintaining a corporate-style newsletter.

3. I realized that owning a traditional medical practice is essentially creating a job for yourself rather than building a business. So the life I was living didn’t align with the entrepreneurship content I wanted to produce.

I didn’t like my newsletter

Not only did my newsletter have an identity crisis, it was ugly:

Given the problems with the newsletter's vision, I lacked the motivation to invest time in redesigning it. Without a product I felt proud to promote, the newsletter stagnated.

Embracing change

I've since made significant life changes to pursue entrepreneurship.

My current focus on research, reflection, and experimentation makes this an ideal time to resume sharing my experiences.

Simplifying the Design Process

I adopted a pragmatic approach to redesigning my newsletter: I chose a single successful newsletter as a comprehensive reference for all design decisions. Marc Lou's newsletter served as my model.

This strategy offered two key advantages:

1. It eliminated the need to invest extensive time in learning design principles from scratch.

2. By limiting myself to one source of inspiration, I avoided the analysis paralysis that often comes with choosing between multiple design options for each element.

This focused method allowed me to efficiently create a professional-looking newsletter without getting bogged down in design details.

A clear mission emerges

Previously, I felt conflicted about time spent researching entrepreneurship while building my medical practice. Now, as I transition away from running a medical practice, I'm fully committed to entrepreneurship and eager to document this journey.

My goal is to provide insights for others considering the leap from a stable career to entrepreneurship. If you're on a similar path or know someone who is, this newsletter aims to be a valuable resource for you.