speaking Archives - NonClinical Physicians

How to Improve Your Life Using Strategic Quitting with Dr. Lynn Marie Morski – 086

John Jurica — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 12:25:39 +0000

Necessary Tool for a Fulfilling Life

In today’s interview, we meet a physician who has written the book on strategic quitting. Then, we learn about her career journey, and why she believes that knowing when and how to quit is so important.

Lynn Marie Morski graduated from the St. Louis U. School of Medicine, and completed a Family Medicine residency at Mayo Clinic – Arizona, and Sports Medicine Fellowship at the University of Arizona. Not satisfied with those educational accomplishments, she then completed her law degree at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

She still works part time at the Veterans Administration. But her real joy comes from coaching and speaking about strategic quitting.

Lynn Marie spreads the gospel of strategic quitting, destigmatizing quitting, and giving people permission to quit whatever isn't working for them in their jobs, relationships, or mindsets.

She is the author of the book “Quitting by Design,” which is also the name of her business (see quittingbydesign.com). She is the host of the Quit Happens Podcast, a speaker, coach, and chief medical editor for Prime. And she also runs a Facebook group called Quitopia.

During our conversation she gives examples of quits she has implemented. And she describes how strategic quitting fits into career change, boosts productivity, and enhances our lives.

“I love speaking to physicians. First off, I am one. And I feel the same strain and stress that the job brings to many people. But I also know that we are often the most stuck in what we're doing.”

Our Sponsor

The University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program, offered by the Haslam College of Business, is the proud sponsor of this podcast. You’ll remember that I interviewed Dr. Kate Atchley, the Executive Director of the program, in Episode #25 of this podcast.

The UT PEMBA is the longest running, and most highly respected physician-only MBA in the country. It has over 650 graduates. Unlike most other ranked programs, which typically have a duration of 18 to 24 months, this program only takes a year to complete. And Economist Magazine recently ranked the business school #1 in the world for the Most Relevant Executive MBA.

University of Tennessee PEMBA students bring exceptional value to their organizations. The curriculum includes a number of major assignments and a company project. Hence, students immediately contribute to their organizations while in the program.

Graduates have taken leadership positions at major healthcare organizations. And they have become entrepreneurs and business owners. If you want to acquire the business and management skills you need to advance your career, contact Dr. Kate Atchley’s office by calling (865) 974-6526 or going to vitalpe.net/physicianmba.

It’s Okay to Quit

Quitting is Lynn Marie’s “super power.” She gives permission to quit and the tools to do it strategically and successfully.

“If I had never strategically quit anything… I would be really unhappy. I think other people want to be happy and fulfilled, and aren't necessarily sure how.”

Is It Time to Quit?

Do you have heartburn, anxiety, or other somatic symptoms? What parts of your clinical career aren't working? You may not need to leave your entire clinical career and all of medicine behind. But you'll most certainly need to quit the parts that aren't working for you.

We live so long, there's time to have five different careers in your life. If you change your mind, congratulations! You're human, and you evolved.”
Lynn Marie Morski

If you’re thinking about changing to a non-clinical career, Lynn Marie recommends that you:

Follow your intuition;
Create a “No List”; and,
Visualize what you want to do in the future.

Quitting Perfectionism

Perfectionism often plagues high performers and achievers, such as physicians. At some point, you decided to go into medicine. “If we were perfect, we would be totally happy with that decision. We would love everything we're doing, and we would never consider this non-clinical career.”

Our lives will be so much easier and more productive if we learn to quit perfectionism. Lynn Marie addresses this issue in Episode 28 of her podcast.

Some people think changing their mind means they made a mistake. Different things will appeal to you at different times in your life. “We live so long, there's time to have five different careers in your life. If you change your mind, congratulations! You're human, and you evolved.”

Quitting “Maybes”

People frequently say, “Yes, maybe,” to an invitation. “We're either waiting for something better to come along, or we don't really want to do it.”

“Maybe” doesn’t do anybody any good. “People you've half-made commitments to can't really function properly. Somebody's trying to plan a party. They've got 40 ‘maybes.’ Do they buy one thing or chips for 70?”

Be honest, and say what you mean. Then, everybody benefits. Quit “maybe.” Every decision like this should be a “no”, if it's not a “hell-yes!”

Links for today's episode:

Thanks to our sponsor…

Thanks to the UT Physician Executive MBA program for sponsoring the show. It’s an outstanding, highly rated, MBA program designed for working physicians. It might be just what you need to prepare for that joyful, well-paying career. You can find out more at vitalpe.net/physicianmba.

I hope to see you next time on the PNC Podcast.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, share it on Twitter and Facebook, and leave a review on iTunes.

Podcast Editing & Production Services are provided by Oscar Hamilton.

Disclaimers:

The opinions expressed here are mine and my guest’s. While the information provided on the podcast is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge, there is no express or implied guarantee that using the methods discussed here will lead to success in your career, life or business.

Many of the links that I refer you to, and that you’ll find in the show notes, are affiliate links. That means that I receive a payment from the seller if you purchase the affiliate item using my link. Doing so has no effect on the price you are charged. And I only promote products and services that I believe are of high quality and will be useful to you, that I have personally used or am very familiar with.

The information presented on this blog and related podcast is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only. It should not be construed as medical, legal, tax, or emotional advice. If you take action on the information provided on the blog or podcast, it is at your own risk. Always consult an attorney, accountant, career counsellor, or other professional before making any major decisions about your career.

Right click here and “Save As” to download this podcast episode to your computer.

Here are the easiest ways to listen:

vitalpe.net/itunes or vitalpe.net/stitcher

The post How to Improve Your Life Using Strategic Quitting with Dr. Lynn Marie Morski – 086 appeared first on NonClinical Physicians.

Why Medical Communications Is the Best Nonclinical Career – 061

John Jurica — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 16:44:11 +0000

Interview with Dr. Dana Carpenter

I really enjoy speaking with physicians who have found a nonclinical career they love. I’ve seen that in life insurance medicine, teaching, and now in medical communications. The other aspect of this career that excites me is that it’s one in which you can express your creative side along with your scientific and technical side.

Before I get to the interview, I want to acknowledge our sponsor…

The University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA

I'm very thankful to have the support of the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program offered by the Haslam College of Business. You’ll remember that I interviewed Dr. Kate Atchley, the Executive Director of the program, in Episode #25 of this podcast.

The UT PEMBA is the longest running, and most highly respected physician-only MBA in the country, with over 650 graduates. Unlike most other ranked programs, which typically have a duration of 18 to 24 months, this program only takes a year to complete. And, it’s offered by the business school that was recently ranked #1 in the world for the Most Relevant Executive MBA program, by Economist magazine.

University of Tennessee PEMBA students bring exceptional value to their organizations by contributing at the highest level while earning their degree. The curriculum includes a number of major assignments and a company project, both of which are structured to immediately apply to each student’s organization.

Graduates have taken leadership positions at major healthcare organizations and have become entrepreneurs and business owners. If you want to acquire the business and management skills needed to advance your nonclinical career, contact Dr. Atchley’s office by calling (865) 974-6526 or going to vitalpe.net/physicianmba.

Today's Guest

Dr. Dana Carpenter is Senior VP, Director Medical & Scientific Affairs at CDM New York, a leading healthcare communications agency. She's an experienced OB/GYN, medical director and health communicator combining expertise in medicine, management, and medical communications within the health communication/medical marketing arena.

She's recognized as a subject expert and strategic consultant in women’s health, with additional marketing experience across many therapeutic areas. She obtained her medical degree from Rush Medical College at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and her residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia.

Moving Into Medical Communications

Dana decided she wanted to pursue a medical career while in high school. But in medical school, she realized she did not want to spend her entire career providing direct patient care. After working for almost a decade in an all-women OB-GYN practice (and paying off her student loans), Dana began her journey from medicine to medical communications.

She left her practice and started a consulting business. As part of the business, she created an online presence with a website, podcast and published articles. And she did some public speaking. All of these activities demonstrated her skills in medical communications, and a recruiter contacted her about working in the field. That led to her landing a job as VP, Associate Medical Director with CDM New York, a medical marketing company.

Dana's story is inspirational. And she provides great advice if you're considering a career in medical marketing and advertising,

Some of the highlights of our conversation:

What Dana loved (and didn’t love) about clinical practice;
The projects that helped her transition into medical communications;
What appeals to her most about the world of medical marketing;
The skills, experiences, and assets that healthcare agencies are looking for;
What training and support to expect from within the industry;
The wide array of possible roles in communications, and who’s a good fit for each;
The three main sectors in medical communications, and how to choose yours;
How to stand out to recruiters and break into the field; and,
The kind of lifestyle and work-life balance communications professionals enjoy.

Summary

We’ve talked before on the show about medical writing, but my latest guest shares her insightful perspective on the world of medical communications: what it is, how to get into it, and why it’s a great fit for many physicians looking for a change.

Dana was passionate about her career in obstetrics and gynecology. And it's clear that she carried that enthusiasm into her current career. It was great to get her perspective about her career transition.

She was able to clarify a lot for me about the communications industry, which can seem pretty confusing from the outside. As you heard in this episode, there’s a wide range of opportunities in this field. If you’re interested, you can explore each sector, and select one based on your skills and personality.

Dana emphasized that the most important thing you can do to get the attention of recruiters: start communicating. You should publish health and medical content through;

a blog,
in published articles,
on a podcast,
via YouTube videos,
in your local newspaper, or
on social media, such as LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.

Learn more about CDM at CDM New York. You can connect with Dana on LinkedIn and via email at dcarpenter@cdmny.com, or

The University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program

I want to sincerely thank the UT Physician Executive MBA program, again, for sponsoring the show. It’s an outstanding, highly rated, MBA program designed for working physicians. It might be just what you need to prepare for that joyful, well-paying career. You can find out more at vitalpe.net/physicianmba.

Thanks again for listening. I hope to see you next time on Physician NonClinical Careers.

As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, share it on Twitter and Facebook, and leave a review on iTunes.

Podcast Editing & Production Services are provided by Oscar Hamilton

Disclaimer:

Right click here and “Save As” to download this podcast episode to your computer.

The easiest ways to listen: vitalpe.net/itunes or vitalpe.net/stitcher

The post Why Medical Communications Is the Best Nonclinical Career – 061 appeared first on NonClinical Physicians.

How to Blend Stand-Up Comedy and Keynote Speaking – 062

John Jurica — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:20:36 +0000

For this episode, I'm interviewing Dr. Lynette Charity to tell us about her experience with keynote speaking. You'll recall that I interviewed Carmen Landrau just a few weeks ago. Each of them took a unique path to this career. You'll get a much more complete perspective on keynote speaking by listening to both episodes.

Before I get to the interview, I want to acknowledge our sponsor…

The University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA

Today's Guest

Dr. Lynette Charity grew up in the 1950s in the segregated South. She was one of the first black students to attend her high school. She faced plenty of doubt when she announced she was planning to become a physician. But she went on to graduate with honors from Chatham College for Women in Pittsburgh, PA on a full academic scholarship. And she earned her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. She became an expert in anesthesiology, working in hospitals and for the U.S. Army. But, after a 35-year career, she was ready for a change.

Learning to Speak

When she knew she was looking for something else, Lynette turned to SEAK for help, attending its national meeting in 2012. But none of the alternate career paths they set out really appealed to her. Luckily, through SEAK she met career coach Heather Fork, who was able to roll with Lynette’s unconventional dreams for her career change.

When Lynette said, “Heather, I want to be a stand-up comic, lounge singer, voiceover actor,” Heather didn’t back down. Instead, she convinced Lynette to sign up for Toastmasters, so she could take her first steps to leearn keynote speaking as a professional. Lynette was resistant at first. After all, she’d given lectures and presentations for years. But she learned pretty quickly that lecturing to a room full of other medical students and residents was a far cry from the kind of public speaking she needed to learn.

So she dove in, and started making Toastmasters speeches. She used their programs to learn confidence, communication, and the elements of storytelling. It was a learning curve for Lynette, learning to connect with audiences rather than just lecture at them. But she was excited to learn. And, as it turned out, she was very good at it.

Learning to Shine

Lynette’s mentors at Toastmasters were seriously impressed with her talent. Hence, they encouraged her to compete in speaking competitions. Her very first year, she won the competition in her district. She competed again the following year, and made it to the World Championships of Public Speaking held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

She was able to share her story about growing up in the segregated South with a completely new, international audience. And she placed third worldwide! It wasn’t first prize, but it was a huge success. And it felt good.

“I was a rock star! I felt really good walking around with my big old trophy… this was a foreign country, and I was telling a story about the fact that I had grown up in the segregated South in the 1950s… And I did it using the Wizard of Oz, because a lot of foreign people don't know anything about segregation in America. So I tried to relate it to that, and I sang, I danced. I did it all in that speech! And people came up to me later on, wanting to know more about that part of history that they didn't know anything about.”

Lynette knew she’d found what she wanted to do: speak, connect, and make people laugh. Now she needed to make it into a career.

Getting Professional

In order to take herself from an amateur public speaker to the real thing, Lynette invested in professional speaking coaches. Starting with a coach recommended by Toastmasters, she moved up through different coaches as her skills improved. She stresses the importance of finding the right coach to effectively advance your career.

On the comedy side of Lynette’s dreams, she took the time to go back to school. Her local community college offered acting and improv classes. And that’s where she tried her hand at comedy for the first time. Her instructors always kept her on her toes. As the oldest student in the room by far, she would be given roles as kids and teenagers while her college-aged classmates took the adult roles. The contrast added to the comedic content. The classes took her out of her comfort zone, helping her to learn to think on her feet.

From there, she gained the confidence to do a stand-up routine for the first time — and she loved it! Her jokes were landing and she was getting laughs. She learned how to handle hecklers. Things went well enough to take her show on the road, and she’s performed at open mic nights and comedy shows all over the country. And Lynette often integrates comedy into her keynote speaking, which her audiences enjoy.

Finding a Niche

Lynette knew she loved to speak, but it wasn’t until a phone call came from Heather Fork that she found exactly the kind of speaking that she wanted to do. Out of the blue, Heather put her in touch with a school in Coimbra, Portugal, looking for a keynote speaker. The school was willing to fly Lynette and her husband overseas in exchange for a keynote speech to a group of young medical students. No honorarium, but all expenses paid.

Lynette said yes.

It was there that she developed what is now one of her signature speeches: “Stay Inspired, Stay Healthy, Stay True to You.” And that helped identify her niche as a speaker: inspiring physicians and physicians-to-be. From there, Lynette developed her specialty as a keynote speaker on physician burnout, depression and suicide.

Breaking into the Industry

Expertise in a particular topic is critical, Lynette says, to booking speaking engagements. Event planners don’t want to hear you say that you’ll speak on anything and everything. You need to be an expert in one particular niche to prove that you have something unique to offer.

Lynette’s first several speaking gigs (outside of her competition speeches) weren’t paid. She spoke to Rotary Clubs and retirement homes, at community events and for local chapters of professional organizations. She built a track record one speech at a time. And she began to build enough of a reputation to start collecting $300 to $500 honoraria for her work.

But how did she turn it into a real career? Lynette studied other speakers in her field. She discovered Kevin Pho, of KevinMD fame. She reached out to him for a coaching session. By the end of it, he asked her if he could promote her as a speaker to his network.

She agreed. And with Kevin Pho's support, she was quickly booked for eight speaking engagements earlier this year. Lynette notes that joining speakers’ bureaus is great way to connect with event planners.

Dr. Lynette Charity

To beginning professional speakers, she stresses the importance of having a strong social media presence, and a website of your own. It's essential to present actual video giving a speech to an audience. You must prove yourself in advance, she says, because “an event planner does not want to be embarrassed by hiring someone, and they get up there and they make them look bad.”

Lynette’s Quick Keynote Speaking Tips:

Follow the Rule of Three! No more than three chunks of information per slide, and no more than three major messages.
Engage your audience, don’t talk at them, and don’t read your slides, ever!
Pick a lane! Find your niche and become an expert in it. Don’t try to be all things to everyone.

What’s Next?

Lynette says she’s taking a break from working and speaking in November and December of this year. But in the new year, she’s going to keep speaking, doing comedy, and finding even more ways to build community between patients and practitioners.

She dreams about putting together an all-doctor comedy troupe, and taking it on the road. It’s all part of her broader mission to reach out and support other physicians. And bring attention to what their lives are really like.

“I see a mission for myself here,” Lynette says, “because we need to get the word out about who we are, what we do, and how we can help ourselves and our communities in the future. And the only way we're going to do that, is to get more of us out there speaking.”

Summary

Lynette provided great advice when it comes to public speaking, and to pursuing any new career. She serves as a role model for all physicians as we pursue the careers we love. I'll definitely keep in touch with Lynette, and update you on her speaking and performing engagements.

The University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program

Thanks again for listening. I hope to see you next time on Physician NonClinical Careers.

As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, share it on Twitter and Facebook, and leave a review on iTunes.

Podcast Editing & Production Services are provided by Oscar Hamilton

Links for Today's Episode:

Dr. Lynette Charity’s website

@LynetteDCharity on Twitter

Lynette Charity on Facebook

Lynette Charity on LinkedIn

Heather Fork’s website

Kevin Pho (Kevin MD)

SEAK

Toastmasters

Disclaimer:

Right click here and “Save As” to download this podcast episode to your computer.

The easiest ways to listen: vitalpe.net/itunes or vitalpe.net/stitcher

The post How to Blend Stand-Up Comedy and Keynote Speaking – 062 appeared first on NonClinical Physicians.

How to Nurture an Exciting Speaking Career with Dr. Carmen Landrau – 059

John Jurica — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 12:08:02 +0000

Today I bring you a great interview with Dr. Carmen Landrau, as she explains how to nurture your speaking career.

But before we get to that I have an announcement to make.

Our First Sponsor!

Yes, that's right. The PNC Podcast now has a SPONSOR!

That might not be as big a deal to you as it is to me. But having a sponsor means that I can cover some of the costs associated with producing this podcast. And that will allow me to continue to bring on great guests, and do more to meet your needs.

I’ve told you that I want to avoid placing annoying ads on the blog and podcast. But a sponsor is another thing. If I can find the right sponsor, one that aligns with your needs, then that would be ideal.

And I think I’ve done it. I’ve found a sponsor that some of you have already checked out. I’ve done two interviews with persons associated with this sponsor (Episode #3 and Episode #25). And it’s an organization that believes in physicians, and physician leadership.

Enter the University of Tennessee

I’m very pleased to welcome my FIRST and only sponsor to this podcast and blog: the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program offered by the Haslam College of Business. You’ll remember that I interviewed Dr. Kate Atchley, the Executive Director of the program, in Episode #25 of this podcast.

The leaders at UT PEMBA are great to work with. I’m really happy that they’ve agreed to support my mission to assist physicians to become recognized leaders. After all, that’s their mission too.

Today's Guest

Dr. Carmen Landrau is a board-certified cardiologist and professional keynote speaker, who uses her experience to empower women to recognize their talents, regain confidence, and take the next steps in their careers and in life. She’s been a keynote speaker at conferences and events for over fifteen years.

She lectures medical students and residents, and speaks at events with hundreds of attendees. She’s also provided individualized teaching and coaching to professional women and women’s groups.

Dr. Carmen Landrau

Carmen completed her medical training at Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico. She then completed a residency in internal medicine and fellowship in cardiology at the McGovern Medical School, formerly known as The University of Texas Medical School, in Houston. She then opened her own private practice. But during the last 3 to 4 years, she has gradually reduced her clinical activities while growing a thriving part-time business as a professional speaker.

How to Nurture Your Speaking Career

During our conversation Carmen explains how she became a paid speaker. It started slowly, by volunteering to speak for the American Heart Association and other groups. But she enjoyed it so much that she decided to focus on nurturing her career and to seek paid engagements.

Some of the strategies she used include:

Engaging a speaking coach;
Taking a speaking course;
Developing her first “signature talk”;
Networking, and using Meetup.com to find (or start) a group with similar interests;
Seeking repeat speaking engagements.

Summary

This is the first guest I’ve interviewed whose nonclinical career is focused on public speaking. I found it very interesting. Carmen provided great insights and inspiration to help you pursue a similar career.

As you heard, however, you definitely must study and prepare for such a career. Carmen took advantage of speaking courses and coaching to help master the skill of public speaking, and the business aspects.

She helped me understand what a signature talk is. She spoke of the importance of networking. And she provided resources to enhance your networking.

She also described the need to be persistent and to nurture each speaking engagement to find future engagements.

In some ways, developing this career sounds a lot like developing a writing career, as described by Emma Nichols in Episode #56. But other aspects are quite different, such as travel and direct “face time” with your audience!

I hope you enjoyed my conversation with Carmen as much as I did.

You can find out more about her at DrLandrau.com. She was kind enough to give you her email address, if you’d like to ask her a question, or engage her to speak. The email address is info@drlaundrau.com.

Welcome to the University of Tennessee Physician Executive MBA Program

Thanks again for listening. I hope to see you next time on Physician NonClinical Careers.

As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, share it on Twitter and Facebook, and leave a review on iTunes.

Disclaimer:

Right click here and “Save As” to download this podcast episode to your computer.

The easiest ways to listen: vitalpe.net/itunes or vitalpe.net/stitcher

The post How to Nurture an Exciting Speaking Career with Dr. Carmen Landrau – 059 appeared first on NonClinical Physicians.