Our topic today is burnout.
Many practice owners find their passion for their profession waning after a number of years – sometimes to the point of not even liking what they do anymore.
I think that anybody who does the same thing over and over again without evolving on that pathway can become burnt out.
For the majority of people, your life, career, and business all happen in stages.
In your first few years out of school, you’re still in learning mode.
You’re focused on the challenges of becoming better and more efficient at what you were trained to do.
And the framework of going to school to develop a highly specialized skill is a great thing, because it makes you valuable in that arena.
And using your skills to improve the lives of others can bring great satisfaction.
But doing the same specialized thing year after year – in addition to managing a business – can be a very heavy load.
You become good at the rank and file – and then it becomes mundane.
So maybe you continue your education, and you increase your capabilities and expertise.
But being the sole provider of that higher-level service can become a burden, and later, you find yourself saying: “I’m still not happy and satisfied. There’s got to be more.”
To get to the next level, you’ve got to get out of your box; even out of your own industry.
I say this because any industry is going to limit you to what that industry says you should be.
Chasing society’s version of “success” burns people out.
It’s that constant, materialistic chasing of more and more money.
Determine what your real “why” is in life – that’s what leads you to rise up to the next level.
And you don’t have to take yourself away from your area of expertise!
But you can place your focus on doing only the key things that you truly love to do, with people you love to do it with.
You can become a higher achiever, a better leader, and a visionary – someone who sees the bigger picture and solves problems at a higher level (and not just in what you were trained to do.)
Get inside yourself and figure out what makes you tick – what will make you look back and say “That’s why I did what I did.”
I learned to do this when my daughter Jenna’s health pushed me out of the box I’d been living in – I wasn’t at burnout, but I wasn’t totally satisfied either.
What’s going to be your driver, inspiring you to move to the next level?
Challenge yourself, get into masterminds and other groups even outside your industry – with people who will push you to a higher level.
If you start on that pathway and keep following it, you’ll find where you really want to be.
Because chances are, where you are right now isn’t where you want to end up…
To your freedom!
-David
P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are some other ways I can help fast track you to your Freedom goal (you’re closer than you think) :
1. Get Your Free Retirement Scorecard:
Benchmark your retirement and wealth-building against hundreds of other practice professionals and get personalized feedback on your biggest opportunities and leverage points. Go to www.FreedomFounders.com/Scorecard to take the 3 minute assessment and get your scorecard.
2. Attend A Workshop:
If you’re committed to Freedom, but still building a practice, paying down school debt, or growing investment capital, our hands-on Freedom Blueprint Workshops are your entrance ramp onto the fast track! Visit www.freedomfounders.com/workshop to claim your seat!
3. Apply To Visit The Mastermind:
If you’d like to join dozens of dentists, docs, and practice professionals on the fast track to Freedom (5-7 years max), visit www.freedomfounders.com/step-1 to apply for a seat.
4. Want to Work Directly with Me?
If you’d like to work directly with me and a small group of my closest investment colleagues, with direct access to the dealmakers and asset classes that I invest in, just send a message to my Executive Assistant (Lindsey@FreedomFounders.com), and put “Fast Access” in the subject line. Or, call (972) 203-6960 Ext 144 and leave a brief voicemail for Lindsey. Let her know you’re interested in the Fast Access program – we’ll set up a time with you to talk, find out about your goals, and see if there is a fit.
