Opportunities Will Come

Be Open and Opportunities Will Come

I like to talk about intentionality.  It was always my intention to be successful whether career wise or financially.  So I built a future and skill set based on this idea.  I have to admit, however, that some of my greatest adventures have seemed to appear out of thin air.  Some would call this luck.  I like to frame this concept differently.  In the process of being open, I believe, opportunities will come.  

The term pivot is often used to describe this phenomenon.  The ability to embrace new input, and create new pathways has always served me well.  Thus I was usually ready to receive whatever karma had to throw at me.

And generally it has worked out nicely.

Nursing Home Work

I built a huge part of my career on the day to day care of nursing home patients.  Although such an integral part of both my occupational path and economic security, I had no intention of seeing patients in this setting.

I was quietly chugging along in my office outpatient practice when I got a call, out of the blue, from the administrator of a local nursing home.  She had recently fired the medical director of the facility and was wondering if I wanted to give it a try.

I said yes.  I had nothing to lose, and a world of experience and knowledge to gain.  That simple phone call has lead to a wonderful career working in facilities taking care of some of the sickest and most in need patients.  I not only learned a great deal, but it also became one of my best lazy side hustles.  

Opportunities will come at the most unlikely times.  By being open to this new experience, I was thrust into a durable career path that has served me well over the years.

Hospice

I always had an affinity for caring for the critically ill and dying.  I started volunteering for hospice as a medical student.  As my career progressed, however, my official affiliation disappeared.  Sure I took care of people at the end of life as the primary physician, but I was never formally linked.

Until an interaction I had with the care of a nursing home patient.  Hospice was consulted, and the medical director was impressed with my knowledge of end of life care and my familiarity with pain medicines.  

She suggested that I consider doing contract work with her company.  I was incredibly busy with a bustling office practice, but I couldn’t turn down this unique opportunity to not only uncorrelate revenue streams (get paid hourly as a contractor instead of directly for patient services), but also learn a ton.

I leapt before I looked.  It has been one of my best decisions ever.  As I settle into my half retirement, hospice work is playing a big role in building a life more based on purpose and identity.  

Opportunities will come, will you be open to them?

Financial Independence

I always knew that I was interested in personal finance, but had none of the vocabulary or even knowledge to understand what that looked like.  I had been writing on the internet for years about medicine when I got an unexpected call from Jim Dahle.  He wanted me to write a review for his personal finance book for doctors, The White Coat Investor.  

I could have said no.  I could have closed myself off to this time consuming project.  Opportunities will come and you have to be willing to jump on them.  

After reading his book in one sitting, I knew my life had been upended.  A few years later, I am writing my own personal finance blog and hosting a podcast about next level financial independence conversations.

Who would have known?

Final Thoughts

If you learn to be open, opportunities will come.  This means saying yes when a stranger comes asking.  You can always back out later if the venture doesn’t suit you.  Some call this pivoting.  Some call it luck.

I think of it as not letting fear get in the way of personal growth.