20 Sacred Rules for Success

1. Ask
2. Ask again
3. Ask again
4. Ask again
5. Ask again
6. Ask again
7. Ask again
8. Ask again
9. Ask again
10. Ask again
11. Ask again
12. Ask again
13. Ask again
14. Ask again
15. Ask again
16. Ask again
17. Ask again
18. Ask again
19. Ask again
20. Ask again

10 Tips For Med Students Going Into EM

1.  Join AAEM, EMRA, and ACEP. Free or very inexpensive for medical students.

2.  Go to the annual meetings. AAEM is this Feb, 2013 and in Las Vegas. ACEP is this Oct. 2013 and in Seattle. Attend the medical student components of both conferences.

3.  Get honors in your emergency medicine clerkship.

4.  If you are committed to one program, do an away rotation there.

5.  Check out www.freeemergencytalks.net and listen to these 3 lectures to start:

http://freeemergencytalks.net/2012/10/joe-lex-an-old-fogey-speaks-45-years-on-the-front-lines/

http://freeemergencytalks.net/2010/03/amal-mattu-finding-your-niche-in-em/

http://freeemergencytalks.net/2010/04/peter-rosen-beginnings-of-emergency-medicine/

6.  Go to ACEP's leadership & advocacy conference in May 2013. http://www.acep.org/LACHome.aspx?MeetingId=LAC

7.  Score well on Step 1.

8.  Get a strong letter of reference from at least one emergency physician.

9.  Identify a niche in EM (Ultrasound, EMS, Pediatrics, Hyperbaric, EKGs, Social Media)

10. Seek balance in career, life, health, family, and fun.

What tips do you have?

If I could live my life again...

If I could live again my life,
In the next – I’ll try,
- to make more mistakes,
I won’t try to be so perfect,
I’ll be more relaxed,
I’ll be more full – than I am now,
In fact, I’ll take fewer things seriously,
I’ll be less hygienic,
I’ll take more risks,
I’ll take more trips,
I’ll watch more sunsets,
I’ll climb more mountains,
I’ll swim more rivers,
I’ll go to more places – I’ve never been,
I’ll eat more ice creams and less lima beans,
I’ll have more real problems – and less imaginary ones,
I was one of those people who live
prudent and prolific lives -
each minute of his life,
Of course that I had moments of joy – but,
if I could go back I’ll try to have only good moments,

If you don’t know – that’s what life is made of,
Don’t lose the now!

I was one of those who never goes anywhere
without a thermometer,
without a hot-water bottle,
and without an umbrella and without a parachute,

If I could live again – I will travel light,
If I could live again – I’ll try to work bare feet
at the beginning of spring till the end of autumn,
I’ll ride more carts,
I’ll watch more sunrises and play with more children,
If I have the life to live – but now I am 85,
- and I know that I am dying …

Attributed to Jorge Luis Borges

http://oceanflynn.wordpress.com/2007/06/13/if-i-could-live-again-my-life/

Phraseology for Crucial Communications

It's nice to have a few scripts and templates when talking with others.   Here are a few useful phrases for you to use:

“May I Speak Freely?”

“My purpose in talking with you is …” (a mutual goal)

“When you … I feel . . . ” (action you are giving feedback on – something they can change)

“I imagine that …” (positive intent/benefit of the doubt)

“And because we both want …” (common goal)

“I need …” (specific alternative behavior requested)

Most importantly, affirm him or her as a person

~Dr. Jay Kaplan's Lecture at ACEP Scientific Assembly, Boston 2009.

Take Action

I came across this parable, while reading, "Action! Nothing Happens Until Something Moves," by Robert Ringer.

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up.  It knows that it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed.

Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up.  It knows that it must run faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve.

It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up, you'd better start running.




"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." ~Goethe 

Non-Medical Advice for Young Emergency Physicians

I was browsing through AAEM's Commonsense Journal (Sept/Oct 2012 Issue PDF) last week and came across a brilliant article by Dr. Andy Walker.  He is a mentor for young EM physicians and offers these points of advice:

Live beneath your means.  Save 15-20% of income if you are employed. Save 25-30% if you are an independent contractor.  Stay out of debt and pay off debt as quickly as possible. EPs should have at least 6 months of income saved, as ER jobs are inherently unstable.  Money may not buy happiness, but it does buy freedom - and freedom is pretty damn good.  Save your money.

Rent, don't own. There will be surprises and you will be in a stronger position if you can pick up and leave.  Especially, rent for the first year.

Insure wisely.  You absolutely need disability insurance, as you are far more likely to become disabled than to die early. Get "own occupation" disability insurance.  If you do get life insurance, get term insurance.  

Be a faithful and disciplined investor.  Start investing early and time will be on your side. Diversify widely. Educate yourself.  He recommends books by John Bogle, the founder of Vanguard. 

Participate in organized medicine. The biggest enemy of physicians is their own sense of hopelessness. But a difficult fight is not an impossible fight. Join your state medical society. Join AAEM today. 

I'd also like to add a couple of things:

Be happy now. You have arrived.  Stop getting trapped in thinking, "I'll be happier, once I get the BMW, house, etc."

Seek balance. Residency can be extreme and now is the time to focus on your health, family, friends, fun, leisure.

Be Yourself

"Be Yourself," is something frequently said and heard. But to be yourself, you have to know who you are. Take time to reflect on your life and how you came to be where you are right now.

What are your values? What do you want people to say at your funeral? What makes you different?