These episodes are my personal exploration into podcasting and the practice of medicine using my chosen specialty of urology as the pivot point. 

Most of the episodes that I write and record begin with a single idea, thought, topic, or quote. This episode is no exception, and begins with a book I read recently about James J Hill, one of the most successful railroad magnates of the gilded age in the late 19th century.

I recently read a book called James J. Hill: Empire Builder of the Northwest by Michael P. Malone and I read it as part of a book club assignment that, along with Wikipedia and other online resources, is the inspiration nad source material for this episode. 

James J Hill was an extremely wealthy man at the time of his death.

At the end of his life, Hill was asked by a newspaper reporter to reveal the secret of his success. 

Hill responded : "Work, hard work, intelligent work, and then more work.”

James J Hill worked. And worked. And worked. He once is to have said, “Give me Swedes, snuff and whiskey, and I'll build a railroad through hell.”

Work, hard work, intelligent work, and more work. Such was the life of James J Hill.

What fascinates me, what I would love to pick James J Hill’s brain about, is this idea of intelligent work. 

What did he mean when he said that? What for James J Hill would constitute intelligent work. 

What I am thinking about today in this short episode is the addition of more intelligent work along with work, hard and more work as the key to success as I move forward in my career.  What is that? What does it look like? How do I get it?