In this episode of the Clinician Researcher Podcast, Dr. Onwuemene dives into an insightful conversation on how to maximize the benefits of your career. Building on last week's discussion about what your career can offer—spiritual growth, personal development, social capital, and overall well-being—we now focuses on how to achieve these outcomes.

Key Themes:

1. Your Career as a Vehicle: Think of your career as a vehicle that takes you to various destinations.
2. What Type of Vehicle Are You Driving? Are you on a metaphorical bicycle, motorcycle, or SUV? Understanding the type of "vehicle" you have in your career will help you know what to expect in terms of speed, endurance, and capacity to carry others along the journey.
3. Strategizing for Success: Careers, like vehicles, require maintenance. Are you investing in your career's growth through mentorship, networking, and continuous development?
4. Who Are Your Passengers? Success in your career isn’t a solo journey. Consider the passengers in your vehicle—your collaborators, mentors, students, and supporters. Are they helping you maintain momentum, or are they slowing you down?
5. When to Upgrade: There comes a time when the cost of maintaining your current vehicle (career path) outweighs the benefits. Recognize when it’s time to move on, trade up, or pivot in your career to ensure you're still progressing toward your long-term goals.

Key Takeaways:

• Your career is a vehicle that should take you to multiple destinations—professionally, financially, and personally.
• Assess the current state of your career. Are you driving a "bicycle" or a "luxury car"?
• Be strategic about maintenance. Invest in mentorship and community support to avoid major setbacks.
• Reflect on who’s riding with you in your career journey—mentors, collaborators, and supporters.
• Know when it’s time to upgrade. Don’t stay too long in a career vehicle that’s no longer serving you.

Listener Action Items:

• Take a moment to assess the type of "vehicle" your career is right now.
• Think about the passengers you’re carrying. Are they helping or hindering your progress?
• Consider if it’s time for a "career upgrade" and what that might look like.

Sponsor/Advertising/Monetization Information:

This episode is sponsored by Coag Coach LLC, a leading provider of coaching resources for clinicians transitioning to become research leaders. Coag Coach LLC is committed to supporting clinicians in their scholarship.

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Sign up for a coaching discovery call today: https://www.coagcoach.com/service-page/consultation-call-1