No one tells you because no one wants you to know
When I first finished medical school and residency training I thought I was done. I thought I just needed to find a job and plug away for 40 years until retirement. I watched other peers and clueless classmates do the same thing I was doing.
I was also saddled with over $200,000 in medical school loans with no real plan on how to pay them off. Physicians are notorious for being bad with money. …
I’ll give you a hint… look at the image below.
Hmmm….what could this habit be? It’s not goat yoga, making coffee at home to save a few bucks, watching Saved By The Bell reruns, or waking up at 4 am everyday to be super productive.
It’s READING.
Life consists in what a man is thinking of all day.
I have always loved books, but was always bad about finishing the books I would start. Then at age 31, I magically started to read some of the books collecting dust on my bookshelf. Then it was the snowball…
No one should take themselves too seriously
We all hear from self-help gurus and celebrities about how important it is to create a legacy. As far as I know, no one has come back from the dead to evaluate their legacy and pat themselves on the back for a job well done. Life is short, even if you make it to 100. There are reasons not to worry about creating a legacy and what to focus on instead.
Legacy Destroys Ambition
Legacy destroys ambition for family members who come after the creator. There is a proverbial saying, “shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations.” …
It’s time to rethink the “American Dream.”
It’s pounded into our heads from birth: we should aspire toward owning a home. We’re told that renting is a waste of money, that we’re paying your landlord’s mortgage and not building any equity for ourselves. Or that owning a home is a rite of passage. It’s a way to show the world you’re an adult. It’s the “American Dream.”
It’s time to rethink the rent vs. buy dilemma. Renting vs. buying is comparing apples to oranges. I have owned, and I have rented. I am currently renting and prefer it for a few reasons.
Freedom
When you rent, you have…
No need to add a new side hustle or work longer hours
When you picture yourself making more money, a few different images may come to mind. You might see yourself grinding away at a new side hustle. You might picture yourself working longer hours at your job. You might even see yourself starting a new business. Although there is nothing wrong with any of these options, there’s a better way.
Ask for it
The easiest way to make more money is to ask for it. In other words, negotiation is the quickest and most effective way to make more money. You can ask for more money when you get an offer for a new…
Try one or all of these and see what happens
We all make decisions every single day….
Should I sleep in or wake up early and go for a run?
Should I binge on Netflix or read a book?
Should I start a business or stay in a dead-end job that I hate?
Should I cook or order a pizza?
We all instinctively know which decision we should make. Sometimes we make the right choice and sometimes we make the wrong one. Some choices are trivial and don’t matter in the grand scheme of life like….ordering Indian food vs Greek food for dinner.
Some decisions are huge and can alter…
One hour is all you need
There are so many unrealistic morning routines out there. I’ve tried them all. Some work, some don’t, and some you’ll do for a day or two before giving up. After years of experimenting, I have found that doing three things every morning has improved my life both personally and professionally.
Go for a walk (20 minutes)
I start my mornings by walking for 20 minutes. Suppose you walk 3.0 mph on a treadmill that equals 1 mile in 20 minutes. I prefer walking outside, but do whatever works for you. Walking a mile in the morning helps set the tone for the day. …
A Poem
I was decluttering and going through an old stack of papers. I found a poem I wrote when I was 18. Wow how time flies. Enjoy.
Introspection
I look in the mirror and don’t know who I see.
I see a scared boy who fears uncertainty which the future brings.
I see a person who is beautiful and horrific at the same time.
The complexity that seeps through me multiplies with every breath I take.
I wish for peace of mind, but one’s wish isn’t always granted.
I don’t know what’s real and what’s fabricated.
I simply want the…
It’s not as hard as you think
I have always loved books going back to childhood. I would read anything by Dr. Seuss to the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary. I loved the way books smelled as a kid when you were in the public library. I love how the cover of a book can hook you as you walk by and make you turn back to pick it up.
Fast forward to college and I started buying books on a regular basis. I would make my bookshelf look pretty and make myself “look” very cultured. I felt like a…
“It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”-Ferris Bueller
After finishing 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, and 3 years of residency training…it was official. I was an MD. An attending physician. I have arrived.
With over $200,000 in medical school debt to my name, a credit score in the high 500s due to defaulting on a student loan, and living like a hobo for several years in a cramped 1 bedroom apartment, I was ready to splurge. It was July 2011 and I was about to start my first…
Raza Hussain, MD
Addiction Medicine Physician. Author. Featured in Shape Magazine. Currently in Nashville, TN. razahussainmd.com
