Gibbon Falls – 2021

Yellowstone National Park, WY

 Your Path to Renewal, Growth, and Fulfillment After Your Career

One morning, as you sip your coffee, you take a moment to enjoy the tranquility. You feel a sense of satisfaction. But then, an unexpected thought enters your mind—your transition away from your career and the life that awaits beyond it. A smile forms as you imagine the possibilities; yet there’s also a flicker of uncertainty.

Mixed emotions—excitement and apprehension—surface, much like the sweetener dissolving in your cup.

You wonder if others feel the same way, how successful professionals navigate this shift, and when you should begin addressing these evolving thoughts.

One thing is clear: planning is essential.

From Success to Uncertainty: A Professional’s Journey

Meet Alex, a fictional character who embodies the experiences of accomplished professionals, whether physicians, executives, business leaders, or entrepreneurs.

Alex finds himself at a pivotal stage...

Upper Yosemite Falls – 2017

Yosemite National Park, CA

Your Career Transition is a Defining Process

Your career transition is one of the most defining experiences of your professional and personal life. While it marks the close of a distinguished career, it also signifies a new beginning—one that requires thoughtful planning and execution. Whether anticipated with excitement or uncertainty, the path forward is best approached with strategic preparation and clarity of purpose.

Understanding the Transition Process 

High-performing professionals—whether physicians, business owners, executives, or entrepreneurs—are accustomed to making complex decisions. However, transitioning from a long-standing career presents unique challenges that extend beyond daily business operations. This is a process, not an event, requiring careful attention to personal, financial, and professional transformation. The key to a smooth transition lies in having a structured methodology to guide your decision-...

 “Steadfast with Purpose” – 2010 

Courthouse Butte

Sedona, AZ

How Conviction and Clarity Sustain Your Purpose

It's common in our culture for individuals to define themselves by what they do—their title, profession, or vocation. This is often evident in social settings when someone asks: “What do you do for a living?” or “What kind of work do you do?” Rarely does someone ask: “Tell me about yourself?”

Why is this the case? The reasons are both cultural and personal.

Culturally, we are conditioned from an early age to associate identity with occupation. Consider how children are frequently asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” rather than, “What kind of person do you want to become?” Over time, this emphasis on “what” rather than “who” can obscure our deeper sense of self.

Yet, clarity of identity is not about titles or roles. You are not merely a “human doing,” but rather a human being, shaped by core principles and values. 

Life’s Exclamation Points 

We commonly li...

The Teton Range – 2010

Grand Teton National Park, WY

 Sometimes the Obstacles Are Not Financial

Professionals as well as business leaders commonly spend their careers mastering their craft, making critical decisions, and leading their enterprises successfully. Yet, when it comes to stepping away from their daily role, they may find themselves at an unfamiliar impasse. The concept of "retirement" seems foreign—an ending rather than a transition. The latter is a more accurate term that describes what it is: a process that has the explicit purpose of you experiencing fulfillment in the next great phase of your life.

While some embrace this change with eagerness, others find themselves hesitant, burdened by lingering impediments. These varied obstacles may be professional, psychological, financial, business-related as well as others. They can stall even the most well-planned transitions. By recognizing and addressing these challenges, you can move beyond reluctance and embrace your ant...

Evergreen Guardians of Renewal – 2010

Grand Teton National Park, WY

Planning Strategically to Transition from Practice 

As you embark on your transition from practice, success requires clear vision of the outcome, meticulous planning and precise execution. As you begin to contemplate the transition from your cherished practice, it’s imperative to set the stage for an effective process that secures your legacy and financial future.

Personal and Professional Readiness

The initial phase of your transition is introspective. It involves aligning your personal aspirations with your financial readiness. Crafting a comprehensive lifestyle and financial plan is essential to determine if your assets can provide for your envisioned future lifestyle. This is essential in order to proceed with confidence. In the absence of such clarity, you’re likely to experience delays and obstacles that result from the lack of planning and uncertainty.

Once completed, it's prudent to undertake a thorough, ...

Toward the Light – 2023

Nevada

Navigating Your Career Transition

As a plastic surgeon, you've dedicated your life to the art and science of transformation. But as the sun begins to set on your career, you're faced with a transformation of a different kind – your own. Transitioning from your career is not merely about stepping away from practice successfully; it's also about ensuring the legacy you've built can continue to thrive, even in your absence. This transition involves addressing numerous matters that require thoughtful, timely planning in order to experience a smooth and successful outcome.

Unfamiliar Realities

As you approach your career transition, you're confronted with unfamiliar realities. The process of transitioning from your practice is complex and multifaceted. It encompasses not only the financial and operational analysis but also the emotional and psychological preparation for handing over your life's work.

Two major realities demand your attention as you chart...

Sierra Nevada – 2023

Nevada

Crafting a Meaningful Legacy

Embarking on the journey of transition from your career as a plastic surgeon, is akin to sculpting a masterpiece. It requires pre-visualization, meticulous planning and effective execution. As plastic surgeons, our careers are marked by precision and transformation, and it's only fitting that we approach the transition from our professional lives with the same level of care and attention to detail.

The Surgeon's Blueprint for Transition

Your path to career transition is a significant life milestone, demanding thoughtful preparation well in advance. The complexity of this endeavor is not to be underestimated, and it calls for a dedicated, methodical approach. You may find yourself pondering:

• When do I initiate this process?
• Which steps are critical to my transition?
• In what sequence should these steps be undertaken?

From my own experience, I can assure you that the most remarkable achievements are born from thorough s...

Evergreens Amidst Renewal - 2010

Sierra Nevada, NV

 Embracing Change: A Personal and Professional Renewal

As a seasoned physician, the prospect of transitioning away from a life's work can be a complex and multifaceted journey. It requires a meticulous blend of personal readiness, professional realignment, and practice preparation. In this article, we delve into the nuances of preparing for this significant life event, ensuring that you, as a an accomplished member of the medical profession, are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary for a smooth and rewarding transition.

The transition from a thriving career to the next chapter of your life is not merely a change; it is a metamorphosis that requires introspection and strategic planning. The initial phase of this journey is deeply personal. It is the bedrock upon which you will design your framework as it relates to you professionally and your practice.

This transformative process is a testament to your life's work and an...

Epic – 2022

Virginia Range, NV

How My Life Changed and I Succeeded

I was 59 years old and thought I had many more years of Plastic Surgery practice ahead of me. I purchased the standalone office building of my dreams and undertook a major renovation, including a surgical facility. 

I knew I needed to plan for my succession soon, including recruiting. This was the plan, although my own end of career seemed distant…or so I thought.

I resolved to do so soon, but never got the chance. Some months after the grand opening of my office and I was settled in, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. It was a big surprise as I had been diligent about physical exams, screenings and my health in general. That and other medical problems ended my plastic surgery career.

I am well, thankful and happy that for a number of years I have been cured of colon cancer. My days of practicing medicine are over, but I dedicated my life to making sure that physicians, who spend their lives taking care of others,...

Snow-clad Chokecherry – 2013

Grand Teton National Park, WY

Opportunities for Optimization 

The preparation of your practice for a sale, whether by succession or to a private equity firm, involves a variety of major items to think about. In the early stages of considering such a move, your degree of readiness may vary. Besides the desirability of having your practice functioning optimally in the present, it’s also necessary to prepare it for a buyer.

How to Prepare and in What Order

Generally, there are three major preparations needed to make your practice ready to offer it for succession or a sale:

• Optimize its performance. 
• Maximize profitability and thereby its value.
• Prepare it to introduce a new physician.

Your attention to these goals is a sensible, sequential and practical approach that will improve the present condition and profitability of your practice. By doing so, you’ll increase the probability of achieving your goals.

Generally, it’s critical to consider not ...