Advisors and Your Achievements

The Moulton Barn and Teton Range - 2007

Grand Teton National Park, WY

The Role and Value of Advisors

When physicians think about their personal and professional successes, it is natural to think that they are largely the result of their own effort. Upon further reflection, they usually recognize how they also benefited from those who cared about them and provided wisdom and guidance.

Personal guides that probably influenced your life are personified by parents, family, friends, teachers, consultants, coaches, professors and mentors.

My Giants and Gratitude

I have benefitted immensely from all of the above, recognized early on their enormous value and thanked them accordingly. As time progressed, I felt gratitude even more deeply for those who cared and cheered me on to various successes.

At some point in time, your formal training came to an end.  Yet the pursuit of excellence requires that your personal and professional development continue throughout life. 

Your Ongoing Development

Your deliberate effort toward a particular goal should also have as its purpose the fulfillment of your potential. That purpose is more assuredly achieved by continuing to learn from your experience as well as from others.

From the beginning to the end of your career, you will benefit from the counsel of individuals who can assist you to overcome the myriad of challenges you will surely face. These are persons with whom you have developed mutual respect and appreciation. You may have served them by providing advice and counsel on their unique challenges. Collectively they comprise a type of advisory board that I refer to as your Personal Board of Directors.

Who Are the Members of Your Board?

Your informal Board of Directors is comprised of individuals from varied walks of life. They may be professionals whom you compensate such an attorney, accountant, financial planner, consultant/coach, etc. They may be spiritual advisors such as a priest, pastor, rabbi or professional colleagues.

Closer to home and family, it is often that your spouse is an invaluable resource. At some point in time, your son or daughter will have grown and developed into a mature adult whose counsel you value and seek.

They have in common a particular quality: they’re prepared to advise you in a manner that is in your best interest.

They also have in common their confidence in you to be respectful and appreciative of their well-intended advice…and that it will not affect your relationship. 

They also know that they can depend on you to serve them when needed, as you are uniquely able.

There are a number of qualities that your Board members should have in order to best serve your needs. These are examples:

• Character
• Virtue
• Judgement 
• Intelligence
• Insight
• Experience
• Loyalty
• Discretion
• Courage

Your Board and the Light That Illuminates Your Path

There are times when you may be inclined to feel very alone in a moment of darkness; that you are the only person capable of shedding light on a problem. Sometimes that is true and it is necessary for you to summon the qualities you uniquely possess to resolve the issue. However, there are times when the outcome is better when you exercise the insight and courage to ask for advice from those you respect and value. Beyond the bumps on your life’s path, there is a particular time when your Board can be very helpful.

The approaching transition from your career is such a time. Your will likely feel joy of anticipation for what lies ahead. Yet, sometimes that is accompanied by worry and stress about the unknown and lack of preparation. It is at that time that reaching for guidance can illuminate your path. 

This is an important time when your Personal Board of Directors can have a very special role. Tell them you value them and need their knowledge, wisdom and goodwill. This is an elegant reminder that you value them and your relationship.

Perhaps you are at an early stage of your career or the idea of a personal board is new to you. If that is the case, I encourage you to consider creating your Personal Board of Directors. Begin by identifying those individuals who exemplify the qualities you consider essential. You may know someone who has already emerged that you may wish to invite to be a member of your Board. To do so is an expression of recognition and gratitude that will probably serve you well for years to come.

Date Updated: December 1, 2023

PS: Would you like to learn more about how to transition from your practice? I would like to help you. I provide practice transaction services that are tailored to your specific needs. Click here to request an introductory conversation.

The Grand Prismatic Spring - 2009

Yellowstone National Park, WY