Stop Coasting: Goal Setting Strategies For Every Physician | Ep 22
What if New Year’s resolutions aren't the answer, but goals rooted in your "why" could transform your year?
In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh shares his shift from post-fellowship coasting to purposeful goal-setting. He explores why resolutions fail (no plan, no why), the fear holding us back, and how to set rooted goals with curiosity, systems, and celebration. Perfect for mid-career physicians feeling stuck, this episode offers tools to enjoy the process, navigate obstacles, and build a life beyond brute force—starting now.
🔗 Design Your Life: A Goal Setting Guide for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/design-your-life
About the Show:
Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager.
Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention
Top 3 Takeaways:
- Tie Goals to Your "Why": Resolutions fade without a clear purpose. Dr. Hersh explains how a single-sentence "why" (e.g., gym for more energy) makes goals stick. Try journaling one goal with its why this week.
- Embrace Discomfort and Obstacles: Half the journey feels tough, but that's growth. Dr. Hersh urges viewing hurdles as guides, not blocks. Practice by naming one uncomfortable step (e.g., boundary-setting) and taking it. "The hard thing is frequently the right thing."
- Celebrate Small Wins: Track your progress. Dr. Hersh keeps a running tab of the progress he is making toward his goals. Start your own list. Note three small moves toward a goal weekly to build momentum and remind yourself of how far you’ve come.
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