I am not a doctor.
I am not a nurse or a PA or an NP.
Not a social worker.
I have not worked in a hospital.
Not in a private practice.
I have not worked in a pharmacy.
I didn’t go to medical school or even think about it.
I have no background in insurance.
I have no background in state medical programs.
Not done anything in national policy.
I have never worked for a pharmaceutical company.
I have not worked as a healthcare consultant.
I do not have an MPH or an MHA.
I have never worked for an agency that works on behalf of a hospital.
7 years ago I tripped into a medical device company after getting my MBA.
After another few years, I really started to dig in.
To understand our healthcare system.
To meet people, learn from them.
Read, watch, listen.
Absorb as much as possible to gain some faint grasp on the functions and dysfunctions of our healthcare system.
“After another few years, I really started to dig in. To understand our healthcare system. To meet people, learn from them.”
Eventually I started speaking.
Talking about what I knew.
Or thought I knew.
Today I keep learning new things.
Finding new rabbit holes.
Realizing how immature my knowledge is.
And how much further I can take it.
I always approach writing or talking about healthcare as a learning experience.
I learn something every time I engage.
Every time I have a discussion.
From doctors.
Nurses.
Patients.
Insiders with 30 years of experience.
“I always approach writing or talking about healthcare as a learning experience. I learn something every time I engage. Every time I have a discussion. From doctors. Nurses. Patients. Insiders w/30 years of experience.”
It is a little scary everyday, because I still very much think of myself as an outsider.
Looking in and trying to find my place in the world of healthcare.
Today I keep learning new things. Finding new rabbit holes. Realizing how immature my knowledge is.
I do know, that I have learned more from action, from writing my thoughts, being open to feedback, engaging in discussions, seeing first hand, then had I just sat back to accept my outsider status.
If you have zero healthcare experience or if you have been a doctor for 30 years and want to explore a different path, entrepreneurship for example, here are 6 things that will allow you to shed your “outsider” mindset and become an expert in no time (well, less time)
- Take action
- Learn from others
- Macro patience, micro speed
- Come from a place of humility
- Be insanely curious and open minded
- Don’t be afraid to be thought foolish and ignorant
For some bonus context, if you spent 1 hour a day immersing yourself in something new, in 5 years, you will be an expert.
The key is action.
It always comes first.
