When Christopher Caudle reached out to me on LinkedIn, he proved my point as to the impact social media has on our careers. without knowing me before-hand, he reached out and asked whether he could ask me a few questions on a topic I was clearly an expert in – marketing your voice online – in order to quote me in articles he was writing for the platform.

But it’s only one anecdote of many.

My online career started years back, when I first stumbled on this space.

I always knew that it connected people – I just didn’t see many professionals – folks like me – dabbling within.

Thankfully, for me, I was momentarily “stepped away” from my position as a professional, spending time home with my son after giving birth.

Because I stretched my leave at the time, I was able to detach myself – again, temporarily – from the restraints of having to uphold an image (of what being a doctor was “supposed to be”). It allowed me the freedom to experiment with a medium that really drew me in, allowing me to so beautifully express myself and the creativity I had suppressed over the years.

Yada yada yada years later, I found myself taking part in projects I never thought I’d be in, leading a large Facebook group made of doctors who wanted to do the same, and finding incredible value, time and time again, of having pushed myself online.

So when Christopher Caudle reached out to me, asking how sharing my ideas, knowledge and perspectives on industry issues on social media made an impact on my career, it gave me the chance to nostalgically think back to some of the earlier days of my postings, and to where I’ve come since.

“Yada yada yada years later, I found myself taking part in projects I never thought I’d be in, leading a large Facebook group made of doctors who wanted to do the same, and finding incredible value, time and time again, of having pushed myself online.”

Sharing my ideas has not only made a huge impact on my career, but it helps me grow into a better, stronger, and more confident person. It allows me to practice skills using parts of my brain that lay dormant for so many years, and in turn, to develop them in a way that makes me better at the old things I did, too.

Not only have I gained valuable experience, as I share what I know, but I’ve been able to help others in ways I wasn’t able to before.

Sharing industry-related insights, articles, or participating in online discussions can demonstrate your passion and dedication to your field. It can show how up-to-date you are with the latest trends and developments, which can be valuable for employers seeking candidates who are knowledgeable and invested in their industry.

Having a well-maintained online presence can additionally make you more discoverable and increases your chances of being considered for job opportunities.

The opportunities that have come about for my having dabbled online, for instance, are simply incredible, to say the least. I’ve been honored to have been invited to serve as speaker and guest faculty in places like Harvard, the UN and PR Week in NYC, and be quoted in media outlets like LA Times, Boston Globe, Huff Post, and Self Magazine. Medscape even named me one of the top 20 physician influencers years back, a title you may or may not even agree with. The point is, these opportunities came, and I took ’em.

Would they have come my way if I hadn’t burst into the online scene years ago, pushing my way past fear? No, they wouldn’t.

So yes, sharing my ideas has had tremendous impact. But not only on my career, but on me.