> Before you take a job, carefully list what things others are going to need to do or to deliver in order for you to successfully achieve what you hope to do. Ask yourself: “What are the assumptions that have to prove true in order for me to be able to succeed in this assignment?” List them. Are they within your control? --- I utilized this method to aid my thinking, whether being a neurosurgeon is the way forward for me. Table 1. 2021-03-07 | Assumption | Are you in control about this? | | ---------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | I'm going to have a decent income | Yes, but currently, not enough. It will take another decade, but the trajectory is positive though. | | I will be able to satisfy my intellectual curiosity | So far, yes. I lean towards working with my hands, but currently, most of my work is either administrative or related to internal medicine. | | I will help people | Yes, but there are limitations to the system. I need to be able to make peace with these, for now. Yet I want to pursue deeper and stronger connection with systematic changes. | | I will secure a lifetime career to pursue | Yes, so far. Yet I'm in trouble for securing the next step of education. | | I will be able to provide for my family | So far, yes. But perhaps, limited to only a few. I can't save for both my future family and my parents. | | I will be able to have an ample time to care for my family | This, I don't have any control over for now. Neurosurgery will be a long way gone from this ideal family situation. Talking about 10 years, I can achieve this. |