Ten Laws to help you thrive as an Entrepreneurial Physician

Just as there were Ten Commandments for Good Living reputedly delivered by Moses to his people, there are Ten Laws for Success that are instrumental in helping you flourish in your personal and professional lives.

If you watch closely, you can see accomplished people exercising these laws everyday. In fact, one way to be successful is to do just that: find someone you admire, watch carefully, observe what works, and then try it as well.

Here what you may detect as you observe them ---

1. The Law of Clarity

It’s important to be clear about what you are aiming for, so you will be clear on knowing when you have hit the target.

If you say you want to make more money, that’s not clear enough. I could give you a dollar and you’d have more money. But I don’t think that’s what you meant.

Get increasing clarity by answering questions such as these.

• How much more do you want?
• By when do you want it?
• What are you willing to do to obtain it? 
• What could you do to experience the most enjoyment while you are striving for it? 

2. The Law of Small Successes

Many people never even get started on the road to accomplishing their goals or dreams because they have convinced themselves that the task is too big. This myth stops many people.

Even the most gargantuan tasks are undertaken one action at a time: One action at a time.

Simply break your large task into smaller, more manageable tasks that can be completed in a defined period of time. If you want to write a book, put “write a book” on your BIG goals list. Then hide that list! I mean it – put it away.

Instead, create your small task list e.g. “do research one hour a day for the next two weeks, develop chapter outline” (2 hours), write first five pages (one hour), write for one hour a day five days a week etc. Visit and update this list frequently.

It seems so obvious and it is surprising how few people actually take this step - over and over again. 

3. The Law of Momentum

Once you have checked off a long list of small tasks, a powerful momentum has been set in motion. You start to experience the satisfaction of feeling productive, and to believe you can reach your goal. Tasks that once seemed difficult or even impossible become simply challenges you’re eager to take on.

4. The Law of Hunger

In the words of motivational speaker Les Brown, in order to thrive, “you have to be huuuuuuuuungrrry!” You have to want it so bad that you can taste it. You have to desire it so much so that you are willing to pay a price to get it. Or at least make palatable trade-offs.

5. The Law of Habit

All of us can benefit from developing helpful habits to support our desires and goals every day. Don’t tell me it can’t be done. After all, you have succeeded in developing unhelpful habits!

Developing new habits involves changing your mindset before you can change your actions and behaviors.

There is probably no such thing as being completely ready to start - kind of like the time being absolutely right to have a child! If the thought of starting your own business, or expanding your practice into new areas generates a nervous excitement, despite some hesitation, and you sense that to go back to your old existence is becoming intolerable, you are ready enough! Now all that is needed is some preparation.

6. The Law of Focus

It’s our responsibility, each and every day, to control our focus. If we focus on all the things that could go wrong and how we might not be successful, we will be pulled in that direction. If we focus on opportunity and all the many ways in which we can be successful, our attention, both consciously and unconsciously, will point in that direction. You control your focus. And what you focus on is what takes place. It can be that simple.

7. The Law of Experience

Success comes from good judgment; good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment. You CAN learn from your “oopses” and failures. So much so, that the more swings you have at the ball, the more experience you get, the more successful you can be.

8. The Law of the Trail

Success always leaves a trail. While there is value in blazing our own trail, there is also value in investigating how others have become successful. This leads us to.....

9. The Law of Modeling

To be successful, you do not have to reinvent the wheel. This is so powerful and yet so easy it’s amazing to me that more people don’t do it. Simply find someone who is doing, or has done, what you want to do, and find out how they did it. What did they do on a daily basis to get where they are? What did they have to believe, what did they have to focus on? Most people are so honored by the question that they will be glad to talk with you. Most people like to feel like they have experience and wisdom to pass on to others.

10. The Law of Enjoyment

So many people miss out on this one. They are so busy making sure they are successful that they forget to pause and revel in the sensation and experience of getting what you desired. And remember, no one who is a success in their chosen profession and a failure in their personal life feels successful.

There are two things to shoot for: 1) to get what you are aiming for, and 2) to enjoy it once you get it.

Only the wisest and most fortunate of us do both.