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- Aug 5, 2007
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As many of you have come to realize, I generally don't waste my precious free time with this forum anymore. Past transgressions aside, I just have more valuable and important things to do in my life in the real world. That said, I felt compelled to share this story with you.
Since I was a fairly active, regularly-posting, and often brusque poster on this forum who was essentially "forced into exile", I have made partner in my firm. I am board-certified and actively practicing. I have achieved the "good life", so to speak. So, I share this story with you up-and-coming young bucks (and buckettes) to underscore the importance of your track record. You have started developing this, tending to it and pruning it like a rare orchid, and realize that you are now creating an image that will follow you long after you finish residency.
Me? I was (and am) an outspoken and occasionally controversial figure even in the real world. What I have, though, is a solid track record of providing expert care in a variety of difficult situations. Even now, I am seen as the "go to" guy that can get the job done in a tough case. As such, my blessing (or maybe it's a curse) is that I'm given the challenging cases that others may not be able to handle as deftly. My reputation is being somewhat tough and brutally honest, but I am respected for that.
So, what's my tale?
I want to tell you a story about a co-resident in my class. Let's call him "Roger".
Roger, much like myself, was an outspoken guy during residency. He tended to speak his mind but often didn't know when to back down, especially when he was right but even when he was wrong. Unlike myself, he didn't appreciate or have the knack to know when he was cornered and found himself in a "no-win" situation. Likewise, he often skipped meetings and didn't necessarily take the educational part of our residency program seriously. He was unwilling to take direction, and often left the impression that he only wanted to march to the beat of his own drum instead of being a team player. He fought openly with certain attendings instead of learning how to effectively manage his way around them. He frequently insulted people openly in a sarcastic and mocking way... other residents, attending anesthesiologists, and even some surgeons. He had a lot of personality conflicts with people he didn't like, and made no bones about it.
Now, Roger was a "good" resident technically. Not great. Certainly not as good as he thought he was. But, this arrogance was palpable and real and ever-present in the way he interacted with everyone. Very funny guy, though, provided you weren't the target of his acerbic tongue. Roger always knew better, though, than to direct his ire at me.
Why is Roger's story important? A few months ago I got a call from another colleague from residency who is practicing in another state. He relayed to me that he'd previously spoken to Roger, who was actively looking for another job. What was most ironic about his call is that Roger had frequently made fun of this colleague, and they'd even had a run-in that resulted in a sit-down in the Program Director's office.
Turns out that Roger had not done quite so well in his first gig in private practice, in spite of jumping through the board-certification hoops without a hitch. Seems that much of the crap that he pulled as a resident had apparently segued nicely into his junior attending job. As such, he was being passed-up for partnership. At least, this is what I surmise (recognizing that he simply may have fell victim to what a lot of junior attendings in their first job befall, namely being worked to death without the real promise of ever becoming partner).
The reasons for his change in practice situation are, although, somewhat beside the point.
Needless to say, this colleague of mine was in no position to offer him the opportunity to pursue employment in his firm. His reputation had preceded him. So, it was no small irony that about two weeks later my office also got a call from Roger (I wasn't available to talk when he called). Do you think I returned that call?
This was a few months ago. I spoke to my residency colleague over the weekend. As of July 7th, Roger has been out of work and still looking for a job.
It's one thing to be a loud a-hole sometimes. It's another to be one ALL the time. And, fact is, you will probably rely on your connections and the people you've met and interacted with during your career in the future. You may depend on these people to gain future employment even.
Guard your reputation carefully. If you are great at what you do and are dependable, you will probably be able to get away with more "bad attitude" than others. Still, if you garner and foster the reputation of being the "angry clown", you will reap what you sew.
Don't be Roger.
-copro
Since I was a fairly active, regularly-posting, and often brusque poster on this forum who was essentially "forced into exile", I have made partner in my firm. I am board-certified and actively practicing. I have achieved the "good life", so to speak. So, I share this story with you up-and-coming young bucks (and buckettes) to underscore the importance of your track record. You have started developing this, tending to it and pruning it like a rare orchid, and realize that you are now creating an image that will follow you long after you finish residency.
Me? I was (and am) an outspoken and occasionally controversial figure even in the real world. What I have, though, is a solid track record of providing expert care in a variety of difficult situations. Even now, I am seen as the "go to" guy that can get the job done in a tough case. As such, my blessing (or maybe it's a curse) is that I'm given the challenging cases that others may not be able to handle as deftly. My reputation is being somewhat tough and brutally honest, but I am respected for that.
So, what's my tale?
I want to tell you a story about a co-resident in my class. Let's call him "Roger".
Roger, much like myself, was an outspoken guy during residency. He tended to speak his mind but often didn't know when to back down, especially when he was right but even when he was wrong. Unlike myself, he didn't appreciate or have the knack to know when he was cornered and found himself in a "no-win" situation. Likewise, he often skipped meetings and didn't necessarily take the educational part of our residency program seriously. He was unwilling to take direction, and often left the impression that he only wanted to march to the beat of his own drum instead of being a team player. He fought openly with certain attendings instead of learning how to effectively manage his way around them. He frequently insulted people openly in a sarcastic and mocking way... other residents, attending anesthesiologists, and even some surgeons. He had a lot of personality conflicts with people he didn't like, and made no bones about it.
Now, Roger was a "good" resident technically. Not great. Certainly not as good as he thought he was. But, this arrogance was palpable and real and ever-present in the way he interacted with everyone. Very funny guy, though, provided you weren't the target of his acerbic tongue. Roger always knew better, though, than to direct his ire at me.
Why is Roger's story important? A few months ago I got a call from another colleague from residency who is practicing in another state. He relayed to me that he'd previously spoken to Roger, who was actively looking for another job. What was most ironic about his call is that Roger had frequently made fun of this colleague, and they'd even had a run-in that resulted in a sit-down in the Program Director's office.
Turns out that Roger had not done quite so well in his first gig in private practice, in spite of jumping through the board-certification hoops without a hitch. Seems that much of the crap that he pulled as a resident had apparently segued nicely into his junior attending job. As such, he was being passed-up for partnership. At least, this is what I surmise (recognizing that he simply may have fell victim to what a lot of junior attendings in their first job befall, namely being worked to death without the real promise of ever becoming partner).
The reasons for his change in practice situation are, although, somewhat beside the point.
Needless to say, this colleague of mine was in no position to offer him the opportunity to pursue employment in his firm. His reputation had preceded him. So, it was no small irony that about two weeks later my office also got a call from Roger (I wasn't available to talk when he called). Do you think I returned that call?
This was a few months ago. I spoke to my residency colleague over the weekend. As of July 7th, Roger has been out of work and still looking for a job.
It's one thing to be a loud a-hole sometimes. It's another to be one ALL the time. And, fact is, you will probably rely on your connections and the people you've met and interacted with during your career in the future. You may depend on these people to gain future employment even.
Guard your reputation carefully. If you are great at what you do and are dependable, you will probably be able to get away with more "bad attitude" than others. Still, if you garner and foster the reputation of being the "angry clown", you will reap what you sew.
Don't be Roger.
-copro
