I just spoke with a physician who commented that had he stayed with his corporate job, he would probably be retired and have several million in his retirement account. When asked why he left, he commented that it is about looking back at the end of life and knowing that what you did was worthwhile.
Not that shaving a nickel from the price of a widget isnt a noble goal, but for this physician, the search for meaning and purpose motivated him to attend med school and become the one of the leading physicians in the area. When I expressed that I shared similar concerns, he replied that we had added a valuable service to patients. He commented that had we not helped him out, he would have left the state and relocated his practice to one of those “golden opportunities.
We don’t get to hear those honest assessments too often, so it is rewarding when we do.