I’ve been very busy behind the scenes working on my next project for the blog and deciding how to share it. What I love about having this blog is that it gives me the opportunity to take the search for my next career more lightly. Regardless of the outcome, it always results in more blogging material, which is a win for me either way. Because of this low-pressure approach, it reminds me that I don’t have to make a serious commitment until I’m sure. Every move I make is just a part of an experiment, a game. There is a...
If you are seriously thinking about making the move out of dentistry, don’t miss this next post. In the past I’ve shared some tips about how to break free emotionally, and today Rick from Rick’s Rome is back to share some great practical tips about how to get the process started. I know many of you loved reading his inspirational journey to find happiness, so here’s part 2 of his guest post on life after dentistry! ****** What about some practical advice for people looking to change? Well, every situation is different but there are a few things that you...
We’ve all heard that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life, right? How do you turn the things you love into a career? I mean, I love food. I love eating. I love being healthy. I love sharing all of that with others. But how do you turn that into work? While I had a few ideas, I never knew how I could realistically do that. Starting the weight loss business allowed me to have a seamless transition out of patient care into a similar patient interaction in a different field. I knew,...
I’ve often used the analogy that my career in dentistry was like being in a relationship. At times you could say it was slightly abusive, and at times it was very supportive and loving. Whether those descriptions are a bit dramatic or not, one thing is true: we had a very strong bond. Dentistry was a huge part of me and it was hard to let go, even if I really wanted out. As I journey through this career change, that relationship analogy journeys on with me. I was married to dentistry. You could say it was my first long-term...
In the past year, I’ve heard from many readers that share my sentiments about practicing dentistry and wanting to change. There was one element that I hadn’t really thought about sharing until someone brought it to my attention. A while back, I received an email from a man whose wife followed my blog because she, too, was unhappy in dentistry. He mentioned that as the spouse, he occasionally stopped in to read it looking for some insight and advice. There’s a fine balance of how you can lend support but maintain certain boundaries, and be firm yet gentle about what you...
Changing my career was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. You might be surprised to hear that leaving Dentistry was much harder than getting into it. The process of entering the field took work and determination, but it went with the flow. It was what I was supposed to do. I felt proud and hopeful. However, leaving it was rebellious, and I was going against the flow. I felt ashamed and afraid. Because of the fear and the challenges involved, I made many excuses that I thought were valid. And dammit, they were important! But those...
Has it started already? Are you dreading going to work tomorrow? Do you feel stuck, and you can’t seem to figure out a way out of your job? I have the answer for you. Okay, so maybe it’s not the answer, but it could be an answer. And if it’s not even that, it could lead to an answer. Enter this travel contest. It’s Mydestination.com‘s Biggest Baddest Bucket List Competition. The prize is an all-expense paid trip around the world for 6 months plus a $50,000 cash prize when you get home. Sure, it’s not for everyone. If you own...
For years I ignored the fact that I was unhappy practicing dentistry. A few times in my decade of practice, I seriously considered getting out. But each time, I convinced myself to stay. My biggest excuse was the economy. As luck would have it, right when I concluded I wanted to change, things started to tank. People were out of jobs, and I told myself I should have felt lucky to at least have one. While that excuse was very real, it was just that– an excuse. I don’t regret it because it forced me to stay in the career...
I am proud to welcome my first guest blogger to Lolabees. I asked Amber to write a post I have been dying to have here for the past year. Her courage and insight to leave a high-powered career and follow her dreams caught my attention. And not only did she leave a career she had invested so much in, but she and her husband dropped everything to go on their 2nd Around The World Trip. That is something I wish I had the courage to do! And they’ve got big future plans that don’t involve any more time in the...
Have you ever had that dream where you see a plane crash? Or you’re sitting on a toilet peeing, only to wake in a panic, hoping you didn’t wet your bed? If so, don’t freak out! It doesn’t mean you need to cancel your trip to Mexico next month or that you need to start wearing Depends to bed. Believe it or not, dreams might be your body’s way of trying to get your attention. Throughout my career transition, I learned to use my dreams as tools, and it became extremely effective (and fascinating, I might add.) This was my...
