"You are HERE, but you are not PRESENT". These words stopped me in my tracks. I was reflecting on how I managed a full day of cases, clinic patients, and despite a last minute emergency, I made it home by bedtime, read my kids a story, and tucked them in. I thought I had perfectly balanced my work and home life and said as much to my wife as we got ready for bed. Then I heard that phrase...."You are HERE but you are not Present"

She was right. I was not only on a different page, but reading a different book! I didn't take into account that I was on the phone when I walked in the door, got paged during story time, and became transactional with my kids who wouldn't calm down because they were excited to FINALLY see me. For someone who wanted to defy the trend and have a balanced life and be the best father possible, I had slowly fallen off track with the mounting administrative tasks, charting, and non-medical aspects of work. Sound familiar?

Fast forward 1 year. I come home from a 1 week shift to my excited kids and spend the quality time with them that they ACTUALLY want.

-Getting my kids ready for school, taking them to AND picking them up from school

-Playing tag, hide and go seek, and putting together puzzles.

-Taking the kids to the park

-Drawing with my daughter

-Being present for my daughter's violin lessons

-Playing videogames with my son

-Reading bedtime stories and putting them to bed.

We also took 5 weeks of vacation and I was home for the entirety of my kid's winter break.

When I leave to work a shift, I'm excited to go to work. My daily experience is drastically different

-I'm compensated for my time. If I stay late, I get paid more. No more sacrificing sleep and energy without appropriate compensation

-I spend more time with patients because I don't have to rush between procedures and clinic and then scramble to get home. Patients love it.

-Administration is helpful and happy that I am present to fulfill a need for their system.

After my shift is finished, I get to pursue my hobbies (hiking, reading, Xbox) and my business (scaled from 0-4 short term rentals

-I've hiked through the Colorado national monument

-Visited Cumberland Falls and seen a Moonbow

-Eaten lunch next to a lake in the Ruby Mountains

-Attended minor league baseball games

-Gone to the movies by myself

The benefits keep on revealing themselves. I just talked with my CPA and found out that ALL of my 1099 income from the last year is tax free! I took a big scary leap from a stable W-2 job and investing in index funds to 100% autonomy with a 1099 locums company and started my own business in buying real estate. The uncertainty can be paralyzing at times. I got through this with the help of mentors and colleagues as guides. I want to offer that same help to you so that you can experience the lifechanging freedom that comes with working half time!