23 Lessons from 23 Years as a Cardiac Surgeon

Disclaimer: Not Medical Advice. Opinions are my own.

In partnership with Momentous

23 years of actively practicing as a Cardiac Surgeon has been a continual education and growth journey. The entire landscape of medicine has evolved since I started; as a result, I have learned many new techniques. Today’s newsletter is focused on the life lessons that have impacted me most. Hopefully, you can find value from these lessons so only one of us has to go through the fire!

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Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”​- Calvin Coolidge

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1. No one escapes death

Fame, riches, job position, your bank account, nothing will save you from the inevitable: death. The truth is - the moment we are born we are dying. There’s no denying that I have had a dramatic impact in saving people and prolonging their lives. This is incredibly gratifying, but over the years my perspective has changed. You have to get comfortable with death. When it’s time, it’s someone’s time. This is simply the human experience.

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2. True value is neither easy nor fast

Get rich quick schemes. Gimmicky fitness plans and diets. Magic pills. They all sound great. We all want to believe them. In reality, they are all selling an outcome that takes time and effort. You wouldn’t be interested in wealth and six-pack abs if they were as easy as snapping your finger. Take pride in chasing true value, others will recognize your efforts. Your actions define your character.

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3. The only constant in life is change

We all are guilty of getting stuck in a routine. Why? Because it’s comfortable. The problem is comfortability usually leads to complacency. Complacency is dangerous. Consequently, the things we are excited about achieving never get any closer. So we must make friends with change. Initially, it’s uncomfortable, but change becomes the new baseline with time.

4. Ego is the enemy

There is an amazing book by Ryan Holiday Ego Is the Enemy. Our mind has two identities. The first is who we truly are. The second is the voices of ego. You must first recognize the voices and who is listening to them to distinguish the two. The listener is your true self. Tuning out the frequency of your voice and focusing on your true self creates confidence. Confidence is productive. Ego is toxic. Ego is the enemy.

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5. Starting is the hardest

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do” - Epictetus. Everyone has good ideas, but the action brings it to life. Starting is the spark of action. Overcome anticipation and take the first step. Narrow the gap between idea and action, this will allow you to reach your goals faster. Start.

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6. Hard now, easy later

I think about this statement daily. Life’s default is atrophy. Think about it: if you don’t do the dishes the sink piles up. If you don’t water the flowers, they die. If you don’t sweep the floor, dust will settle. Take action now, you can rest later.

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7. Make a habit of reaching out to people without expectations

Relationships create meaning. Approaching a relationship with the expectation of personal gain is upside down. Set your priorities on always adding value to your relationship be it a friendship, marriage, or business. Making an effort with others simply for its own sake makes you a better person and pays dividends. Then when you think of someone, reach out to them with no agenda.

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8. Consistency breeds progress

Many people have impressive aspirations that never come to fruition. A common theme is inaction. Distilling large tasks into smaller ones avoids becoming overwhelmed. Remain consistent. Complete small tasks every day to progress and achieve your goals.

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9. You get what you give

Life acts as a mirror. Our actions directly impact our outcomes. If you find yourself in a negative place, look inward. Focus your efforts on providing selfless value and notice how the world reciprocates.

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10. Listen to your body. It will tell you what it needs.

The human body has many ways to express what it needs through symptoms and signals. Most of the time, we choose to ignore or silence our body’s voices. Culturally we are taught to treat the symptoms instead of focusing on the root cause. Take care of your body, and it will take care of you.

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11. The work doesn't care

When emergency calls your sleep and family take a back seat. The work must be done. Your excuses, explanations, and reasons might sound justified in your mind but you are only delaying the work. Work doesn’t sympathize. Do your job.

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12. Listen more, talk less

“God gave us two ears and one mouth”… First, be mindful of your words. They can never be retrieved. Think before you speak. In emotional situations or anger, take three deep breaths before expressing yourself. I have never regretted cooling my emotions. I often have been disappointed when I don’t. Anger hurts everyone. Second, be a listener. This keeps you present, engaged, and interested. It’s also the highest form of respect that you can show others.

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13. Success is a series of overcome failures

From the outside, success appears as a linear trend straight to the top. In reality, there are many “faceplants” behind the scenes. Success is a matter of how many times you faceplant and continue to get up. Keep going.

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14. Pursuit > goal

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I’m plagued by conditional happiness. My satisfaction resides on the other side of my arbitrary goals. After reaching that goal, often my expectations don’t meet reality leaving me disappointed. Fall in love with the process. Be happy now.

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15. This too, will pass

Naturally, life has highs and lows. The lows feel inescapable. The highs feel infinite. Although, emotion with the wins and losses is justified - don’t get over-attached.

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16. What if?

When you are staring into the eyes of the impossible ask yourself “What if?”. The moment you put the possibility of achieving something on the table you start coming up with routes to get there. On the flip side, if you say “I can’t”. You immediately close the door on opportunity. Keep the door open. What if?

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17. Character is defined by our losses, not our successes

Wins feel easy. Everyone cheers when you raise the trophy. However, our true nature is revealed by how we respond to adversity. Our reactions to a mistake or setback define our character.

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18. Health is wealth

A healthy person wants a million things. A sick person wants one thing: to be healthy. Your goals, achievements, and prized possessions become meaningless without your health. Never take your health for granted.

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19. Move every day

One of the greatest things you can do for your health is move daily. This will look different for everyone. Walking, running, dancing, tennis, gardening, playing outside with your kids. It doesn’t matter how you move, just do it. Pick activities you enjoy so you look forward to the next day. Mental health, the immune system, and overall quality of life increase when you move.

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20. If you are the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room

First, if you believe you are the smartest person - that's a problem. Second, place yourself in situations that encourage growth. Surround yourself with high-caliber people, and you will become one.

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21. The Pathless Path

In medicine, the path is predestined. Go to high school. Go to college. Go to medical school. Go to residency. Work as a doctor. There’s nothing wrong with a clear path or security. I’ve found the pathless journey keeps life interesting. Although the path might be uncertain, this is what feeds your fire. Chase curiosity.

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22. Focus on yourself.

Control that which is controllable. Your mind is the only thing that you can truly control. You have not only the power but the responsibility to focus on yourself to improve the lives of others around you. Being selfish to better yourself will lead to being selfless with others.

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23. In the end… the highest priority in my life is family, friends, and those that I love. That’s all we truly need.

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The only failure is quitting.

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All the best,

Jeremy London, MD