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My guest today is Dr. Mark G. Shrime, who is the author of the book, Solving for Why: A Surgeon's Journey to Discover the Transformative Power of Purpose. You might wonder why I’m talking to a surgeon on a podcast about creativity and living a fulfilling life, but as you’ll learn, Dr. Shrime is also a sought-after speaker helping others find meaningful career paths. In this conversation, you will discover how to take risks, make tough decisions, and listen to your heart in order to live a life of passion, meaning, and purpose.

Dr. Shrime explains the power of solving your why so you can get unstuck and move onto the right path. He lays out 4 questions and a 3 step plan to help you live a life aligned with your passions, skills, and values. . He also shares how to overcome the decision paralysis that is keeping you on the wrong path.

If you're stuck in an unfulfilling job or feel like you’re not living to your full potential, this conversation could be the first step towards the rewarding life you deserve.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

Dr. Shrime's origin story and the three ethics he had to unlearn
What is moral injury and how it affects our life
Dr. Shrime's epiphany of what he really wanted to do after 15 years of doing a job he hated
KEY TAKEAWAY: Intention is the key to constructing a fulfilling life
The importance of knowing your why and how it changes your perspective of the path you are on
The three-step process to solving your why
The 'Gary Parker Rule' and how it can help you in your decision-making
Dr. Shrime's American Ninja Warrior story: Lessons about failure and how you perceive yourself
The four questions to answer to understand your path in life
How to live in alignment with your why
What to do if you fail to build your life around your purpose
BIG MYTH: The next decision must be the right one

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Ep152: Understanding the Difference Between Integrative & Traditional Medicine | with Dr. Edison de Mello

Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes - William Bridges

Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life - Richard Rohr

Start With Why - Simon Sinek

Ep218: How to Know (Without a Doubt) If It’s Time to Quit | with Annie Duke

Ep232: How to Future-Proof Your Creative Career, Avoid Burnout, and Build a Life Bigger Than Your Résumé | with Christina Wallace

Ikigai - Wikipedia

Continue to Listen & Learn

Ep48: Feeling Lost? It’s Time to ‘Find Your Why’ | with David Mead

Ep233: Redefining Your Career Path in a Post Generational Society | with Mauro Guillén

Ep132: How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar

Ep06: Defining Your Purpose and Living Large | with Tony Horton

Ep240: Stop Delaying Your Dreams and Live a Life Rich in Experiences | with Bridget Hilton & Joe Huff

Ep242: A Mental Performance Expert on Shifting Your Mindset to Endure Setbacks | with Derin ‘DMac’ McMains

Ep228: The Link Between Telling Your Story & Identifying Your Purpose (And How to Do Both) | with Dan Davis

[CASE STUDY] Why I Said No to a Job (A Great One)…During a Pandemic

Ep198: Terrified to Make a Big Change In Your Life? Start By “Showing Up Small” | with Eddy Roche

Ep169: Why Becoming a Failure is Essential to Success | with Alex Weber, ANW

Ep143: Mastering the “Chess Mindset” to Achieve Any Difficult Goal (and Get Really Good at Failing Along the Way) | with Misha Tenenbaum

Ep36: How to Accomplish Your ‘One Thing’ Every Day | with Jay Papasan

Guest Bio:

mark-shrime-bio Dr. Mark Shrime

Dr. Mark G. Shrime is the International Chief Medical Officer at Mercy Ships and a Lecturer in Global Health and Social Medicine at the Harvard Medical School. He is the author of Solving for Why: A Surgeon's Journey to Discover the Transformative Power of Purpose (Hachette 2022).

He previously served as the O’Brien Chair of Global Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, as the founder and Director of the Center for Global Surgery Evaluation at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and as Research Director for the Program in Global Surgery and Social Change at Harvard.

He has spoken at the United Nations, WHO, Harvard, Princeton, and around the world addressing issues of healthcare inequity, moral injury in the healthcare workforce, and the non-health outcomes of health policies. In 2018, he was awarded the Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Award by the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery.

Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Ep252: Find Your Creativity by Finding Your Why | with Dr. Mark Shrime

The Zack Arnold Podcast