Comments on: You are Replaceable. Congratulations!

By: Scarlet MacGregor

Scarlet MacGregor — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 09:11:16 +0000

Mr. Crazy Kicks…’USB port in the back of our skulls’ I saw a movie way before personal computers, IPad, cell phones , smart phones! The movie’s name was
‘The President’s Analyst’ and like the USB port and the NSA knowing all about us, it’s
‘ The Phone Company.’ We all have phone jacks(as USB ports before cell phones) in our heel.
Every telephone in the house belonged to ‘TPC’ ,you could move around to different rooms in the house but you could take the phone in the car or for a walk. We were held hostage waiting for our phone to ring for good or bad news(or so we thought) it might be grand Mom, a prom date or from a Dad about the newest member of the family Baby Snowflake or Lt. Dan died!
If your younger than thirty you might not know about the ‘TPC’
There are some old movies with strange ideas…some ideas as today.

By: Live Free MD

Live Free MD — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 06:58:13 +0000

I agree. Nothing we do is so special or amazing that it can’t be done by someone else. Keep striving for greatness, but stay humble and grounded.

By: TheHappyPhilosopher

TheHappyPhilosopher — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 04:34:19 +0000

In reply to minervaMD. Agree. Systems and institutions don't care one bit about us, but sometimes people in the system or institution do. It is great to put your heart and soul into work as long as it is for the right reasons, but you are right, expecting a system to care about you is a poor wager. Work for money, joy, satisfaction of helping people, etc. but just be mindful that we are all replaceable. Thx for the comment.

By: minervaMD

minervaMD — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 13:01:15 +0000

The ‘system’ doesn’t care about you. The system doesn’t have feelings. There are a few colleagues and/or directors/department chairs, etc. that may care what you do, but you don’t owe them anything. I learned this the hard way when I gave my heart and soul to bettering the department I am working for (quality improvement and building IT systems capabilities–in addition to my role as a radiologist), and then with a new leadership change, they tossed my role aside and discounted all my efforts. It was like a kick in the face. I recognize that I am allowing that to make me bitter, but it set me on a path of deciding how I can “check out” as soon as possible. I am a bit jaded now, which I don’t like. But, on the other hand, perhaps it was a good lesson to learn . . . I don’t want to give my “heart and soul” to a system that doesn’t really care (because remember, systems don’t have feelings). But, I absolutely agree that what you do matters enormously to you personally and your immediate family. So, why not optimize for the good you can do in your immediate circle of influence. This may be in medicine, but it may also be in being the kind of parent that is totally there for kids and someone who is doing what matters to them (and not putting all that behind the so-called priority of full-time work).

By: Full Time Finance

Full Time Finance — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 01:07:53 +0000

I wholeheartedly agree. The world span before I came into it and it will spin when I leave it. The only real place I make an irreplaceable make is on those who love me and those I love. That’s why your priorities need to be there.

By: TheHappyPhilosopher

TheHappyPhilosopher — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 14:36:04 +0000

In reply to Mr Crazy Kicks.

Hahaha, maybe the jacks are coming someday. I mean they are already contemplating human head transplants.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/09/the-audacious-plan-to-save-this-mans-life-by-transplanting-his-head/492755/

By: Mr Crazy Kicks

Mr Crazy Kicks — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 13:17:51 +0000

Man, stupid smartphones, nobody told me I could have had a USB port in the back of my skull 🙂

Working at a big company for a decade you start to realize that no matter how important one player might be, when they move on the wheels keep turning.

By: TheHappyPhilosopher

TheHappyPhilosopher — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 18:52:30 +0000

In reply to PhysicianOnFIRE. Lol! Logic and emotion are intertwined for sure. In an ideal world we do work we can’t imagine retiring from. The guilt and shame of “wasting your training” is a very real thing. I’ve seen many people struggle with this.

By: TheHappyPhilosopher

TheHappyPhilosopher — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 17:29:39 +0000

In reply to VagabondMD. I definitely thought I was much less replaceable when I was younger, now I realize I'm just an expensive widget.

By: TheHappyPhilosopher

TheHappyPhilosopher — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 17:27:37 +0000

In reply to M. Agree. Responsibility and replaceable are different, although I don't like the concept of responsibility because it is too much associated with guilt, which is an emotion to be avoided (unless it is for a really good reason like we are harming someone). Much better to do things for joy, not enough of that in the world.