17 Dec I Got Kicked Out Of Medical School… Have YOU Failed Lately?

I Got Kicked Out of Medical School.  Officially.  But I quit WAY before I was told that I was not a student.

Today, I want to tell you about why Passion is not enough.  I want to tell you and be transparent with you on why a FAILURE is inevitable.  I want to reiterate that FAILURE  is one of the best ways to become malleable enough to withstand challenge and to re-form one’s self into his/her BETTER person.  I want to remind you that many uber successful people today have failed…  and bounced back!

Not finishing Medical School probably has COST me at least  a Million Dollars in salary over the past years. Over the years, I’ve felt a cadre of emotions related to not finishing medical school.  Many my same age have executive titles and advanced degrees…. but I want to tell you why the school of hard knocks has been a blessing.

As a person who officially completed nearly 3 out of the 4 years of Medical School, yet humbly re-invented myself … Here are some thoughts.

1. Passion is not enough.  Maybe it is a person like yourself.  Or maybe you may know this type of person, but have you ever known the DREAMER?  He or she always has great ideas.  They passionately talk about starting a new job or business.  Or they talk about starting an organization.  They show you an invention.  Their eyes light up when they talk about traveling the world.  And then they do none of it. Their passion is clear, but it does not translate into actionable results.  In my case, PASSION was not enough to say or dream or want to be a physician.
2. Failure is ok. Quitters win with a Plan.  Realize that you will fail. Sometimes your outcome will not be equal to your input. But learning to quit with an action plan to optimize better input for better future outputs is always a solution. Mentally I had quit long before the Deans came to me and advised that I take time to refocus on my goals.
3. Life’s not over… remembering that life is not over but often that it is just beginning gives you the mindset that opportunity comes out of challenging situations. We’ve often heard that one should make lemonade out of lemons…. yep, its cliche but true. Make your best step towards making any aspect of your life better for you.
4. What you Lose… can be re-acquired. Think about that. It is simply elegant.
5. Live YOUR Life … two things come to my mind that are unfair and displaced blame for failing at living one’s own life. 1. Your Living a dream for others who expected you to obtain a goal.  2. Being told by someone that they have lived a lifestyle or given up something just for you. Both of these situations are horribly wrong.  Don’t live totally for others in this life and if you see someone so wrapped up in your life that they give up theirs, catch it before it’s too late.  In my case, I lived in a fear of letting others down.

My Name is Brandon… There is life after a major life-changing event

Emory University School of Medicine was a top 20 school at the time I attended. I humbly graduated Magna Cum Laude and am a Phi Beta Kappa member. I had trouble focusing. I lost passion and action, but… life goes on!

I am here to tell you to NOT postpone your dreams any more…

When I told one of the Medical School deans that I had dreams outside of the medical profession, he told me that one of his friends quit being a surgeon in exchange for selling hot dogs in Times Square New York. But who cares if he was happy! !!

I am here to tell you that money can be made a lot of ways!

Don’t box yourself into a profession for the prospect of money alone.

I am here to tell you that “God is!” …. Period.

God’s blessings and his opening and shutting of doors are his plan. Another Dean in the Medical School told me that my fiance & children at the time were a liability to my education. Nearly 15 years of marriage later and lovely kids ….shame on him.

I am here to tell you that the sky’s the limit

Often when your back is against the wall, you have the best opportunity to make something happen, to do something big with your life, and to succeed and prosper.

Life will bring new challenges. But in those challenges are opportunities and nuggets of gold. Continue prospecting and continue trying as hard as you can to find what you want to do with your life. Identify the challenges in your life and overcome them.

Self Motivation + Passion + Desire + Discipline + Guts + A Little Luck = Dream Manifestation

My opportunity to finish medical school is not over with. Should my passion and action ever return, maybe I may go back. In the meantime, I’m happy that I’m a thinker. I’m happy that I am a dreamer. And I’m happy that what was perceived as a failure, has led me to meeting new people, learning a new profession over the years, and being the best at recovering at a failure that mentally could have shut me down.

So did it cost me or help me??

In my eyes… a Million Gained in vision and purpose for my life.  The dollars will follow.