Purpose And Your Encore Career

Encore careers are all about your purpose, purpose, bringing together the things that you want to dedicate your time and energy towards.

However, it can be surprisingly difficult for doctors to define their purpose. We are often conditioned to think in a certain way or follow a specific path, and even if you think you know your purpose, it's easy to question it when faced with the rigours of medical practice. Even easier to question if it seems that the system is doing everything it can to prevent you from fulfilling your purpose. This is a major cause of burnout, disillusionment and disengagement for senior doctors.

The best place to begin uncovering your purpose is with your core values. You can only know your purpose when you know your values. And you can only follow your purpose when your personal values align with your work. Turning your core personal value words into a statement of purpose takes headspace for reflection, reiteration and introspection. But it's worth it.

Consider your purpose as your reason for being. This is the Japanese concept of ikigari, which positions one's "reason for being" at the balanced and overlapping centre of the things you love to do, your skills and talents, what the world needs and what you need to be secure. Ikigari is about harmony, and that only comes when you are truly aligned to your values.

What is it that you really want and need to achieve live and work to your values with purpose and impact?

Moonen G. Ikigai: Rethinking fulfillment in medicine. Can Fam Physician. 2025 Oct;71(10):615-616