6 million reasons to do it differently.

Friends, 

I got good grant news last week. VERY good. 😉 

But I want to point out something to you all – I started this whole coaching endeavor before any of that external validation. Before the ‘successful’ transition from early career awards to giant independent ones. Before I could hang my hat on a line in my CV and keep it pushing. 

In fact, the only reason I – and my incredible team – got to celebrate last week, is because I chose to believe it was possible first. 

I chose to believe that ‘not fitting in’ to traditional academic medicine was a strength. 
I chose to believe that not having a person to follow who had done the exact same thing I wanted to do was my greatest asset. 
I chose to believe that my best work came from being well rested and having a balanced life, not overworking and staying stuck in institutional mindset. 

I had thoughts that I couldn’t really pull this off – that I chose NOT to believe. 
I had thoughts that I couldn’t thrive in a racist system – that I chose NOT to believe. 
I had thoughts that I was actually missing whatever was “really” required to “really” make it – that I chose NOT to believe.

There is only 1 question to ask yourself as we start to close out this dynamic year:

What. Are. You. Choosing. To. Believe?

There is not a single thing outside of you that will give you this answer. Stop looking.

If you base your answer on what you can see, on what’s been done, on what Chad thinks…you are giving away your greatest power. 

You are reading this email because I chose to believe I had something to offer to you as an Assistant Professor, four years into my faculty appointment. I chose to believe that my knack at helping colleagues out of being ‘stuck’ was not random, but a true talent I could organize and deliver to others with life changing results. I chose to believe that I would rather embarrass myself in trying to do this work, than stay safe on the path of settling for a life less than what I really wanted. 

I chose courage over confidence. As a daily practice. 

You can too. 

Starting today. 

Much love, 
Kemi