Stimulus - Learn Tools to Crush It in Your Medical Career Why You Might Be Chasing the Wrong Dream
17 snips
Jan 20, 2026 
In this enlightening talk, Dr. Josh Russell, a double board-certified physician with expertise in Emergency Medicine and Palliative Care, delves into the concept of mimetic desire—how our ambitions can be misled by others' wants, leading to burnout. He shares personal stories about chasing prestigious roles that left him unfulfilled. The discussion also tackles how social pressures and fear of judgment affect career paths, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection to uncover true desires and find genuine satisfaction in one's professional journey.
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Chasing Prestige Then Finding Fit
- Rob Orman describes taking high-prestige, high-volume ER jobs because that was the expected path for chief residents.
- He realized after years that he actually thrived in rural hospitals and it took 13 years to discover that fit.
Mimetic Desire Explains Misguided Ambitions
- Josh Russell defines mimetic desire as mimicking the desires of those around us.
- Pursuing others' wants often leads to getting the wrong thing for your happiness.
Social Proof Is A Useful But Risky Shortcut
- Mimetic desire partly arises from evolutionary social-proof shortcuts that save decision energy.
- Those shortcuts become hazardous for major life choices like career, family, or housing.
