#197 Wisdom from A Nobel Laureate on Work & Life | Dr. Robert Lefkowitz

There's an old riddle- you've probably heard it- that goes "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" The answer? "Practice." Yet I've never heard anybody ask "How you get to Stockholm to receive a Nobel Prize? So, I ask: how do you get to Stockholm for that most coveted of awards? I'm going to say that part of the answer is to spend time and learn from people like Duke University professor of chemistry, and Nobel Laureate, Dr. Robert Lefkowitz. Bob, as he prefers to be called, is a Columbia Medical School-trained physician who loved his clinical work and who stumbled upon the world of scientific research practically by accident. Although he loved being a cardiologist, it turned out he loved being a researcher even more. This outcome in Bob's life has likely impacted your life. I can say this with some certainty because, of the drugs on the market today, his research was relevant in the development of 1/3 to 1/2 of those drugs. It's likely that at least one of those medications has helped you at some point. Furthermore, his research is among the most cited in the world. And when imagine of a Nobel Laureate scientist, you may think of a researcher quietly, alone working in a lab all day talking to no one. That's NOT Bob! He loves people, he mentors his team, and engages them regularly with spectacular interest and vitality. Bob wrote a riveting and highly readable book in 2021 describing his personal and professional life called A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Stockholm. I love the book and so many credible sources have reviewed the book with overwhelmingly positive reviews. Publisher's Weekly said, "Rarely has science been treated with such a winning blend of humor and humanity." I couldn't agree more. You will learn in this episode how Bob thinks, and how, regardless of your aspirations, that thinking may improve your life and future success So, listen in to this kind, enthusiastic, gregarious, and wise researcher and learn from a man who ended up in Stockholm with the most coveted of science awards.