Fall reflections: Nicole Fox on career evolution, saboteurs, and fulfillment

Last month I wrote a post about the four stages of a career, using the analogy of seasons. I was inspired by the wonderful fall weather I was experiencing while on a walk here in New England, but also by changes I have been experiencing in my life and how these have caused me to re-evaluate what’s important in my career. The post got a good reaction, including from Nicole Fox, Associate Chief Medical Officer, Medical Director of Pediatric Trauma, Medical Director of CDI, at Cooper University Health Care. Which led to this show. Nicole and I are in the “fall-ish” of our careers. Which might sound like we’re getting ready for pasture, but not really. I’m 51 and Nicole is 48, so we have many more years to work—but our priorities are changing. You might say, they are better aligning with the new people we are becoming, as human works in progress. Nicole has done a lot with career coaching, both as recipient and mentor, and we get into all that on today’s show—and bare our souls a little bit about what is holding us back. This was a terrific conversation with an amazing person and I suspect you’ll enjoy it, and maybe come away a bit more reflective about your own career and priorities. On this show we discuss: • An update on Nicole’s work as a pediatric trauma surgeon and hospital executive—and the need for changes • Her experience with a career coach and what she learned about herself • Career “saboteurs”—how do you discover them, and what can you do to diminish them? I highly recommend taking the free assessment linked below (my top 3 saboteurs are avoider, hyper achiever, and pleaser) • Is it possible to shape your career, and how does that look in practice? • The “seasons” of a career and using it as a framework for discovering what is most important (with an emphasis on the fall season) • Nicole’s forays into coaching and mentorship, and prioritizing health and work-life balance in a demanding clinical career Show notes Four stages of a career: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/brian-murphy-13800b11_i-love-the-fall-especially-here-in-new-england-activity-7253050994937212932-2QFY? Career saboteurs assessment: https://www.positiveintelligence.com/saboteurs/