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What Are You Really Chasing?
A CEO, worn thin from the grind, takes a long-overdue break in a quiet fishing village. One morning, he notices a fisherman pulling his small boat ashore, a handful of fish wriggling in the net. Just enough to feed his family for the day.
The CEO can’t resist asking, “Why don’t you fish longer? Catch more. Sell them.”
The fisherman looks up, curious. “What would I do then?”
“Well,” says the CEO, “you could save money, buy a bigger boat, catch even more fish. Eventually, you’d build a fleet, run a massive business.”
“And then?”
“Then,” the CEO says, leaning forward, “you could retire. Move to a quiet village. Spend your days with family. Fish for fun.”
The fisherman smiles, shaking his head. “But isn’t that what I’m already doing?”
You might have heard some version of this.
The story lingers because it holds a truth we often avoid. It reflects the endless chase for “more.”
More money. More accolades. More stuff.
But how often do we stop to ask ourselves, “What am I really working for?”
Getting Clarity
The New Year is always the same story.
It’s a fresh start, we tell ourselves. A chance to fix what’s broken. To do better. To finally get it right.
“This year,” you think, “I’ll make it happen. I’ll lose the weight. I’ll get healthy. Write that paper. Land that grant.”
You know the steps: eat better, move more, work smarter. You’ve known them for years.
But here’s the hard truth: Knowing isn’t doing.
Progress doesn’t come from endless to-do lists or sheer willpower. It comes from something deeper: clarity.
Sometimes we get too focused on the day to day — setting endless plans and lists.
Don’t get me wrong. You do need a plan but that comes after.
So, what’s the alternative?
A Vision. Written Down.
Not just a goal. A vision.
What does your life look like when it feels balanced and fulfilling? Write it down. Not in your head—on paper. Make it tangible.
For me, it’s simple. My wife. My two-year-old son. Us, together, with no project deadlines crowding my mind. No knot in my stomach about finances. Just us—laughing, playing, living fully in the moment.
To make this real, I realized I needed to:
- Set Boundaries: Say no to what doesn’t align. Protect my time for what matters most.
- Reevaluate Finances: Focus on what we need—not the endless “what-ifs” that steal my peace.
- Be Present: Turn off distractions. Show up for bedtime stories, family walks, and quiet meals.
That’s it. Simple steps. Small, intentional choices.
It’s not perfect. I slip up. I fall back into old habits.
But when your actions align with a vision, even imperfect progress feels meaningful.
It’s no longer a to-do list. It’s a vision tied to something that truly matters. And because it matters, you want to take the steps to make it real.
What Does This Have to Do With You?
As a clinical researcher, the grind can feel relentless.
Publish the paper. Secure the funding. Check the next box.
But what if you stopped chasing? What if the fulfillment you’re running toward is already within reach?
This season, pause. Reflect. Write your vision.
- What does your ideal day look like?
- What’s already working?
- Are you ready to commit to what truly matters?
Before the Year Ends
Take 5 minutes. Write down your vision. Not your goals. Your vision for the life you want to live.
And then ask yourself: What’s one small step I can take today to live that vision—not someday, but now?
If talking it through feels easier than writing, try having a conversation instead using ChatGPT’s voice mode.
Just use my bot. Click the waveform icon for a real-time voice chat.
