In this episode, I welcome Dr. Rob Orman back to the podcast to talk about his new book, Supranormal, and the realities of building a sustainable career in medicine.

Rob shares his own experience as an emergency physician and the struggles he faced early in his career. We discuss why the same grit that helps physicians survive high-pressure situations can become a problem when it becomes the answer to everything. As Rob puts it, “In crisis, grit saves you. In burnout, it buries you.”

We explore the difference between having a “renter” versus an “owner” mindset toward your career, and why creating a fulfilling professional life often requires subtraction rather than simply adding more. Rob also explains the idea of a “plus one”, something outside clinical work that brings energy, meaning, and greater career longevity.

Our conversation then turns to conflict. Rob shares practical ways leaders can replace defensiveness with curiosity, including the simple question, “Tell me what you’re thinking.” We also discuss the 10% rule: looking for the part of another person’s idea that has value instead of immediately judging or dismissing it.

This conversation is a reminder that resilience is not simply about pushing harder. Sometimes the better path is to slow down, become curious, create better boundaries, and intentionally build a career and a life that can last.

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