Do you enjoy your job?
Folks, let me tell you, being a Chief Strategy Officer at a startup telemedicine clinic is not for the faint of heart. It’s a wild rollercoaster where the highs are euphoric, the lows are stomach-churning, and you’re never quite sure if you’re about to fly off the rails or reach for the stars. Here’s why I ride this crazy horse:
1. The Never-Ending Chase
We’re like adrenaline junkies chasing two things: new clients and overdue invoices. Think of it as a high-stakes treasure hunt, except the treasure is paying customers. The thrill of landing a big deal is unmatched, followed by the frantic sprint to make sure their check actually clears. You know, just your average Tuesday.
2. The Existential Dread Starter Pack
Every. Single. Decision. could be the one that sends us spiraling into bankruptcy. It’s the perfect environment for those who love a little existential dread with their morning coffee. (Thank you Apple Music for the Happy Playlists.) Did we invest too much in that marketing campaign? Should we have hired that extra developer? The weight of the world rests squarely on our shoulders, folks.
3. Office Drama, Spicy Edition
We’ve got a team of brilliant, passionate individuals who sometimes… let’s just say, disagree wholeheartedly. Think passionate debates, the occasional shouting match, and reconciliation over takeout. On the bright side, we never lack entertainment. And never lose respect.
4. Doctors with Short Fuses
Bless our doctors, they’re lifesavers, but man, some of them have the bedside manner of a grumpy housecat. We walk a delicate tightrope between keeping them happy and ensuring our patients aren’t traumatized. It’s the most challenging game of emotional Tetris ever. Especially when we’re a couple of months behind with payments. But hey, we don’t help people for money, right? Yeah, right…
5. Mistakes: Our Favorite Learning Tools
We mess up. A LOT. That’s how you grow, right? We’ve had more bad decisions than a drug addict, marketing blunders, and tech fails that would make Silicon Valley cringe. The key is to own it, learn from it, and try not to repeat the same mistake twice (though, no promises there).
6. Transparency? It’s a Work in Progress
We talk about our mistakes, and ouch, does it hurt sometimes. But we’re committed to transparency, even when it feels like airing our dirty laundry in public. Let’s just say, not everyone is a fan of this radical honesty.
7. Changing Lives, One Virtual Consult at a Time
Between the nail-biting and occasional emotional breakdowns, there’s this: we’re bringing affordable, quality healthcare to people who need it. That feeling when a patient says we’ve made a real difference? Priceless.
8. Our Workaholics Anonymous Support Group
We wake up thinking about work. We go to bed thinking about work. We celebrate a burnout like an anniversary. Our spouses/partners/pets think we’ve lost our minds. But at least we’re in this together!
9. Critics? We’ve Got a Few
Not everyone loves the idea of virtual medicine. We get the occasional angry e-mail, bad review… the usual. But you know what? We believe in what we’re doing, and that fuels us to keep pushing.
So there you have it. My life as a startup CSO is chaotic, stressful, and wildly fulfilling. While some might question the sanity of anyone who willingly subjects themselves to this daily rollercoaster, I choose to see it differently. After all, isn’t life itself a series of challenges and triumphs, a constant dance between the predictable and the absurd? As Heraclitus, the pre-Socratic philosopher so eloquently put it, “no man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” Similarly, each day at this startup is a new adventure, shaping us and forcing us to adapt. And let’s face it, who doesn’t love a good challenge, especially when it comes with the occasional existential crisis and a sprinkle of office drama? One colleague told me the other day: why the f*ck are we still here? And the answer was obvious: we’re shaping the future of healthcare, one crazy day at a time.
So, to answer your question, do I enjoy my job? Well, let’s just say I wouldn’t trade it for a lifetime of pushing paper in a beige cubicle.
If you enjoy my work, you can support me by buying me a coffee or one of my books. ☕📚
Ink And Reason 