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Does thinking about life after pharmacy make you laugh?

Posted by Benjamin Coakley on Sat, Apr 13, 2013 @ 09:35 AM


Many community pharmacy owners laugh when we ask them what their life after pharmacy will look like. And, in practically the same breath they say someting like "I never knew there was a life after pharmacy."  Some even have said (as we say in the south) "I am going out with my boots on."

Despite what appears to be amusement, most of the laughs we hear have a rocking chairssubtle hint of anxiety in them rather than joy.

The reason we believe this is an anxious time for pharmacy owners is because it is the unknown. And, for left-brained, science-oriented professionals, this can be outright scary because no science can be applied to the emotions and feelings pharmacists face when it comes to transition from their life in pharmacy to their life after pharmacy.

Pharmacy ownership demands a tremendous amount of your time and energy. When combined with meeting your commitment to your family, it may feel like an amazing accomplishment to get anything completed that is not pharmacy or family related.

But, if you wish to take advantage of all your opportunites, inside, outside and after pharmacy, it is imperative that you find time to work on what life after pharmacy looks like and how you will make it happen.  The legacy for you, your family, and your community are on the line and the more efficient you are in planning your life after pharmacy, the better the chance the pharmacy has of transcending generations.

Benefits of Planning for Life after Pharmacy:

  1. You maximize your legacy for your family and community
  2. You increase the chances of your pharmacy transcending generations
  3. You live a fulfilled life after pharmacy

After explaining this to pharmacy owners, they typically ask the following questions "How do I begin planning for life after pharmacy?" The answer is different for everyone because not everyone is at the same place in their pharmacy life. We recommend you identify where you are in your pharmacy life before starting to think about life after pharmacy. Below is the Community Pharmacist Lifecycle and this is a great tool to help you guage where you are currently and get a gameplan for the future. The better you manage the transition through your life in pharmacy, the more fulfilling life after pharmacy will be for you.

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Tips for planning for life after pharmacy:

  1. Set aside time in the morning to focus on life after pharmacy (As Steven Covey said, "Begin with the end in mind.").  Your mind is fresh in the morning and you will be able to be more productive in your work.
  2. Focus on the emotional aspect of life after pharmacy. Many pharmacy owners prepare financially but not emotionally. Something meaningful has to take the place of the pharmacy in your life or you may never fully disengage from the pharmacy.
  3. Ask for help in the endeavor.  This is going to be an unknown time for you.  Strike up a friendship with someone you know that has entered this life after pharmacy time period.  Also, there are a few select advisors that are skilled in helping you think through this process.

Step #1: Take the time you need to write down a clear vision for what your life after pharmacy will look like.

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Where does this wisdom come from?

The content of this blog is inspired and substantiated by our experience helping independent community pharmacists enjoy financial independence during and after their life in pharmacy. When a pharmacist reaches out to us for information and help, we endeavor to give them as much free value as is possible. In addition to providing educational and strategic planning tools (like The Pharmacy Succession eBook), we invite qualified pharmacists into our formal discovery process.

The first step of the process is completing The Inspired Goals Workshop. This 90-minute session enables us to deliver a detailed and personal Inspired Independence Blueprint. The blueprint provides a personalized roadmap for achieving your goals and enables you to fully understand the value of joining The Inspired Independence Program.

If you wish to learn more about any aspect of our work, the free value we offer, or to be considered for The Inspired Goals Workshop, visit our web site at www.waypointus.com or call 843.873.4420 and ask for Ben or Matt Coakley.

At Waypoint Pharmacy Advisors, we take care of you!

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Topics: community pharmacy owner, life after pharmacy