Let me be blunt.
I am a short-sighted person.
I realized that I am such a short-sighted person after reading an article about a small biotech winning its first FDA approval for a novel drug.
The biotech’s chief scientific officer received a call bearing the good news while she was bathing her son.
I just bathed my son before reading the article.
And I couldn’t help but wonder:
Would I receive a similar call bearing similar good news before my son refuses to let me bathe him?
The text peaked my curiosity.
More so, it sparked my envy.
A quick Google search and a few calculations on my iPhone calculator taught me this:
She graduated magna cum laude from New York University at age 22.
She received her medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine at age 26.
She completed her medical oncology fellowship at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center at age 31.
She was recruited to Janssen (a large biotech) at age 33.
She lead a team to win a drug approval at age 42.
I’m 29 now.
I guess I graduated from a decent medical school in Hong Kong at age 24.
I’m doing my neurology fellowship at age 29.
And I’m nowhere near being recruited by Janssen at age 33 in the foressable future.
These obscene numbers are what’s running in my mind after reading that article.
Obscene in the sense that I’m comparing myself to the success of others.
Sure, the odds of me being recruited by Janssen at age 33 are rather slim given where I’m at now in my career.
But leading a team to a drug approval at age 42?
Might just be possible if I put on my spectacles to clear the short-sightedness.
“Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” — Bill Gates.
Time to put on some spectacles and get down to work if I’m waiting for that call at 42.
My son would be bathing himself by that time, but hey, I’d take that call.