What if your career didn't have to be just one thing?

In today's episode of the Doctors Crossing Carpe Diem podcast, we explore the idea of a portfolio career—a professional life made up of multiple aligned roles rather than a single, linear path. Using a powerful real-world example, we talk about how physicians can create more fulfillment, connection, and sustainability by thoughtfully diversifying how they work.

I'm joined by Dr. Jess Beachkofsky, a psychiatrist who affectionately calls herself The Sunny Psychiatrist. Jess shares her journey from military medicine to telepsychiatry, private practice, and eventually a portfolio career that blends clinical work, nurse practitioner supervision, disability evaluations, teaching, and speaking. Her story is a beautiful example of how clarity often comes from experimentation—not from having it all figured out upfront.

Together, we talk honestly about what wasn't working, what was missing, and how small "yeses" opened doors to a career that now feels deeply aligned. We also discuss the practical considerations of portfolio careers, including time management, income variability, benefits, and insurance—so you can explore your options with eyes wide open.

If you're feeling stuck, lonely, under-stimulated, or simply curious about what else might be possible, this episode offers both inspiration and grounded guidance.

• What a portfolio career really looks like in real life
• How to recognize what's missing in your current role
• The emotional and practical benefits of career diversification
• Physician-friendly portfolio options inside and outside of medicine
• Nurse practitioner supervision as a meaningful side role
• The importance of small experiments instead of big leaps
• Questions to ask before moving away from a traditional W-2 role

Connect with Jessica Beachkofsky

Jessica Beachkofsky's LinkedIn

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Thank you for listening!

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything "right" in your career, but something still feels off? You're not alone. In this episode, I'm diving into one of my favorite topics — your Zone of Genius. This is where your natural strengths, passions, and most meaningful contributions come together, and discovering it can bring a whole new sense of clarity, energy, and joy to your work.

I'll walk you through the four zones we typically operate in and explain why the Zone of Excellence, while often rewarding, can also leave you feeling stuck or unfulfilled. I'm also sharing real examples from physicians who found compelling new directions by leaning into their Zone of Genius.

If you're at the crossroads, this episode is here to help you start moving toward more purpose and alignment in your next chapter.

• What your Zone of Genius is and how to start identifying it
• The common trap of staying in your Zone of Excellence
• Why external success doesn't always equal personal fulfillment
• What intrinsic rewards are and why they matter
• Inspiring stories from physicians who leaned into their genius
• A simple framework to help uncover your personality, top skills, and ideal impact
• Reflective questions to help you reconnect with what energizes you

Book recommendations:

• The Genius Zone: The Breakthrough Process to End Negative Thinking and Live in True Creativity by Gay Hendricks

• The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level―A Transformative Guide to Overcoming Fears and False Beliefs for Personal Growth and Success by Gay Hendricks

Curious about your Enneagram type?

The Enneagram is one of my favorite tools for helping clients better understand their strengths, motivations, and unique patterns — especially when you're exploring your Zone of Genius.

I recommend the RHETI test from The Enneagram Institute. It's the most accurate version I've found and the one I use in my own coaching work. The test costs $20 and takes about 40 minutes to complete.

If you're ready to gain deeper insight into what truly drives you, you can get started here:
www.enneagraminstitute.com/get-started-with-enneagram-tests

We're continuing our podcast-sharing contest through January!
Just share the podcast with two people you haven't shared it with before, then email us:

• the episode(s) you shared, and
• the initials (or another identifier) of the two people

That's it. Email team@doctorscrossing.com, and we'll send your prize.
People are loving it because it's customizable and genuinely useful—this really is a contest you can't lose

Thank you for listening!

We're often told that gratitude is the answer, that if we could just appreciate what we have, everything would feel better. And while gratitude can be grounding and healing, there is a side of it that doesn't get talked about enough.

In this solo episode, I explore what happens when gratitude turns into pressure, when "I should be grateful" becomes a way of silencing your truth, minimizing your exhaustion, or staying stuck in a situation that no longer fits. This is what I call the gratitude trap, and it's one many physicians encounter, especially at moments of transition.

This episode is an invitation to reclaim gratitude as a source of support rather than self-abandonment. If you've ever questioned your career and then talked yourself out of listening to that inner voice, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we're talking about:

• The difference between gratitude that expands you and gratitude that shuts you down

• How "I should be grateful" can quietly keep you stuck

• Why comparison is not a reason to ignore your own truth

• What authentic gratitude actually sounds like

• Signs your energy is contracting vs. expanding in your work

• How listening to discomfort can point you toward a better fit

• Using gratitude as support rather than pressure
  

You can find the show notes for this episode and more information by clicking here:

www.doctorscrossing.com/episode237

Links for this episode:

We're continuing our podcast-sharing contest through January 🎁
Just share the podcast with two people you haven't shared it with before, then email us:

• the episode(s) you shared, and

• the initials (or another identifier) of the two people

That's it. Email team@doctorscrossing.com, and we'll send your prize.
People are loving it because it's customizable and genuinely useful—this really is a contest you can't lose 🌟