Embark on an inspiring journey with Dr. Darryl Glover and the extraordinary Dr. Christina Lee, as they explore the transformative power of intentional living. In this captivating conversation, Dr. Lee, a board-certified ophthalmologist and a visionary executive coach, shares her unique transition from the detailed world of eye care to the expansive realm of personal coaching. Her narrative is a compelling blend of medical expertise, philosophical insights, and the art of making intentional choices.

With her philosophy-infused perspective, Dr. Lee challenges us to examine the 35,000 daily choices and live a life of purpose and intention. This conversation is not just for healthcare professionals looking to refine their coaching skills, but for anyone seeking to lead a more intentional and fulfilling life. Learn more as Dr. Christine Lee shares how to become your Happy Successful You.

• The Fascinating Journey of Dr. Christina Lee: From Ophthalmology to Coaching
• The Transformational Power of Professional Coaching
• Unleashing a Life of Intention: Insights from “Happy Successful You”
• Vision and Magnification: A Metaphor for Life Goals

Dr. Darryl Glover: Are you seeking to improve yourself? Do you aspire to reach the next level? Do you desire a life filled with purpose and intention? Do you want to understand what makes you happy and successful?

Dr. Darryl Glover:

Let’s start by learning more about you, Dr. Lee. Could you share your journey with us? Tell us about who you are, where you’re from, how you entered the wonderful world of eye care, and perhaps a bit about your educational background and specialties.

Dr. Christine Lee:

Certainly. I’m a board-certified ophthalmologist, an author, a speaker, and a certified executive professional coach. I’ve practiced as a comprehensive ophthalmologist specializing in cataract and refractive surgery.

Dr. Darryl Glover:

That’s quite an impressive education!

Dr. Christine Lee:

I attended the University of Michigan Medical School and completed my residency at the University of Virginia Ophthalmology Department. You asked about a fun fact earlier.

Dr. Darryl Glover:

Yes, please share.

Dr. Christine Lee:

As a child, I aspired to be a concert pianist, although that dream never came to fruition. Interestingly, during cataract surgeries, I sometimes imagine my operating room as a stage, where I perform my best work.

Dr. Christine Lee:

Of course. My patients have taught me a great deal. Each time a patient visits, I listen attentively to understand what I should or shouldn’t do, as they often share valuable insights. This experience has been incredibly rewarding, and I’ve learned much from my patients. Moreover, I’ve realized that I’ve been coaching my patients. As much as we’d like to, we can’t accompany our patients home. This is especially true for cataract patients, who may or may not be troubled by their vision. I offer them choices, educate them about the implications of these choices, and listen closely. This approach helps me understand the best course of action for each individual.

Dr. Christine Lee:

Yes, but the second thing I learned is the uniqueness of each individual. We often generalize conditions and diagnoses, trying to treat everyone similarly, but that approach doesn’t always work effectively. What was invaluable to me was realizing that each person has their own goals, dreams, and challenges. Now, wearing my coaching hat, I’ve observed that people’s strengths, experiences, and life approaches vary greatly. All these aspects have been crucial in my patient care and have significantly influenced my coaching style.

Dr. Darryl Glover:

Let’s delve deeper into this transition to coaching. Medicine has clearly played a major role in your life, but I’m curious about how other doctors or healthcare professionals who might be considering a similar shift can make this transition. What advice or tips can you offer to physicians looking to enter the coaching world? We inherently have the skills, but sometimes we need some guidance to fully realize them, right?

Dr. Christine Lee:

Absolutely. Coaching goes beyond just patient interactions. While coaching patients provided clarity, my professional coaching education significantly expanded my understanding. I enrolled in courses at the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPAC) and obtained credentials from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). This journey was transformational in terms of the changes I aimed for and my personal growth. It took about eight to nine months of dedicated study to learn how to be an effective coach truly.

Even though I initially thought I had a good grasp on coaching, given my experience with patients and even my own children, I realized there was much more to learn. The curriculum covered both basic and advanced skills. This extensive learning and self-experience made me a better coach. Interestingly, this all happened during COVID, so the timing was perfect. I couldn’t attend in-person events, so I turned to virtual classes. After nine months of online classes and a lot of homework, I found that this journey changed me professionally and made me happier. It allowed me to pursue what I wanted and recognize my potential.

Dr. Darryl Glover:

That’s fantastic, and I really appreciate your transparency about receiving coaching and taking courses to enhance your coaching skills. Often, those of us with extensive educational backgrounds might assume we’re already proficient in everything. But we all need coaching, too. It’s encouraging to know that there are opportunities for learning and becoming better coaches through various courses, and that these can be accessed online. As busy healthcare professionals, it’s vital to develop coaching skills in patient interactions and within our teams.

Whether it’s coaching the front desk staff on effective communication or guiding technicians to engage more meaningfully with patients, these skills are essential. It’s about improving interactions across the board, building trust, and establishing authority with patients. Encouraging everyone to pursue coaching in some form can be transformative.

Dr. Christine Lee:

Absolutely, you’ve made a great point. I believe leadership is inherent in everyone. If you’re influencing someone to take action, you’re acting as a leader. I’ve always told my staff that a smile can be heard, even without seeing it.

Dr. Darryl Glover:

That’s a powerful perspective. I want to switch gears a bit and talk about your book. You mentioned, “Happy Successful You: Unleashing a Life of Intentional Choices, Purpose, and Meaning.” Can you tell us more about that?

Dr. Christine Lee:

The purpose of my book is to empower readers to make intentional choices. A staggering statistic from an Inc.com article mentioned we make about 35,000 choices daily. Operating on autopilot is easy, but some choices, especially those related to patient care, are critically important. With my philosophical background, I’ve included philosophical elements in the book. One key concept is existentialism, which posits that you exist before your essence. This means there’s no predefined purpose for anyone; you have the power to create your own purpose and meaning.

Dr. Christine Lee:

I’d like to delve deeper into the concept of refocusing.

Dr. Darryl Glover:

This is intriguing, though a bit nerve-wracking, to think about what happens in our minds.

Dr. Christine Lee:

It’s all about understanding your core focus. What’s at your center? What are your priorities? If we use the analogy of magnification, at low magnification, you see a larger field – representing the broader aspects of your life. What surrounds your central focus? Have you considered all these elements? Then, as you switch to high magnification, you delve into the details. What’s clear to you? Are there areas that remain blurry, requiring refocusing and attention?

Dr. Christine Lee:

In my workshops, we explore this concept. Participants determine their central focus and then decide whether to view it through a low or high magnification. This process often leads to surprising realizations. They might remember aspects of their life needing attention or reassess what they initially thought was a priority. Ultimately, it’s the individual who decides their focus.Setting small, attainable goals is also key. Some people have a clear vision of what they want and how to achieve it, while others might need more guidance in defining their goals. The journey is about discovering and clarifying these objectives for a more focused and intentional life.