The Great Debate: Becoming a Doctor vs. Starting a Successful Business

Grayson Larkspur

Updated Friday, February 23, 2024 at 1:52 AM CDT

The Great Debate: Becoming a Doctor vs. Starting a Successful Business

The Challenging Process of Becoming a Doctor

In today's society, pursuing higher education is often criticized, with many people boasting about their success without a college degree. However, when it comes to the debate between becoming a doctor or starting a successful business, the path to becoming a doctor is undeniably challenging. Unlike starting a business, becoming a doctor requires meeting the rigorous requirements for medical school, which is a demanding process.

Starting a successful business may take hard work, but it is still considered easier than becoming a doctor due to the low barrier to entry. Anyone can attempt to start a business, but becoming a doctor requires years of education, training, and dedication. The process can take anywhere from 10 to 15 years before a doctor can fully practice, while most businesses aim for instant profit and may close down within that timeline.

The Value of Being a Doctor in Society

Being a doctor is considered more valuable to society because health is essential, whereas trendy clothing brands or fancy restaurants are not. Doctors play a crucial role in saving lives and improving the well-being of individuals. Their expertise and knowledge in the medical field are highly regarded, making their profession invaluable.

Furthermore, STEM fields, such as physics, math, chemistry, engineering, and computer science, are generally seen as impressive due to the higher capability of critical thinking. Doctors fall into this category, as they need to possess strong analytical skills and problem-solving abilities to diagnose and treat patients effectively.

The Challenges of Starting a Successful Business

Contrary to popular belief, the barrier of entry is actually harder for businesses, especially for those aiming to become multi-million dollar ventures. While anyone can get student loans and start undergraduate studies to move towards medical school, the path to becoming a doctor is laid out step by step. On the other hand, starting a successful business requires extensive planning, market research, financial investment, and the ability to navigate complex legal and competitive landscapes.

Moreover, the statistics speak for themselves. There are over a million doctors in the US, while there are a little over 700,000 business owners, indicating the difficulty of starting a successful business. Most successful business owners could become physicians if they set their minds to it, but most physicians would struggle with starting and running a successful business.

The Mental Fortitude of Entrepreneurs

Being an entrepreneur requires a high risk tolerance and enduring pain for years, while being a doctor follows a more concrete path. Many people cannot bear the losses and risks associated with starting a business, including losing friends, sanity, money, and respect. Becoming a doctor, on the other hand, does not require the same mental fortitude needed to tackle risk as an entrepreneur.

In addition, entrepreneurs often face the challenge of making difficult decisions without readily available resources. While doctors have access to a wealth of information and can reference others' experiences and research, many business owners don't have this luxury. They must rely on their own instincts, trial and error, and continuous learning to navigate the business landscape.

Dedication and Discipline in Becoming a Doctor

Becoming a doctor requires dedication and discipline. The years of education, long hours of studying, and the commitment to lifelong learning are all essential components of the journey. It takes a strong work ethic and a passion for the medical field to succeed in this profession.

In contrast, starting a business that provides a service is much harder than selling products. Service-based businesses often require building a reputation, establishing trust with clients, and consistently delivering exceptional results. This level of dedication and commitment can be just as demanding as the path to becoming a doctor.

the debate between becoming a doctor or starting a successful business is complex. While being a medical doctor may be more valuable in a vacuum, there are hundreds of thousands of doctors compared to rare million-dollar businesses. Each path has its own challenges, and both require dedication, hard work, and a certain level of risk-taking. Ultimately, the decision should be based on an individual's passion, skills, and long-term goals.

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