#259 Are You Stuck in the Medical Hamster Wheel? ft. Peter Kim, MD

The Medical Hamster Wheel

Many physicians reach a point in their careers where they’ve achieved everything they were “supposed” to—med school, residency, a good job—and yet, something still feels off. They’re earning well, but there’s a lingering sense of being unfulfilled or stuck.

Peter Kim introduces the concept of the “Medical Hamster Wheel”—the cycle of working constantly, checking all the professional boxes, and still feeling like freedom is out of reach. It’s not uncommon to question why it doesn’t feel like success, even when everything looks good on paper.

The hamster wheel metaphor reflects a lifestyle that feels more about survival than purpose. Doctors work hard, stay late to chart, and repeat the process daily. Over time, what started as a calling becomes a grind. The key point Peter makes here is that many don’t even recognize they’re in this loop—they’ve become so accustomed to the pace that they forget to ask if they’re actually progressing toward what they want.

When High Income Keeps You Trapped

Peter dives into a major paradox: earning a high income can actually keep physicians financially stuck. Many doctors earning $300K, $400K, or even more still feel like they’re just “doing okay.”

Why? Because their income is tied to their time—if they’re not working, the money stops coming in. This dependency is a trap that often goes unnoticed because it’s masked by high earnings.

He emphasizes that real wealth is measured by control over your time, not your income. When your job still owns your time, you’re not free. It might look like success externally, but internally, it can feel like a constant grind. Financial freedom means being able to say no to work—not because you want to quit medicine, but because you have options.

Leverage & Growth—The Pathway Out

Peter introduces the Leverage and Growth Accelerator Community, a space designed to help physicians expand their identities and income streams beyond clinical medicine. This community focuses on helping doctors embrace entrepreneurship without giving up their physician identity. It’s not about replacing medicine, but adding to your life with intention and freedom.

He explains that after hosting the Leverage and Growth Summit, it became clear that many physicians were inspired but needed help with execution—specifically the “how and when” of entrepreneurship. That’s why this community was formed: to offer coaching, resources, and a tribe of like-minded doctors moving toward more impact and freedom.

Reclaiming Your Time Through Passive Income

Peter opens up about his personal journey toward financial freedom, which began with real estate investing. He didn’t quit medicine but started buying back his time by creating passive and scalable income streams. Over time, this allowed him to give up nights, weekends, and even a lucrative Thanksgiving shift so he could be with family instead of in the hospital.

That decision—giving up a well-paid shift to spend time with loved ones—was a turning point. It made him realize that the freedom to choose is more valuable than a paycheck. Passive income doesn’t mean you never work; it means you get to choose how you work and when. The transformation wasn’t overnight, but it gave him back control over his life and career.

“I had worked four Thanksgivings in a row,” he recalls. “That fifth year, when I was scheduled again… I gave that shift up.” He reflects on how this felt at first like a financial loss, but ultimately became a life gain.

It made medicine feel fun again because it was no longer something he had to do to survive—it became something he chose to do.

Your Freedom Starts Now: Grab Our FREE PDF Guide

Peter ends the episode with a challenge: don’t wait until you hit burnout or regret lost time. Start now. Take inventory of what you want from life, ask the hard questions, and begin building your ideal future. That starts with clarity—knowing your “what” and your “why”—and connecting with others who are on a similar path.

He also shares a free resource: “5 Signs You’re Stuck in the Medical Hamster Wheel and How to Get Out”, to help listeners reflect and begin planning real change. Whether you’re uncertain if you’re stuck or already feeling the weight of the grind, the point is to take that first step before it’s too late.

Peter emphasizes,

“Don’t wait until your time has passed, your health is gone, you’ve missed time with your family… start building the life you want today.”

If you’re listening, you’re already on the right path—surrounding yourself with the right people and perspectives. Don’t settle for survival. Design a life that makes you feel free, fulfilled, and fully present.