Episodi

  • EP329: Testing Your Offer Before You Build Anything - a 30 Day Plan

    EP329: Testing Your Offer Before You Build Anything - a 30 Day Plan
    Jan 21 2026

    What if you could validate your side business idea and earn your first $10,000 before building a website or content empire?

    In this practical solo episode, host Dr. Mike Woo-Ming draws from his entrepreneurial experience to guide physicians away from common pitfalls like overcomplicating launches with unnecessary infrastructure. He explains the "credentialing mindset" that holds doctors back and advocates for a minimum viable test: Define a specific audience and transformation, run a free webinar with a framework and offer, and promote it via your existing network. Real examples, including his own $32,000 validation for Bootstrap MD, illustrate how to iterate based on results. Whether you're eyeing telemedicine, coaching, or consulting, discover how to get paid customers in 30 days without burnout or perfectionism.

    If you're a physician entrepreneur ready to test ideas leanly, this episode provides a clear 30-day plan for validation, pivoting, and scaling with confidence.

    Three Actionable Takeaways:

    • Define your MVP offer: Identify a specific target audience,for example, hospitalists launching telemedicine, promise a measurable transformation (e.g., see your first 5 patients in 90 days), and set a price, focus on implementation support like coaching or cohorts.

    • Run a test webinar: Create a simple landing page, outline 30-45 minutes of framework content (what/why, not how), promote to 50 network contacts via personal messages and LinkedIn, and make your offer in the last 10-15 minutes.

    • Analyze and iterate: Track attendance, questions, and conversions; if buyers emerge, deliver and refine; if not, interview attendees for feedback, adjust variables (audience, promise, price), and retest in 1-2 weeks to validate before building infrastructure.

    About the Show:

    Bootstrap MD is the ultimate podcast for physician entrepreneurs looking to escape traditional healthcare and control their financial futures. Hosted by Dr. Mike Woo-Ming, a successful physician, entrepreneur, and investor, the show delivers actionable insights on starting businesses, creating passive income, and navigating healthcare entrepreneurship. Featuring interviews with industry leaders, physicians, and experts in telemedicine and digital health, it's your guide to building a profitable, fulfilling career.

    Tune in weekly at http://bootstrapmd.com

    About the Host:

    Dr. Mike Woo-Ming has over 20 years of experience as a physician entrepreneur. He's built and sold multiple seven-figure companies and now leads Executive Medical, a group of clinics specializing in age management and aesthetics. Through BootstrapMD, he mentors physicians in business, content creation, and autonomy.

    Let's Connect: www.https://www.bootstrapmd.com

    Want to start a podcast? Check out the Doctor Podcast Network!
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    20 min
  • EP328: Why Most Physician Podcasts Stall - And What Actually Moves Them Forward

    EP328: Why Most Physician Podcasts Stall - And What Actually Moves Them Forward
    Jan 14 2026
    This episode is sponsored by Lightstone DIRECT. Lightstone DIRECT invites you to partner with a $12B AUM real estate institution as you grow your portfolio. Access the same single-asset multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital – Lightstone co-invests a minimum of 20% in each deal alongside individual investors like you. You're an institution. Time to invest like one. _____________ This Episode is also sponsored by Ryze Health Every minute counts in medicine—so why waste it on clunky admin work? With Ryze Health, practice management becomes effortless. Our all-in-one platform streamlines scheduling, patient communications, and insurance verification, giving you fewer no-shows, faster check-ins, and happier patients. Free yourself from paperwork and phone tag so you can focus on what truly matters: providing care. Visit http://ryzehealth.com/BootstrapMD today and see how simple running your practice can be. ______________ Join us for Doctor PodFest in Florida! Go here to secure your ticket: Here ______________ What if your physician podcast isn't failing, it's just stuck in the "quiet plateau" phase, and the key to breaking through is community, not better content? In this episode of Bootstrap MD, host Dr. Mike Woo-Ming shares insights from his experience and talks with countless physician podcasters. He explores why so many physician podcasts hit a wall and quietly fade away. Drawing from conversations with hundreds of doctors, he breaks down the three phases of podcasting, the pitfalls of isolation, and proven strategies to build momentum. He outlines the three phases: The excited beginner: Episodes 1-20, full of energy and early wins The quiet plateau: Episodes 20-75, where downloads flatline and motivation wanes due to lack of feedback The leverage podcast: where clarity and connections lead to opportunities like speaking gigs and collaborations. Mike explains why physicians stall more than other creators, due to a focus on competence over visibility, rare creative feedback, and a solo mindset from medical training. He emphasizes four key levers: audience clarity, feedback loops, peer collaboration, and identity. Drawing from real examples, he shows how repositioning can reignite growth without changing content quality. Mike also introduces Dr. Podfest, an event he co-created with Dr. Anne Truong, happening in Orlando, a one-day physician summit with awards, networking, and access to Podfest Expo for building media platforms without isolation. Go here to secure your ticket: Here If you're a physician podcaster feeling the plateau or contemplating starting one, this episode delivers practical advice to turn your show into a compounding asset, avoid common traps, and find the validation needed to keep going. Three Actionable Takeaways: Identify your phase and build clarity: Assess if you're in the excited beginner, quiet plateau, or leverage stage; define your audience niche in one sentence e.g., "hospitalists building side income" to make content more resonant and avoid speaking to "everyone." Create feedback loops and collaborate: Move beyond download metrics by seeking direct listener responses, peer episode reviews, and conversations with other physician podcasters to refine positioning, intros, and topics, start this from episode one to prevent isolation. Join or build community for momentum: Seek rooms like Dr. Podfest for live connections, validation, and shared insights; focus on specificity in your identity ("What am I known for?") to open doors, and remember that momentum comes from peers reflecting your impact, not just more episodes. About the Show: Bootstrap MD is the ultimate podcast for physician entrepreneurs looking to escape traditional healthcare and control their financial futures. Hosted by Dr. Mike Woo-Ming, a successful physician, entrepreneur, and investor, the show delivers actionable insights on starting businesses, creating passive income, and navigating healthcare entrepreneurship. Featuring interviews with industry leaders, physicians, and experts in telemedicine and digital health, it's your guide to building a profitable, fulfilling career. Tune in weekly at http://bootstrapmd.com About the Host: Dr. Mike Woo-Ming has over 20 years of experience as a physician entrepreneur. He's built and sold multiple seven-figure companies and now leads Executive Medical, a group of clinics specializing in age management and aesthetics. Through BootstrapMD, he mentors physicians in business, content creation, and autonomy. Let's Connect: www.https://www.bootstrapmd.com Want to start a podcast? Check out the Doctor Podcast Network!
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    18 min
  • EP327: Predictions for 2026: A Playbook for Physician Entrepreneurs

    EP327: Predictions for 2026: A Playbook for Physician Entrepreneurs
    Jan 7 2026
    EP327: Predictions for 2026: A Playbook for Physician Entrepreneurs This episode is sponsored by Lightstone DIRECT. Lightstone DIRECT invites you to partner with a $12B AUM real estate institution as you grow your portfolio. Access the same single-asset multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital – Lightstone co-invests a minimum of 20% in each deal alongside individual investors like you. You're an institution. Time to invest like one. _____________ This Episode is also sponsored by Ryze Health Every minute counts in medicine—so why waste it on clunky admin work? With Ryze Health, practice management becomes effortless. Our all-in-one platform streamlines scheduling, patient communications, and insurance verification, giving you fewer no-shows, faster check-ins, and happier patients. Free yourself from paperwork and phone tag so you can focus on what truly matters: providing care. Visit http://ryzehealth.com/BootstrapMD today and see how simple running your practice can be. ______________ Join us for Doctor PodFest in Florida! Go here to secure your ticket: Here ______________ What if 2026 rewarded clarity over hustle, narrow niches over broad scaling, and high-conviction bets over scattered diversification? In part two of our 2025 retrospective series, Dr. Mike Woo-Ming shares bold predictions for 2026 in physician entrepreneurship. wraps up the 2025 retrospective with forward-looking predictions for physician entrepreneurs. He breaks down business and practice trends like hyper-specialization, education-clinical hybrids for leverage, and AI workflows as staff multipliers. On the investment side, expect demands for more control, shifts to real assets with operational upside like healthcare real estate or media brands, and fewer but deeper convictions. Drawing from his own businesses and consulting experiences, Dr. Mike shares real examples and challenges physicians to rethink their strategies. Discover why specialization trumps scaling, how education-clinical hybrids will explode, AI as a staff multiplier, shifts in investments toward control and real assets, and a three-step playbook to thrive. This episode delivers actionable insights to own your future. The episode ends with a practical 2026 playbook: one business to double down on, one asset to exit, and one skill to master. If you're a physician building businesses or wealth, seeking autonomy, passive income, or scalable ventures beyond traditional medicine, this is your roadmap to building leverage, wealth, and freedom in the year ahead. Three Actionable Takeaways: Specialize deeply: Narrow your niche to one core expertise (e.g., hormone optimization for perimenopausal women in high-stress careers) for clearer marketing, premium pricing, and less competition. Avoid broad scaling; focus on being the go-to for a specific problem and patient type. Layer education on clinical care: Build hybrid models like group coaching, memberships, or workshops to extend patient value, prevent issues, and scale revenue without adding hours. This creates stickier relationships, higher referrals, and leverage—start small with a monthly Q&A series. Consolidate investments: Demand control, transparency, and optionality in deals; shift to real assets like improvable real estate or physician-led media (e.g., podcasts with sponsorship revenue). Pick fewer high-conviction bets where you add value, exit underperformers, and master one skill like AI integration or content creation for compounding gains. About the Show: Bootstrap MD is the ultimate podcast for physician entrepreneurs looking to escape traditional healthcare and control their financial futures. Hosted by Dr. Mike Woo-Ming, a successful physician, entrepreneur, and investor, the show delivers actionable insights on starting businesses, creating passive income, and navigating healthcare entrepreneurship. Featuring interviews with industry leaders, physicians, and experts in telemedicine and digital health, it's your guide to building a profitable, fulfilling career. Tune in weekly at http://bootstrapmd.com About the Host: Dr. Mike Woo-Ming has over 20 years of experience as a physician entrepreneur. He's built and sold multiple seven-figure companies and now leads Executive Medical, a group of clinics specializing in age management and aesthetics. Through BootstrapMD, he mentors physicians in business, content creation, and autonomy. Let's Connect: www.https://www.bootstrapmd.com Want to start a podcast? Check out the Doctor Podcast Network!
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    20 min
  • EP326: 2025 Retrospective - What Actually Worked (And Flopped) for Physician Entrepreneurs.

    EP326: 2025 Retrospective - What Actually Worked (And Flopped) for Physician Entrepreneurs.
    Dec 31 2025
    EP326: 2025 Retrospective - What Actually Worked (And Flopped) for Physician Entrepreneurs.

    This episode is sponsored by Lightstone DIRECT. Lightstone DIRECT invites you to partner with a $12B AUM real estate institution as you grow your portfolio. Access the same single-asset multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital – Lightstone co-invests a minimum of 20% in each deal alongside individual investors like you. You're an institution. Time to invest like one.

    _____________

    This Episode is also sponsored by Ryze Health

    Every minute counts in medicine—so why waste it on clunky admin work? With Ryze Health, practice management becomes effortless. Our all-in-one platform streamlines scheduling, patient communications, and insurance verification, giving you fewer no-shows, faster check-ins, and happier patients. Free yourself from paperwork and phone tag so you can focus on what truly matters: providing care. Visit http://ryzehealth.com/BootstrapMD today and see how simple running your practice can be.

    ______________

    Join us for Doctor PodFest in Florida! Go here to secure your ticket: https://doctorpodfest.com/doctorfest2026-203599?am_id=desiree7783

    ______________

    Dr. Mike Woo-Ming pauses the usual Bootstrap MD format for a candid two-part series. In Part 1, he delivers a no-hype 2025 retrospective: the biggest wins (cash/hybrid models, content as infrastructure, smarter investing), the brutal flops (commodity telehealth, passive income myths, unused AI tools), and the quiet trends most doctors missed entirely.

    2025 stripped away the illusions for physician entrepreneurs. While some chased shiny objects and got burned, others built real leverage, freedom, and wealth. In this raw year-in-review, Dr. Mike Woo-Ming shares exactly what crushed it, what crashed hard, and the under-the-radar shifts that separated the thriving doctors from the overwhelmed ones. No fluff, just the real lessons from coaching hundreds of physicians through the year's chaos.

    Top 3 Actionable Takeaways

    • Own the patient relationship with niche cash/hybrid models: Stop competing on price in commoditized markets. Build a practice where you choose patients, control scheduling, and have pricing power, whether full cash, membership, or strategic hybrid. Micro-niches like executive perimenopause, endurance athletes, beat generic telehealth every time in 2025.

    • Treat content as infrastructure, not marketing: One consistent long-form platform (podcast, YouTube, newsletter) compounds trust and authority faster than rented social algorithms. Patients who consume 10+ episodes arrive pre-sold, not price-shopping. Start owning your distribution now, consistency beats perfection.

    • Go deep on fewer bets instead of wide and scattered: Spreading across 10 mediocre ventures creates overwhelm with no leverage. The 2025 winners picked 1–2 interconnected things (niche practice, community, content and membership) and mastered them. Depth creates moats; breadth creates burnout.

    About the Show:

    Bootstrap MD is the ultimate podcast for physician entrepreneurs looking to escape traditional healthcare and control their financial futures. Hosted by Dr. Mike Woo-Ming, a successful physician, entrepreneur, and investor, the show delivers actionable insights on starting businesses, creating passive income, and navigating healthcare entrepreneurship. Featuring interviews with industry leaders, physicians, and experts in telemedicine and digital health, it's your guide to building a profitable, fulfilling career.

    Tune in weekly at http://bootstrapmd.com

    About the Host:

    Dr. Mike Woo-Ming has over 20 years of experience as a physician entrepreneur. He's built and sold multiple seven-figure companies and now leads Executive Medical, a group of clinics specializing in age management and aesthetics. Through BootstrapMD, he mentors physicians in business, content creation, and autonomy.

    Let's Connect: www.https://www.bootstrapmd.com

    Want to start a podcast? Check out the Doctor Podcast Network!
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    20 min
  • EP325: What If Wiping Out Was the Key to Rising Stronger in Medicine?

    EP325: What If Wiping Out Was the Key to Rising Stronger in Medicine?
    Dec 24 2025
    This episode is sponsored by Lightstone DIRECT. Lightstone DIRECT invites you to partner with a $12B AUM real estate institution as you grow your portfolio. Access the same single-asset multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital – Lightstone co-invests a minimum of 20% in each deal alongside individual investors like you. You're an institution. Time to invest like one. _____________ This Episode is also sponsored by Ryze Health Every minute counts in medicine—so why waste it on clunky admin work? With Ryze Health, practice management becomes effortless. Our all-in-one platform streamlines scheduling, patient communications, and insurance verification, giving you fewer no-shows, faster check-ins, and happier patients. Free yourself from paperwork and phone tag so you can focus on what truly matters: providing care. Visit http://ryzehealth.com/BootstrapMD today and see how simple running your practice can be. ______________ What if a life-altering accident on the beach redirected your entire career, and a mental health crisis became the catalyst for resilient leadership? In this inspiring episode of Bootstrap MD, Dr. Mike Woo-Ming welcomes Dr. Scott Ellner, as he shares his journey from witnessing a roadside trauma that sparked his path to medicine, to practicing in New England, facing burnout and suicidal thoughts, and pivoting to executive roles like leading Integris Health Medical Group. Drawing from surfing metaphors, he discusses mental health stigma, the addiction to identity, finding purpose beyond the OR, and practical tips for physicians navigating pivots, startups, and leadership in chaotic healthcare. Perfect for doctors feeling stuck or seeking nonclinical transitions, this conversation offers hope, transparency, and actionable insights on grit, resilience, and reaching out. Three Actionable Takeaways: Embrace Mental Health Openly: Physicians face immense stressors—discuss it like physical health. If you're in crisis (e.g., burnout, cynicism), reflect on purpose: "What intimidates me motivates me." Reach out to a trusted person; a simple "Are you okay?" can save lives, as it did for Scott during a dark night on call. Redefine Purpose Beyond Identity: Don't tie your worth to "surgeon" or "physician"—identity addiction fuels burnout. Pivot by exploring passions (e.g., leadership, startups); spend time journaling or in "executive residencies" to learn business acumen, funding pitches, and health system buy-in for new ventures. Use Surfing as a Leadership Metaphor: Adversity builds grit. Paddle through discomfort like cold water or wetsuits. In healthcare chaos (post-COVID), lead by contributing meaningfully; for pivots, seek VC insights on exit strategies and physician influence (e.g., CMO buy-in) to make ideas stick. About the Show: Bootstrap MD is the ultimate podcast for physician entrepreneurs looking to escape traditional healthcare and control their financial futures. Hosted by Dr. Mike Woo-Ming, a successful physician, entrepreneur, and investor, the show delivers actionable insights on starting businesses, creating passive income, and navigating healthcare entrepreneurship. Featuring interviews with industry leaders, physicians, and experts in telemedicine and digital health, it's your guide to building a profitable, fulfilling career. Tune in weekly at http://bootstrapmd.com About the Guest: Dr. Scott Ellner is a former general and trauma surgeon, now President of Integris Health Medical Group in Oklahoma City. A leadership strategist and TEDx speaker, he transitioned from clinical practice after a mental health crisis, drawing from surgery, surfing, and executive roles to help physicians combat burnout and lead sustainably. He's the author of Wipe Out, Rise Up: A Practical and Deeply Human Guide to Leadership, Grit, and Redefining Success in Medicine. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Scott Ellner: 🌐 Website: www.drscottellner.com 📘 Book: Wipe Out, Rise Up About the Host: Dr. Mike Woo-Ming has over 20 years of experience as a physician entrepreneur. He's built and sold multiple seven-figure companies and now leads Executive Medical, a group of clinics specializing in age management and aesthetics. Through BootstrapMD, he mentors physicians in business, content creation, and autonomy. Let's Connect: www.https://www.bootstrapmd.com Want to start a podcast? Check out the Doctor Podcast Network!
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    26 min
  • EP324 : Why Physicians Are Co-Investing in $55M Deals with a $12B Real Estate Giant

    EP324 : Why Physicians Are Co-Investing in $55M Deals with a $12B Real Estate Giant
    Dec 17 2025
    This episode is sponsored by Lightstone DIRECT. Lightstone DIRECT invites you to partner with a $12B AUM real estate institution as you grow your portfolio. Access the same single-asset multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital – Lightstone co-invests a minimum of 20% in each deal alongside individual investors like you. You're an institution. Time to invest like one. _____________ This Episode is also sponsored by Ryze Health Every minute counts in medicine—so why waste it on clunky admin work? With Ryze Health, practice management becomes effortless. Our all-in-one platform streamlines scheduling, patient communications, and insurance verification, giving you fewer no-shows, faster check-ins, and happier patients. Free yourself from paperwork and phone tag so you can focus on what truly matters: providing care. Visit http://ryzehealth.com/BootstrapMD today and see how simple running your practice can be. ______________ What if physicians could co-invest in $55M industrial parks alongside a $12B family office without $100K consultants or high-risk leverage? In this insightful episode, Dr. Mike Woo-Ming interviews Jonathan Spitz from Lightstone Direct, the new direct-to-investor arm of 40-year-old powerhouse Lightstone Group. Jonathan shares the firm's vertically integrated model (25K apartments, 12M sq ft industrial, 5K hotel keys), why they commit 20% of their own capital first (5-10x industry norms), and how physicians can diversify beyond stocks or DIY rentals. He breaks down direct vs. passive CRE, asset class pitfalls (office flops vs. industrial wins), and red flags like inexperienced managers or 85% debt. With examples like their Greenville industrial deal, Jonathan proves alignment and conviction drive better outcomes empowering busy doctors to build legacy wealth safely. If you're a high-income physician eyeing real estate for tax efficiency and passive income, this is your guide to investing like institutions without the headaches. Three Actionable Takeaways: Decide direct vs. passive: If time-strapped, skip hands-on rentals for platforms like Lightstone Direct, vet managers on track record, cycles navigated, and skin in game (aim for 20%+). Passive reduces risks like tenant concentration; focus on assets like industrial for steady returns over volatile office or retail. Qualify and evaluate: As accredited (200K/300K income or 1M net worth), request decks/PPMs/operating agreements. Ask: Debt levels? Exit strategies? Risk mitigation? Compare projected IRRs realistically—avoid 20%+ promises tied to high leverage. Prioritize alignment where sponsors invest heavily first for shared incentives. Start the process: Visit lightstonedirect.com or email jspitz@lightstonedirect.com for discovery calls. Define goals (income vs. growth, liquidity horizon). Use a special link lightstone.com/dpn for Bootstrap MD listeners. Early incentives like 6% on parked funds make starting seamless, build long-term partnerships for 3-5 year holds. About the Show: Bootstrap MD is the ultimate podcast for physician entrepreneurs looking to escape traditional healthcare and control their financial futures. Hosted by Dr. Mike Woo-Ming, a successful physician, entrepreneur, and investor, the show delivers actionable insights on starting businesses, creating passive income, and navigating healthcare entrepreneurship. Featuring interviews with industry leaders, physicians, and experts in telemedicine and digital health, it's your guide to building a profitable, fulfilling career. Tune in weekly at http://bootstrapmd.com About the Guest: Jonathan Spitz is the Head of Capital Formation at Lightstone Direct, where he connects individual investors, especially physicians, to institutional-quality real estate opportunities. With over a decade of experience spanning brokerage, lending, and private equity, Jonathan has navigated multiple market cycles and capital-raising environments. He focuses on transparency, education, and aligned incentives, helping professionals understand how private real estate can diversify portfolios, reduce taxes, and build long-term wealth. Website: https://lp.lightstonedirect.com/dpn Email: jspitz@lightstonedirect.com About the Host: Dr. Mike Woo-Ming has over 20 years of experience as a physician entrepreneur. He's built and sold multiple seven-figure companies and now leads Executive Medical, a group of clinics specializing in age management and aesthetics. Through BootstrapMD, he mentors physicians in business, content creation, and autonomy. Let's Connect: www.https://www.bootstrapmd.com Want to start a podcast? Check out the Doctor Podcast Network!
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    25 min
  • EP323 : Never Split the Difference: The FBI Negotiator's Playbook Every Physician Needs

    EP323 : Never Split the Difference: The FBI Negotiator's Playbook Every Physician Needs
    Dec 10 2025

    This episode is sponsored by Lightstone DIRECT. Lightstone DIRECT invites you to partner with a $12B AUM real estate institution as you grow your portfolio. Access the same single-asset multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital – Lightstone co-invests a minimum of 20% in each deal alongside individual investors like you. You're an institution. Time to invest like one.

    _____________

    This Episode is also sponsored by Ryze Health

    Every minute counts in medicine—so why waste it on clunky admin work? With Ryze Health, practice management becomes effortless. Our all-in-one platform streamlines scheduling, patient communications, and insurance verification, giving you fewer no-shows, faster check-ins, and happier patients. Free yourself from paperwork and phone tag so you can focus on what truly matters: providing care. Visit http://ryzehealth.com/BootstrapMD today and see how simple running your practice can be.

    ______________

    Host Dr. Mike Woo-Ming breaks down why Chris Voss's Never Split the Difference is the single most important book most physicians will never read in school yet use dozens of times every single shift. From salary negotiations and admin battles to convincing patients to get the CT, these FBI-level tactics will immediately make you more money, save you time, and reduce daily frustration.

    Doctors are brilliant clinicians but notoriously terrible negotiators. We say "yes" to terrible contracts, extra shifts without extra pay, and patients who refuse life-saving care all because no one ever taught us how to negotiate like our life or livelihood depends on it.

    In this rapid-fire Book Club episode, Dr. Mike Woo-Ming distills the core lessons from Chris Voss's bestseller Never Split the Difference and shows exactly how to apply them in real medical life: getting the raise you deserve, pushing back on unpaid admin duties, reading the room with anxious patients, and never again leaving money or sanity on the table. If you only read one negotiation book in your career, make it this one.

    Three Actionable Takeaways:

    • Never make the first offer: Force the other side to name their number first (salary, rate, raise). Respond with "What do you think would be fair?" or "I'm open to any offer you feel is appropriate." Their silence works for you they'll often low-ball themselves or surprise you with more than you expected.

    • Use tactical empathy and labeling: Start every tough conversation with "It sounds like…" or "It seems like you're frustrated that…" You're not agreeing, just naming the emotion. This instantly calms patients, admins, or partners, builds trust, and makes them far more open to your actual request or plan.

    • Turn "No" into your ally: When they say "No" to your raise, extra pay, or patient's refusal of care, respond with "What would need to happen for us to revisit this?" or "How could we make this work?" A "No" protects them; calibrated questions turn it into the real negotiation.

    About the Show:

    Bootstrap MD is the ultimate podcast for physician entrepreneurs looking to escape traditional healthcare and control their financial futures. Hosted by Dr. Mike Woo-Ming, a successful physician, entrepreneur, and investor, the show delivers actionable insights on starting businesses, creating passive income, and navigating healthcare entrepreneurship. Featuring interviews with industry leaders, physicians, and experts in telemedicine and digital health, it's your guide to building a profitable, fulfilling career.

    Tune in weekly at http://bootstrapmd.com

    About the Host:

    Dr. Mike Woo-Ming has over 20 years of experience as a physician entrepreneur. He's built and sold multiple seven-figure companies and now leads Executive Medical, a group of clinics specializing in age management and aesthetics. Through BootstrapMD, he mentors physicians in business, content creation, and autonomy.

    Let's Connect: www.https://www.bootstrapmd.com

    Want to start a podcast? Check out the Doctor Podcast Network!
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    25 min
  • EP322: Who Am I Without the White Coat? Leaving Clinical Medicine Without Losing Yourself

    EP322: Who Am I Without the White Coat? Leaving Clinical Medicine Without Losing Yourself
    Dec 3 2025

    This episode is sponsored by Lightstone DIRECT. Lightstone DIRECT invites you to partner with a $12B AUM real estate institution as you grow your portfolio. Access the same single-asset multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital – Lightstone co-invests a minimum of 20% in each deal alongside individual investors like you. You're an institution. Time to invest like one.

    _____________

    This Episode is also sponsored by Ryze Health

    Every minute counts in medicine—so why waste it on clunky admin work? With Ryze Health, practice management becomes effortless. Our all-in-one platform streamlines scheduling, patient communications, and insurance verification, giving you fewer no-shows, faster check-ins, and happier patients. Free yourself from paperwork and phone tag so you can focus on what truly matters: providing care. Visit http://ryzehealth.com/BootstrapMD today and see how simple running your practice can be.

    ______________

    That quiet voice asking, "What if I walked away from patient care forever?" isn't weakness, it's clarity.

    In this powerful episode of Bootstrap MD, Dr. Mike Woo-Ming tackles the question almost every burned-out physician has asked in silence: "What if I leave patient care… for good?" With physician burnout at an all-time high and more doctors quietly exploring nonclinical exits than ever before, Mike delivers the real-talk conversation you won't hear in the doctors' lounge. He walks through the emotional rollercoaster; grief, fear, guilt, and the full-blown identity crisis, then flips the script: your MD isn't a life sentence to the exam room. It's a superpower you can take anywhere.

    From pharma and biotech roles to CMO tracks, education and content empires, and full-blown entrepreneurship, Mike maps the proven nonclinical paths and shares exactly how to test the waters without blowing up your life or your license.

    If you're burned out, questioning your identity, or wondering what's on the other side of clinical medicine, this episode is your permission slip to explore what's next—without guilt, without shame, and with a real plan.

    Three Actionable Takeaways:

    • Journal the truth today: Answer these three questions honestly (1) If I weren't a doctor, what would my ideal workday look like? (2) What parts of medicine do I genuinely love vs. dread? (3) What am I most afraid people will think if I step away? Clarity starts on paper.

    • Talk to people ahead of you: Talk to 2 or 3 physicians who have already left patient care and are genuinely thriving, not just complaining;. Ask about their emotional journey, money realities, and the one thing they wish they knew sooner. Come meet dozens of them at DrPodFest.com this January.

    • Calculate your exact financial runway this weekend; how many months of expenses do you have saved? Knowing your real number turns "What if I fail?" into "I have X months to experiment." Then start one tiny nonclinical side project (chart review, an article, a paid consult) to gather evidence there's life beyond the bedside.

    About the Show:

    Bootstrap MD is the ultimate podcast for physician entrepreneurs looking to escape traditional healthcare and control their financial futures. Hosted by Dr. Mike Woo-Ming, a successful physician, entrepreneur, and investor, the show delivers actionable insights on starting businesses, creating passive income, and navigating healthcare entrepreneurship. Featuring interviews with industry leaders, physicians, and experts in telemedicine and digital health, it's your guide to building a profitable, fulfilling career.

    Tune in weekly at http://bootstrapmd.com

    About the Host:

    Dr. Mike Woo-Ming has over 20 years of experience as a physician entrepreneur. He's built and sold multiple seven-figure companies and now leads Executive Medical, a group of clinics specializing in age management and aesthetics. Through BootstrapMD, he mentors physicians in business, content creation, and autonomy.

    Let's Connect: www.https://www.bootstrapmd.com

    Want to start a podcast? Check out the Doctor Podcast Network!
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    19 min