Hi, I’m Junaid Niazi. I’m a dual board-certified internist and pediatrician working as a primary care physician. I‘m also a father, husband, coach, and entrepreneur.
On paper, it looked like I had it all. But I was struggling to juggle these different hats, and often felt like I could only wear one or two at a time. Even then life felt chaotic. I was not always fully present when I needed to be, especially at home.
I was developing classic burnout symptoms of depersonalization and emotional exhaustion. A long-term career in medicine no longer seemed possible.
This was incredibly disheartening after the countless years I had spent to get to this point. What was it all for?
Enter professional and self-coaching. I stumbled on the idea that the solutions I needed resided within me—my mindset was holding me back. Coaching opened my eyes to the fact that I was making excuses by blaming external sources for my frustration.
What was once paralyzing is now motivating. Knowing I control my results by managing my thoughts no matter the circumstances empowered me to take back control of my life. This realization was liberating! I quickly diagnosed the limiting beliefs leaving me feeling stuck. One by one, I dismantled these beliefs using the coaching techniques and with the help of coaches.
I started re-prioritizing things in my life, setting new goals with a renewed sense of purpose, and achieving goals I had only previously dreamed of. I have taken even more on my plate without feeling more overwhelmed. I am overcoming my burnout and thriving. I am more present at work and at home.
This shift in mindset has inspired me to share what I have discovered with my physician colleagues. Current physician shortages will only worsen if we cannot stem the tide of the burnout epidemic. I believe coaching is a powerful tool in our arsenal to not only combat burnout, but also help physicians thrive.