742. Are You Taking Stock of Your Life (Rewind) w/ JL Collins

A hospice doctor who once believed his identity was inseparable from being a physician reveals how facing death taught him that financial independence isn't just about money—it's about reclaiming your life. After years of burnout and emotional detachment, he realized his purpose wasn't in medicine but in storytelling, connection, and helping others. The turning point came when he discovered he was financially independent, not through a sudden windfall, but through disciplined saving and investing—though he didn’t know the term until years later. His new book, *Taking Stock*, argues that dying teaches us what truly matters: relationships, meaning, and courage to act. He challenges listeners to use the inevitability of death as a compass, not a fear, to cut out what drains them and build a life of intention. The most powerful insight? Most people don’t regret working too hard—they regret never trying. By asking, 'What would I do if I had six months to live?' we can uncover our true purpose and design a financial life that serves it, not the other way around. The book introduces the 'Art of Subtraction'—a radical practice of identifying and eliminating life’s friction points, whether it's a hated job, a toxic relationship, or a meaningless chore. He shares the 'Reverse Lottery Test': if you won $100 million, what would you stop doing? This exercise reveals how much of your time is spent on things you'd gladly outsource.