Non Fiction / Personal Growth/Career
Date Published: February 18, 2020
Publisher: Clovercloft Publishing
College, medical school, and then ten years of grueling surgical training, that’s what it took for Brian Lima to become a leading heart transplant surgeon – literally able to breathe new life into critical ill patients. Not only has Lima never shied away from a challenge, he has spent his life actively seeking them in pursuit of seemingly near-impossible goals. In his insightful new book, HEART TO BEAT: A Cardiac Surgeon’s Inspiring Story of Success and Overcoming Adversity—The Heart Way (Clovercroft Publishing/February 18, 2020), Dr. Lima shares his story, giving everyone – not just aspiring physicians – the tools and encouragement needed to be their best selves.
“We all have free will, and we all have a choice,” he writes. “You can choose to live aimlessly, halfheartedly going with the flow and suppressing that inner voice, the one beckoning you to unleash your full potential and to grab the world by storm. Or you can achieve success by committing to hard work and unceasing effort.”
In HEART TO BEAT, Dr. Lima candidly shares, often with a wry sense of humor, how this approach enabled him to reach the pinnacle of success in all of his undertakings – whether it was building the strength and skill to become a varsity football player, becoming valedictorian of his high school class, earning a scholarship to Cornell University, or winning coveted residency opportunities as he trained to become a heart surgeon.
“You don’t have to be the smartest or most talented person in the room to get ahead, just the one who wants it the most,” he writes. Indeed, Dr. Lima credits his own achievements purely to his intense effort. In his eminently readable, down-to-earth book, he breaks down the keys to advancing beyond your comfort zone and perceived limitations to unleash your full potential. Dr. Lima’s powerful lessons include:
Heart Over Matter – “You, and you alone, are responsible for how much or how little you achieve in this life,” he writes. Only when you realize that you are master of your own destiny, and refuse to allow insecurities, past experiences, and fears to limit your potential, will you realize your dreams.
Heart Of War – Complacency is your biggest adversary. You must never cease working and bettering yourself – if you do, you will surely slide off the top of your game. “The minute you rest on your laurels and kick your feet up, you’ve settled for defeat,” says Dr. Lima.
Kickstart My Heart – Dr. Lima explains that the “propulsive power of ambition” has been one of the most impactful forces of his life. “Your eagerness to move ahead contributes more to your success than natural talent or being born with a silver spoon.” Ambition is what enables people to overcome the primary hurdle to success: self-doubt.
Till Death With My Heart – If something is truly your calling – meaningful, bigger than you, and well-intended – it is likely not going to be easy to achieve, says Dr. Lima. For him, the rule must be “it’s all in or no win.” Being “well-rounded” is incompatible with true excellence, he contends.
Not For the Faint of Heart – Fear of failure can disrupt the pursuit of any goal, and overcoming this fear is a monumental task that requires you to meet it head-on again and again, until you’re desensitized to its paralyzing influence. Dr. Lima urges readers to see every moment as just that – a moment – whether they’re going for a buzzer beater in basketball or performing heart surgery. This is what gives people the courage to take their shot at every opportunity.
The Heart Sell on Entrepreneurship – “One way or another, you have to get the word out about how great your ‘brand’ is – in other words, how great you are,” says Dr. Lima, contending that the sales mantra “always be closing” is critical to success. He points to such key fundamentals as avoiding pigeonholes and being open to opportunities; never second-guessing yourself; continuing to invest in yourself; and using your time wisely.
In addition to the author’s compelling personal story, HEART TO BEAT also includes a fascinating look at the current technologies and medical care available to treat heart disease, along with the basics about living a heart-healthy life – straight from the mouth of one of the country’s leading heart transplant surgeons.
“There are those who choose to chase victory and to live life on their own terms, and there are those who don’t,” declares Dr. Lima. HEART TO BEAT will help you choose the path to victory, giving you the motivation you need to achieve your dreams, whatever they may be.
Interview with Brian Lima, M.D.
For those interested
in exploring the subject or theme of your book, where should they start?
Since the book is essentially a motivational memoir, one
easy place to start would be my website (www.BrianLimaMD.com)
which covers a lot of the content in the book and my personal story.
How did you become
involved with the subject or theme of your book?
Most of my adult life has been spent working tirelessly to
fulfill my dream of becoming a heart surgeon. Along the way, I learned a great
deal about myself and the vast potential we all have to achieve great things if
we’re willing to put in the effort. This empowering realization is the primary
theme of my book.
What were your goals
and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved
them?
My ultimate intention for writing this book was to provide a
source of inspiration for others to chase their dreams and reach their full
potential. In pouring out my heart and soul onto its pages, and sharing the
intimate details of my own personal journey, I believe Heart to Beat can ignite
that same urgency of purpose and work ethic that enabled me to overcome
innumerable obstacles and limitations on my quest for success.
Anything you would
like to say to your readers and fans?
Success that’s truly worthwhile will have a meaningful
impact beyond just your own personal benefit. It will not be easy to achieve,
nor happen overnight. You’ll be forced to venture well beyond your comfort
zone, but the fruits of your labor will be well worth all the trials and
tribulations along the way.
What did you enjoy
most about writing this book?
Having to revisit some of the most painful memories of my
childhood and upbringing was a cathartic process. Reflecting on how far I’ve
come over all of these years has armed me with a fresh outlook on life and
filled me with endless hope for the future.
Can you tell us a
little bit about your next books or what you have planned for the future?
There’s still more I’d like to share and perhaps there will
be additional books in the future, delving further into some of the key,
formative concepts I touched on in Heart to Beat. These include ambition,
complacency, fear of failure, gravitas, and the like. But for now, I have a
busy heart surgery career to focus on, so I’ll let the tincture of time dictate
when these musings blossom into more mature projects.
How long have you
been writing?
I began writing this book approximately 5 years ago.
About the Author
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