When educators are developing an effective and workable assessment program in graduate medical education by employing action research and stakeholder mapping to identify core competency domains and directives, the multi-stage process can be guided and informed by utilizing the story of designing, building and sea-testing sailing ships as a metaphor. However, the current challenge of physician burnout demands additional attention when formulating medical training frameworks, assessment guidelines and mentoring programs in 2020. The possibility of job-crafting is raised for consideration by designers of core competency frameworks in the health professions.