Nice, But Not Necessary
As you finish up your thesis, take twenty minutes to make a list of all the things that didn’t quite make it. What did you not have time for? What did you not have enough resources to do? What didn’t...
Daily viva help for PhDs
As you finish up your thesis, take twenty minutes to make a list of all the things that didn’t quite make it. What did you not have time for? What did you not have enough resources to do? What didn’t...
A few weeks back I was moaning because I had to wake up at 4am to catch a flight. Grumble, grumble, too early, grumble, grumble, why do I have to do this? Then I remembered Seth Godin’s recent post about...
What’s your number one tip for the viva? I was asked this recently by a PhD candidate… Take time to think is a good one for the viva; make sure you pause and think before answering. Read your thesis carefully...
I’m sorting out my home office while I procrastinate about my next book. I’ve gathered a lot of notes and material over the last ten years of working with researchers, and not all of it is useful now. There are...
I love finding valuable questions. I try to read as widely as possible in things like self-help books, coaching blogs and interviews with interesting people. The ideas and advice are often helpful, but a good question hooks my attention more...
Just over eleven years ago I wrote this in the front of my thesis: A thesis might be written by one person, but that one person could not possibly write it without many, many more people helping and supporting them....
I like “Three Whats” – what, so what, now what – as a means to start reflections and forward thinking. Like many prompt and reflection tools, they have a much wider application. For Preparation… What will help you feel ready...
How do you know your approach is a good one? Is there only one way of interpreting your results? Through years of study and focus, have you found one way of doing something, and now you only see that way...
I think everyone, if they look, will find things in their thesis that they think are weak. When they find them, they’ll feel bad and start to worry. If this is you, you’ve found something and are worried, please reflect...
When the viva is coming up you’ll want to be sure of your methods. Can you defend them? How did you arrive at them? Were they the only way to tackle the problem? You’ll want to get your head clear...