what is success?
Success is meaningless if you can’t measure when, where and how you’ll feel fulfilled. -- http://www.illuminatedmind.net/
I've been struggling with developing a strategic plan at work. "Success" is relative since the prevailing culture is that one must "keep running to stay in place." There is always the next big project, the next publication, or the next collaboration. Science moves forward. Closure is not defined. We generally do not say, "Well, I know everything about X. Let's move on." Am I successful if I "only" publish two papers a year? Am I successful if I have a little pile of beans in each of my jars (papers, presentations, collaborations, reviews, popular press, patents, invitations)? How much is enough (to get promoted)? Is promotion the goal? Promotion in a government laboratory doesn't necessarily mean more responsibility. GS15s do the same type of work as GS13s, they've been in service longer and get paid more. Is it money? Do I want to manage i.e. be a research leader? Perhaps. Where do I see myself in 5, 10, 20 years? Do I actively seek out opportunities or wait for them to arrive at my doorstep? Which opportunities? All this is peripheral to "doing good science." Well, not really peripheral because I need to protect my research programs from budget cuts, realignment, etc. It's much easier to do if I'm one of the bosses.
I'm not really up to making decisions right now - I'm still recovering from a few punches in the gut courtesy of the universe. I'm glad my mind still works though so I can put things on the back burner for later consideration.
I've been struggling with developing a strategic plan at work. "Success" is relative since the prevailing culture is that one must "keep running to stay in place." There is always the next big project, the next publication, or the next collaboration. Science moves forward. Closure is not defined. We generally do not say, "Well, I know everything about X. Let's move on." Am I successful if I "only" publish two papers a year? Am I successful if I have a little pile of beans in each of my jars (papers, presentations, collaborations, reviews, popular press, patents, invitations)? How much is enough (to get promoted)? Is promotion the goal? Promotion in a government laboratory doesn't necessarily mean more responsibility. GS15s do the same type of work as GS13s, they've been in service longer and get paid more. Is it money? Do I want to manage i.e. be a research leader? Perhaps. Where do I see myself in 5, 10, 20 years? Do I actively seek out opportunities or wait for them to arrive at my doorstep? Which opportunities? All this is peripheral to "doing good science." Well, not really peripheral because I need to protect my research programs from budget cuts, realignment, etc. It's much easier to do if I'm one of the bosses.
I'm not really up to making decisions right now - I'm still recovering from a few punches in the gut courtesy of the universe. I'm glad my mind still works though so I can put things on the back burner for later consideration.