Thursday, February 12, 2009

Advice for a PhD; the kiss approach and taking one step at a time


"It's entirely possible that you will choose a niche that's too small. It's much more likely you'll shoot for something too big and become overwhelmed. When in doubt, overwhelm a small niche." Seth Godin

The advice from my supervisor
1. A picture of where i want to be at the end of the PhD above my desk: Matakana Brickbay sculpture trail. (The photo is of Mary_Louise Browne's artwork at Brickbay,Matakana on the sculpture trail.)
2. A box below the picture to save the ideas in for the post doc life. Happy and fascinated as I am with my topic, there is a word limit, and a time limit,and a life....In the words of Latour; a good thesis is a finished one.
3. "If its not last weeks cure for cancer, leave it out." cj

About the artwork, seen today in misty rain, a perfect medium for the bluestone carved words:
MIST MOST LOST LOSE LOVE LORE LORN LOIN LAIN RAIN
Its about journeying. One can enter stairs going up or down. The stone has both words and meaning. A simple play on changing one letter in each word transforms one up and down on an emotional journey also.

3 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:57 AM

    Nicely stated . . .

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  2. nice to 'hear' from you Jeffrey, hope your PhD journey is filled with pleasure. Stay in touch, sometimes even when the topic may not be shared, the processes and advice can be. There are intricacies such as how to manage a supervisor or the demands of life or the technologies involved that can be addressed better from a greater pool of collective wisdom :)

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  3. Anonymous1:50 AM

    I agree with you, Alisa. How have you found your supportive pool of collective wisdom while engaged in your process?

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