Happy Friday from Southern California.
I read this sentiment on a popular thread on LinkedIn this week.
“Industry should already understand what I bring as a PhD. I should not have to spend time explaining or proving why my skills are valuable.”
I’ve heard this more than once when the discussion around hiring academics into industry (and the associated friction) comes up.
I often sigh a little and move on with my day because I like to conserve my energy for laughing my way through romcom novels.
Listen:
We can rail at “system failures” and “how the system should work.”
Newsflash: how things SHOULD work and how they ACTUALLY work are often two COMPLETELY different things.
I’m not saying this is okay. I am just saying, this is reality.
Do you know of countries where the economy is robust enough to end homelessness?
Does homelessness exist in those countries?
Right. Moving on.
I hate restating problems. I like creating solutions instead. So, what do you do when you face the gap between what SHOULD work and what ACTUALLY works?
In my life, I’ve found two things helpful:
1. I ask myself, “What tools do I have to bridge the gap?” Because I will build the bridge. And then proceed to mosey over it.
2. When I cross the bridge, (aka get into a position of “power”), I ask, “How can I help the people coming behind me, so they don’t have to struggle so much?”
These two principles are why:
- After transitioning into science writing, I made an 18-part YouTube video series to share everything.
- I’ve written 3-5x per week on LinkedIn since 2020.
- I wrote Navigating the PIVOT.
This world will not notice your brilliance until you literally get up and show them. Good for you if this has never been your experience, but it’s been mine.
The moment I made peace with this fact, my life changed.
Expecting that someone “should” already understand your PhD, and therefore notice your brilliance, is nice. In theory.
But it puts all the power in the other party’s hands, not yours.
I like owning my power.
Here’s to taking yours back.
Because guess what? We are the “system.”
Until next time.
Have you read Navigating the P.I.V.O.T? If you have, it would mean the world to me if you could leave me a rating and review on Amazon. This helps people who are making a decision to get the book make an informed one. Thank you.
Gertrude Nonterah, Ph.D.
Creator of The BoldPhD.com | Author of Navigating the P.I.V.O.T.