… And How Do I Get There?
I’m giving a speech in April to a group of postdoctoral scientists at a career forum. The steering committee for the event asked if I could cover the question, “What should I do with my life and how do I get there?”
Sure, I said, I can easily cover this in an hour!
(I’m being facetious, of course… I told them that I’ll do my best, but to have realistic expectations of what I’d come up with.)
This is a question that I’ve been contemplating for a few decades. It’s on par with that other ultimate question, What is the meaning of life? These two questions – What should I do with my life and What is the meaning of life – are related, I think.
But I want to ask you this very question.
Do you know what you should be doing with your life?
Whatever the answer, what are some of the clues that you’ve found along the way, or guide posts, that led you to your answer of “yes” or “no”?
Why do we ask such a question about what we should do with our lives? Is there meant to be an answer? According to philosopher Rudolf Steiner we’re supposed to be the originator of our own answer. Is this question, then, really an answerable one?
Bliss Success Keynote 2008 NIEHS PDF PPS You may also watch the presentation in this post, below.
Other PHD career related articles I’ve written: PhDCareerClinic.com
Event Information: 11th Annual NIEHS Biomedical Career Fair
Thank you, NIEHS postdocs, for inviting me! The NIEHS career fair committee did an outstanding job planning, organizing, and executing a huge (around 300 attendees) event.
If you were a member of the audience and want to share your stories of “bliss-success” with me, I’d love to hear from you. You have my phone #. You’ll likely get my voicemail but it is my direct line and I’ll (eventually) get back to you. Also if you prefer, please email me – I’m much better about responding to emails.
Slideshow Transcript
1. Slide 1: “Bliss-Success: Where Do You Find Yourself?” Jane Chin, Ph.D. April 28, 2008 11th Annual NIEHS Biomedical Career Fair Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
2. Slide 2: KNOW YOURSELF KNOW YOUR $ DO IT NOW Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
3. Slide 3: “What should I KNOW do with my life YOURSELF and how do I get there?” KNOW YOUR $ DO IT NOW Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
4. Slide 4: Know the True Author of Your “Bliss” and “Success” (This is the hardest) KNOW YOURSELF Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
5. Slide 5: Career “Highlights” 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
6. Slide 6: Career “Highlights” 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Company 1 2 3 Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
7. Slide 7: “Running Away Years” I didn’t I engaged “Is This Connect In a All with what Cycle of There I did Distraction Is?” 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 BLISS “I’ll feel happy when I’m ‘successful’.” SUCCESS Money, recognition Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
8. Slide 8: “What does success “What does mean to me?” satisfaction feel “What makes like to me?” me feel most alive?” KNOW YOURSELF Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
9. Slide 9: Choose How You See Money (This is the trickiest) KNOW YOUR $ Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
10. Slide 10: “Do I focus on the $Face-Value or KNOW $Time-Value? YOUR $ “Do I see $ as Cause or Effect? Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
11. Slide 11: $Face Value v. $Time Value $31,000 $31,000 is a lot is a good of money! investment •“…even if spread over 5 years” •“…to save time and $ from •“… when I can get it for making mistakes” cheaper by reading books, etc.” •“…make money faster.” •“…for advice specific to me.” Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
12. Slide 12: Money as Cause v. Money as Effect Years 2004-2007 Years 2000-2003 Estimated annual base employee salary OR gross business income Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
13. Slide 13: Salary data from 2005 Sigma Xi Postdoc Survey Project and 2006 Salary.com website (http://postdoc.sigmaxi.org/ and http:// www.salary.com, respectively). The base salary of an entry-level sales person with a bachelor’s degree was used as comparator in this example. Numbers are in U.S. dollars. Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com Chapter 4, Put a Price Tag on Procrastination. 5 Lessons in PhD Career Transitions (phdcareerclinic.com)
14. Slide 14: DO IT NOW (This is the scariest) Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
15. Slide 15: 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
16. Slide 16: 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
17. Slide 17: “Bliss or Bust” Fear Golden “Am I Tightens Handcuffs losing Its Loosen their Grip on grip grip Reality?!” 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 BLISS “Be a voice for MSLs; publish and speak about MSL abuses.” SUCCESS Alignment with integrity, influence, recognition. (no money – I didn’t think I’d make any during the 1st year) Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
18. Slide 18: Include/Involve people whom your decision directly affects Take calculated DO IT risks and make NOW contingency plans. Decide on doing the right thing and stick to it. Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
19. Slide 19: “Passion: a Phasic Phenomenon?” “Closure” “How Else “Mission (Hero’s Journey May I Accomplished” Ends) Serve?” 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 BLISS “Identifying new ways to contribute and create value with my talents.” SUCCESS Alignment with integrity, influence, recognition, money. Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
20. Slide 20: SUMMARY Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
21. Slide 21: “What does success “What does mean to me?” satisfaction feel “What makes like to me?” me feel most alive?” KNOW YOURSELF Include/Involve people whom your decision directly affects “Do I focus on the $Face-Value or KNOW Take calculated $Time-Value? YOUR $ DO IT risks and make NOW contingency plans. “Do I see $ as Cause or Effect? Decide on doing the right thing and stick to it. Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
22. Slide 22: SUMMARY OF SYMPTOMS “Something needs to “Something is about to change” change” 3. You don’t connect. 3. Fear tightens its grip 5. You run away / 5. Golden handcuffs loosen procrastinate / distract. their grip 7. You don’t feel satisfied 7. You feel like you’re losing with “success”. your grip on reality! Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
23. Slide 23: “Follow Your Bliss.” BLISS Identifying what I love, do it, and observe what happens (“is there a M.O.A. in creating success by following bliss?”). Enable others to design their own paths to personal and professional fulfillment. 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 SUCCESS Alignment with integrity, contribute most value to most people. Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
24. Slide 24: Sample from Steering Committee “Starving Artist Branson, Einstein, Syndrome” Brin & Page UTTER AMAZING FAILURE SUCCESS “Golden Handcuffs / “Career Hell and Security Blanket Life in Hell” Syndrome” Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
25. Slide 25: “What shouldme feel most alive and how “What makes I do with my life and how do I get there?” do I most significantly contribute?” contribute Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
26. Slide 26: How will YOU answer? (310) 542-5642 success@whatilovetodo.com Photo credits: Images from http://www.sxc.hu/ Photo of David Franklin from Dateline NBC website Copyright 2008 by Jane Chin, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved. Speaking Request Contact jane@janechin.com
