Doctors, Comedians, and Dissertations
January 20th is the shared birthday of a couple of famous doctors, Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy and Dr. Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and a couple of famous comedians, Rainn Wilson and Bill Maher. And, when doctors and comedians talk, dissertation gold ensues…
The way to change a society, to uplift people – not just their spirit, but to uplift their society and economic base – is through education.
— Rainn Wilson
Leave it to the comedian to be the biggest nerd in the group, I guess. But, that’s OK. We ♥ nerds, here.
And, of course, he’s right. Earning your doctoral degree expands your horizons. Not just intellectually, but spiritually and financially, too.
Curious people are interesting people. I wonder why that is?
— Bill Maher
It’s because curious people always have more questions than answers. Asking questions, draws people in. Droning out the answers tends to push people away.
This is where some doctoral students run into trouble with their dissertation projects. If you don’t discipline yourself against this habit of asking questions, your dissertation will continue to grow and meander without end.
I’m a doctor, not a bricklayer.
— Dr. Leonard McCoy, aka DeForest Kelley
Mixing metaphors a bit, Bones. But you’re right. If you ever want to earn your doctorate, you can’t lay every brick in the wall of knowledge as a doctoral student.
Folks working on their dissertations often run wild with that whole you-must-make-a-contribution-to-the-body-of-knowledge thing. It’s important to remember that adding just one brick to the wall of knowledge is a contribution.
Science progresses due to the the combined efforts of thousands and thousands, even millions of individuals. Some contributions are so small that they’re quickly lost to history. But, they doesn’t mean that those contributions weren’t just as essential to the progress we all enjoy.
Make sure that your dissertation is tightly focused. Resist the urge to add, expand, extend, and grow your study. Keep it tight, and get your dissertation done!
I still say, “Shoot for the moon; you might get there.”
— Dr. Buzz Aldrin
Goals are great motivators. Big Hairy Audacious Goals, even more so. Just remember that you’ve got your whole life to do your life’s work.
Your dissertation is a degree requirement, not a calling. Let the goals that drive you inspire you to graduate so that you can move on to those pursuits. Don’t conflate your desires for your life and legacy with the school project standing in your way.
If curiosity gets the better of you sometimes and you feel like your dissertation must be a monument to your life’s calling, click here to schedule a quick, 15-minute chat with me to see if you’re a good fit for our Fast Track Your Dissertation Coaching Program. If you are, then I’ll invite you to join the fastest group of dissertation students out there and help you to reach graduation a good year or two faster than you would on your own.
