Michael Jordan and Dissertations
February 17th is Michael Jordan’s birthday. Here are some words of wisdom from one of the greatest competitors of all time for you to apply to your dissertation…
On Mindset:
You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.
— Michael Jordan
Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.
— Michael Jordan
Self-confidence is a critical prerequisite for dissertation success. Only if you expect yourself to succeed will you do the things necessary to make it so.
On Persistence:
Sometimes, things may not go your way, but the effort should be there every single night.
— Michael Jordan
I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
— Michael Jordan
Consistent effort, properly applied will lead to success in any endeavor…including your dissertation!
On Obstacles:
Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.
— Michael Jordan
But, it’s better not to run into a wall in the first place. Careful planning trumps frantic recovery every time.
On Selfishness:
To be successful you have to be selfish, or else you never achieve. And once you get to your highest level, then you have to be unselfish. Stay reachable. Stay in touch. Don’t isolate.
— Michael Jordan
I often hear from students that they don’t have time to work on their dissertation projects. Of course, this isn’t true. Everyone has the same 24 hours everyday. It’s up to you to choose what you do with that time. If you prioritize family or career or volunteering over your dissertation, then ask yourself, “Can I better serve these priorities as a doctor or as a doctoral student?” It’s often better for you to be a little selfish to complete your study so that you can make an even greater impact on the people you care about sooner.
On Teamwork:
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.
— Michael Jordan
Make sure that you support network can provide you with the vision to design & develop a feasible study, the know-how to execute, and the emotional fortitude to overcome and persist. Maybe you can do it alone, but why try?
If you need additional support, direction, and guidance that your network isn’t currently providing, 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.
