Wearing Multiple Hats and Staying on Mission with Dr. Darin Detwiler
Dr. Darin Detwiler [01:00:07] When I think that it’s something that anyone going into this program has to take into consideration, that this ideal image of the journey ahead and the idea of what you and I might have talked about here is acceptance of the norms. Are they really acceptance of the norms or is it more likely that everyone at some scale is going to have something that pushes the need for resilience and in the process, whether it be a minor setback or a major setback? And when we start to talk about things like our well-being, our support mechanisms, the people we surround ourselves with, things of that nature, we have to assume that it’s as if everyone is at risk. No, it doesn’t matter who you are, how old you are, what your earlier degrees are in or whatever, everyone going through a process like this is equally at risk of of having that need for taking steps in terms of resiliency, whether it is to change their focus or to even step back, take some time away and come back at this. But perhaps that’s still built on a foundation of the why behind what you’re doing this for in the first place.
Dr. Russell Strickland [01:01:29] I completely agree. I mean, the the need for resiliency is there at all levels, at every variety of levels for doctoral students and and having that why and knowing where you want to go, what you want to do, that should be your guiding star. It allows you it should be the criterion by which you make each of your decisions. And I mean that globally. I mean, do I go into a doctoral program or not? How do I want to handle my dissertation when my committee members saying to do it this way, should I do it this way or should I do it another way? What is strategically aligned with my life goals, with my vision, with my big reason why that needs to be your guiding focus throughout this process, open to change, resilient to the fact that that life will throw you a curve ball. But but staying on a mission to make sure that you get to where you want to be.
Dr. Darin Detwiler [01:02:23] You know, there’s lots of good curveballs, too. I don’t want to sound as if it’s all doom and gloom. I got married. I got married only a few months before I defended my thesis. Yeah. And I’ll never forget when my cohort threw a a surprise. What do you call that? Not a wedding party, but a big engagement party or something like an engagement party. Yes. A great friend of mine had a baby shower and his wife had a baby while he’s in the program. And there’s there’s those hilarious moments. One of the people, my cohort, you know, she was from Florida flying into Boston and everything was great during the summer and a little bit into the fall. But then all of a sudden, she was freezing. She was so cold, you know, because it’s Boston and she didn’t anticipate how cold it was going to be. And she had to leave class to get someone to take her to go get her like a scarf and gloves and a blanket kind of thing. And we’re all just kind of like, oh, Florida, you know, kind of a kind of a thing. And, you know, the friendships, the people I still talk with on a weekly basis, the people have been able to hire as instructors because I know them. I know they’re concentra. I know they love the expertise and the networking that you can build from this. You know, this aside from my diploma and aside from what I’m able to do, what I’ve been able to do as a result of this, the the the friendships and the experiences that I had during this program, it is part of a journey to we can’t rest everything in terms of how successful an experience is based on crossing the finish line. Perhaps the successes are built on those experiences and the joy that you can find along the way as well.
Dr. Russell Strickland [01:04:18] And that’s that’s absolutely true in life. I tell kids all the time that life is about the journey, not the destination. But I tell my doctoral students that the dissertation is about just about the journey. For most of them, they do want to to get to graduation. So it’s important that you’re focused on that. But, yes, you’re going to have experiences along the way. You’re going to meet people. You’re going to grow in ways that are required of the world. But by the doctoral process. Students ask me sometimes I don’t know why my committee won’t let me graduate. And I tell them, you’re not ready. You you’ve got there’s there’s some transforming that you’re going to see in yourself that that will happen. And you’ll know when you’re ready. You’ll really know when you’re ready. You’re not just going to be complaining about the committee, but you’ll know it’ll be time.
Dr. Darin Detwiler [01:05:10] And my last doctoral candidate, not my current one, but my last one who graduated. I did give her the vote of not ready, and we did have her go on, this is a continuation for a bit and at first she hemmed and hawed about it. But when she was ultimately done and truly ready to defend her thesis afterwards, she came back and she goes, I know it was hard for me to take at the beginning, but I truly was better prepared and I’m much more proud of what I did now and appreciative of this journey. Even if it took me extra time to complete, I would today not be as as proud of what I did if I didn’t give some more time. And it may be hard to to accept it first, but I’ve never heard students who, when they go through that extra bit of time and they actually do complete what they completed. Don’t don’t give you that kind of response that they’re appreciative of, of that opportunity to take a little bit of time longer because it’s not a race. You know, they might sound like a race, but it’s not really a race for me. I guess it was a race because I want to be done with my doctorate before my youngest son was done with his bachelor’s degree. But that’s that’s a personal race.
Dr. Russell Strickland [01:06:30] And that’s kind of time. Strength. Everybody has reasons why they want to want to get finished. But, yes, it is it is a transformative growth experience and we might be able to pace that. But ultimately, you have to take it as it comes.
Dr. Darin Detwiler [01:06:45] Yeah, very much so.
Dr. Russell Strickland [01:06:48] Well, that while I have had such a fun time with you, I know the book is Food Safety Past, Present and Predictions. Then we have the second book building the Future of Food Safety Technology. What’s the best way for folks to reach out to you if they want to continue this conversation, maybe learn a little bit more in their journey as a lifelong learner?
Dr. Darin Detwiler [01:07:11] Sure. You know, I can be found on LinkedIn. I can be found on Twitter. I’ve got two Twitter handles up above my head. I have a Web page, HerculeanEffort.net, where I regularly connect with people around the world who want some advice, people who want inspiration or people who need a second opinion on things. And, you know, I like to think of it this way to. I have grown from so many different connections and I hope to be one of those people that someone says, I’m really glad I connected with them, too, whether it is some some stories or just some words of encouragement. I’m really happy to help. And for those students who whether it’s food related or whatever, that idea of of trying to break out, of thinking that you’re alone in this journey or that only you have experienced these struggles or whatever. You’re never alone. But but when you’re done with this, do make sure to to celebrate and even share with those people who who did consult or were inspirations to you along the way. Because it really does. It really does help me to know that I didn’t hold your hand when I wrote when when you wrote your doctoral thesis. But, hey, if you were inspired by something I said or did or if you helped by something I said or did, I’m really glad you were able to achieve your goal and stay on your mission.
Dr. Russell Strickland [01:08:47] And building those networks is important and giving gratitude, it’s important, so you combine those two and let the folks that helped, you know that they helped you. I know I finished my dissertation in part because of a little strategic of help from someone. And if I didn’t get it, I don’t know where I’d be right now. So he might have looked at it as just a small thing that he did that he could do. But it was it was really important to me. So that’s something that everybody should be appreciative for, those that are able to help them there, their networks of support, because we all need them.
Dr. Darin Detwiler [01:09:20] Well, thank you very much for asking me some questions in the heart of this conversation today.
Dr. Russell Strickland [01:09:25] And thank you so much for being here. I’ll just remind everyone else of this episode we brought to you by Dissertation Done. If you are a doctoral student, you need some additions to your support network. You can reach out to us at DissertationDone.com/done. That’s DissertationDone.com/done. And if you by any chance, are aspiring to be an expert or already working, the experts face as a coach, consultant, speaker, that sort of thing, reach out to us at DissertationDone.com/book and see if you might be a good fit for our Expand Your Authority program, where we help people become published authors. Thank you again so much, Dr. Detwiler, for being here with me today. I had a good time, me and for everyone else, have a great day and go out and live your unconventional life.
Outro [01:10:16] This has been an unconventional life. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed today’s episode, subscribe now to keep getting inspirational stories of unconventional lives as soon as they’re released. Until then, go out and live your best unconventional life.
Outro [01:16:34] This has been an unconventional life. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed today’s episode, subscribe now to keep getting inspirational stories of unconventional lives as soon as they’re released. Until then, go out and live your best unconventional life.
