A young lieutenant of a small Hungarian detachment sent a reconnaissance unit to perform military maneuvers in the Alps. It began to snow immediately, snowed for 2 days, and the unit did not return. On the third day the unit came back. Everyone wondered where the unit had been and how they made it back. The leader of unit related how they thought they were lost and how one of them had found a map in his pocket…. "that calmed us down. We pitched camp, lasted out the snowstorm, and then with the map we discovered our bearings. And here we are." The lieutenant examined the map and discovered to his dismay that it was not a map of the Alps, but a map of the Pyrenees!

Reviewers’ complaints

Others’ related publications

All the roadblocks you will face

Because it is your idea!

Because motivation explains much more of performance than ability… you can build knowledge and skill easier than you can create motivation.

Because you must believe if you are going to convince others!

It will show in your work

But look for ways to connect to:

Enduring marketing or consumer problems

Or to educate others about how your ideas fill important gaps.

Your interests will evolve

You are going to get exposed to many different ideas and approaches

You don’t know everything

It keeps things interesting

Select the right environment

Keep asking for help

Seek out learning opportunities

While teaching

While in seminars

From reviewers

Vet and vet again (and again)

Be opportunistic (in a positive, not manipulative, sense)

To improve existing ideas

To pursue new ideas

Be on the lookout, especially near the middle-to-end of current projects

Seek out interesting coauthors

If you want to enjoy the process

Avoid fragmentation

Early 2-3 projects; later more

Team up with Ph.D. students for projects

Find good undergraduate support

Make internal connections to get the work done

Develop relationships with managers who are thought leaders

Sometimes you will bet wrong

Exit fast if you can

Salvage decisions

Balance motivates focus

Balance increases the rewards

Balance makes it worth it!

Plan your day, week, month, year.

Give yourself short, intermediate, and longer-term goals.

Make a list before you leave for the day.

Make an appointment to do your work.

Research takes time

Research requires a lot of work and insight

You will encounter hard problems

No piece of research is perfect