As a researcher you are called to investigate, discover and reveal. A skilful vocation leverages your skill set to build a career that serves a larger purpose. Your research brings value to your discipline, your institution and society at large. You chose academic research for a myriad of great reasons. Stopping to take stock of whether academia is still delivering for you is important but gets put on the bottom of the to-do list.
Are you thriving or feeling slowly smothered by the itchy, scratchy academic comfort blanket? Do you recognise any of these?
- Academia has played on you sense of duty
- Academia has played on your love of research
- You have learnt to put yourself last
- Making your work better and better, has crystalised a belief that you can't do "stuff"
- Feeling as if you only had the skillset for your current role
Time to take stock, unravel the blanket and weave a new career with the three strong threads of your values, strengths and courage that your research career has developed. Is it time to leave?
