Today, I welcome Jane Jones back to the podcast! Jane is a development editor and writing coach specializing in supporting women and non-binary scholars in academia. She focuses on developing sustainable book-writing practices to prevent burnout and overwhelm. Join us for a conversation about replicating hierarchies when seeking or responding to feedback. We discuss the pitfalls of disguised permission-seeking and share guidance on building self-trust.  Tune in for spirited and insightful...

Today's episode concludes the podcast series focused on outlining the real stages of the academic career. The final career stage in academia is 'Enjoying Your Legacy.' Now that you have established a foundation for others to continue your work, it is time to enjoy the relaxed institutional pressure and uplift other individuals in your field. The Enjoying Your Legacy stage is all about freedom and furthering your legacy. Whether you decide to go for a full professorship or stay as an...

We are progressing through the podcast series focused on the real stages of the academic career based on your development as a professional. In today's episode, I introduce the fourth career stage: Building Your Legacy. Building Your Legacy comes post-tenure. It is the most challenging career stage in academics because it demands a radical shift and reorientation. Building your legacy means ensuring your unique perspective and work live on beyond you. It's about creating a lasting impact...

Welcome to episode three of my podcast series, The Real Stages of the Academic Career. Today, I am discussing the 'Planting Your Flag' stage closely linked to tenure.    Planting Your Flag is a crucial stage because it revolves around declaring your academic mission and showing why you're indispensable to your institution. This stage can be high-stakes and nerve-wracking, but it's also empowering as you refine the articulation of your work and academic voice.   In this episode, I advise...

Welcome back to the ongoing series on the real stages of the academic career! In the last episode, I introduced the apprenticeship stage. Today, I am focusing on "Stepping Into Your Own," a pivotal phase where scholars begin to carve out their unique identities separate from their advisors.  The 'Stepping Into Your Own' stage is complex, demanding, and most importantly, your chance to define who you are and what you want to represent as a scholar. I advise navigating the tension between...

Welcome to the first episode of my new podcast series, Understanding the Real Stages of the Academic Career. I will discuss writing, relationships, research, and time management strategies for each stage and share best practices from my experience as an academic writing coach. Today’s episode focuses on the first career stage, learning/apprenticeship. I explain the learning/apprenticeship stage and how you should think about critical aspects of an academic career in your early career. I...

The "received" stages of an academic career are very linear and do not capture the true responsibilities, workload, or goals within an academic career. I have worked with hundreds of women and nonbinary professors, so I have a unique perspective on the academic career–one built through observation of many different scholars in many different types of institutions. In today’s episode, I explain the REAL stages of the academic career.  This episode is a re-release of episode 190 of the podcast...

In today's episode, I introduce special guest Karen Grace-Martin, the owner of The Analysis Factor, a statistical support business. Karen's company is a resource every academic should lean on. Regardless of your field, The Analysis Factor will help with quantitative data analysis. Every researcher needs statistical support, and utilizing statistical support resources will improve and expedite your writing and publications.  As an academic, seeking statistical support is beneficial and...

In this episode, I discuss publishing for promotion within academia. As you navigate and plan your academic career, it's essential to understand how publishing intersects with each stage of a professorship. From the early years leading up to the first promotion to the later stages of tenure and beyond, strategic publishing plays a crucial role in shaping our professional trajectory.   I emphasize the importance of cultivating a mindset that prioritizes quality over quantity in our...

Today's podcast episode is designed to help you figure out your summer writing plan while you listen. If you have a backlog of papers and you want to maximize your summer writing, start with this podcast episode.  Then, if you like my style of teaching, apply for this summer’s cohort of Navigate, where you’ll experience the training, co-writing, and coaching that will help you clear your backlog of papers so that your voice is out there in the world, working for you.   Check out the...

Kirstie McAllum is an alumna of our Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® 12-week program. On today's episode, Kirstie shares her experience in Navigate. In Navigate, Kirstie worked to develop her decision-making skills through mission-driven time and project management (which–spoiler alert!–is the REAL way you will learn to say “no,” cut back on overwork, and reclaim your weekends). If you are ready to refine your decision-making skills so that you can make time to write and publish–before OR...

You have the deep-rooted knowledge and experience to create the career and life that you want! But first, you must filter through all the messages about what work looks like and the social and cultural nuances in academia so you can act on your self-trust.     In today's episode, I explore the importance of trusting oneself amidst the bombardment of societal and cultural expectations. I present five experiments aimed at nurturing self-trust. By engaging in these experiments, academics will...

On today’s bonus podcast episode, I’m revisiting the Ideal Week and explaining an up-leveled way to use it to create the career (and life) you want.   If you want spaciousness in your calendar, time to think and read and write, then this bonus podcast episode is for you!   When you create your Ideal Week in our Navigate program, you do so after you have worked through our Activities Alignment process that clears the off-mission obligations from your plate. Ideal Week helps you make sure...

Michelle Espino is an alumna of our Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® 12-week program. On today's episode, Michelle shares her experience in the Navigate!  More about Michelle: Dr. Michelle M. Espino (she/ella) is a first-generation college student and an associate professor in the Higher Education, Student Affairs, and International Education Policy program at the University of Maryland. She investigates factors influencing educational attainment for racially and ethnically minoritized...

In today's episode, I review Cal Newport's latest book, Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout. I loved his book Deep Think and recommend it often. I was excited to read his newest work and wanted to relay my thoughts and insights to you!  In Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout, Cal addresses the challenges knowledge workers face surrounding productivity. I compare his advice to the teachings in Navigate and share which of his...

In the age of “productivity hacks” and “there’s an app for that,” you might be pursuing tools for time and project management instead of the actual skills needed for better time and project management.   In Navigate, we teach mission-guided time and project management skills. You will refine your self-trust, self-knowing, and academic mission. These are the basis for the skills you will build in Navigate that will unclog your publication pipeline and help you publish to the level that...

Cindy Cordoba Arroyo is an alumna of our Navigate: Your Writing Roadmap® 12-week program. On today's episode, Cindy shares her experience in the Navigate August 2023 Cohort.    More about Cindy: Cindy Cordoba Arroyo, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Apparel Merchandising and Management (AMM) Department at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Holding a Ph.D. in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University, her expertise bridges the fields of material science and...

Today's episode tackles a topic weighing on my mind: how the sale of attention impacts our writing and publishing endeavors. I delve into the intricate ways social media platforms and apps are designed to capture and retain our attention, often at the expense of our productivity and focus.    Smartphones and streaming services have made access to content constant, posing significant challenges when concentrating on writing tasks. The pervasive attention economy is an obstacle to high-level...

In today's episode, I discuss embracing seasonality in academia. As academics, we are so lucky that our careers have a natural seasonality, and it's time to leverage it! Whether it's the slow beginnings of a new term or the whirlwind of activity leading up to finals - instead of seeing these ebbs and flows as obstacles, I share why we should embrace them as opportunities for growth and success.   Let's explore practical strategies for managing the inevitable fluctuations in workload that...

The waitlist for the next cohort of Navigate opens on March 25th! If you have been a frequent podcast listener or are a professor ready to change your relationship with writing and publications, now is the time to get on the Navigate waitlist so that you can be the first to apply to our next cohort!   Today’s episode is a Navigate information session. I cover everything from program eligibility to how to apply, what to expect during and after Navigate, and how to take the next step in...

In this episode, I explore the universal struggle of managing writing time in academia. Learning how to accurately estimate how long it takes to complete a paper is one obstacle academics must overcome to publish more.    First, I highlight the two non-negotiables for effective writing project management. Then, I present two distinct methods to help you estimate the time required to complete a task. I share real-life examples to help you decide which task management method aligns with how...

In a previous episode, I underscored the importance of cultivating project management skills before investing in a project management tool. Today, I shift focus to those who need to implement a tool into their workflow. I give tips on how to know if you are ready to use a tool and guidelines for selecting the right tool for your needs. A project management tool can be instrumental if you oversee multiple projects with diverse collaborators. It provides a centralized platform for...

Have you ever found yourself on autopilot, cruising through familiar roads without consciously realizing it? I recently had one of those moments, and it got me thinking about the power of default mode. Our brains love defaults – those ingrained habits and routines that save energy and reduce decision-making.  But here's the catch – default mode isn't just about driving; it extends to our writing practices. Many academics operate in default mode when it comes to their writing, and this can...

I am back to working as the primary writing coach in our Navigate Program, and that shift has sparked some new thoughts about writing and academic writing practice. In today's episode, I cover everything from defining the components of an enduring writing practice to the role of writing retreats in clearing out your backlog of papers. So tune in to hear new ideas on:  Defining and developing a writing practice Why an enduring writing practice is critical for academic success Writing...