Seth Keen

This post ‘Why Academia Is No Longer A Smart Choice’ by Melissa Greg on a positive note led to a useful comment by Alex Burns 24/11/09. In this comment he provides some useful information as one approach towards the issues that Gregg raises:

First, you need to develop a ‘programmatic’ approach to your research: a longer-term view with multiple projects, streams or collaborations. Two key questions to ask are: Where do you want to be in 3-5 years time? In your discipline, what do you want to be internationally known as a recognised expert for? Also look at a time management system like David Allen’s GTD, and to writing models like Barbara Minto’s Pyramid Principle, WriteOrDie software, or Sanford Kaye’s Quick Writing Process. Get those sources into Endnote or similar bibliographic management software.

Following up on some of these sources has been really useful. Pyramid writing notes and more to come…