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Jamie Hillman is a multi-passionate, purpose-driven human, on a mission to make the world a better place. Her podcast and blog (Jamie on Purpose) are for young professional women to learn all things professional and personal development along their journeys to being tomorrow’s world-changing CEOs, government officials, and community leaders. In this podcast she considers whether or not to pursue a doctorate. 

STEP 1: REALITY CHECK

 #1. Do I have the time?  Residential programs often require you to work on your research full time making this question less relevant.  Online programs will require a minimum of 15-30 hrs/week depending on course load and your ability.  

 #2: Do I have the money?  How much debt am I willing to incur, understanding I may not receive the degree? Be proactive and decide right now the amount of money you are willing to spend. Yes, education is priceless, and many of those who start and don't finish say the experience was worth it, but please do ask this question. 

 #3 Do I have the support? A doctoral program is not a Master’s degree plus. It is a transformative journey that will change you and those close to you. Do people do this without the support of their friends and family? Sure. But, it's often not pleasant. 

 Have a heart-to-heart talk with those who are close to you. 

 #4 Am I up for the task? A doctoral program is rigorous and even if you listen to every podcast, your body will experience stress.  Can your body take the added stress? How about your mind? 

 STEP 2: LET’S DIG DEEPER

 #5 Do I have a clear end goal?  Why do you want this degree? A doctoral degree is costly in terms of time, effort, and often money. You will need a clear and focused why for two reasons: (1) To confirm you even need this degree and (2) to keep you going when the going gets tough. 

#6 Will a doctorate get me closer to this goal? Spend time researching whether or not this degree will get you closer to your end goal. Find someone doing what you want to do and ask their advice (LinkedIn is a great resource for this). If they do encourage you to get your doctorate, be sure to ask them what type. 

 #7 Is pursuing a program in line with your core values?  If it’s not, why do it? See  Jamie on Purpose and her core value exercise: https://jamieonpurpose.com/blog/core-values

 EXTRA CREDIT: Do you consider yourself a nerd? Do you get excited when someone shows you how to improve something you think is already perfect because you see it as a learning experience? 

Spend at least two weeks mulling over these questions. 

Resources
#16  - The Good Goodbye: http

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Learn tips and tricks that will make writer’s block a thing of the past!

Louie Centanni, MFA, is a lecturer at San Diego State University and has been teaching writing, rhetoric, and composition for over a decade. He is also an online writing consultant at the University of Arizona Global Campus Writing Center, and as a writer, he has published several short works and essays. When the global pandemics aren't killing everyone's social lives, he tours as a standup comedian. 

• It's a lot easier to make bad writing good than to make no writing!
• Writer’s Block – Does not exist – it is just an excuse for the fact we are terrified our writing doesn’t sound good.
• Writing is like any other skill: Practice, fail, practice, fail.  Do not be afraid to fail. Our society teaches that failure is the worst thing ever, and it's not. 
• Failure is feedback. Don't take it personally; laugh at yourself.

Tips:

1.     JUST DO IT! Start writing anything that's on your mind, even if it's bad; just get some words on the page.

2.     Write first, edit later (pretend like your delete key does not exist).

3.     Make an outline; have a plan.

4.     Then, ask yourself, what do I need to do in each sentence? 

5.     Write what you think you need to write, then show it to someone for feedback; feedback is information that will help you get on track. 

6.     Do not take feedback personally – this is a common theme on many of the episodes and if getting feedback is tough for you, listen to episode #18: “How to Feel Good about Feedback with Dr. Kelly Stewart” https://www.buzzsprout.com/1547113/8063165

7.     Beware of imposter syndrome (we spoke about this on episode #9 “The Dissertation Shift with Todd Fiore” https://www.buzzsprout.com/1547113/7242724 

8.     Do not try to sound smart, do not attempt to “dress up” your writing. The BEST writing is CLEAR writing. 

9.     Follow templates if you get stuck (see the resource below).

10.  Turn off Facebook, your phone, email – ANYTHING that can distract you (remember those grey activities that Mark Woods talked about in episode #6: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1547113/7136806

11.  Resist cleaning your house (see #1)

Resources

Happy Doc Student Swag: https://www.bonfire.com/store/happy-doc-student-podcast-swag/

They Say/ I Say by Gerald Graff and Cathy Berkinstein: https://amzn.to/3uqog0g

 Grammarly: 

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 Take-home message: Utilize the librarian and your library! 

Anna Uribe: Masters of Library and Information Services and lead instruction librarian and the liaison for doctoral programs at the University of Arizona global campus, AUGC.

Tips:

1.     Don’t use links to save your research

2.     Download that resource

3.     Figure out how you will organize your references: Zotero, Mandalay, Refworks (check to see if your tuition covers citation software – if not, check out the free links I have on my website: https://www.expandyourhappy.com/online-resources)

4.     Book a one-on-one appointment with a librarian to discuss your research area

5.     Don’t spend more than 30 minutes being confused or frustrated!

6.     Start learning how to do advanced searches now so you have this under your belt by the time you get to your dissertation/doc project

7.     Librarians are experts in finding information  - they do this for their JOB and they LIKE IT! (utilize them: 24/7 chats, emails, phone calls, etc.)

8.     Estimate that it will take you 90 minutes to find ONE resource – this includes searching, evaluating search results, reviewing an article, and note taking

9.     Schedule time to be in the library to work on your research (communicate your need for this dedicated time with your family and friends)

10.  Research AND then write (don’t try to do both together)

Get the article: The Doctoral Journey - 12 Things You Should Know (that they probably won't tell you!): https://www.expandyourhappy.com/HDSP121
 

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Moylan Ryan

• Somatic psychotherapist in Europe
•  Rolfing® practitioner (Structural Integration). Learn more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81n-B1WI3Bg
• Certified posture exercise professional
•  Movement educator
• Provider of continuing education with the national certification board of therapeutic massage and bodywork
• Embodiment coach (virtual men's groups)

What is posture?

• Posture is really a representation of how we feel about ourselves. It's a representation of our self-image, our self-worth, our self-esteem
• It is not static but based on a triad of experiences: balance, alignment, and motion 

Why care about your posture? (it’s more than just looking good!)

Physical

• An epidemic of forward head position/protraction in the shoulders; the body is so intelligent that it supports our activity, or inactivity. A stooped concave type of position leads to your body laying down layers of connective tissue that will keep you in that shape.
•  Forward head position puts pressure on the thoracic cavity, impeding pulmonary function, your breathing ability, and also it's having a diminished effect on your cardiovascular system. Could lead to heart disease and COPD.
•  Fatigue

Psychological

• If your body is expressed in tension, torsion, and compression you’re in a collapsed state and playing small. You cannot be in FLOW.
•  A body that has length, breadth, and depth has space in it. Most bodies have run out of space. 

Cognitive

• Poor posture impedes the flow of the oxygenated blood coming up into the brainstem leading to mind fog. 

Bottom Line: The shape of your body is related to your ability to accomplish your goals (read that TWICE!  - at least). Listen up guys: The mind-body connection is very real!

Power in the breath – Understand the link between inspiration and respiration.

• Move from a reactive state to a responsive one (from fight, flight, or freeze into FLOW)
• Practice deep breathing (relax the pelvic floor, breath into the belly, extend the exhale)

Tips:

• Use a standing desk
• Take lots of breaks & move your body often
• Practice balancing on one foot (put one hand on a wall for support)
• Be conscious of your alignment (look at your feet)
• Practice deep belly breathing (stay centered & build your resilience)
• Get Rolfed®

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In our space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.” Viktor Frank

Connect wit

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As you pursue your doctoral degree, you might feel a bit like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. There will be wicked witches, fireballs, and flying monkeys. But, there will also be munchkins and good witches. 

Here’s how to navigate the Yellow Brick Road:

• Trust the process (and ENJOY IT!)
• Realize doing a dissertation is both art & science
• Don’t over-complicate this
  • You can’t boil the ocean (find the balance between too broad and too narrow) 
  • Your dissertation/doc project isn’t going to win the Noble Peace Prize (so just let that go and get it done!
  •  You probably do not need to do mixed-methods
  • Your dissertation/do project is simply a demonstration project (it must demonstrate to the academy you are worthy of the degree)
• Scholarly writing and APA are a huge part of the process
• Ensure a solid topic:
  • aligned with your degree and specialization (you might need to “turn the lens”)
  • it’s something you want to be known as an expert in (and will hold your interest for years)
  • substantiated by recent (3-5 years) scholarly (peer-reviewed) research (you must be able to answer: Why are we doing this research?)
  • consider the population – if “protected” per IRB you might need to “turn the lens” (instead of minors/prisoners, etc. maybe the people who work with them?)
  • consider data collection (how will you access the population?) 
• Seek alignment before you write your proposal (is the problem, purpose, RQs, design, analytical strategy aligned?  See below for Dr. Lonny's download and also this episode that speaks specifically to the issue of alignment:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/1547113/7455607

Lonny (Lawerence) Ness holds a PhD in Business Management and has been in the field of online higher ed for nearly 20 years. To date he has worked as a chair with close to 100 graduates. Not only is he the founder of Dissertation101 Mentoring Services, Inc. and mydissertation.coach, He is also the founder of donut explorers created as a community to seek, share, and promote the world's best donuts. 

Connect with Dr. Ness:

@mydissertationcoach1 (Facebook)
@mydissertation6 (Twitter)
https://bit.ly/3rWQYF6 (Youtube)
mydissertation.coach (website)
https://mydissertationcoach.quora.com/ (Quora)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dissertation101/ (LinkedIn)

Annotated Prospectus Template & Literature Review Matrix Template: https://mydissertation.coach/downloads

Get the article: The Doctoral Journey - 12 Things You Should Know (that they probably won't tell you!): https://www.expandyourha

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Elizabeth Lucas is an oracle who began her work in transcendental meditation at the age of eight and has been studying with shamans, mystics, and healers ever since.

She is passionate about linking body, mind, spirit, and emotions as a way to access our power within. She offers cutting edge programs, spiritual retreats, individual guidance, and online courses that give you access to your authentic, powerful, divine being.

There is a lot going on in the world right now and we believe that THIS is THE single most important thing you could be doing.

Empowering your energy system allows you to EVOLVE your immune system so you can stay healthy and live out your life purpose.

• Color: Red
• Location: Bottom of Tailbone
• Power: Stability, Security & Feeling Grounded

• Color: Orange
• Location: Between Hip Bones
• Power: Creativity & Passion

• Color: Yellow
• Location: Top of Stomach
• Power: Will Power, Self-Esteem, Self-Worth 

• Color: Every Shade of Green
• Location: Center of Chest
• Power: Understanding, Compassion, & Love

• Color: Aqua, Aqua-Marine, Teal
• Location: Middle of Throat
• Power: Hearing & Speaking Your Truth (self-Expression)

• Color: Midnight Blue
• Location: Middle of Forehead
• Power: Intuition

• Color: Deep Purple
• Location: Top of Head
• Power: Wisdom, Self-Knowledge, Divine Connection 

Contact Liz: [email protected] 

Free BRIDGE meditation available at: https://www.deeplywell.com

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Applied vs. PhD Degrees and Other Nuggets of Wisdom

Dr. Rebecca Wardlow has her EDD in educational leadership and spent over 20 years as a K-12 educator, first, starting out in the classroom as a first-grade bilingual teacher working her way through administration roles, all the way up to being a principal. She then completed her doctorate and is now mentoring graduate students through the doctoral process.  

Applied vs. PhD

How they are the same

·       Terminal degree (you can’t go any further)

·       Result in a “doctorate” so both lead to the title “Dr.”

·       Equally rigorous

How they are different

·       PhD is a Doctorate of Philosophy (and then you specialize in a field – like Education, Psychology, Business, etc.). It has a more RESEARCH / THEORY / often STATISITICAL focus. 

·       An applied degree (EDD, PsyD, DBA, etc.) is focused on APPLICATION.

Examples
Education: PhD in Education vs. EDD (applied – Doctorate of Education)
Psychology: PhD in Psychology vs. PsyD (applied – Doctorate of Psychology)
Business: PhD in Business vs. DBA (applied – Doctorate of Business Administration)

Think of it like two sides of the same coin. We need each other. One is not better than the other (please read that twice; bonus points if you say it out loud).

Please take time to ensure you are pursuing the program that is the best fit for YOU and YOUR GOALS.

Tips for becoming a doctor

1.     Make sure you even want and need this degree - more on that here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1547113/8169838

2.     Ensure you are in the program that aligns with your goals (applied vs. PhD)

3.     Pick your general topic early on and research, read, and write in that area as you progress through your program

4.     Start focusing around year 3 – brainstorm with faculty (pick a topic that aligns with your goals, but isn’t too close to home)

5.     Be open to massive amounts of feedback  - more on that here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1547113/8063165

6.     Read, read, read to become an expert so you can identify an area for further research – more on that here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1547113/7455607

7.     Always maintain a scholarly voice, free from bias (remember: you are not set out to prove anything, but design and implement a research-based study/project).

8.     Be flexible 

9.     Ask questions

10.  Don’t forget “It’s 5:00 somewhere!” Relax and have fun taking it one bit at a time. 

 Get the article: The Doctoral Journey - 12 Things You Should Know (that th

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 Frustrated? Tired? Confused? This episode is for you!

Helen Montgomery received her PhD in 2011 from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in Experimental Psychology with concentrations in statistics, quantitative methodology, and human factors. She has worked in higher education for over 20 years, serving as a dissertation chair, methodologies, and administrator in graduate programs. After years of witnessing doctoral learners who were frustrated, lost, or felt hopeless, she identified a need to offer dissertation students a space where their existing skills were recognized and celebrated, and new skills could be taught and nurtured in a kind and understanding way.

In 2016, she started The Kind Coach.

What is a dissertation coach? Someone works with you through the process supplementing the guidance you get from your Chair. 

A GOOD Dissertation Coach will: 

• model writing and library research
• tutor research methods/analytical strategies
• be very hands-on – typically very frequent interaction
• translate the feedback and make sure you are implementing it correctly. 
• save you time, money, and your sanity/health 

Coaches are different from Editors and your Chair/Committee

Dissertation Editors – Correct your writing; do not necessarily need to talk to you; typically hired to get the paper ready for proposal or final review.

Chairs – The faculty are often constrained by time and will rely on you to develop requisite skills that are needed to complete your research (e.g., learning statistics, scholarly writing, APA, etc.).

Tips:

1.     Discuss with your Chair; be transparent. Ask: Do you think I would benefit from a coach?

2.     Shop around (BUYER BEWARE). A good coach will: have a terminal degree (PhDs typically have more experience with theory), have a lot of experience mentoring dissertations/doc projects (to completion), and be prompt with communication.

3. Be wary of contracts/large sums of money up-front.

4. Get referrals if that makes you feel more confident. NOTE: I have a shortlist of coaches on my website: http://expandyourhappy.com/resources

3.     Get a coach EARLY 

4.     Remember - you must OWN your work (you will have to defend it to a committee)

Get the article: The Doctoral Journey - 12 Things You Should Know (that they probably won't tell you!): https://www.expandyourhappy.com/HDSP121
 

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Humor is often one of the first things to go when you are in a doctoral program. 

In this episode you will exercise your funny bone and learn games you can play (with or without your friends and family) that will get you laughing.

Bonus: These same games actually make you a better human being!

Christine Alexander is a founding member of Florida Studio Theaters Improv Troupe, and her TV appearances include SNN News, Channel 10, and she's a frequent co-host for the Suncoast View on ABC 7.  Christine has harnessed the power of laughter through two decades of professional improvisational stage comedy, corporate team building, and comedy wellness programs that she's now delivering all over the world.

She lives by the motto "If it feels good to laugh, then laugh, to feel good". 

Why Laugh?

• Laughter benefits you both physically, mentally, and emotionally (just google Norman Cousins and laughter yoga).
• Laughter is an excellent stress reducer.
• You do not have to be funny to exercise your funny bone!
• Humor is a great way to calm that Monkey Mind so you can be more present.
• Humor practices help you TRUST yourself and be less judgmental (who couldn’t use more of that these days?)
• If nothing seems funny - just laugh anyway (your body won't know the difference)

Games: 

1.     Last Word, First Word: Listen and wait until the last word and use it as the first word in your sentence. 

2.     Last Letter, First Letter: Listen and wait until the last word, look at the last letter of that last word and use it as your first letter in my sentence. I think. I really enjoyed watching you go through that. Get stuck? Start making the shape of the letter and let whatever comes – come!

3.     Questions Only - only ask each other questions.

4.     Restricted Word Game - Each person gets a number under 20. Example: The first person gets three, the next person gets five, and maybe the third person gets 12. Each time you speak, you only have three words or you only have five words or you only have 12 words and you have to get everything out in those three, five or 12 words. 

5.     Red Ball - Say “red ball” to someone; you can’t throw the ball until they say “red ball” back. 

6.     1 to 50  - A group of people all close their eyes and count together to 50. Each taking a turn to say the next number. And if two say the next number at the same time, then you have to start all over.

 “If it feels good to laugh, then laugh to feel good. And if it feels good to cry, then cry to feel good.” Christine Alexander 

Connect with Christine
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laughinglunches/
Twit

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With all members in your community:

• Be mindful about who you can trust
• Be proactive
• Communicate (be clear, be candid)

Faculty
Chair – Ask for regular meetings; see their feedback as a gift (see episode: #18).
Committee members – They want you to graduate!
Instructors – Can be great cheerleaders; reach out to them.

Academic Advisors - Their role is to navigate you to graduation. Ask questions and be sure to answer their calls.

 University Support Services
Writing Center – Go here for tips, tricks, and editing services.
 Librarians – They can be a huge help in locating literature.
Editors – See episode: #11.

Family & Friends – Communicate and listen to their perspectives.

Peers – Reach out, pick their brain, share when you are stuck.

Colleagues – Network and join associations, especially those in your research area (LinkedIn, Clubhouse, etc.). 

Others who can help you be the best version of YOU (when seeking out these people ask for referrals and always, always go with your gut):

• Coaches (dissertation, meditation, health/nutrition, etc.) 
• Bodyworkers/Energy workers
• Physical Trainers
• Nutritionists
• Spiritual Advisors / Religious Leaders 
• Prayer Partners
• Workout/Gym Buddy
• Counselors/Therapists

Connect with us on LinkedIn (in order of appearance):
Heather Frederick (hfred)
Jodie Hemerda (jhemerda) 
Todd Fiore (todd-fiore-phd-26a0331)
Kelly Stewart  (kellyolsonstewart) 
Vernon Czelusniak  (drczelusniak)
Kennedy Maranga  (kennedy-maranga-ph-d-8529042)
Tim Rice  (drtimrice)
Travis Coufal (travis-coufal-32ba8513)
Melanie Shaw  (melshaw)
Cynthia Palmisano (cynthia-palmisano-psy-d-72531012b)
Tami Beaty  (tami-beaty-ed-d)
Mariko Carson  (mariko-carson-51841a29)

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