R3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; Striving Towards Happiness

Growing up with nothing can actually give you a significant financial advantage—if you’re taught the right skills. When you start with less, you learn to save aggressively, spot opportunities that others overlook, and perform “arbitrage” by doing things others won’t. Unlike those born into wealth, you’re not bound by expectations, standards, or lifestyle inflation that hold many people back. With the right mindset and basic financial skills, starting from nothing can be the foundation for building extraordinary wealth and success.

We know the flashy depictions of wealth and success—fancy cars, private jets, and entourages of scantily dressed followers—are pure fiction. Most successful and wealthy people live unassuming, quiet lives. And yet, time and time again, we fall for these cartoonish, comical depictions of success. Why do we buy into this fantasy land, even when we know it’s not real?

In the tech industry, everyone talks about co-founders and collaboration, but being a solopreneur—running the show on your own—can actually have major benefits.

Chasing publications, citations, and tenure often defines success in academia, but this relentless pursuit can leave you feeling empty and unfulfilled. The truth is, the most meaningful work in research and innovation often lies in doing things that are hard, messy, and underrewarded—work that doesn’t immediately get recognition or pay off. Real fulfillment comes from finding purpose, setting your own metrics for success, and committing to meaningful research that matters to you, not just the system. When you focus on purpose over prestige, you build a career—and a life—that’s far more rewarding in the long run.

Fall of Syria reflections.

The implausible can become plausible, you simply often just have to wait enough time.

Doing research during a #PhD can feel like being in a toxic relationship—it’s seductive and abusive at the same time.

It’s like the “hot” guy or girl that tells you that you are terrible, but love bombs you periodically.

It’s a slot machine where most of the time you get goose eggs and every once in a while, you get a home run.

Just when you’re ready to give up, it pulls you back in, convincing you that success is just around the corner if you work a little harder.

Many realize that this cycle isn’t for them and choose to leave.

It’s not just about skill or capability; it’s about learning to navigate the invisible barriers of managing life, time, and the constant pressure to keep going.

The PhD journey is as much about resilience as it is about intellect.

my biggest advice is to always learn how to manage this boundary, so that you can live a healthy life.

It’s OK to take breaks.

It’s OK to spend time with family and friends.

It’s OK to screw up.

It’s OK to not submit papers all of the time.

It’s OK if somebody is upset at you for not performing.

Learn to practice, smiling and have a spring in your step, even though you know that there is a pile of work sitting on your desk.

Learn to not feel a desperation, and realize that you’re extremely talented with many options in any industry.

Learn to realize that you choose to do what you do, and you could choose to do something else.

Give yourself bargaining power with the walk of quiet confidence.

In our household, we’ve decided not to give allowances. Instead, our kids earn money by working. This approach has taught them resilience and given them a sense of control over their own financial decisions. By working for what they earn, they’re learning valuable skills, like independence and making thoughtful choices—skills that will serve them well later in life. It’s not just about the money; it’s about preparing them for the real world.

After years as a #strategy professor, I no longer believe in most of the frameworks I once taught.

The idea of “getting ahead at all costs” feels hollow to me now.

I’ve found that the less I think like a strategist and the more I act like a “human being”—kinder, more thoughtful, and less fixated on outcomes—the more fulfilling my life becomes.

Instead, in my strategy and innovation courses, I teach about empathy and being kind to others.

I teach about the fears you feel when you try something for the first time.

I teach about courage. You have to have courage to do things no one believes in.

Thinking like a strategist often left me feeling empty and afraid, but embracing humanity has brought me a sense of purpose and peace.

Ironically, the students better understand themselves and the world.

They perform far better.

It is time we stop focusing on silly outcomes, and start modeling our courses towards the world we want, and can have.

I’m fascinated by what motivates us to tackle tasks that seem hard, miserable, or even pointless in the short term. Why do people voluntarily pursue challenges like earning a PhD, climbing mountains, or doing chores like washing dishes? These are things most would avoid, yet many of us find meaning—or even pleasure—in them. Is it curiosity, purpose, or something deeper that drives us? I want to explore why we choose these paths and what it says about the way we find fulfillment in life.