POTUS 34 and Dissertations
October 14th marks the birthday of the 34th President of the United States. Here’s some words of wisdom from Dwight D. Eisenhower that you can apply to your dissertation…
Plans are nothing; planning is everything.
— Dwight D. Eisenhower
As the saying goes, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”
So, why bother? Right?
Wrong!
The Number One problem I run into with the students who seek my help is a lack of planning. Without a plan, the dissertation is a confusing, frustrating process. I liken it to being helicoptered out of sea and dropped in in the middle of the night.
Other students describe their experience as feeling their way through the dissertation. It’s kind of like you’re blindfolded, stretching your hands out in front of you and shuffling your feet as you try to move forward.
Planning is the antidote. Plans provide direction and certainty. Plans improve confidence and diminish stress.
But, plans are not perfect. You must remain flexible as new information becomes available. You must adapt as conditions change.
The plan you have today may not be the one to get you to graduation. But, if you don’t have a plan today, you’re much less likely to ever get there!
There is no victory at bargain basement prices.
— Dwight D. Eisenhower
Only one percent of the US population ever earns a research-based doctoral degree. That number is so low not because the dissertation process is easy, but because it is hard.
It takes hard work and effort to complete your dissertation.
It takes diligence and guidance.
It takes perseverance and persistence.
But…
Pessimism never won any battle.
— Dwight D. Eisenhower
So, chin up! You can do this!
