Tag Archives: University

What’s on my study wall

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For the last three weeks I seem to have found reasons not to start typing my thesis. I know I have all year to get it done and it’s a minor thesis (20,000 words) but the time really has come. It’s already mid-February and I had planned to be well underway by now but I am not really that far advanced.

I’ve used the excuse that my laptop has been in for repairs eventhough all my files are accessible through Dropbox. Then it’s been I haven’t been able to access EndNote because it’s on my laptop. But really enough is now enough.

I’ve settled on my Research Question, to be honest I did that in December! I’ve identified my sample frame and have all the contact information. My ethics approval for my research is done.

Today my laptop will be back from its sabbatical and ready to go. Continue reading →

This might be what it’s like?

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Today might be an example of what my future will be like. If it is then bring it on!

For the last 12 months I’ve worked four days a week. Last year it was to facilitate course work at University and as part of my transition to a post professional service firm life. I’ve grown to love having Mondays away from the office. Long weekends enabling us to come back from the beach on Mondays rather than rushing back on Sunday or to spend the day at Uni – sometimes it’s been both.

Today however was different. Coffe with my favourite person and our daughter’s dog who lives with us eventhough her owner has left home. As always it was very pleasant.

Then it was off for a meeting to discuss a new post professional services firm opportunity. An hour engaged in “what’s next”. It was new and fun.

After that a walk down to University to tidy up my Ethics Application, so I can get started on data collection for my thesis. I always enjoy my time on campus.

Home for a late lunch and then out for a bike ride. On days like today, riding is like “seventh heaven”. Riding on a Monday might just become a guilty pleasure.

Glenelg beach - what a day!

Glenelg beach – what a day!

After that, a bit of time tending the veggies and then some reading. With that the day was done.

On the scale of 1 to 10 this was a 12!

A daily occurrence – the best of times, the worst of times

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It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” -Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

For me this is a daily occurrence as planning for retirement or transition brings these emotions on a very regular basis.

I often describe my days as a roller coaster of mixed emotions, moving through a cycle of euphoria ( “the best of times”) to ambivalence and then to panic ( “the worst of times”). During a day I find myself excited about my future, a period post retirement from my firm, relaxed that I’ll be able to fill my days with gainful activity and then frightened that I am not properly prepared or ready.

In those times when I am looking forward to the next phase, it can be the best of times. No more time sheets, budgets, and relentless pressure to grow the business. My excitement also comes from the opportunities I have before me.

University the opportunity to learn, complete my Honours, start a PHD, research and teach. These are all things that over the last 12 months I have come to enjoy. I feel confident that my network of contacts will engage with me in a way that neither they nor I have before, providing me new and exciting opportunities. I’ll have more time for travel and riding my bike.

I then cycle through feelings of ambivalence arising from the assumption that it will all work its way through and I’ll be OK.

But then there is the fear of the unknown, the worst of times. Sheer panic!

What happens if I don’t like it. I’m moving from the cocoon of a very large firm where I am relevant to perhaps being completely irrelevant. How will I feel about that? What happens if I can’t afford to live the way I want too? What happens if my planning simply doesn’t pay off? What happens if I don’t continue to enjoy my study, it’s too hard and I can’t make a success of teaching? What happens if I my network no longer engages with me after I no longer have my Partner badge? It’s very scary!

So yes on a daily basis I experience both the best and worst of times.

Daily Prompt – Extreme Tale

Just one more assignment to go this year!

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Just 10 days to go, one more assignment and oral presentation and I will have completed my academic year. So far it’s been 17000 of 20000 words submitted. The last 3000 words are written but are definitely not yet in a form ready for submission. Whilst I continue to enjoy my study, I have to say just now it’s feeling a little like a grind to the line. This was never more evident than last week sitting with my supervisor, who in the most encouraging fashion possible suggested, I might have missed the point!

After I reflected on his comments I had no doubt he was correct, however for someone who has a responsible position and reviews other’s work everyday that was a real wake up call. A few days later and a re-read of key texts and journal articles I am hoping I am on point ahead of one final submission of a draft and final submission by the end of the week.

Included in all of this process is the final step of reading and re-reading including checking the referencing. Even with EndNote getting the referencing right is no small task!

After that it will be preparation for my oral presentation of my literature review and the academic year will be done. Time for some R&R and more time at the Beach!

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No Time!

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In earlier posts I’ve reflected on my decision to go back to University whilst working fulltime. It’s all part of an aspirational goal of completing a PhD. It’s feeling much more aspirational than real at the moment!

When I was discussing this with various people last year, it was all part of embracing the spirit of Herminia Ibarra’s fantastic book, Working Identities. It seemed straight forward – working 4 days a week with Uni on Mondays – it would be all OK. Like so many things the idea and the reality bare no resemblance.

Work is full on as Professional Services face one of the most challenging, if not the most challenging period in my professional career. Pressure on delivery, commoditisation of services, and an ever downward pressure on fees. That would all be difficult enough without an economic environment in which business is quite appropriately watching every penny.

The university workload is also substantial. Mondays at university involves a full day of contact including a dreaded workshop on statistics, a subject that I struggled at when I undertook my degree in the mid70s. Having not looked at stats since, it’s not a surprise that I am having to learn it all again. Academic writing is also new to me. Whilst I have written all my life this is a new form of writing. To be fair though, I am enjoying the research and writing aspect, it’s just that there is so much to do – 6000 words before 30 June ignoring the exam!

The upshot of all this is that I have no time. It’s a good thing I have a grown up family and an understanding wife who is very supportive of my current endeavors. It also helps the I am an early riser, as it enables me to ride 4 mornings a week and study on the others. It’s also good that I don’t seem to need masses of sleep as I need the evenings to either catch up on work or study.

Our social life has changed. Nights out during the week are by exception. I usually have one evening work function a week so there isn’t t time for much else until the weekend. On the weekend it’s also about fitting study time in, making time for coffee with my wife, going to the Adelaide Central Market and maybe trying to fit the football in.

Whoever said that I should be slowing down must have been kidding!

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