The Happy Scientist

#59 — “It’s always been done that way.” Maybe that works for double-entry accounting (which hasn’t changed in a thousand years), but not in the lab. We humans may love the security of things we can count on, things like protocols and management, axioms and HR. But you are a scientist, and curiosity and discovery define your world. So buckle up: we are going after the status quo.

Also check:
There Is No Such Thing As A co...

Rene Descartes famously wrote, “I think therefore I am.” Have you cleverly upgraded that to “I science therefore I am”? It turns out that might not be the shining achievement you thought it was. Join me in conversation with Dr. Laura Grassie, Ph.D. molecular biologist and full-time wife and mother as we discuss the benefits of decoupling your identity and your work.

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Remember when you were a wide-eyed child and you dreamed of being the person who would invent some world-changing gizmo? You had lots of ideas back then. But now that you’re all grown up and worse yet, EDUCATED, have you run out of notions? Or have you found you have them but you can’t produce them in a clutch? Don’t worry; that dream machine is still in there. In this episode, we will turn the idea fountain back on.

Also c...

this episode, we interview the Ph.D. pharmacologist and biocurator, who became Senior Managing Editor for Bitesize Bio, Dr. Adam Pawson. How did he escape the lab, and overcome his fear of being exposed after over 25 years of academic and professional scientific success? See how competence and success ultimately triumph over fear and self-doubt.

Also Check:
Episode 10 — Getting Past Imposter Syndrome - https://thehappysc...

Is your lab a pressure cooker? You’re not a pot roast, so such an environment is not for you. But can you do anything about it? Fortunately, yes! This episode will unpack the many tools at your disposal to make your workday and your career far more serene and productive.

Also check:
Episode 11 — The Art of Going Slow - https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/episodes/episode-11-the-art-of-going-slow
Episode 12 — Man...

In this episode, we will offer you a simple test that will clarify the proper priority for any item on your to-do list – or reveal that it shouldn’t be on your list at all.

View the quadrants here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iQOoct6QjdID0fU4OaHpmq2LQTsGZ1S7/view?usp=sharing

Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/

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Who was that wise, compassionate, brilliant person who decided for you what is comfortable and what isn’t? Oh, they weren’t so wise, compassionate, or brilliant? And their identity is not at all clear? Before you make an appointment with your therapist, your hairdresser, and your bartender, let’s talk. This episode will dispel the common presuppositions about comfort.

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Maybe you think there is too much to know about science without having to incorporate other fields. In fact, your own sub-sub-specialty is overwhelming enough! But this is the whole point. Why not draw on others who have already done all the heavy lifting, made all the mistakes, and overcame them? Why not use functional, proven methods and systems; but use them for your own elevated purposes?

Check out the books discussed i...

Unless we’re wrong, having to be right all the time will lead to lots of problems. (See what we did there?) In this episode, we will explore the risky nature of needing to be right all the time.

Also check:
Principles by Ray Dalio — https://www.principles.com/
Episode 41 — Do You Listen? — https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/episodes/ep-41-do-you-listen
Episode 31 — What You Don't Know You Don't Know — https:...

Early on, you discovered you liked science class better than other classes, say composition, or history, or literature. There is nothing wrong with preferences. You may even have liked some of those non-science classes, if not as much. But some classes, you hated. Maybe you could avoid gym class or drama class. But there was no hiding from math. And it keeps showing up in your scientific environment. What is a scientist to...

While it’s easy to complain about what’s lacking, it’s productive to focus on what’s going for you, what’s working for you, and what’s supporting you. Awareness of the pluses offers you opportunities to capitalize on the assets available to you. So this episode will shine a light on some things that you might not be noticing, or may even be hidden to you—until now.

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If it wasn’t for the tasks, the people, the bureaucracy or the pressure, you would love your job. After all, no other careers have these demands… Hmm, perhaps your expectations need a tune up. But let’s say you got dismally realistic – how can you face all of the barriers to a successful and satisfying career, especially in the rarified air of science?

Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappys...

And the blind shall see! It’s easy to acknowledge we don’t know everything but it can be hard to admit we don’t know when things get specific. It’s even harder when we don’t know what we are missing. In this episode we will discuss our human reactions to our blind spots and how to get past them.

Check Episode 31 (https://bitesizebio.com/podcast/episo...) and the article "There's No Such Things As A Comfort Zone" (http://ver...

Ah, reason. It can be so comforting. But to the uninitiated it can be quite frightening. In this episode, learn how to spread your hard won reason without causing a panic or making enemies.

Check the articles http://veraclaritas.com/escape-the-tr... and
http://veraclaritas.com/you-cant-thin....

Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/

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Freedom has been associated with politics, philosophy, lifestyle, morality, relationships, even guns. But what about science? In this episode, we will posit the importance of freedom in science, and the forces that would make it not so. Listen in!

Check out Episode 16 — The Challenge of Differentiating Between Science & Scientific Opinion - https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/episodes/ep-16-the-challenge-of-differ...

Ah, the elusive fantasy of work — life balance. Think about it, can you name anyone who consistently delivers on it? If you have ever experienced a magical moment that looked like it, were you able to sustain it? Since work — life balance seems to be as rare as leprechauns mounted on unicorns, perhaps something more achievable is in order. In this episode we will discuss something more effective and more doable than “balan...

In this episode, we will decide whether you need a break, a nap, a vacation, a new job, or a new career. You don't have to burn the candle at both ends to make a success of your scientific career. Join us to figure out how to refresh, reset, retool, or redesign, as the case may be.

Listen to all episodes of The Happy Scientist podcast: https://thehappyscientist.bitesizebio.com/

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Do you have someone chattering at you all day long and that someone is you? If so, you're in good company. This is the common human condition. Sometimes though it feels like it's getting in the way. If you've ever had that experience, you will enjoy this episode as we unpack the voice in your head. We will be talking about how to manage this ever present voice and how to use it to best effect.

Read the articles http://vera...

If your closest friends were instructed to list your three most prominent qualities, would “good listener” be among them? If not, tune in to this episode to learn how to be an Olympic level listener. In fact, tune in especially if you question the value of being a good listener. If you are already a good listener, you are probably going to tune in without further prompting -- because you value good listening. So, everybody...