Are you a scientist wanting to leap from academia to business? In this episode of the PostdocTransformation Show, hosted by Prof. Dr. Eleonore Soei-Winkels, you will learn insights and strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome, leveraging academic skills in the business world, and using psychological concepts like cognitive flexibility, a growth mindset and self-efficacy to adapt to new challenges.
You will be encouraged to explore side business projects, utilize AI tools, and apply growth mindset principles. The episode also highlights essential tools for building and managing a digital business.
For your free career planning, check your readiness to leap, enroll in our email course for your career transition made simple, and plan your life with our calendar.
Listen to this 47 min episode for your PostdocTransformation! Capitalize on our chapter markers as needed.
In this episode we gift you our free email course with ten email lessons until you start your new job in business!
1) Check your readiness to leap out of science (episode 0001)!
Introducing myself, I share how I capitalized on my PhD as a mom, professor and business owner!
2) How to build your sustainable LinkedIn profile?
3) How to read social media & network?
4) How to research your fave jobs & employers?
5) How to do informational interviews to get insights?
6) How to create your customized applications?
7) How to prepare your thesis from a business POV?
8) How to apply to your fave employers?
9) How to choose the right job offer?
10) How to prepare for your new job?
- While or after listening to this episode, you can check your readiness to leap out of science in an instant - for free.
- If you are ready to leap into business, but need free structured guidance, enroll here in your email course with 10 actionable lessons until you start your job in business.
- Nominate an employer of choice, so that I can ask them bold questions informing your job application!
- I have fun mugs, hoodies & baby onesies to inspire you for your #PostdocTransformation. Enter "Show" to get a 25% discount in my shop.
- Follow me on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube & LinkedIn!
- I'm Prof. Dr. Eleonore Soei-Winkels, Founder and CEO of PostdocTransformation, mom of two little ones and happy to share how you can build a #PostdocTransformation according to your vision of life! Thanks for listening and subscribing!
- Please share our show with your underprivileged, underrepresented & underserved (future) PhD bestie!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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(00:04):
Thank you for listening to myPostdocTransformation Show.
Maybe you want to leave better scienceand start your own site business
as a runway for your better future.
Then you will benefit from myfree business preparation quiz
as linked in the show notes.
If you wanna organize your marketingand selling efforts, please
also subscribe to my new videopodcast show, CreatingReorganized.
(00:26):
I share my tricks from creating this show.
Speak with business owners whorun a podcast for the business.
And learn from podcastingservice providers about their
tools boosting our businesses.
My new video podcast show CreatingReorganized will also be a living example
of Applied industrial and occupationalpsychology for my students in real life.
(00:46):
And now let's get to this episode.
PostdocTransformation.
(01:06):
Dear PostdocTransformer, welcomeback to another episode of our
PostdocTransformation Show for thescientists leaping into business.
Do you know that I love rollercoasters?
Yes.
In my previous live, I have hada lot of rollercoaster rides,
and why do I love rollercoaster?
Well, it's a calculated, enhanced,apparently safe thrill for me.
(01:29):
And this feeling of onboarding arollercoaster that is slightly too
high, it was a very similar feelingwhen I left my lab coat at my
university and then started to wearbusiness suits as an IT analyst.
I knew that other scientists havealso leaped successfully before me.
And I also felt like standing withmy back at the wall and there was no
(01:53):
other way to go forward, so I had toonboard into my own new business career.
There was nothing else to do.
And I have not regretted it.
Once,
Yes.
I boomerang back eventually to academiato be appointed as a professor for
industrial occupational psychologyat an applied university, and I have
(02:13):
dedicated an episode to all of you whomay want to come back one day as linked
in the show notes, but I never stoppedbeing in and building my own business.
So let me be your guide on yourPostdocTransformation because if
you are ready to shake off thoseacademic anxieties and step into a
future that truly excites you, I knowthat will be a future for you that
(02:37):
is brighter than today's presence.
And today we're gonna be divinghead first into our biggest fears.
That may also be, keeping youas a brilliant scientist stuck
in the academic comfort zone.
Even when you know in your gutit's time for something new.
I am talking about this, you know,feeling a little voice whispering.
(02:57):
You don't know enough,you're not qualified.
You need another degree, anothercertification, another five years of
learning before you can even thinkof making that leap into business.
And I do know that voice.
It's the voice of the imposter syndrome.
A sneaky little devil that loves totell high achievers like you and me.
(03:19):
That we're just not good enough,no matter how many degrees we have
already under our belt or how manypapers you have published or so.
It's like that time you submitteda paper and you knew it was solid,
you double checked everything, butstill had that, tiny voice in your
head saying, are the reviewersgoing to believe that I did this?
(03:41):
Well, you know what?
Imposter syndrome will followyou also in the business world
because it's all in your head.
but Here's the hilarious andalso liberating truth, my dear
PostTransformer, everyone feels this.
Even people who have been runningmultinational corporations for
decades still get the flutter of.
Am I really qualified for that?
(04:02):
Do I know everything I need?
But you know, you with your PhD andyour rigorous pursuit of knowledge
are uniquely equipped to tackle this.
If you are a returning PostdocTransformer,you know my favorite part of each
episode, which is my PostdocTransformationShow avatar mantra, and you can
(04:23):
be sure to listen to it lateras my original recording, but
for now, let me put it this way.
You are a brilliant scientist.
You are armed with years of academicknowledge, capable of complex problem
solving, meticulous data analysis,critical thinking and strategic planning.
Honestly, all of these skills are theones that businesses are desperately
(04:46):
seeking as future proof skills.
Let's pause for a moment to respectthose who sponsor this valuable episode.
I wanna share with you my bestmarketing agent, serving my
underprivileged, underrepresented,and underserved audience.
(05:08):
Leads and clients is key for meas an agent, working mom, business
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mindful with my own resources.
So I chose Podbean as my podcastinghost and monetizing provider.
I'm on the Unlimited plus plan forour PostdocTransformation Show and
(05:29):
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(05:51):
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(06:37):
I only get a small financialreward if you become their
customer using my Podbean link.
After this quick appreciationof our sponsors, we are now
back in our insightful episode.
You don't have to believe me.
(06:57):
I invite you to listen to our otherepisodes on the future of work, where
exactly these kind of skills are futureproof skills, and I will link to that
episode in the show notes of course.
but Back to you.
So you're now secretly terrified thatyour specialized research expertise won't
translate, won't be enough in business.
(07:18):
Maybe you are thinking ofgetting a new shiny MBA,
another certification before you can eventhink of making a move into business.
You believe the business world speaksa completely different language
and you are stuck speaking in LaTexand python and obscure scientific
jargon like R or something like that.
(07:39):
So the picture I now have is like, youare a highly specialized deep sea diver,
suddenly asked to pilot a spaceship.
Well, and you're thinking, uh, but whereare my gills to breathe on my new mission?
And that's because you're not yetrealizing that breathing works totally
(07:59):
different in the deep sea versus in space.
And I remember that feeling so vividly.
In my PhD in neuroscience.
I was so focused on neuro pathways,on designing intricate experiments.
I was very proud of them and gettingthose papers published, I did get
them published, but you know, thatwas a currency that was worthless
(08:22):
in business and having to find awell-paid job outside of academia.
So, specifically the idea ofjumping into it at Aldi South.
It honestly felt like jumping off acliff without a parachute directly
into a pool of acronyms I didn'tunderstand, and my mind was screaming.
(08:47):
You don't know enough.
You're going to embarrass yourselfin front of people who speak, return
on investment instead of ANOVA.
And my mind was screaming,you don't know enough.
You are going to fail.
Of course.
And what were you thinking?
You achieved so much and now you wannastart over and feel like stupid again.
You are going to embarrassyourself in front of people who
(09:10):
think Roy or RIO or what is it?
Hey, before we continue, we wannaappreciate those who finance
this viable episode for you.
Once you have determined your readinessto leap and want to transition into
(09:34):
business or industries, then you canenroll in your free email course with
10 actionable bingeable email lessonsuntil you start your job in business.
You'll get 10 emails like this.
Number one, how to leap out of signs.
Number two, how to build yoursustainable LinkedIn profile.
Number three, how to readsocial media and network.
(09:55):
Number four, how to researchyour favorite jobs and employers.
Number five, how to do informationalinterviews to get insights.
Number six, how to create yourcustomized applications with chat, GPT.
Number seven, how to prepare yourthesis from a business point of view.
Number eight, how to applyto your favorite employers.
(10:15):
Number nine, how to choosethe right job offer.
Number 10, how toprepare for your new job.
Did you know that we offer deepdive E-course workshops and
memberships at graduate schools,maybe also at yours in the future?
Ask your graduate school coordinatorwhether they wanna book my services
(10:39):
so that I can deliver them to you24 7 365 on your mobile device.
And even better, if you get us paidby your grad school, we will pay
you 50% recurring sales commissions.
So you will earn money with us aswe help you and your PhD besties
(10:59):
to transition into business.
We can build ourPostdocTransformation together.
Woo-hoo.
After this quick appreciationof our sponsors, we are now
back in our insightful episode.
It was generally terrifying.
(11:20):
I mean, my background waspsychology and neuroscience.
Not really business or IT, so itwas like the complete opposite.
But like I said, I was offered thejob and so somebody believed in me.
I had to bet on myself as well,and I actually recorded an
episode, which I will link in theshow notes for you to find out.
But back to you and listenclosely because this is crucial.
(11:44):
Your drive, your analytical thinking, yourtireless problem solving and your sheer
grid that you have developed in academiawill be key for your success in business.
Every single day in your research, you arelearning, adapting, pushing boundaries,
failing, iterating, and pushing again.
(12:06):
All by yourself mostly if you havebeen socialized in toxic academia.
And That is the very definition ofa growth mindset as coined by the
brilliant professor, Dr. Carol Dweck.
It's the belief that your abilitiescan be developed by dedication and
hard work, not you, and it's not fixed.
And I will link to her must seeYouTube video in the show notes
(12:29):
because she's truly inspiring.
As a researcher, you've been livingand breathing a growth mindset
your entire academic career, evenif you did not call it like that.
You already know how to learnnew things and become an expert.
Now you just switch the topicand you become an expert again.
So here's your actionable prompt.
I want you to take 15 minutes.
(12:49):
And list three to five transferableskills from your research that are not
tied to your specific scientific niche.
Think broadly, did you managea complex research project with
multiple stakeholders and deadlines?
Well, that's project management.
Did you analyze vast and complex datasets and present compelling findings?
(13:10):
That's data analytics andstrategic communication.
Maybe you did secure research grants.
Well, that's fundraisingand proposal writing.
Now, here's then the fun part.
Hop onto LinkedIn, which isyour sandbox for business, and
search for job descriptions inyour desired business field.
See how many of theseskills you have identified.
(13:31):
I bet you will be wonderfully surprised athow much you already bring to the table.
If you think you just bring60% or 75% to the table.
Apply anyway.
And speaking of LinkedIn, makesure that your profile reflects
these amazing transferable skills.
It's your new professional storefront.
(13:51):
Don't be shy.
Let it your light shine.
Especially if you are a woman.
And by the way.
I am not an affiliate partner of LinkedInand I still have a free account, so
believe me, you don't need a paidsubscription to benefit from most LinkedIn
goodies for your own career transition.
Do you feel that your comfortableacademic world starts to feel a
(14:15):
little bit constraining maybe thefunding never seems quite enough.
Maybe the politics is getting a littlebit too much, or maybe you are yearning
for more tangible, direct impact fromyour hard Won knowledge, and to be
honest, if you just want to earn moremoney, that's also your pink slip.
You might even start vaguely searchingfor jobs outside of academia and
(14:39):
feeling that familiar pull towardssomething new, but the not knowing
enough monster holds you back.
I've recorded a couple of futurework episodes where I highlight which
industries and roles are actuallyfuture proof, so I hope that you'll
also listen to them in your searchfor jobs outside of academia.
(15:00):
So what is this imposter syndrome?
The not knowing enoughmonster that holds you back.
It tells you to stay put and playsmall, to stick with the devil you
know, even if that devil wears tweedand smells fainty of stale coffee.
It is more in the museuminstead of in the future.
But what if I told you that thisexact feeling tells you that you are
(15:24):
on the verge of something incredible.
It means you are pushing againstyour comfort zone, and that's
precisely where all the magic happens.
Believe me, I have never looked back.
So when I was pregnant in 2013,already working as an IT strategy
consultant at Accenture, theopportunity arose , to be appointed as
(15:46):
a professor for industrial occupationalpsychology at an applied university.
It was not a big leap.
Why?
Because I strategically was alreadypreparing for that boomeranging
back to academia, on my terms.
After a couple of years in business, Iwas intellectually bored and hence, for a
semester I taught an introductory coursein Psychology for Business students.
(16:12):
I enjoyed it, and I was offereda professorship because I
already had a PhD under my belt.
So when I finally fell pregnant, I alreadyhad built a parachute or safety net.
It was to me a natural progression to helpothers make similar transitions between
academia and business and also back.
(16:33):
So it was all about leveragingwhat I already know while being
unafraid to learn what I didn't.
And I used my skills in a new context.
And guess what?
The world did not end.
I leaped out, it was okay.
I leaped back.
It was also okay.
It got a lot more interesting andI stand today with both feet in it
(16:57):
and business, but also academia andI wouldn't want it any other way.
So if you wanna learn more about mycareer transition, I actually recorded
a looking back episode for NationalPostdoc Appreciation Week in 2023,
published that also as an episodenumber two, as linked in the show notes.
(17:21):
Let's pause for a moment to respectthose who sponsor this valuable episode.
Have you found this episodeso far helpful for yourself?
Well, maybe you can subscribe onYouTube, Spotify, apple Podcast,
popping or wherever you get our show,and also share this episode with your
PhD bestie because that would encourageus to help the underprivileged,
(17:44):
underrepresented, and underserved earlycareer scientists leaping into business.
This would also ensure that youdon't miss a future episode also.
Our subscription and listening numbersare key for finding the right sponsors for
our show so that we can help you for free.
(18:07):
I wanna share with youmy time and energy saver.
As a professor for industrial andoccupational psychology, I also teach
about the future of work, and as a formerIT strategy consultant, of course, I
embrace AI to be a future approved podcastproducer of the PostdocTransformation
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(18:31):
I pay for their creator plan,and it's worth every dollar.
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(18:55):
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(19:15):
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(19:37):
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And now back to the show.
(20:01):
Thanking our advertisersfor their financial support.
We are happy to returnto our inspiring episode.
most of my coachees, sooner or latercome back for career coaching, after I
have helped them to leap into business.
And this is why.
If they are applying their scientificknowledge or at least mindset in
(20:26):
business, it feels to them messy.
So unpredictable.
So non-sciencey.
They wonder, is it me?
Am I doing something wrong?
How can I navigate through thisuncertainty let me assure you, maybe
your future you, it's not you, it's thebusiness landscape that you have entered.
(20:47):
So now we'll zoom into a more powerfultheory from the learning sciences.
And it's called Cognitive FlexibilityTheory, developed by Spiro et al
this psychological concept suggeststhat the ability to switch between
different concepts and tasks and adaptbehavior to changing situations is
crucial for your success in business.
(21:10):
I know it's from 1992, andhence it could be called old.
Yes.
But it's fundamental for every scientistleaping into business, and you can find
the reference in the show notes of course.
So as a scientist, you've been doingthis your whole life, adapting your
research questions, your methods, yourinterpretations based on new data.
(21:31):
And that same flexibility is nowyour key to navigating the business
world, which is, let's be honest,often chaotic and ever changing.
Now, this theory is originally meantto help learners deal with complex ill
structured domains like medicine historyor literary interpretation, but it
(21:52):
turns out that this theory also explainsbeautifully why the business world feels
so fundamentally different from academia.
And more importantly, it helps youunderstand how to succeed in it before you
leap into a business which is gold, right?
So hence, this is an episode you maywant to bookmark for later when you are
(22:16):
in your first 100 days of your new job.
So what are ill structured domainsand why is business one of them?
Let me take you backto your academic roots.
Maybe you were trained in a fieldlike biology, physics, chemistry,
or psychology, these are at firstglance, well structured domains,
(22:37):
rules, formulas, control experiments.
There are clear beginnings, middles,and end, and all operators are clear.
That's very easy tounderstand, quote unquote easy.
But the moment you go deeper intoapplying knowledge into real life
situations, you start to feel the chaos.
(22:57):
Even in science, the world doesnot behave like a clean lab.
And business.
Well, market excellence.
Innovation and especially thought andpeople leadership in these AI times are
great examples for ill structured domains.
In business, every situation is unique.
The same product can flop inone market and fly in another.
(23:20):
There are no fixed rules.
Context is everything, you deal withmarket behavior, customer emotions,
team dynamics, regulations, finance,and even unpredictable global events.
All at once.
And that's where cognitiveflexibility theory comes in.
So one could ask why mostscientists struggle in business.
(23:43):
And it's not their fault.
According to cognitive flexibilitytheory structured domains have
two characteristics, and maybe youalready recognize them from today.
Number one, conceptual complexity.
Many ideas, perspectives andstructures, interact all at once.
Number two, case to case irregularity.
(24:07):
What works in one situationoften does not work in another,
even if they seem very similar.
And does that now sound scary?
Well add speed anddecision-making under uncertainty.
And that's business in a nutshell.
(24:28):
Hey, before we continue, we wannaappreciate those who finance
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(24:51):
I also predefined mandatory answers soI can qualify and score leads, collect
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(25:14):
them an email after submitting the quiz.
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(25:38):
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customer using my TypeForm link.
After this quick appreciationof our sponsors, we are now
(26:01):
back in our insightful episode.
Now that's a problem forus scientists, right?
Most of us were trainedwith oversimplified models.
We need to find a huge data set tobe able to be confident decision
makers, we need to think in tidycategories, apply formulas, delete
(26:24):
outliers, control for whatever, butthere is no control for reality.
But in business, that leadsto what Cognitive flexibility
theory calls reductive bias.
We try to put everythingin little boxes too much.
We try to apply the samemodel everywhere as 100%.
(26:47):
We do not adapt fast enough.
Also, we fail to transfer ourknowledge to new messy situations.
Not because we're not smart, but becausewe were not trained to be flexible.
Now, this model is a constructivistapproach, so it helps you to
do something differently, andhere's what I love about that.
(27:08):
It doesn't tell you.
Throw everything away and start fromzero, but instead reassemble what you
already know differently, and that'scalled the double constructivist view.
Number one, you constructunderstanding in the moment.
And number two, then you constructthe knowledge you need from fragments
(27:28):
instead of retrieving some readyto use ready-made solutions.
In other words, you stop askingwhat's the one correct answer?
And instead you are start asking whichparts of what I know can I creatively
combine for this specific business case.
So that's a shift.
I stop here because you have notyet leaped into business, but
(27:51):
I want to prepare you for yoursuccessful PostdocTransformation.
If you want a dedicated episode on howto use the cognitive flexible theory
for you as a scientist in business.
Let me know.
So instead of course, I want younow to use the cognitive flexibility
(28:14):
theory for playing around with AI tostart your own business side project.
maybe you are thinking youwant to be more business ready.
You're not there yet.
Why not?
Partner with AI tools that forceyou to reassemble your scientific
knowledge for developing and testingbusiness applications of your research.
You can use agenda AI tools like ChatGPT,Gemini, Gamma Perplexity AI, or Notion AI.
(28:41):
Just to give you some opportunitiesthat don't just give you answers, but
help you remix, refine, and rethink.
You can use them to test multipleperspective, generate diverse
scenarios, and prepare for theunpredictability of business life.
Remember, AI is notreplacing your thinking.
(29:02):
It is your co-pilot innavigating the unknown.
And speaking of preparation, I wantyou to now expect already the following
for when you have leaped into business.
You will adapt to business and thatuncomfortable tension of adaptation
is not failure, it's growth.
(29:23):
It's cognitive flexibilityin action, okay?
You are not just transferring yourknowledge, you are transforming yourself.
And because your PostdocTransformationwill take place, you can
already train for that.
Anticipating what will happen byfollowing my actionable prompts.
(29:44):
I want you to think about a time in youracademic career where you had to pivot,
learn a new technique on the fly, orsolve a problem outside of your immediate
expertise, how did you approach it?
What resources did you use?
What did you learn aboutyourself learning how to adapt.
Take those strategies and imagineapplying them to your side business.
(30:06):
For example, when my PCR machinebroke, I did not give up.
I troubleshooted researchedalternatives and found a workaround.
That's problem solving under pressure.
How can I use that today?
You can start actively looking foronline courses or industry reports
that might give you a taste of businessconcepts and platforms like Thinkific
(30:30):
are a fantastic resource for this,allowing you to sample short courses
on marketing, finance, or leadership.
It's like a scientific experiment,just for your own career.
And here are some of my best practicesto overcome imposter syndrome that
I discussed with my coachees too.
Number one, a success journal.
Collect your success.
And growth moments with dates, context,people involved, their reactions and maybe
(30:55):
even compliments for your performance.
What may have been the successfactors, why that success matters
to you, and how you can mayberepeat that in a similar context.
You need to schedule a success journaldate every quarter or semester in
your teaching downtime because Iguarantee you, you will never find
(31:17):
enough time for that, unless you havealready scheduled that in your diary.
Hey, before we continue, we wannaappreciate those who finance
this viable episode for you.
If you want a relatively passiveincome, creating a paid e-course as your
(31:40):
service is a great option, especiallyif you are like me, an experienced
teacher in higher education and nowwanna share even more knowledge and
create a paid membership with livegroup meetings beyond the e-course.
Offering an E-course is a no-brainer.
And Thinkific is an AI infusedlearning management system, which
is a dream for every educatorafter setting up an e-course.
(32:03):
And our membership.
You also need to market and sellyour e-course, and that's when lead
generation with TypeForm and podcastingvia D Script and PO can compliment you.
Well, if you wanna try out Thinkific forcreating your own e-course and membership
DM or email me Thinkific so I can sharemy experience or consult you, please check
(32:23):
it out via my link in the show notes.
I only get a small financialreward if you become their
customer using my Thinkific link.
Thanking our advertisersfor their financial support.
We are happy to returnto our inspiring episode.
(32:44):
Number two, be your own cheerleader.
No one can uplift you morethan yourself, in that context.
I recorded an episode about start bettingon yourself as linked in the show notes.
Number three, stop self-sabotage.
No one can hit you harder like yourself.
So when you start somethingnew, give yourself grace.
(33:07):
You must embrace failurebefore achieving mastery.
So be kind to yourself, maybe as kindas you would be to your loved ones.
You also deserve compassion and
number four, goal setting.
Okay, I have recorded a couple ofepisodes on how to set realistic
(33:27):
and attractive goals, and you canfind them all in the show notes.
And related to number four iswhat is the optimal outcome
considering your circumstances?
You know, some of us have more privilegesor challenges than others, so success
is not created equal, and I want youto be compassionate with yourself.
(33:51):
Number six, hire a careercoach, if you need help.
The best reach to the topwith the help of others.
Reaching out for help isnot a sign of weakness.
It's strength.
And maybe now you think, well,I don't have the financial
means to hire a career coach.
Well, let's talk about a mentorthat you don't have to pay.
(34:13):
In your academic journey you hadsupervisors, postdocs, senior
researchers who guided you,and in the business context.
The mentor might not always be a formalmentor sitting across from you, be your
supervisor, sometimes it's the resources,tools, the communities that empower
you to take the next step, or maybeit's this PostdocTransformation Show.
(34:38):
These are the guides to show you thepath to overcome that not knowing
enough monster, the imposter syndrome.
Most of us are willing to sharetheir expertise with you if you
ask well prepared questions.
For example, you can ask me allyour career transition questions
and I will gladly record ananswer as a future episode.
(35:00):
I just cannot coach youfor free one-on-one.
But help can also comein a different form.
Think about technology.
Okay?
So knowing what you want toachieve, you can use technology to
be more efficient and effective.
My journey from a university toAccenture, the global technology and
(35:22):
management consulting company, and thento becoming a professor at an applied
university and now a podcaster on tophas been incredibly reliant on tech.
Why?
Because I believe in leveraging technologyfor automatic data flow set and forget
capabilities, saving time, reducingerrors, and creating my own AI sandbox.
(35:46):
And it's also about showing my ownstudents, especially women, how
we can absolutely capitalize ontechnology to build our own business.
For instance, when I produce thispodcast, I use Podbean for hosting
and it's like the perfect academicrepository for your audio, but for the
(36:07):
world to hear, and even also for videonow and for editing my video and audio,
Descript is the absolute go-to asset.
It uses AI to edit audio like text.
It's like having a super smartresearch assistant who cleans up
your data within a few clicks.
It's a literal game changer, especiallyfor anyone who like me, prefers
(36:30):
writing to fiddling with audio waves.
I don't wanna do that.
If you can edit a Word document, you canedit a video podcast, with Descript.
And this leads us to the future ofwork and ai, many of you feel like AI
is a threat or just something for techgiants, but for you, the analytical
(36:54):
minds, AI is an incredible opportunity.
It's about augmenting your existingskills, not replacing them.
Imagine using AI tools to quickly researchmarket trends, summarizing complex
reports, summarizing, understanding, andeven drafting initial business proposals.
(37:14):
It's about working smarter, not harder.
Here's your actual prompt.
Dedicate one hour this week toexplore a new AI tool relevant
to your business side project.
You don't have to try tomaster that within an hour.
I just want you to play with it, seewhat it can do, and this hands-on
(37:37):
experience will demystify AI and howyou can use your assistant in conquering
the not knowing enough area of business.
Don't make the same mistake like one ofmy students: to my surprise, he said, I
tried Google Bard in 2023 and it sucked.
I don't use AI at all.
(37:59):
Uh, okay.
Let me tell you what I told him.
AI developments come weekly, orsometimes new models seem to be
released daily in an innovation race.
I used to play around with new AI in everyseason break to improve my podcasting, but
to be honest, I think I should be testingout new AI features weekly for content
(38:25):
creation or video or audio editing.
And now over to youDear PostdocTransformer.
I will insert my avatar affirmationfor you and I hope that you
will enjoy it as much as I do.
Remember, you are a postdoc transformer.
(38:46):
You are highly intelligent,well-educated, a bachelor master, and
maybe you have already your doctorunder your belt or you are a postdoc.
You are international experienced,fluent English, a leader and expert
in your prior research field.
You are resilient, brilliant inadaptation and problem solving.
(39:06):
You are eager to bring in thetransferable and monetizable
skills needed in many companies.
To embrace the future and to become orremain an innovator in their markets.
So far you have learned all myfavorite marketing and sales tools.
(39:27):
Now, how can you bring all the data fromyour audience needs and clients together
so you can serve them on a value letter?
And for the long term, even aftermultiple touch points with you, you wanna
remain on their mind for when they areready to buy your service or product.
I'm expanding my digital business.
I use ActiveCampaign as the centerpieceof all my services, like email
(39:48):
course, podcasts, newsletter, shownotes, websites, sales page, mer
shop forms, whatever it is as needed.
As a former IT strategy consultant,I have high requirements on my tech
stack, and ActiveCampaign offers somany integrations to all my other apps.
I use it daily.
If you wanna create your own digitalbusiness with various AI driven lead
(40:10):
magnets and funnel options, DM oremail me ActiveCampaign so I can
share my experience and consult you.
Please check it out viamy link in the show notes.
Again, I only get a small financialreward if you become their customer
using my ActiveCampaign link.
Are you wondering when and where youcan get the attention of your audience?
(40:32):
You always think you don'thave the time for posting on
multiple social media platforms.
I totally get you.
I have been enjoying weeks of socialmedia breaks during the school breaks
while I serve my audience with preparedcontent to be scheduled out as needed.
Ideally, you have just derivedcountless social media content from
(40:53):
your one video podcast episode.
Even without a podcast, withMetricool, the Swiss Army Knife for
your social media management, youcan create and schedule your content
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For campaigns across many days or weeks,I capitalize on their auto list and repeat
(41:13):
features so I can focus on the importantthings according to my vision of life.
If you wanna schedule your content.
On social media DM or emailme Metricool so I can share
my experience and consult you.
Please check it out viamy link in the show notes.
Again, I only get a small financialreward if you become their
customer using my Metricool link.
(41:38):
After this quick appreciationof our sponsors, we are now
back in our insightful episode.
All right.
After listening, I hope you arenow armed with new found confidence
and tools ready to build abridge from academia to business.
And it's not about jumping blindly,it's about strategic small step.
(42:00):
And I even created a mini seriesfor you as a Runway episodes 56
to 60 as linked in the show notes.
In short, one fantastic way to startbuilding that bridge, even while
you're still immersed in academia, isto start drum roll a side business.
And this is your entrepreneurial sandbox.
(42:21):
It is a low risk way to testideas, develop new skills, and even
generate a bit of extra income.
You don't need to quit yourPhD or postdoc tomorrow.
Finish that with grace and then Leap.
You can dedicate a few hours a week.
Learn about marketing,sales, and customer service.
(42:41):
And this is exactly what we champion onour other podcast, CreatingReorganized.
We are all about taking those entrepreneursparks and fanning them into flames.
We've got 1,800 downloads for eightepisodes in our first season as of
June 25, which might sound small, butyou know, it's about 600 individual
(43:04):
listeners who are taking actiontowards their entrepreneurial dreams,
and yes, you heard that correctly.
All our episodes are listenedmultiple times, reflecting the
actionable nature of our shows.
Every big journey starts witha small, consistent step.
We talk about building brandawareness, consistent content
(43:26):
creation and lead generation.
All the things small business owners need.
And speaking of consistentcontent creation, this is where
effective marketing comes in.
We use tools like ActiveCampaign for ourautomated email marketing, and it's genius
for automating follow up messages andkeeping our community engaged and also
(43:46):
helps us capture information seamlessly.
For analytics, Metricool is a lifesaver.
It gives me a holistic view of mysocial media and podcast performance.
These are the tools that let youset and forget so you can focus
on what you do best, which ismaybe building your own business.
(44:10):
And now drum roll.
For those of you who listen tothe CreatingReorganized show and
think, oh, this podcasting thing,you know, that sounds great.
I just don't have the time or the techknow-how to produce it myself, even
though you are talking about that.
I don't wanna learn that.
I just wanna build my own business.
That's it.
(44:31):
Well, let's just say we're cookingup something really special for you.
Imagine a premium white label donefor your podcasting service for small
business owners who understand thepower of audio and video content, but
want someone else, me and my team,to handle all the heavy lifting.
More on that soon, but let's just saywe're building the solution for your
(44:52):
brand awareness, consistent contentcreation and lead generation needs.
Now let me throw in another psychologicalmodel theory concept I have already
discussed in previous episodes, soI won't dovetail that in detail.
It is, of course, the self-efficacytheory, by Albert Bandura and this
theory states that your belief inyour ability to succeed in specific
(45:16):
situations or accomplish a taskinfluences your motivation and behavior.
And by taking small steps like startinga site business or learning a new
AI tool, you build self-efficacy.
Each small success reinforces your beliefthat you can do this chipping away.
You know that imposter syndrome.
(45:38):
Now here's your actionable prompt.
If applying your science to businessis not on your mind for your side
business, identify a small businessidea or skill you are curious about.
For example, offering freelancewriting, consulting on data
analysis, creating an online course.
Listen to the CreatingReorganizedShow because the more often you
(45:59):
immerse yourself to business language,the less cringe it will feel.
Then you can outline just the veryfirst step you could take this week.
Maybe it's researching a potentialniche or learning a new feature in
a business tool you just discovered.
This is not about quittingyour PhD tomorrow.
It's about igniting that entrepreneurialspark and building your confidence
(46:23):
in tiny empowering steps at a time.
So taken together, my dearPostdocTransformer, you are not
defined by your academic title.
You are defined by your capacity tolearn, to adapt, to innovate, and
to contribute in meaningful ways.
The fear of not knowing enough is justa speed bump on your way to becoming the
(46:45):
amazing business leader, entrepreneur orcorporate innovator you were meant to be.
Embrace that growthmindset by Carol Dweck.
Leverage your inherent cognitiveflexibility by Spiro etal.
Build your self-efficacy by Bandura, andremember that with the right tools and a
(47:07):
little bit guidance, you can absolutelystart building your PostdocTransformation.
And don't forget to check out Podbeanfor your podcast hosting, Descript
for revolutionary AI editing,Thinkific for building courses.
ActiveCampaign for email marketing,Metricool for all your analytical needs.
These are the strategic partner that makemy own life and business flow seamless.
(47:31):
And don't forget to tune in nextweek for networking for Introverts
beyond the conference hall,building a business bridge, one
authentic connection at a time.
Which I recorded for my younger self.
Yes, you heard that correctly.
I am an introvert, but I understandthe importance of networking, so
maybe I can teach you some hacks.
(47:52):
Stay tuned.
Have you found this episodeso far helpful for yourself?
Well, maybe you can subscribe onYouTube, Spotify, apple Podcast,
popping or wherever you get our show,and also share this episode with your
PhD bestie because that would encourageus to help the underprivileged,
underrepresented, and underserved earlycareer scientists leaping into business.
(48:14):
This would also ensure that youdon't miss a future episode also.
Our subscription and listening numbersare key for finding the right sponsors for
our show so that we can help you for free.
Do you wanna a transcript or our episode?
Click on our links in ourshow notes and on our website,
www.postdoctransformation.com.
(48:35):
Remember to check your readinessto leap out of science and to
enroll in our free email coursecareer transition made Simple.
Thanks for your attention.
I'm Prof. Dr. Eleonore Soei-Winkels,the host of your seasonal
PostdocTransformation Show.
Postoc.
Thank you for listening to myPostdocTransformation Show.
Maybe you want to leave better scienceand start your own site business
as a runway for your better future.
Then you will benefit from myfree business preparation quiz
as linked in the show notes.
If you wanna organize your marketingand selling efforts, please
also subscribe to my new videopodcast show, CreatingReorganized.
(00:26):
I share my tricks from creating this show.
Speak with business owners whorun a podcast for the business.
And learn from podcastingservice providers about their
tools boosting our businesses.
My new video podcast show CreatingReorganized will also be a living example
of Applied industrial and occupationalpsychology for my students in real life.
(00:46):
And now let's get to this episode.
PostdocTransformation.
(01:06):
Dear PostdocTransformer, welcomeback to another episode of our
PostdocTransformation Show for thescientists leaping into business.
Do you know that I love rollercoasters?
Yes.
In my previous live, I have hada lot of rollercoaster rides,
and why do I love rollercoaster?
Well, it's a calculated, enhanced,apparently safe thrill for me.
(01:29):
And this feeling of onboarding arollercoaster that is slightly too
high, it was a very similar feelingwhen I left my lab coat at my
university and then started to wearbusiness suits as an IT analyst.
I knew that other scientists havealso leaped successfully before me.
And I also felt like standing withmy back at the wall and there was no
(01:53):
other way to go forward, so I had toonboard into my own new business career.
There was nothing else to do.
And I have not regretted it.
Once,
Yes.
I boomerang back eventually to academiato be appointed as a professor for
industrial occupational psychologyat an applied university, and I have
(02:13):
dedicated an episode to all of you whomay want to come back one day as linked
in the show notes, but I never stoppedbeing in and building my own business.
So let me be your guide on yourPostdocTransformation because if
you are ready to shake off thoseacademic anxieties and step into a
future that truly excites you, I knowthat will be a future for you that
(02:37):
is brighter than today's presence.
And today we're gonna be divinghead first into our biggest fears.
That may also be, keeping youas a brilliant scientist stuck
in the academic comfort zone.
Even when you know in your gutit's time for something new.
I am talking about this, you know,feeling a little voice whispering.
(02:57):
You don't know enough,you're not qualified.
You need another degree, anothercertification, another five years of
learning before you can even thinkof making that leap into business.
And I do know that voice.
It's the voice of the imposter syndrome.
A sneaky little devil that loves totell high achievers like you and me.
(03:19):
That we're just not good enough,no matter how many degrees we have
already under our belt or how manypapers you have published or so.
It's like that time you submitteda paper and you knew it was solid,
you double checked everything, butstill had that, tiny voice in your
head saying, are the reviewersgoing to believe that I did this?
(03:41):
Well, you know what?
Imposter syndrome will followyou also in the business world
because it's all in your head.
but Here's the hilarious andalso liberating truth, my dear
PostTransformer, everyone feels this.
Even people who have been runningmultinational corporations for
decades still get the flutter of.
Am I really qualified for that?
(04:02):
Do I know everything I need?
But you know, you with your PhD andyour rigorous pursuit of knowledge
are uniquely equipped to tackle this.
If you are a returning PostdocTransformer,you know my favorite part of each
episode, which is my PostdocTransformationShow avatar mantra, and you can
(04:23):
be sure to listen to it lateras my original recording, but
for now, let me put it this way.
You are a brilliant scientist.
You are armed with years of academicknowledge, capable of complex problem
solving, meticulous data analysis,critical thinking and strategic planning.
Honestly, all of these skills are theones that businesses are desperately
(04:46):
seeking as future proof skills.
Let's pause for a moment to respectthose who sponsor this valuable episode.
I wanna share with you my bestmarketing agent, serving my
underprivileged, underrepresented,and underserved audience.
(05:08):
Leads and clients is key for meas an agent, working mom, business
owner and professor in Germany.
But.
I can't be marketing and sellingall the time, and I have to be
mindful with my own resources.
So I chose Podbean as my podcastinghost and monetizing provider.
I'm on the Unlimited plus plan forour PostdocTransformation Show and
(05:29):
creating reorganized show with Podbean.
Your audience can inclusively listenon what your podcast, according to
their visual and auditive needs.
You can also embed your customizedpodcast player on your external website.
Or use one of the beautifulwebsite templates.
You can easily share your podcast on allmajor podcasting directories, which allow
(05:51):
you to reach a huge audience on theirfavorite devices in their countries.
Podbean also has an ads marketplace,and you can easily attract and manage
sponsors for dynamic ads, which are playedout depending on your audience criteria.
This way you can serveyour audience for free.
Some of them become your clientseventually, but your advertising
sponsors independently supportyou financially in each episode.
(06:16):
You will see insightful stats perdemographic and which episodes attracted
most listeners so you can tailor yourfuture episodes for your leads and
clients and present suitable external ads.
If you wanna try out pobe foryour own podcasting DM or email me
Podbean so I can share my experienceand consult you, please check it
out via my link in the show notes.
(06:37):
I only get a small financialreward if you become their
customer using my Podbean link.
After this quick appreciationof our sponsors, we are now
back in our insightful episode.
You don't have to believe me.
(06:57):
I invite you to listen to our otherepisodes on the future of work, where
exactly these kind of skills are futureproof skills, and I will link to that
episode in the show notes of course.
but Back to you.
So you're now secretly terrified thatyour specialized research expertise won't
translate, won't be enough in business.
(07:18):
Maybe you are thinking ofgetting a new shiny MBA,
another certification before you can eventhink of making a move into business.
You believe the business world speaksa completely different language
and you are stuck speaking in LaTexand python and obscure scientific
jargon like R or something like that.
(07:39):
So the picture I now have is like, youare a highly specialized deep sea diver,
suddenly asked to pilot a spaceship.
Well, and you're thinking, uh, but whereare my gills to breathe on my new mission?
And that's because you're not yetrealizing that breathing works totally
(07:59):
different in the deep sea versus in space.
And I remember that feeling so vividly.
In my PhD in neuroscience.
I was so focused on neuro pathways,on designing intricate experiments.
I was very proud of them and gettingthose papers published, I did get
them published, but you know, thatwas a currency that was worthless
(08:22):
in business and having to find awell-paid job outside of academia.
So, specifically the idea ofjumping into it at Aldi South.
It honestly felt like jumping off acliff without a parachute directly
into a pool of acronyms I didn'tunderstand, and my mind was screaming.
(08:47):
You don't know enough.
You're going to embarrass yourselfin front of people who speak, return
on investment instead of ANOVA.
And my mind was screaming,you don't know enough.
You are going to fail.
Of course.
And what were you thinking?
You achieved so much and now you wannastart over and feel like stupid again.
You are going to embarrassyourself in front of people who
(09:10):
think Roy or RIO or what is it?
Hey, before we continue, we wannaappreciate those who finance
this viable episode for you.
Once you have determined your readinessto leap and want to transition into
(09:34):
business or industries, then you canenroll in your free email course with
10 actionable bingeable email lessonsuntil you start your job in business.
You'll get 10 emails like this.
Number one, how to leap out of signs.
Number two, how to build yoursustainable LinkedIn profile.
Number three, how to readsocial media and network.
(09:55):
Number four, how to researchyour favorite jobs and employers.
Number five, how to do informationalinterviews to get insights.
Number six, how to create yourcustomized applications with chat, GPT.
Number seven, how to prepare yourthesis from a business point of view.
Number eight, how to applyto your favorite employers.
(10:15):
Number nine, how to choosethe right job offer.
Number 10, how toprepare for your new job.
Did you know that we offer deepdive E-course workshops and
memberships at graduate schools,maybe also at yours in the future?
Ask your graduate school coordinatorwhether they wanna book my services
(10:39):
so that I can deliver them to you24 7 365 on your mobile device.
And even better, if you get us paidby your grad school, we will pay
you 50% recurring sales commissions.
So you will earn money with us aswe help you and your PhD besties
(10:59):
to transition into business.
We can build ourPostdocTransformation together.
Woo-hoo.
After this quick appreciationof our sponsors, we are now
back in our insightful episode.
It was generally terrifying.
(11:20):
I mean, my background waspsychology and neuroscience.
Not really business or IT, so itwas like the complete opposite.
But like I said, I was offered thejob and so somebody believed in me.
I had to bet on myself as well,and I actually recorded an
episode, which I will link in theshow notes for you to find out.
But back to you and listenclosely because this is crucial.
(11:44):
Your drive, your analytical thinking, yourtireless problem solving and your sheer
grid that you have developed in academiawill be key for your success in business.
Every single day in your research, you arelearning, adapting, pushing boundaries,
failing, iterating, and pushing again.
(12:06):
All by yourself mostly if you havebeen socialized in toxic academia.
And That is the very definition ofa growth mindset as coined by the
brilliant professor, Dr. Carol Dweck.
It's the belief that your abilitiescan be developed by dedication and
hard work, not you, and it's not fixed.
And I will link to her must seeYouTube video in the show notes
(12:29):
because she's truly inspiring.
As a researcher, you've been livingand breathing a growth mindset
your entire academic career, evenif you did not call it like that.
You already know how to learnnew things and become an expert.
Now you just switch the topicand you become an expert again.
So here's your actionable prompt.
I want you to take 15 minutes.
(12:49):
And list three to five transferableskills from your research that are not
tied to your specific scientific niche.
Think broadly, did you managea complex research project with
multiple stakeholders and deadlines?
Well, that's project management.
Did you analyze vast and complex datasets and present compelling findings?
(13:10):
That's data analytics andstrategic communication.
Maybe you did secure research grants.
Well, that's fundraisingand proposal writing.
Now, here's then the fun part.
Hop onto LinkedIn, which isyour sandbox for business, and
search for job descriptions inyour desired business field.
See how many of theseskills you have identified.
(13:31):
I bet you will be wonderfully surprised athow much you already bring to the table.
If you think you just bring60% or 75% to the table.
Apply anyway.
And speaking of LinkedIn, makesure that your profile reflects
these amazing transferable skills.
It's your new professional storefront.
(13:51):
Don't be shy.
Let it your light shine.
Especially if you are a woman.
And by the way.
I am not an affiliate partner of LinkedInand I still have a free account, so
believe me, you don't need a paidsubscription to benefit from most LinkedIn
goodies for your own career transition.
Do you feel that your comfortableacademic world starts to feel a
(14:15):
little bit constraining maybe thefunding never seems quite enough.
Maybe the politics is getting a littlebit too much, or maybe you are yearning
for more tangible, direct impact fromyour hard Won knowledge, and to be
honest, if you just want to earn moremoney, that's also your pink slip.
You might even start vaguely searchingfor jobs outside of academia and
(14:39):
feeling that familiar pull towardssomething new, but the not knowing
enough monster holds you back.
I've recorded a couple of futurework episodes where I highlight which
industries and roles are actuallyfuture proof, so I hope that you'll
also listen to them in your searchfor jobs outside of academia.
(15:00):
So what is this imposter syndrome?
The not knowing enoughmonster that holds you back.
It tells you to stay put and playsmall, to stick with the devil you
know, even if that devil wears tweedand smells fainty of stale coffee.
It is more in the museuminstead of in the future.
But what if I told you that thisexact feeling tells you that you are
(15:24):
on the verge of something incredible.
It means you are pushing againstyour comfort zone, and that's
precisely where all the magic happens.
Believe me, I have never looked back.
So when I was pregnant in 2013,already working as an IT strategy
consultant at Accenture, theopportunity arose , to be appointed as
(15:46):
a professor for industrial occupationalpsychology at an applied university.
It was not a big leap.
Why?
Because I strategically was alreadypreparing for that boomeranging
back to academia, on my terms.
After a couple of years in business, Iwas intellectually bored and hence, for a
semester I taught an introductory coursein Psychology for Business students.
(16:12):
I enjoyed it, and I was offereda professorship because I
already had a PhD under my belt.
So when I finally fell pregnant, I alreadyhad built a parachute or safety net.
It was to me a natural progression to helpothers make similar transitions between
academia and business and also back.
(16:33):
So it was all about leveragingwhat I already know while being
unafraid to learn what I didn't.
And I used my skills in a new context.
And guess what?
The world did not end.
I leaped out, it was okay.
I leaped back.
It was also okay.
It got a lot more interesting andI stand today with both feet in it
(16:57):
and business, but also academia andI wouldn't want it any other way.
So if you wanna learn more about mycareer transition, I actually recorded
a looking back episode for NationalPostdoc Appreciation Week in 2023,
published that also as an episodenumber two, as linked in the show notes.
(17:21):
Let's pause for a moment to respectthose who sponsor this valuable episode.
Have you found this episodeso far helpful for yourself?
Well, maybe you can subscribe onYouTube, Spotify, apple Podcast,
popping or wherever you get our show,and also share this episode with your
PhD bestie because that would encourageus to help the underprivileged,
(17:44):
underrepresented, and underserved earlycareer scientists leaping into business.
This would also ensure that youdon't miss a future episode also.
Our subscription and listening numbersare key for finding the right sponsors for
our show so that we can help you for free.
(18:07):
I wanna share with youmy time and energy saver.
As a professor for industrial andoccupational psychology, I also teach
about the future of work, and as a formerIT strategy consultant, of course, I
embrace AI to be a future approved podcastproducer of the PostdocTransformation
Show and the Creating Reorganized show.
Descript is the video and audiopodcast editing tool of my choice.
(18:31):
I pay for their creator plan,and it's worth every dollar.
Descript comes with an integrated,professional, remote recording
studio for the best audioquality for your guests and you.
For example, I record an hour interviewwith a guest or a solo, and instead
of painstakingly doing a rough cutand deleting all the arms, and arms
and fillers and rambling around,which I did for hours, I now click on
(18:55):
Descript's, AI editing for clarity,and my rough cut is done in seconds.
Or a minute for fine tuning.
I edit text instead of audio waves,and I just insert all my prerecorded
music, intro ads and outro likethis one in a matter of minutes.
I can then easily explore closecaptions, fine tune AI driven summaries,
(19:15):
chapter markers, and titles, which Ifeed into my show notes and podcast
Host Descript even suggests the bestclips for social media and their
video editor automatically includesthe synchronized speakers cameras.
Audio captions.
I can also include stockgraphics or prerecorded videos.
You can find our short formexamples on our Instagram and
(19:37):
TikTok at Postdoc Transformation.
If you wanna try out Descript for yourown podcast editing DM or email me
Descript so I can share my experienceand consult you, please check it
out via my link in the show notes.
I only get a small financialreward if you become their
customer using my Descript link.
And now back to the show.
(20:01):
Thanking our advertisersfor their financial support.
We are happy to returnto our inspiring episode.
most of my coachees, sooner or latercome back for career coaching, after I
have helped them to leap into business.
And this is why.
If they are applying their scientificknowledge or at least mindset in
(20:26):
business, it feels to them messy.
So unpredictable.
So non-sciencey.
They wonder, is it me?
Am I doing something wrong?
How can I navigate through thisuncertainty let me assure you, maybe
your future you, it's not you, it's thebusiness landscape that you have entered.
(20:47):
So now we'll zoom into a more powerfultheory from the learning sciences.
And it's called Cognitive FlexibilityTheory, developed by Spiro et al
this psychological concept suggeststhat the ability to switch between
different concepts and tasks and adaptbehavior to changing situations is
crucial for your success in business.
(21:10):
I know it's from 1992, andhence it could be called old.
Yes.
But it's fundamental for every scientistleaping into business, and you can find
the reference in the show notes of course.
So as a scientist, you've been doingthis your whole life, adapting your
research questions, your methods, yourinterpretations based on new data.
(21:31):
And that same flexibility is nowyour key to navigating the business
world, which is, let's be honest,often chaotic and ever changing.
Now, this theory is originally meantto help learners deal with complex ill
structured domains like medicine historyor literary interpretation, but it
(21:52):
turns out that this theory also explainsbeautifully why the business world feels
so fundamentally different from academia.
And more importantly, it helps youunderstand how to succeed in it before you
leap into a business which is gold, right?
So hence, this is an episode you maywant to bookmark for later when you are
(22:16):
in your first 100 days of your new job.
So what are ill structured domainsand why is business one of them?
Let me take you backto your academic roots.
Maybe you were trained in a fieldlike biology, physics, chemistry,
or psychology, these are at firstglance, well structured domains,
(22:37):
rules, formulas, control experiments.
There are clear beginnings, middles,and end, and all operators are clear.
That's very easy tounderstand, quote unquote easy.
But the moment you go deeper intoapplying knowledge into real life
situations, you start to feel the chaos.
(22:57):
Even in science, the world doesnot behave like a clean lab.
And business.
Well, market excellence.
Innovation and especially thought andpeople leadership in these AI times are
great examples for ill structured domains.
In business, every situation is unique.
The same product can flop inone market and fly in another.
(23:20):
There are no fixed rules.
Context is everything, you deal withmarket behavior, customer emotions,
team dynamics, regulations, finance,and even unpredictable global events.
All at once.
And that's where cognitiveflexibility theory comes in.
So one could ask why mostscientists struggle in business.
(23:43):
And it's not their fault.
According to cognitive flexibilitytheory structured domains have
two characteristics, and maybe youalready recognize them from today.
Number one, conceptual complexity.
Many ideas, perspectives andstructures, interact all at once.
Number two, case to case irregularity.
(24:07):
What works in one situationoften does not work in another,
even if they seem very similar.
And does that now sound scary?
Well add speed anddecision-making under uncertainty.
And that's business in a nutshell.
(24:28):
Hey, before we continue, we wannaappreciate those who finance
this viable episode for you.
I wanna share with you my numberone lead generator, and you can
start that even without a podcast.
It's TypeForm and I use them tocreate free quizzes with open
questions and multiple choice answers.
(24:51):
I also predefined mandatory answers soI can qualify and score leads, collect
their email addresses for later nurturing.
I can brand my quizzes.
For example, my check your readinessto leap out of science quiz with my
audio and video files, so this way Ican share specific podcast episodes
or other information based on theiranswers, and then automatically send
(25:14):
them an email after submitting the quiz.
I even included the calendar invite forthose leads who qualify specifically.
So now I can help everyone on the surfacefor free and divert my valuable time only
to my high ticket leads on a deep level.
I collect all the dataautomatically after my initial
setup, as I have also integratedit with my remaining tech stack.
(25:38):
If you wanna try out TypeForm for yourown lead generation and qualification
DM or email me TypeForm so I canshare my experience and consult you.
Please check it out viamy link in the show notes.
I only get a small financialreward if you become their
customer using my TypeForm link.
After this quick appreciationof our sponsors, we are now
(26:01):
back in our insightful episode.
Now that's a problem forus scientists, right?
Most of us were trainedwith oversimplified models.
We need to find a huge data set tobe able to be confident decision
makers, we need to think in tidycategories, apply formulas, delete
(26:24):
outliers, control for whatever, butthere is no control for reality.
But in business, that leadsto what Cognitive flexibility
theory calls reductive bias.
We try to put everythingin little boxes too much.
We try to apply the samemodel everywhere as 100%.
(26:47):
We do not adapt fast enough.
Also, we fail to transfer ourknowledge to new messy situations.
Not because we're not smart, but becausewe were not trained to be flexible.
Now, this model is a constructivistapproach, so it helps you to
do something differently, andhere's what I love about that.
(27:08):
It doesn't tell you.
Throw everything away and start fromzero, but instead reassemble what you
already know differently, and that'scalled the double constructivist view.
Number one, you constructunderstanding in the moment.
And number two, then you constructthe knowledge you need from fragments
(27:28):
instead of retrieving some readyto use ready-made solutions.
In other words, you stop askingwhat's the one correct answer?
And instead you are start asking whichparts of what I know can I creatively
combine for this specific business case.
So that's a shift.
I stop here because you have notyet leaped into business, but
(27:51):
I want to prepare you for yoursuccessful PostdocTransformation.
If you want a dedicated episode on howto use the cognitive flexible theory
for you as a scientist in business.
Let me know.
So instead of course, I want younow to use the cognitive flexibility
(28:14):
theory for playing around with AI tostart your own business side project.
maybe you are thinking youwant to be more business ready.
You're not there yet.
Why not?
Partner with AI tools that forceyou to reassemble your scientific
knowledge for developing and testingbusiness applications of your research.
You can use agenda AI tools like ChatGPT,Gemini, Gamma Perplexity AI, or Notion AI.
(28:41):
Just to give you some opportunitiesthat don't just give you answers, but
help you remix, refine, and rethink.
You can use them to test multipleperspective, generate diverse
scenarios, and prepare for theunpredictability of business life.
Remember, AI is notreplacing your thinking.
(29:02):
It is your co-pilot innavigating the unknown.
And speaking of preparation, I wantyou to now expect already the following
for when you have leaped into business.
You will adapt to business and thatuncomfortable tension of adaptation
is not failure, it's growth.
(29:23):
It's cognitive flexibilityin action, okay?
You are not just transferring yourknowledge, you are transforming yourself.
And because your PostdocTransformationwill take place, you can
already train for that.
Anticipating what will happen byfollowing my actionable prompts.
(29:44):
I want you to think about a time in youracademic career where you had to pivot,
learn a new technique on the fly, orsolve a problem outside of your immediate
expertise, how did you approach it?
What resources did you use?
What did you learn aboutyourself learning how to adapt.
Take those strategies and imagineapplying them to your side business.
(30:06):
For example, when my PCR machinebroke, I did not give up.
I troubleshooted researchedalternatives and found a workaround.
That's problem solving under pressure.
How can I use that today?
You can start actively looking foronline courses or industry reports
that might give you a taste of businessconcepts and platforms like Thinkific
(30:30):
are a fantastic resource for this,allowing you to sample short courses
on marketing, finance, or leadership.
It's like a scientific experiment,just for your own career.
And here are some of my best practicesto overcome imposter syndrome that
I discussed with my coachees too.
Number one, a success journal.
Collect your success.
And growth moments with dates, context,people involved, their reactions and maybe
(30:55):
even compliments for your performance.
What may have been the successfactors, why that success matters
to you, and how you can mayberepeat that in a similar context.
You need to schedule a success journaldate every quarter or semester in
your teaching downtime because Iguarantee you, you will never find
(31:17):
enough time for that, unless you havealready scheduled that in your diary.
Hey, before we continue, we wannaappreciate those who finance
this viable episode for you.
If you want a relatively passiveincome, creating a paid e-course as your
(31:40):
service is a great option, especiallyif you are like me, an experienced
teacher in higher education and nowwanna share even more knowledge and
create a paid membership with livegroup meetings beyond the e-course.
Offering an E-course is a no-brainer.
And Thinkific is an AI infusedlearning management system, which
is a dream for every educatorafter setting up an e-course.
(32:03):
And our membership.
You also need to market and sellyour e-course, and that's when lead
generation with TypeForm and podcastingvia D Script and PO can compliment you.
Well, if you wanna try out Thinkific forcreating your own e-course and membership
DM or email me Thinkific so I can sharemy experience or consult you, please check
(32:23):
it out via my link in the show notes.
I only get a small financialreward if you become their
customer using my Thinkific link.
Thanking our advertisersfor their financial support.
We are happy to returnto our inspiring episode.
(32:44):
Number two, be your own cheerleader.
No one can uplift you morethan yourself, in that context.
I recorded an episode about start bettingon yourself as linked in the show notes.
Number three, stop self-sabotage.
No one can hit you harder like yourself.
So when you start somethingnew, give yourself grace.
(33:07):
You must embrace failurebefore achieving mastery.
So be kind to yourself, maybe as kindas you would be to your loved ones.
You also deserve compassion and
number four, goal setting.
Okay, I have recorded a couple ofepisodes on how to set realistic
(33:27):
and attractive goals, and you canfind them all in the show notes.
And related to number four iswhat is the optimal outcome
considering your circumstances?
You know, some of us have more privilegesor challenges than others, so success
is not created equal, and I want youto be compassionate with yourself.
(33:51):
Number six, hire a careercoach, if you need help.
The best reach to the topwith the help of others.
Reaching out for help isnot a sign of weakness.
It's strength.
And maybe now you think, well,I don't have the financial
means to hire a career coach.
Well, let's talk about a mentorthat you don't have to pay.
(34:13):
In your academic journey you hadsupervisors, postdocs, senior
researchers who guided you,and in the business context.
The mentor might not always be a formalmentor sitting across from you, be your
supervisor, sometimes it's the resources,tools, the communities that empower
you to take the next step, or maybeit's this PostdocTransformation Show.
(34:38):
These are the guides to show you thepath to overcome that not knowing
enough monster, the imposter syndrome.
Most of us are willing to sharetheir expertise with you if you
ask well prepared questions.
For example, you can ask me allyour career transition questions
and I will gladly record ananswer as a future episode.
(35:00):
I just cannot coach youfor free one-on-one.
But help can also comein a different form.
Think about technology.
Okay?
So knowing what you want toachieve, you can use technology to
be more efficient and effective.
My journey from a university toAccenture, the global technology and
(35:22):
management consulting company, and thento becoming a professor at an applied
university and now a podcaster on tophas been incredibly reliant on tech.
Why?
Because I believe in leveraging technologyfor automatic data flow set and forget
capabilities, saving time, reducingerrors, and creating my own AI sandbox.
(35:46):
And it's also about showing my ownstudents, especially women, how
we can absolutely capitalize ontechnology to build our own business.
For instance, when I produce thispodcast, I use Podbean for hosting
and it's like the perfect academicrepository for your audio, but for the
(36:07):
world to hear, and even also for videonow and for editing my video and audio,
Descript is the absolute go-to asset.
It uses AI to edit audio like text.
It's like having a super smartresearch assistant who cleans up
your data within a few clicks.
It's a literal game changer, especiallyfor anyone who like me, prefers
(36:30):
writing to fiddling with audio waves.
I don't wanna do that.
If you can edit a Word document, you canedit a video podcast, with Descript.
And this leads us to the future ofwork and ai, many of you feel like AI
is a threat or just something for techgiants, but for you, the analytical
(36:54):
minds, AI is an incredible opportunity.
It's about augmenting your existingskills, not replacing them.
Imagine using AI tools to quickly researchmarket trends, summarizing complex
reports, summarizing, understanding, andeven drafting initial business proposals.
(37:14):
It's about working smarter, not harder.
Here's your actual prompt.
Dedicate one hour this week toexplore a new AI tool relevant
to your business side project.
You don't have to try tomaster that within an hour.
I just want you to play with it, seewhat it can do, and this hands-on
(37:37):
experience will demystify AI and howyou can use your assistant in conquering
the not knowing enough area of business.
Don't make the same mistake like one ofmy students: to my surprise, he said, I
tried Google Bard in 2023 and it sucked.
I don't use AI at all.
(37:59):
Uh, okay.
Let me tell you what I told him.
AI developments come weekly, orsometimes new models seem to be
released daily in an innovation race.
I used to play around with new AI in everyseason break to improve my podcasting, but
to be honest, I think I should be testingout new AI features weekly for content
(38:25):
creation or video or audio editing.
And now over to youDear PostdocTransformer.
I will insert my avatar affirmationfor you and I hope that you
will enjoy it as much as I do.
Remember, you are a postdoc transformer.
(38:46):
You are highly intelligent,well-educated, a bachelor master, and
maybe you have already your doctorunder your belt or you are a postdoc.
You are international experienced,fluent English, a leader and expert
in your prior research field.
You are resilient, brilliant inadaptation and problem solving.
(39:06):
You are eager to bring in thetransferable and monetizable
skills needed in many companies.
To embrace the future and to become orremain an innovator in their markets.
So far you have learned all myfavorite marketing and sales tools.
(39:27):
Now, how can you bring all the data fromyour audience needs and clients together
so you can serve them on a value letter?
And for the long term, even aftermultiple touch points with you, you wanna
remain on their mind for when they areready to buy your service or product.
I'm expanding my digital business.
I use ActiveCampaign as the centerpieceof all my services, like email
(39:48):
course, podcasts, newsletter, shownotes, websites, sales page, mer
shop forms, whatever it is as needed.
As a former IT strategy consultant,I have high requirements on my tech
stack, and ActiveCampaign offers somany integrations to all my other apps.
I use it daily.
If you wanna create your own digitalbusiness with various AI driven lead
(40:10):
magnets and funnel options, DM oremail me ActiveCampaign so I can
share my experience and consult you.
Please check it out viamy link in the show notes.
Again, I only get a small financialreward if you become their customer
using my ActiveCampaign link.
Are you wondering when and where youcan get the attention of your audience?
(40:32):
You always think you don'thave the time for posting on
multiple social media platforms.
I totally get you.
I have been enjoying weeks of socialmedia breaks during the school breaks
while I serve my audience with preparedcontent to be scheduled out as needed.
Ideally, you have just derivedcountless social media content from
(40:53):
your one video podcast episode.
Even without a podcast, withMetricool, the Swiss Army Knife for
your social media management, youcan create and schedule your content
in advance according to the bestposting times based on your followers.
For campaigns across many days or weeks,I capitalize on their auto list and repeat
(41:13):
features so I can focus on the importantthings according to my vision of life.
If you wanna schedule your content.
On social media DM or emailme Metricool so I can share
my experience and consult you.
Please check it out viamy link in the show notes.
Again, I only get a small financialreward if you become their
customer using my Metricool link.
(41:38):
After this quick appreciationof our sponsors, we are now
back in our insightful episode.
All right.
After listening, I hope you arenow armed with new found confidence
and tools ready to build abridge from academia to business.
And it's not about jumping blindly,it's about strategic small step.
(42:00):
And I even created a mini seriesfor you as a Runway episodes 56
to 60 as linked in the show notes.
In short, one fantastic way to startbuilding that bridge, even while
you're still immersed in academia, isto start drum roll a side business.
And this is your entrepreneurial sandbox.
(42:21):
It is a low risk way to testideas, develop new skills, and even
generate a bit of extra income.
You don't need to quit yourPhD or postdoc tomorrow.
Finish that with grace and then Leap.
You can dedicate a few hours a week.
Learn about marketing,sales, and customer service.
(42:41):
And this is exactly what we champion onour other podcast, CreatingReorganized.
We are all about taking those entrepreneursparks and fanning them into flames.
We've got 1,800 downloads for eightepisodes in our first season as of
June 25, which might sound small, butyou know, it's about 600 individual
(43:04):
listeners who are taking actiontowards their entrepreneurial dreams,
and yes, you heard that correctly.
All our episodes are listenedmultiple times, reflecting the
actionable nature of our shows.
Every big journey starts witha small, consistent step.
We talk about building brandawareness, consistent content
(43:26):
creation and lead generation.
All the things small business owners need.
And speaking of consistentcontent creation, this is where
effective marketing comes in.
We use tools like ActiveCampaign for ourautomated email marketing, and it's genius
for automating follow up messages andkeeping our community engaged and also
(43:46):
helps us capture information seamlessly.
For analytics, Metricool is a lifesaver.
It gives me a holistic view of mysocial media and podcast performance.
These are the tools that let youset and forget so you can focus
on what you do best, which ismaybe building your own business.
(44:10):
And now drum roll.
For those of you who listen tothe CreatingReorganized show and
think, oh, this podcasting thing,you know, that sounds great.
I just don't have the time or the techknow-how to produce it myself, even
though you are talking about that.
I don't wanna learn that.
I just wanna build my own business.
That's it.
(44:31):
Well, let's just say we're cookingup something really special for you.
Imagine a premium white label donefor your podcasting service for small
business owners who understand thepower of audio and video content, but
want someone else, me and my team,to handle all the heavy lifting.
More on that soon, but let's just saywe're building the solution for your
(44:52):
brand awareness, consistent contentcreation and lead generation needs.
Now let me throw in another psychologicalmodel theory concept I have already
discussed in previous episodes, soI won't dovetail that in detail.
It is, of course, the self-efficacytheory, by Albert Bandura and this
theory states that your belief inyour ability to succeed in specific
(45:16):
situations or accomplish a taskinfluences your motivation and behavior.
And by taking small steps like startinga site business or learning a new
AI tool, you build self-efficacy.
Each small success reinforces your beliefthat you can do this chipping away.
You know that imposter syndrome.
(45:38):
Now here's your actionable prompt.
If applying your science to businessis not on your mind for your side
business, identify a small businessidea or skill you are curious about.
For example, offering freelancewriting, consulting on data
analysis, creating an online course.
Listen to the CreatingReorganizedShow because the more often you
(45:59):
immerse yourself to business language,the less cringe it will feel.
Then you can outline just the veryfirst step you could take this week.
Maybe it's researching a potentialniche or learning a new feature in
a business tool you just discovered.
This is not about quittingyour PhD tomorrow.
It's about igniting that entrepreneurialspark and building your confidence
(46:23):
in tiny empowering steps at a time.
So taken together, my dearPostdocTransformer, you are not
defined by your academic title.
You are defined by your capacity tolearn, to adapt, to innovate, and
to contribute in meaningful ways.
The fear of not knowing enough is justa speed bump on your way to becoming the
(46:45):
amazing business leader, entrepreneur orcorporate innovator you were meant to be.
Embrace that growthmindset by Carol Dweck.
Leverage your inherent cognitiveflexibility by Spiro etal.
Build your self-efficacy by Bandura, andremember that with the right tools and a
(47:07):
little bit guidance, you can absolutelystart building your PostdocTransformation.
And don't forget to check out Podbeanfor your podcast hosting, Descript
for revolutionary AI editing,Thinkific for building courses.
ActiveCampaign for email marketing,Metricool for all your analytical needs.
These are the strategic partner that makemy own life and business flow seamless.
(47:31):
And don't forget to tune in nextweek for networking for Introverts
beyond the conference hall,building a business bridge, one
authentic connection at a time.
Which I recorded for my younger self.
Yes, you heard that correctly.
I am an introvert, but I understandthe importance of networking, so
maybe I can teach you some hacks.
(47:52):
Stay tuned.
Have you found this episodeso far helpful for yourself?
Well, maybe you can subscribe onYouTube, Spotify, apple Podcast,
popping or wherever you get our show,and also share this episode with your
PhD bestie because that would encourageus to help the underprivileged,
underrepresented, and underserved earlycareer scientists leaping into business.
(48:14):
This would also ensure that youdon't miss a future episode also.
Our subscription and listening numbersare key for finding the right sponsors for
our show so that we can help you for free.
Do you wanna a transcript or our episode?
Click on our links in ourshow notes and on our website,
www.postdoctransformation.com.
(48:35):
Remember to check your readinessto leap out of science and to
enroll in our free email coursecareer transition made Simple.
Thanks for your attention.
I'm Prof. Dr. Eleonore Soei-Winkels,the host of your seasonal
PostdocTransformation Show.
Postoc.
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