Does your professional life align with your values?

Or, have you lost sight of what really matters?

Last October, my partner wrote me this note. It feels so long ago now - before the Seattle rain came rolling in, and I decided that my winter hobby would be creating a business.…

In academia, I always pushed myself past my limits.

It's not easy to accept (or honor) my limitations.

I've always struggled with attention and motivation. My solution: pack my schedule so full of work so that I couldn't procrastinate. This 'solution' was encouraged in academia…

The past 2 years have been a journey: leaving academia & unexpectedly becoming a content creator, engineer, & CEO in the process.

Though it all, my goal has been the same: to support PhDs in their own journeys out of academia.

I have lots of surprises in store for May 🌻

There is so much heartbreak in my DMs.

PhD students, post-docs, professors - bright & capable people, completely broken by academia. Scared to speak out about what they've experienced.

I wish things were different. I have no idea what to do.

If you're a professor wanting to leave academia:

1. You are not alone.
2. Check out the Compassionate Cohort: a peer support group for professors navigating the logistics & emotions of leaving academia. Next meeting is 3/29. DM me for more info.

RSVP: t.ly/ALqBU

PSA for all PhDs:

7 beliefs that helped me leave academia:

1. PhDs are expert learners. I can learn anything.
2. My skills are more valuable than my degree.
3. I have all the power to rewrite my story.
4. Quitting does not mean that I failed.
5. If I'm struggling, then I'm growing.
6. No job is…

Your biggest job search challenge is your mindset:

- 'I'm over/underqualified for non-academic jobs.'
- 'I'm bad at interviewing/networking/etc.'
- 'I'm a failure for leaving academia.'

Overcome these limiting beliefs, and you can easily climb down from the ivory tower.

The hardest thing about leaving academia wasn’t writing a resume, networking, or interviewing.

It was losing my identity.

Some people are more annoyed at others talking about serious issues in academia than the fact that there are serious issues in academia.

Why adjunct when you could:

- Record an online course at home for < $50.
- Advertise your course for free on social media.
- Never have to grade student papers again.

20 sales of a $150 course is $3000.

According to recruiters, a resume only needs three sections:

- Career Accomplishments
- Experience
- Education

Your degree is at the bottom, not the top. Completely different than academic CVs.

My career goals:

2000: Astronaut
2007: Psychiatrist
2010: Clinical Psychologist
2013: Developmental Psychology Professor
2022: UX Researcher
2024: Human Factors Engineer

How have your goals changed?

How to leave academia:

1. Convince yourself that you're not a failure.
2. Pick a non-academic career.
3. Learn new skills for that career.
4. Network for jobs in that career.

Many PhDs don't make it past step 1.