Over the past few sessions, I’ve talked to people about how to shape their job materials, helped them start thinking about a new direction for their careers, and listened while people told me stories that [...]]]> I’m so excited that it’s that time again — I adore spending time talking to people on the phone.

Over the past few sessions, I’ve talked to people about how to shape their job materials, helped them start thinking about a new direction for their careers, and listened while people told me stories that were both funny and tragic about their lives in the world of academe. I’d love to talk to you!

So if you’ve got a question, a dilemma, a frustration, something to celebrate, or something to vent about, call me tonight during Open Office Hours!

7:00 – 8:30 pm ET

(301) 927-0083

Talk to you then!

(301) 927-0083. First-come, first-talked-to.

Just a reminder that today is Open Office Hours. That means I’m hanging out on the phone, excited to talk to you about whatever you’ve got on your mind, whether it’s a question about how to punctuate resumes, brainstorming what your next career might look like, or problem-solving the one you have.

What I wanted more than anything during that time was someone to hear me, someone to acknowledge what was going on with me, someone to affirm my perceptions and [...]]]> A few weeks ago, I was thinking about what I needed when I was a miserable academic and thus, by extension, what you might need.

What I wanted more than anything during that time was someone to hear me, someone to acknowledge what was going on with me, someone to affirm my perceptions and encourage me to keep problem-solving and thinking about what I wanted and needed. I needed a way to touch base, to reassure myself that I was on the right track.

But I didn’t have that option, because the people I was used to talking to — my colleagues, my adviser, my friends — were all invested in the status quo. Their own lives were tied up in believing that academia was right for everyone.

From the stories I’m lucky enough to hear from you all, many of you are in the same position.

Introducing

Open Office Hours. An hour and a half a month where you’re welcome to call me and chat and tell me what’s up and ask for what you need — reassurance and listening and problem-solving and whatever else comes up.

It’ll be first-come first-serve, and I’ll limit each caller to 15-20 minutes, just so I can make sure to give everyone a chance.

The first set of Open Office Hours will be on Wednesday, June 2, 7:30-9pm ET. I’ll post reminders on the blog a few days in advance.

You can learn more about Open Office Hours — including future dates and times — by clicking here.

I look forward to talking with you!

In any case, I just wanted to post a wee note telling you what was up. Regular blogging resumes Monday!

I’m really excited about this one — we’re going to be talking about how you can take charge of your relationship to graduate school, and thus make setting priorities, choosing [...]]]> Just a quick reminder that I’m holding a free teleclass on surviving graduate school tonight at 8ET / 5PT. You can sign up here.

I’m really excited about this one — we’re going to be talking about how you can take charge of your relationship to graduate school, and thus make setting priorities, choosing how to use your time, and interacting with others all quite a bit easier.

If you’re interested but can’t attend in person, sign up anyway — I’ll send the audio recording out afterwards.

I thought I’d mention it in case anyone was concerned that I was against graduate school in all its forms!

Clearly, graduate school is the right choice for many people, and many [...]]]> My wife is starting graduate school in the fall. She’ll be getting a MDiv with the goal of being a congregational minister.

I thought I’d mention it in case anyone was concerned that I was against graduate school in all its forms!

Clearly, graduate school is the right choice for many people, and many more will choose to go even if they really do understand the risks involved. And that’s a good thing, because academia and future college students deserve excited, engaged, passionate teachers and researchers.

It’s going to be really interesting to kind of go through graduate school again, albeit a very different kind of graduate school and from a very different perspective. I’m sure it’ll give me a lot to talk about!

If that’s you, look for some blog posts to come, and check out the April free teleclass on surviving graduate school.

If [...]]]> Last week I asked what people were needing more of here at Escape the Ivory Tower, and a number of people wanted more conversation about graduate school and how to survive it.

If that’s you, look for some blog posts to come, and check out the April free teleclass on surviving graduate school.

If that’s not you, feel free to add your voice to the chorus in the comments here and I’ll do what I can to address it!

I think we can all agree that December 2009 kicked my ass. Between the usual holiday madness and leftover being-so-ill-I-had-to-take-to-my-bed, well, I can only say I’m glad that month is over.

Because of all of that, I had to postpone the December teleclass, Recovering Yourself After Academia. I’m really excited about this [...]]]> Well. Hello.

I think we can all agree that December 2009 kicked my ass. Between the usual holiday madness and leftover being-so-ill-I-had-to-take-to-my-bed, well, I can only say I’m glad that month is over.

Because of all of that, I had to postpone the December teleclass, Recovering Yourself After Academia. I’m really excited about this one, because so many of us go around like the walking wounded after we’ve done the already-hard work of making the leap.

We have all the wounds of our own self-judgment. We have all the wounds of a changed identity. We have all of the leftover grief we might not have been able to express if we chose to leave (rather than getting forced out in one way or another) — and therefore people think we should just be happy. We have all of the shame and grief if we did get forced out, either through a tenure review or through a crappy job market or through the vagaries of graduate school. We have the severed or changed relationships with people we were once really close to. We have all kinds of thoughts about debt, about time we might have spent differently, about what might have been.

All of these things — while totally normal, totally to be expected — are now in our way. They aren’t serving us any longer. And so taking the time to pull them out, to look at them, and to examine them in a supportive, mutual setting can only serve us.

If you’re thinking about leaving, you’re also welcome. Noticing and working through some of these things before you leap can make the transition easier and less fraught.

Wherever you are in the process, please join me on a FREE 90-minute teleclass on Wednesday, January 6, at 8ET, 7CT, 6MT, and 5PT to share, to examine, and to start healing this old, crappy stuff. If you’re interested but can’t make the call, sign up anyway — I send the recording out to everyone who has signed up.

How to sign up? Just go here. I look forward to talking with you!

All of which is to say, I’m a little slow right now.

Tell [...]]]> So, would you believe that, of all things, I seem to have contracted MONO? Three years in college myself, eleven years teaching college, and I never get it. Now, years out of academia, and I manage to come down with it.

All of which is to say, I’m a little slow right now.

Tell me your stories — what’s the craziest thing you either experienced about or heard about mono? Stories about students — and the crazy stories they tell — are fair game.