They Will Come To You (To My Niece)

If you are good enough at what you do, then eventually people will come to you. No hoops. And more hoops. And more hoops. No IQ tests. No need for 95 per cent averages. No need to compete with 500 or 1000 people for the same Master's and/or PHD position -- or high paying job. Because there is something that you simply do better than anyone else out there.

There is a time for initiative and assertiveness and networking. These qualities get positions and jobs that the lack of these qualities often don't. However, there is a time too when we need to draw the boundaries on our own self-integrity. Enough of jumping through hoops. Enough of networking and/or bending over backwards -- or forwards -- to get a much sought after academic position or job.

In the end, you either have it or you don't. You either do something better than most or all people at what you do -- or you don't. The 'proof is in the pudding'. And when people eventually see and taste your pudding -- and they realize it is good, indeed, better than anything and/or anyone else out there -- they will come to you.

dgb, May 14th, 2008.