http://kozinets.net/archives/171 Robert Kozinets on Marketing, Media, and Technoculture Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:13:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 http://kozinets.net/archives/171#comment-2548 Robert Kozinets Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:11:33 +0000 http://kozinets.net/archives/171#comment-2548 Daiane certainly offers solid advice. Let me point out that "experience" isn't always the best way to advance real knowledge and understanding. Think about the great scientific advances. Many of them were made by young people early on in their careers, or outsiders. Why? Because when you start getting too much "experience" you start thinking like everyone else. The implication is to do daring, stretching work early in your career. Daiane certainly offers solid advice. Let me point out that “experience” isn’t always the best way to advance real knowledge and understanding. Think about the great scientific advances. Many of them were made by young people early on in their careers, or outsiders. Why? Because when you start getting too much “experience” you start thinking like everyone else. The implication is to do daring, stretching work early in your career.

]]> http://kozinets.net/archives/171#comment-2547 Daiane Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:37:26 +0000 http://kozinets.net/archives/171#comment-2547 Hi Leila, I’m also a PhD student (luckily at York where we get great advice like the one above). I understand that thinking about the dissertation as something “to get rid of quickly” may help in reducing the pressure involved in producing such a huge piece of work. But, honestly, I think we may never have as much time to concentrate on a wide research project as during the PhD program. Maybe what we have in time we lack in experience, but that’s another story... Hi Leila,
I’m also a PhD student (luckily at York where we get great advice like the one above). I understand that thinking about the dissertation as something “to get rid of quickly” may help in reducing the pressure involved in producing such a huge piece of work. But, honestly, I think we may never have as much time to concentrate on a wide research project as during the PhD program. Maybe what we have in time we lack in experience, but that’s another story…

]]> http://kozinets.net/archives/171#comment-2495 Robert Kozinets Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:30:47 +0000 http://kozinets.net/archives/171#comment-2495 Thanks, Leila. Well, I wouldn't want to set too high a standard for people, but I think the thesis is the time you need to start thinking big and taking risks. It's never too soon to start doing that. It seems high risk and high reward, but I believe in my heart that the thesis is about learning and growing. It's not meant to be an extension of your resume and cv to get you a job. It's an exercise, and exercises are about lifting more than you can handle, struggling, trying, stretching. So is it risky to do something outlandish, wide-ranging, and ambitious? I think it's riskier NOT to. Because then you'll get into the habit of thinking small, little incremental bits and pieces of ideas. And the world we're in right now, with all of its wonderful challenges and exciting opportunities, needs more big broad thinkers. We've got enough little incrementalists already. Thanks, Leila. Well, I wouldn’t want to set too high a standard for people, but I think the thesis is the time you need to start thinking big and taking risks. It’s never too soon to start doing that. It seems high risk and high reward, but I believe in my heart that the thesis is about learning and growing. It’s not meant to be an extension of your resume and cv to get you a job. It’s an exercise, and exercises are about lifting more than you can handle, struggling, trying, stretching. So is it risky to do something outlandish, wide-ranging, and ambitious? I think it’s riskier NOT to. Because then you’ll get into the habit of thinking small, little incremental bits and pieces of ideas. And the world we’re in right now, with all of its wonderful challenges and exciting opportunities, needs more big broad thinkers. We’ve got enough little incrementalists already.

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