Ep. 2:29 Coping with Disappointment, Part I

This episode, recorded prior to the pandemic, delves into coping with the inevitable disappointments of the academic life, whether it’s the job, or the grant, or the publication… or the whole career that just didn’t pan out. The first of a two-part series, it introduces six tools for managing disappointment in ways that academia never teaches us. The tools:  1) Face the facts, feel the feelings; 2) You are not a failure and you are not your job; 3) Learn from this experience (ie, process not outcome); 4) Give yourself credit for trying;  5) Refocus on what you DO have and what DOES work;   6) Sharing the experience with (genuine) supporters. Along the way Karen and Kel also talk about white entitlement, concrete ways to ask for feedback, negativity bias, saber-tooth tigers; the scarcity mentality of academia, and Buddhist and Jewish inspirations.   [Become a subscribing member for just $3.99 a month and get access to our subscriber only goodies like free webinar recordings, AMAs, the chance to suggest topics, early access to the podcast video that we record in our house in Oregon, and — new from this week – live videos with Karen and Kel on Friday mornings, all on our dedicated podcast member page on Mighty Networks! Not ready to subscribe? Donate here to send along some support–it goes straight to the production team!]  

Om Podcasten

The Professor Is In answers all your questions about the academic career. Dr. Karen Kelsky and productivity coach Kel Weinhold, with their trademark combination of candor, humor, and compassion (and a healthy dose of critique), tell you the truth about how the academy works, with strategies for reaching your goals while prioritizing your emotional well being. We go where others don't, breaking down the unspoken rules of academic culture, including all the ways it centers white folks and marginalizes everyone else. Our mission: whether you're in grad school, on the job market, on the tenure track, adjuncting, or deciding to leave the academy and do something else, we are here to support you with insights, advice, and real talk.