Many Roads to Success: Find Your Unique Path

In a previous post, I touched upon the often narrow definitions of success in academia, such as the number of publications and the size of grants.

Today, I want to delve deeper into this topic using insights from a recent paper by Livingston et al., (2024), "Many Roads to Success: Broadening Our Views of Academic Career Paths and Advice", (J. Manage. 50(4): 1186-1197).

Challenging Traditional Metrics

We've all heard the standard advice: publish a lot, aim for elite journals, and secure big grants. While these metrics hold importance, success can be achieved through other means as well.

Livingston et al. (2024) found that many successful scholars didn't strictly follow this standard advice. In contrast, they prioritized impactful work and a diverse range of career strategies, and they saw themselves as successful scholars. Having spent 28 years in academia, I wholeheartedly agree with these scholars that success can be measured in diverse ways, according to our own values.

Embracing Diverse Paths

Success is not one-size-fits-all. The scholars interviewed by Livingston et al. (2024) highlighted the importance of flexibility and personal choice. They often prioritized family, chose geographic stability, and engaged in applied research, which contradicted traditional advice but led to fulfilling and successful careers.

Success is NOT one-size-fits-all!

Balancing Life and Work

Many scholars redefined success to include personal fulfillment and work-life balance.

For instance, one scholar emphasized the significance of family life in their professional success, saying, “My success always had to do in part with whether my family’s life was going OK. I mean, it wouldn’t have been successful if the family stuff had not been going well.”

Most of us can relate to this, don't you think? Our success usually hinges on how things are going with our family.

Some Ideas to Navigate Your Unique Path to Success

1. Focus on Impact: Prioritize the quality and impact of your work over the sheer number of publications.
2. Set Boundaries: Balance your professional and personal life to maintain long-term productivity and well-being.
3. Diversify Your Path: Don’t be afraid to follow a non-traditional path that aligns with your strengths and interests.
4. Share Your Journey: Use platforms like LinkedIn to narrate your unique career path and the diverse ways you are making an impact.
5. Support Network: Build a support network of peers and mentors to guide you through your career choices.

Consider the following questions:

• What unique aspects of your career bring you the most fulfillment?
• How can you redefine success to include both professional achievements and personal well-being?

Join the Conversation

Let’s continue to broaden our view of success in academia. What's your take on defining success in your academic journey?

#CareerSucess #AcademicCareer #FindYourPath #WorkLifeBalance #RedefineSuccess

I'm Dr. Marina Silva-Opps. If you're hungry for more insights on how to share your academic journey, time management, productivity, career success, and personal development, visit my LinkedIn profile , website , Instagram , or send me a DM. And remember, I'm here to help!