The Grad Student Coach Jed Irvine

Is it possible to talk about techniques for making technical writing easier AND make the listener laugh while doing so? You be the judge. Also, an explanation of why episode release has shifted into unpredictable intermittent mode.

Dealing with problem people is a form of what I call headwind - an issue that arises outside of you that can act to slow you down. But it can also inspire a particular flavor of drag - an issue that arise from within that can slow you down even further. The Change Your Truth technique is a tool to counter that added drag.

Part 2 in a three part series in how to deal with problem people. In this episode we focus on the technique that can sometimes work, but is more a roll of the dice in whether it will cause more problems that it solves. We talk through the nuances of this, and offer some knobs that can be turned to reduce the stakes of the gamble.

How does one deal with a collaborator that doesn't follow through, or treats you in a disrespectful way? In this episode I cover a technique that strives to improve not only the situation, but the relationship as well.

One of any person's responsibilities is self-care. As important as brushing one's teeth and getting enough sleep is managing one's thoughts so that they are self-empowering rather than self-impeding. When setbacks happen there is an opportunity for choice that many people do not see. In this episode we shine the spotlight on that opportunity to learn the powerful technique of reframing.

Procrastinators resist diving into challenging problems, and slow their progress by simply not getting the work done. The opposite problem can happen as well - doing a tremendous amount of work, but being so focused on the details that we lose track of the big picture. We can wind up doing the wrong work, or wasting time on unimportant details. We miss opportunities for key course adjustments that are only informed by asking big picture questions. Visiting with the big picture as a daily ritual can mean all the difference in your productivity.