I was wondering if members could share their experiences: How did you keep yourself motivated all the way through the dissertation writing , if it was not for materialistic reasons such as job advancement or pay increase, but for purely selfish reasons, such as self-enrichment or the joy of learning? adelheid
At Union, tuition is charged year-round, and doesn't lessen when you're working on your dissertation. I just thought about the $40 per day, every day. Every day.
One way I've stayed motivated in my undergrad program is visualizing my completed degree hanging on the wall. I'm not likely to recieve a raise thanks to this degree, and I'm also not likely to go looking for a job, so a sense of personal achievement has been my biggest reward - every grade I get is like a small prize on the way to a larger goal.
I had a powerful, if non-academic, incentive. My draft board had given me a delay to complete the doctorate, since I had planned to teach. I believed at the time that if I didn't finish by a certain date, I would be offered the opportunity to travel to a lovely Asian country and kill people who would in turn be trying to kill me. (My diploma is dated 2 days after that date, but that was close enough.) Come to think of it, that probably laid the groundwork for my subsequent book, "The Blackmail Diet."
I think the inertia required to complete the disseration is often internal. Inside me, I wanted, needed, exspected to complete the dissertation. Even with that kind of motivation, it is a hard, often lonely process. I eventually found I needed interaction with others working on the same process. I was able to work with a group of peers all trying to complete their disserations. WE supported, pushed, encouraged, cojoled, challenged, hugged, cried, whatever it took to keep each other moving. We celebrated defenses, chapters, etc. it also helped that we all had the same chair and he was interested in us getting done. I spent 2 years and 8 months on my dissertaion, which included a year in and out of the hospital. My chair and my team kept me focused even when I could not write. How did they keep me focused? Mostly by helping find those things inside myself that would push me to conclusion. One day my chair simply said, we will be done in 60 days...its your turn. He was right and I finished in that time frame. Together we had picked a topic that interested both of us, we had research that excited us, and we had results that we wanted to share.
lol Now THAT is one big motivator!! My case is similar to Fortunato. I'm finishing my degree for the sake of personal achievement. My degree is religious so it won't do much at my place of employment. However, one never knows... I do have dreams of using what I'm learning to teach in some fashion.
Ditto! Exactly the same for me!! Plus, I had an added, cross the goal push of my wife expecting our first child... figured that I didn't want to be writing and trying to change diapers at the same time. Nothing like a little external pressure to keep you focused. Cheers, Tony Maranto
Unfortunately, the total opposite applies to me. I have an APA scholarship, essentially meaning the government pays for my PhD. *However* I have to turn it around and remind myself that my taxes are paying...in the long run. Oh, inspiration, come to me (writers block at the moment). Cheers, George
I had reimbursement for the coursework, but then had a career shift, and ended up paying the dissertation myself. It's FREAKING expensive, and I don't like paying anymore than I have to. The deal at Argosy became once you pay your 3 blocks (whether you finish them or not) you need to paya unit's tuition ($530) each semester till you finish. However, that wasn't the only motivation, as I could have easily just tossed my hands up in the air and said, "Enough!" Then all I would need to deal with was explaining going through all that school and having nothing to show for it. Also, it would also mean having to shell out $3K to take the required coursework for the CFP designation. As a DBA I'm not required totake the courses (though anyone that does not prepare is throwing 2 days and $600 away!). Besides, if I start something, I like to finish it. Also, I told too many people what I was doing. So, if I didn't get thru it, PHEW, I woulda looked foolish!
I have a different perspective. The only way to get hired on full time is to get that dissertation done/ Once you hit ABD, you have 18 months (in my experience), to complete the dissertation. Right now, i am so anxious to get there, I can hardly stand it. During those "down" times, I surf the websites of publsihed authors..... one day, one day soon I tell you!! I was a bit at a low with the comments at times, as I have re-written several times, but I know it will make a great product in the end. Just keep thinking of the finish line.... Anyway, on a side note, I have to turn in a monthly progress report. When I go cross eyed, due to working too many hours, I jump over tot he progress report and put what accomplishements I have for the month. Lastly, the Dr. status will be so nice...........
Fortunately, there aren't big burly men with masks and whips to keep you glued to your chair and make you work. As for the hiring, I left UoPhx's adjunct faculty and will likely not teach for a few more years, and if I do it will only be part time. My plan is to likely do some adjunct work when I'm retired. I do not have plans for FT faculty- too much political intrigue. As for the Dr. status, I spent a couple weeks playing with it. It is nice, and as Steve Levicoff would say, "If you got it, you don't need to flaunt it." It's a nice to have in my business, but not a necessity. Finally, we were warned of a sort of post natal depression that would set in. At the time I thought it was just a parting shot, but then it did hit. However, it was not too bad, and not everyone gets it. I may post something on the off-topic side of things to see if it very prevalent.
