Biotechnology research has never been more intellectually exciting or practically important to society. Ironically, pursuing a career as a Biotechnology scientist has never been more difficult. Here I provide unvarnished advice for young biotechnology scientists on the difficulties that lie ahead and on how to find the right Inspiration for training, skills and development that you will need to succeed.
If you are contemplating pursuing a career in the life sciences, or have already embarked on one, you need to give some thought to your career prospects. So, take a study break, grab a cup of coffee and read on.
There are people we consider universally successful, people whose achievements impress us, and whose experience we want to learn from. Is there a formula to their success? Maybe. What is certain thought, is that there are recurrent success factors that achieved people often reference when they speak of their journeys. Good news? They are accessible to all of us. Here are eight behaviors from highly successful people you should adopt to put yourself on a winning path
1. Planning Ahead
Expecting to be successful without a plan or strategy is equivalent to going survival.
Planning and forecasting is all about strategy, identifying what parts of your Biotechnology Skills are performing well and maximising opportunities. Good plans and preparation lead to good performance. Remarkable plans and preparation lead to remarkable performance. Planning ahead helps to improve your performance in Biotechnology. You can’t prepare for everything, but planning ahead gives you a clear overview of what needs to be done, how it will be done, what your definition of success is, and how it will be measured. It also allows you to hold yourself accountable for your outstanding tasks and timelines. Having an initial structure laid out helps you to check in on your progress, assess what is and isn’t working, and modify your tactics as needed to steer towards your outlined definition of success.
2. Persistence
One of the greatest predictors of an individual’s ability to succeed in life is persistence: that “stick-to-it-ness” that allows people to get through the inevitable failures that happen on the road to success.
Sure, there’s something to be said for being at the right place at the right time, but for the most part nothing comes easy – success and opportunities look a lot like hard work. The key is to pick a project you are passionate about, devise a strategy, and stick with it. If you’re struggling with a fear of failure and feel paralyzed with indecision when you start comparing yourself and your efforts with those of other people, then today’s episode is definitely for you. Don’t let the enthusiasm fizzle, or initial rejection discourage you – often rejection is a reflection on how slow the industry is on adapting to change and embracing new ideas, rather than on the quality of your work
3. Learning From Mistakes :
The most important life lessons we will ever learn will be from the bad decisions we make. ... We need to learn from our mistakes so that we do not run the risk of repeating them. Mistakes can be a good thing – there is a great opportunity for learning and bettering yourself, your approach, your effectiveness. The key is in perspective. Successful people do not dwell on the “failure” aspect, but rather analyze what could have been done differently, and how this new learning experience can be applied in the future.
4. Making Time for Self
The secret to staying driven without burning out is in finding the balance between your “on” and “off” time. Successful people work on fulfilling their personal needs outside of work – spending time with family and friends, engaging in activities they enjoy, tuning inward to better understand themselves.
5. Investing in Personal Growth :
A big part of overall success is having a diverse range of knowledge and experience that allows to approach a problem from multiple angles, or strategize with understanding of various moving parts. Successful people are outstanding performers. To maintain this level of performance they seek out lifelong learning opportunities. Reading a lot, attending conferences or talks by industry thought-leaders, or learning new skills are all great ways to inspire fresh ideas and broaden your perspective.