book

Success and Creativity in Scientific Research

by David S. Sholl

March 2021

Beginner

130 pages

4h 7m

English

CRC Press

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Then and Now – Marco Polo, Alfred Russel Wallace and Grumpy CatFiona Wood and Spray-on SkinLineages of Successful Scientific PapersThe $10 Billion Blood DropKuen Charles Cao and the Invention of Optical FibersAre You Ready to “Do a Bradbury”?Chapter SummaryFurther Resources for Chapter 1
Why Is Deep Work Worthwhile?Making Deep Work Work for YouEstablish Schedules and Rhythms for Your WorkEmbrace Boredom – Training Yourself to Enter a Distraction-Free StateMake Conscious Choices about TechnologyChapter SummaryFurther Resources for Chapter 2
Bad Habit # 1: Believe Your Own HypeBad Habit # 2: Don’t Learn from the PastBad Habit # 3: Work AloneBad Habit # 4: Confuse Activity with ProductivityBad Habit # 5: Exclude All Inputs That Aren’t Immediately RelevantBad Habit # 6: Criticize Others but Never YourselfBad Habit # 7: Let Your Personal Background Hold You BackChapter SummaryAdditional Resources for Chapter 3

What Would Croesus Do?Can You Tell Me Where It Hurts?Where Else Would That Work?Would Flipping It Help?What Would Gandhi Do?Chapter SummaryFurther Resources for Chapter 4
Specious Barriers to Writing and the Secret of Successful WritingSpecious Barrier #1: I Can’t Find Time to Write (a.k.a. I Could Write Much More If I Just Had Large Chunks of Time)Specious Barrier #2: I Need to Read a Few More ArticlesSpecious Barrier #3: I Need a Nicer Chair/New Computer/Stronger CoffeeSpecious Barrier #4: I Am Waiting Until I Feel Like It (a.k.a. I Write Best When I’m Feeling Inspired)Moving Beyond Specious BarriersWhat to Do When You WritePlaying and Practicing are Two Different ThingsDon’t Worry about the Hard PartBe HonestBe OptimisticBe Persistent and Be ConsistentChapter SummaryAdditional Resources for Chapter 5
A Sample PresentationChapter SummaryFurther Resources for Chapter 6
Try to Solve Major Problems and Make Big DiscoveriesAcquire the Basic Skills and Work with the Right PeopleTalk about the ProblemLearn to Write Clearly and ConciselyFocus, Don’t Be a DilettanteBe Generous and Culturally AwareTell the TruthBe Persistent, But Be Prepared To FailTake Care of Yourself and Live a Long LifeYour Time Is PreciousChapter SummaryFurther Resources for Chapter 7

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How to Have Outrageously Good Ideas

Imagine two of your colleagues are talking about your accomplishments, perhaps in the process of nominating you for an award. “She works so hard”, one says, “she just won’t give up”. “Sure, but the thing I really admire is how creative she is – she just seems to repeatedly come up with outrageously good ideas” replies the other. Which of these two compliments would you find more satisfying? Receiving any compliment feels good of course, but being viewed as creative has special cachet. After all, anyone can work hard, but being creative feels like a rare and valuable gift. In careers focused on research, creativity separates superstars from the rest of their field.

Outrageously good ideas are usually easy ...