Plugging away...
Last week, in a professionalization seminar in my department (yeah, the idea of sociologists acting professional is strange to me, too), one of my professors said something absolutely amazing. It was even more amazing coming from this guy, as he is pretty much the current authoritative voice in his field. We were talking about dissertation writing and he said:
"Don't let perfect kill adequate."
I'm not really much of a perfectionist in the technical sense of the term. I'm usually perfectly happy with adequate work. So, I took this as very encouraging and legitimating of my overall grad school methodology. But, seriously. I remembered this little line today when it dawned on me that I don't have to actually read every book on my list. I just have to be familiar with what they say. I don't need to take notes on every chapter. I just need to write a brief summary of what's going on. Hopefully this realization will make my progress faster. In the meantime, enjoy this picture of me reading. If you ever think of me, picture me like this, because that's probably what I look like at any given moment of the day.
3 comments:
Adequate is how I got through undergrad. Nice to hear some validation in that regard!
P.S. Which Milwaukee? If you ever find yourselves passing through the Midwest, you have an open offer of lodging in the form of my apartment in the Bend!
Lolly - you are absolutely right. What can I say? That book I was reading was so boring I had to take little 'fun' breaks.
sarah - we're going to Milwaukee Wisconsin. We're flying, though, which is not technically passing though. If we ever are passing through we'd totally love to see you. Same goes for you if you ever find yourself in central VA.
Tanx! Indiana somehow got itself labeled the "crossroads of America," which on the one hand makes sense, because nobody really wants to stay here (although I've come to enjoy it), but on the other makes absolutely no sense at all, because it just doesn't seem to lie in most people's well-traveled paths. East-West continental trips, perhaps, but still. The highways are usually pretty clear.
Anyway, I'll certainly give you a call if I'm ever in the VA area!
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