Randy Pausch’s The Last Lecture Toward a Plan for Embarking on a Successful Research Career Theme 1: Time Management

1. http://reu.hci.vt.edu REU in HCI Randy Pausch’sThe Last LectureToward a Plan for Embarking on a Successful Research CareerTheme 1: Time Management D. Scott McCrickard mccricks@cs.vt.edu Woodrow W. Winchester wwwinche@vt.edu

2. Learning how to do research – Randy Pausch’s The Last Lecture http://reu.hci.vt.edu REU in HCI • Career advice from a young HCI researcher suddenly near the end of his career • Originally a lecture, turned into a series of loosely-connected stories • Our task: seek ways to connect it to our research

3. Approaching Pausch’s Last Lecture Watch for advice on: • time management • structuring your day, assigning time, delegating • raising the bar • inspiring others, driving yourself to new heights • nurturing professional relationships • making & keeping contacts, saying sorry & thank you • overcoming obstacles • showing determination & persistence, breaking rules • leadership • inspiring others, dividing tasks

4. One Good Thief is Worth Ten Good Scholars* • Time Management for Teachers, Cathy Collins, 1987 • Career Track Seminar: Taking control of Your Work Day 1990 • The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey • Writing your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day, Bolker • The Craft of Research, Booth et al • Advice for a Young Investigator, Ramón j Cajal *Stolen from Pausch and augmented with my own favorites

5. “Pauschisms”—the one-slide version Time must be explicitly managed, like money You can change your plan, but only if you have one Are you spending your time on the right things? Develop a good filing system Rethink the telephone Delegate Take a time out

6. Managing time: Covey’s four-quadrant to-do list • Due Soon • Not Due Soon • Important • Not • Important

8. Spending time on the right things • You don’t find time for important things, you makeit • “I don’t have time for that” = “I don’t value it” • think carefully before giving that answer, and consider what it means when you hear it • Everything you do is an opportunity cost • what gets bumped down the to-do list • does it deserve to get bumped? • Learn to say “no” • will this help me get tenure/a degree/a job? • say “no” gently

9. Delegation • No one is an island • “guy in a garage” approach rarely works • You can accomplish a lot more with help • essential to remember in academia • collaboration is key in CS, ISE, HCI • Most delegation in your life is from faculty to graduate student • look for opportunities to take a leadership role, even/especially as a student

10. Delegation is not dumping • Grant authority with responsibility • teach others how to do it, then let them do it • be ready to delegate valuable tasks • shit happens—don’t sweat it • Concrete goal, deadline, and consequences • Treat your people well • value their contributions • help them achieve their goals • take them to Disney World (or at least to lunch) • People are the most valuable resource

11. Goals, Priorities, and Planning • Why am I doing this? • What is the goal? • Why will I succeed? • What happens if I chose not to do it?

12. Personal Pauschisms”—your stories Time must be explicitly managed, like money You can change your plan, but only if you have one Are you spending your time on the right things? Develop a good filing system Rethink the telephone Delegate Take a time out Which work for you? How and why?

13. The Last Lecture: A Recap and Kickoff What did you learn? What will you read for? • time management • nurturing professional relationships • overcoming obstacles • raising the bar, leadership, … Next up: relationships (June 9 @ 9:30am) • re-read ch. 24, 35, 38, 47, 48, others??? • don’t forget to fill out the questionnaires!