Advising Sample

Supporting a PhD Student Managing Academic and Business Demands

Client Scenario:

A PhD student completing his dissertation in Chicago while simultaneously running a growing business in Philadelphia asked for guidance on structuring his time. His main concern was balancing the intellectual demands of dissertation writing with the day-to-day responsibilities of entrepreneurship. He was unsure how to create a schedule that honored both commitments without burning out.

Advising Sample (Writing Excerpt):

One of the hardest parts of managing different aspects of our lives is having the bravery and self awareness to recognize that we need help. I want to first command you for taking this step, and reassure you that it is a sign of good leadership to identify when it’s time to delegate or seek counsel. From my understanding of your situation, you have two aspects of your life that each require a different version of you to show up.

Running a business is fast-paced, externally driven, and demands a capacity to be grounded and practical. Dissertation writing is slow, internally motivated, and requires a capacity to unpack and communicate abstract concepts. You must approach each with a different state of mind.

One of the biggest obstacles you will face will be switching from your “Dissertation writing” persona to you “business owner” persona. I suggest you build a state-management system; a way to intentionally enter “Scholar Mode” or “Entrepreneur Mode” so that the work doesn’t bleed together and drain you. The focus here will be not just on time management, but also on figuring out strategies that will allow you to conserve your energy, delegate where possible, and create a sustainable structure that allows you to fulfill your tasks. I have outlined suggested modifications:

Identify non-negotiables from tasks you can delegate

Implement practices that help you enter and exit dissertation or entrepreneur mode.

Maintain a private record of how your day went that will help you track your headspace and your moods. This will help you identify the best environments, times, and spaces to do which kinds of work.

Install Failure Barriers

Build intentional buffer or rest zones between tasks

Implement a Travel strategy

Schedule Rest

We will go over each of these steps individually and I will answer any question you may have on how to implement them. The goal is to shift the focus from perfection to building a sustainable rhythm that lets you finish your dissertation without compromising the quality of your business or your well-being. We can adjust the system as your workload shifts.