You may have heard the expression, “You’re either growing, or dying.” It has been spoken by many in the fields of personal development and coaching to convey the importance of striving to improve, as opposed to being too comfortable with one’s current situation.

I don’t understand this expression to mean that we should never take breaks or rest. In fact, one way a person can grow is by being sure to get the rest and refreshment they need. Stagnation can mean resigning oneself to a lifestyle of overwork and not making attempts to change the situation.

Right now, PIs are at risk of falling into stagnation if they stop pursuing funding. It’s too easy to tell oneself ‘I’ll just wait this out.’

Don’t do that! The timescale for everything that’s going on now to play out is too long. It could be years, not weeks or months.

Now is a time in research funding when it’s helpful to remember that taking action, making adjustments, and moving forward are more important than ever.

Let’s consider recent news items that came through my inbox and news feeds in the past week:

• Faculty startup funds pulled 😡 

• Spending cuts on research support programs 😡

• A hiring freeze at one of my state’s largest universities 😡

• NIH study sections and NSF panels meeting; those canceled rescheduled 🤓 

• Increments on active awards being obligated, including on some awards identified by the new administration as problematic 🤓 

• DOD program managers holding meetings with prospective PIs and planning site visits 🤓 

A mix of good and bad, right? And, we can expect more of this in the near future. It’s still too early to know how these uncertainties will work out; are we headed up or down from here?

My suggestion is to review our past newsletters for ideas on what you can do now to move toward your funding goals. Don’t worry about exactly what to do; just do something. Consider suggestions from these posts to get started:

• Sharing your work with the public

• Yes, you are being Googled

• Do you engage in high-leverage activities?

And, very importantly, if you have access today to startup or discretionary funds, this is not the time to hold onto them too tightly – mindful of our parents’ urgings that we save for a ‘rainy day.’ Those funds can expire or be pulled back in multiple ways, shapes and forms, and quickly. Consider responsibly spending them now while you can. You should take a different approach to managing funds you have access to, but that are not your own, than you do your personal finances.

Investing in yourself so you can develop the right skills and have access to the services you need is a smart use of those funds. Get support wherever you find it.

Look elsewhere if you find the support available from your institution may be reduced, if you are not certain you’ll be able to hold on to the funds you have access to now, and/or you know you would benefit from the guidance of professionals who know the ins and outs of funding organizations. I encourage you today to reach out.

Wise Investigator is here for you, and you have direct access to me and our team. No middlemen, sales force or bureaucracy.

Whichever way you turn, now is the time to keep moving and keep growing.

Collaborating with government scientists and engineers

The importance of collaborations to your research and career cannot be overstated. Based on a series of newsletters from last fall, I’m elaborating on this topic in videos. Check out Part 2 here, where I get into the benefits that can come from investing in these relationships.

When you are ready, here’s how we can help

Need to get your research funded, this year? Check out our 10-week program to get you there.

Ready to book a call to discuss our program or to have Dr. Barzyk provide training at your institution? Let’s chat!