The next decade....what's in store?

PhD again....

Here's what one of my former UK professors said....

"You seem to have decided that your future is not in teaching - or to be more precise in full time employment in an academic environment. If that is the case then the PhD becomes of less importance. It would be an essential for an academic career - particularly in a UK or US institution - but you should not find too much difficulty finding some semester teaching appointments with your existing masters - again it depends on where you want look to do the teaching.

It seems that taking on training assignments is currently what makes you happy - and if so then go with it - but if you are going to set yourself up as a self employed consultant then take it seriously and look at it as a business proposition - what is your usp? what do you do that others can't or don't or won't? what is your competitive advantage? and so on

On the research side again what exactly do you want to do and for whom? Is this part of the consultancy business - "McDonald Inc." or even "McDonald Thinc!" - or for your own gratification. How will you find out about possible research contracts to bid for? Who will you collaborate with to do things that you don't like doing? and so on

As far as a further qualification is concerned you can do a PhD part time at a distance - not the easiest way to do it but still feasible - a topic around 'measuring the impact of training on hotel performance / service quality' might seem along the right lines - but it is a commitment of time and resources and it will weigh you down in terms of flexibility.

So the last word of advice is basically, enjoy what you are doing and build a portfolio of activity that will continue to challenge and inspire you but keep you in food and housing and some time off to enjoy the cricket!"

Good avice. It's so good to be to call on all these people (including yourselves)