Getting Things Done

One might assume that getting research done in grad school would be relatively easy considering that is what grad school is meant for in large part.  However, you may be surprised at the obstacles that are placed in the way of a good idea and actually getting to conduct research.  Obviously, there are reasons for these obstacles to be in place, most of them are actually good reasons, but it is unfortunate that the process of moving through this process can be rather slow and uninformative.

I suppose this is one of those life lessons you pick up along the way in grad school.  There are usually things that one must complete to first to get done what you had set out on originally.  However, to get there, the process can be tedious and slow, often leading to frustration.  But like I said, there is a reason these processes are in place and it is important to respect these processes for what they are.  It would just be nice if the process could be sped up a bit.  Unfortunately, it does not seem like that is a possibility.

One of the people I work with has a little phrase on her door that basically reads there are three possible ways work could done and you can only choose two.  The choices are as follows, more or less: accurately, timely, and happily.  As I have gone through grad school, in just about everything I have encountered, it seems that this is true.  If I want something done “right,” meaning I don’t want to have to do it over in any way, I am probably going to forgo my personal happiness because it will take a little longer and require more diligence on my part.  However, if I want to be happy, the quality usually suffers because it didn’t take as long.  I guess in the end, what I am trying to say, sometimes you just have to put up with less than efficient process if you want to make sure the things you do are not only effective but correct.  Small price to pay to not get slammed with problems in the future if you ask me.