1. Passion, more importantly Purpose 2. Influence, Seeking advice while possessing clarity about the End Goal of your own Thesis/Research. 3. Believe and Faith, in yourself. See your big picture and then reassess your position and/or strategy if needed. 4. Health. Both physical and mental. Get enough sleep. Eat right. Recharge your batteries. 5. Consistency and Persistence. Being able to get up every single day and doing the same experiment. Doing things imperfectly consistently leads to a PhD thesis. 6. Ability to Adapt.

"Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." -Winston S. Churchill "Opportunities don't happen. You create them." -Chris Grosser

Patience!! Being patient with yourself when you make mistakes

As a Ph.D student, I can guarantee that, if you follow all these suggestions, you will have a great scientific journey.

The word PURPOSE naturally wakes me up-without an alarm gadget. I would like to put a smile on the face of mother-Earth. This is why I'm up every day! Cheers-Andy! The six traits you mentioned serve as my tool box to help me drive the 3-letters tricycle on the desert. IT'S POSSIBLE!!!

I love the idea of purpose! I got a lot of stick before starting my PhD because I wasn't passionate enough e.g. I wasn't reading scientific papers in my spare time or constantly obsessing over climate change daily. I worked in industry for almost 5 years before finally coming back to do the PhD because it is ultimately what I've always wanted to do. Thanks for another great video! 😊

Your channel is a blessing. I wish this channel existing when I was starting out.

I like the idea of purpose. Finding a purpose bigger than my getting a PhD has kept me going... i am doing it to help other people and contribute in the field. Thanks mate! Greetings from MIAMI BEACH FLORIDA USA 💙🏖🙌🏽

I really like your channel, continue with the videos man! 💪I start my PhD in April, thanks for making these videos

Brilliant, brilliant advice! Thanks Andy. You really help! Well, I've got bags of passion and persistence. But absolutely no belief in myself, the system or anyone or anything else, certainly not anything supernatural. I don't even believe the sun will rise tomorrow, because it won't. The earth will dip! Absolutely no influence. I don't know anyone. Bags of influence in my career, but once you retire, you are invisible. As an extrovert locked down alone for nearly a year, my mental health is very very compromised. My idea of a good time is good company and good conversation! My mind is agile, bit too agile at times. The quality you left out is 'fight'. I've got bags of fight and hope that will help me through. Thanks again. Look forward to the next video.

This is wonderful. Thanks Andy!!!!!!! I keep realigning my mentality and I keep getting better with each passing day. Once again thanks.

Hello, Andy! I'm currently working on my PhD dissertation right now and your channel truly helps me. Your pieces of advice are very relevant. Thank you!

Excellent 👍….agreed with everything. Especially consistency and agility. Well done ⭐️

This channel has given me the confidence to dig into my Ph.D. Lots of great info here. Thanks, Andy! I think I’ll be here for a while.

Have my first ever interview tomorrow. Glad found this.

Thank you for being so generous to share this. I concur with your 6!

Your videos have drastically improved over the last few months. Good job.

Out of curiosity and despite not having a PhD, I came up with a list very similar to yours, but titled differently in parts: 1. passionate and deep interest in subject; 2. sociable and respectful to people who deserve your time and energy; 3. realistic humbleness; 4. maintain a healthy personal life; 5. ability to organize and plan for the long journey; 6. flexible and creative. So I think your list applies more generally to people who are successful in their careers, and 4. in particular will bite people in their 30s, who use their career to cover up their personal problems in life such as loneliness and lack of family or a social life.

Thank you, Andy! You're not just a great orator in the way you put your points forth but overall, just an awesome person. Extremely grateful for your videos. 🙏

Thank you so much! I got into the PhD program at UC!

Thank you for this.

amazing video!!!

Thanks for this Andy! Also, the late anders ericsson's research on deliberate practice was clear - what doesn't kill you, can in fact make you stronger. Specifically, the more difficult the environment, the better the "mental representations" (strategies, habits, techniques, philosophies, , checklist, etc.) you can develop for that environment. So adversity is literally, scientifically, a training ground, based on all the research we know on expertise. As an atheist, to me that's effectively the same thing. Love being your subscriber - a PhD EE student.

Great advice

The energy producing habits part is so true in my experience. I just got back from a knitting group that I go to once a week, and I also have a weekly game night for a couple of hours with the same group of people. Just those two activities where I am socializing, having fun, and not thinking about work been so helpful. it may not be in everyone’s budget but I also try to eat at a local place at least once a week. It’s a chance to get out of the lab and support the local economy. I stick to healthier options like curry or sushi :)

Thanks so much for the insightful tips. My Christian faith definitely helps me overcome challenges, especially in the workplace ✝️ I am looking forward to embarking on this new PhD journey.

Thanks for the tips, as I am planning to start a Ph.D sometime... still thinking on what field... Thanks for posting this. 5*+

I had 3 different interviews for a PhD position in Europe last week and ended up with this video. In the end, I hope I get a position.

This is was somewhat philosophical and I absolutely loved It.

Awesome

Add: Ability to seek, accept and respond to criticism. Your supervisor's first job is to make sure you don't do anything to stop you getting a PhD.

Perseverance

I feel like consistency and presistence are where I falter ngl.

🙂..... thank you..... from kerala, India

To 6: Yes. Don't fall in love with your ideas! Be passionate, but when it doesn't work, it was just not a good idea. The remedy is just to come up with a different idea and try that.

great

thank you

How well do people with Asperger's/ASD do given how political academia is?

You can believe in yourself and a higher power at the same time 🙂

You have to have faith in God our creator who help and guide us to believe in ourselves and achieve our goals.

The mental health point made me shed a tear internally. But maybe it can be compensated, can't it ?

I have two questions, how do you develop the sense of direction? And the second w.r.t. agility, how do you know what is new alternative to use when the current one is wrong?

I will start my PhD this fall. PhD in Education and Leadership in the US.

If you believe in yourself, this means that you believe in your creator.

I use driven instead of passion

There is a plan from a higher being, i.e. my supervisor

It will be nice to see you talk without the beard once😊

Do not think about Ph.D. itself and just... work. :-)

Meanwhile, me 4th year phd student: got none of these.

Andy, you should know and learn about islam. It is the right religion to be followed as it respects mind and gives the happy life