A PhD Won't Fix This
5 Oct 2026 · 1 min

0:43
Before starting a PhD, know why you're doing it. If you're chasing validation, therapy is cheaper and more useful. Get clear on what the degree will actually do for you and where you're headed with it.

Before starting a PhD, know why you're doing it. If you're chasing validation, therapy is cheaper and more useful. Get clear on what the degree will actually do for you and where you're headed with it.
If you're doing this to make a contribution, fantastic. If you're doing it for validation, therapy is probably a less expensive route to go. I talk to too many people who are getting a doctorate and I say, okay, why? What's the doctorate going to do for you? If you have a good idea as to where you want to go, what the doctorate will do for you, great. Come on in. However, one morning you may change that during the process, which is fine. Getting more information is great, but knowing where you want to go at the start is helpful. There's an old saying, if you don't know where you're going, take any road, it'll get you there. So if you're thinking about getting a doctorate or if you're stuck along the way, join our free dissertation help group to be supported by everyone involved.