Claim OwnershipR3ciprocity.com - Prof David Maslach: Innovation; Research Life; & Striving Towards Happiness
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© David Maslach
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Professor David Maslach talks about graduate school, research, science, Innovation, and entrepreneurship. The R3ciprocity project is my way to give back as much as I possibly can. I seek to provide insights and tools to change how we understand science, and make it more democratic.
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Your education is not done when you take your last class.This only means that you have a lot of life yet. You’re just beginning on the journey.If you feel like you’re behind, you have unbelievable amounts of giving yet.If you feel in your ahead, remember that you’ll get a lot more knocks more yet .
As a professor who has achieved everything I ever wanted, I reached a turning point. (I realize how self-important that sounds)I have accomplished most of what I set out to do—publishing papers, mentoring students, and making my mark in academia.But, I realized that the weight of self-importance was heavier than any accolade. I bought into the system. I thought I was someone important.But, ultimately to continue to walk forward, I have to acknowledge that I’m really NOT that important.I have to step back from the notion that everything depends on me.I learned to say, "It's not my problem," and began to release the constant urge to intervene or help. This shift wasn't about “apathy”, but about understanding that the world continues to spin without my constant input. By removing the feeling of self-importance, I found a newfound freedom and peace. It allows me to embrace humility, accepting my small place in the world—if any.Letting go can be the most profound way to move forward.I can take a picture of something random—realizing that my playing and thinking has little to do with who reads this.People that have not been in my position won’t understand what I’m talking about and will get upset.Ultimately, you have to acknowledge you are just moments from no one even remembering who you are.
In the relentless pursuit of a PhD, many of us strive to impress others by working harder, hoping to prove that we're good enough. Yet, there comes a point when we realize that no amount of hard work can fill the void or bring the fulfillment we seek. This is a story about that realization—a journey where we discover that true meaning isn't found in endless labor but in the aspects of life that make us feel whole.It's about shifting our focus from external validation to internal growth, understanding that becoming more complete is an ongoing process. By embracing other sources of meaning and continuously working on ourselves, we find a deeper sense of purpose that transcends academic achievements. This narrative invites you to reflect on what truly matters and encourages you to seek fulfillment beyond the expectations of others.
I often find myself in peculiar moments where I openly share just how insecure I am. These conversations become even stranger when others respond with surprise, saying, "You feel that way? I thought it was only me." It turns out we all feel lost. Despite being a professor—someone who's supposed to have answers—I frequently wonder what exactly I'm meant to profess. The truth is, we're all a bit messed up inside.If I had everything figured out, I'd gladly share the secret. I'd probably be wealthier and feel more together than I do now. But since I don't, I want to remind you not to be so hard on yourself. You're certainly not alone. The only guarantee I can offer is that you're one of many who feel insecure and broken. And maybe, just maybe, that's something we can all find comfort in.
We often default to blaming others or external circumstances for our challenges, overlooking our own role in navigating life's complexities. This perspective ignores the multifaceted nature of reality, where unlimited causes and levels of analysis intertwine. Stoic philosophy is right.You have to accept the world as it is.You can’t control it. By adopting a pragmatic approach and stepping back to embrace both ourselves and the surrounding world, we learn to accept ourselves. This shift from fault-finding to acceptance empowers us to live a healthier life, feel better, and live more authentically.
While unkind individuals and negative behaviors exist in academia—as they do in the broader society—we have the power to mitigate their impact. By serving as a first line of defense and embracing a collective approach akin to the Swiss cheese model, we can ensure that everyone feels supported and valued. This method involves overlapping layers of support where the gaps in one layer are covered by another, creating a strong network of protection. Inspired by younger generations who have successfully fostered safe, bully-free communities, our goal is to cultivate an academic environment rooted in mutual support and well-being. Through conscious effort and community building, we can make academia a place where everyone thrives.
When building new software or products, the most critical challenge is simplicity. You need to design something so intuitive that even a four-year-old could use it—because if it’s too complex, very few people will. You risk wasting time and money on a product that fails to resonate. Simplicity isn't just an aesthetic choice; it’s at the heart of whether your product will succeed or fail. Balancing the need for innovation with making your product simple enough for people to actually use is the ultimate trade-off every creator faces.
I often think about what would my kids think? The answer is that by doing this publicly that they will see how to build some thing from nothing.
As an innovation professor, I’ve seen firsthand that true innovation is not glamorous—it’s humiliating. It’s filled with failures, doubts, and embarrassing moments that no one talks about. This is the raw reality of pushing boundaries when everyone else is too afraid to even try.
I discussed how I will send you look up and you realize that you don’t have something in your life for me. It’s egg salad sandwiches. That’s the nature with technological change.Things happen and you don’t even realize it until it’s not.
Real success isn’t about sudden breakthroughs or miraculous moments. It’s about the steady grind of addressing problems from the past and learning to handle new challenges as they come. The key is taking small, consistent steps each day, knowing that growth comes from persistence, not perfection. Whether you see immediate improvement or not, that’s okay. What matters is living to the best of your ability, without chasing unrealistic expectations. It’s about embracing the journey, knowing that progress is built over time through the daily effort you put in.
I’m not where I want to be yet, and that’s perfectly fine. Building something meaningful takes an enormous amount of time, energy, and patience. Along the way, it’s easy to lose faith in what you’re working on, to feel like you’re falling short, or that progress is too slow. But those moments of doubt don’t mean you’re failing—they mean you’re trying. It’s part of the process, and it’s what separates those who give up from those who ultimately succeed. So, while I’m not there yet, I know I’m on the right path, and I’m embracing the journey, no matter how long it takes.
In #academia, everyone wants to attach their name to the work, but few are willing to actually put in the effort. Including me—I want a free ride too.The truth is, this happens everywhere. You can either play the game, or you can choose a different path—one where you do the best you can with the resources you have, without getting bogged down by the politics.Frankly, wondering why that happened or this happened can drive you crazy.By shedding the emotions that come from others’ actions and focusing on doing the work every day, you can achieve a sense of peace and integrity. Instead of worrying about who’s getting credit or what others are doing, I’ve learned to go home at night to my family, feeling good about what I accomplished. The more I focus on being a good person and doing my best, the more I become that person. It’s not about winning the political game—that ends in folly. Always.You try to smile at the nonsense.
There are countless reasons to be optimistic about the future, but my hope doesn’t come from the leaders we see today or the speeches they give. It comes from the leaders who don’t exist yet—the ones nobody has heard of, but who will step up when the world needs them most. These are the people who see a massive global problem and decide it’s their problem to solve. They start small, fixing something in their community, and then figure out how to scale it to the rest of the world.They almost always shock us and how important the things that they build become.Yet, we can’t imagine them right now.My favorite ride that Walt Disney ever created was the Carousel of Progress. It tells the story of how things change over time.Every moment of despair creates an opportunity for someone to rise up and tackle a challenge. It’s not the speeches or promises that give me hope—it’s the untapped potential of those who haven’t even stepped into the spotlight yet. The future belongs to the unknown changemakers who see opportunities in adversity and decide to make the world a better place, one step at a time.
Innovation Means Looking Weird. It hurts.Innovation requires doing what others won’t. If you’re truly creating something unique, be prepared to stand out, face skepticism, and look strange for a long time. Convincing others? Forget it. Instead, persist. Keep pushing forward, and eventually, you’ll cross paths with someone who shares your vision and dreams. Until that moment, it’s a lonely road, where most people will either ignore or reject what you’re doing.Nobody will believe in your idea except you. Your job isn’t to convince everyone—it’s to keep moving forward, even when you have no clue what’s coming next. If you’re willing to endure the discomfort and stay true to your vision, you’ll eventually break through.Or, at least you believe that.
How do we change the scientific incentives so that people feel open and encouraged?It’s often how we teach and making sure that everybody feels safe to speak up.Is this possible? possibly. You have to begin by being open yourself.
Being financially responsible is important, but sometimes, a little financial irresponsibility can add immense value to your life. As a business professor, I believe it’s crucial to allow yourself those moments of indulgence—like buying ice cream just because it makes you happy. These seemingly irresponsible decisions can bring joy and meaning to your life. Instead of feeling guilty about every financial choice, focus on strategically adding pleasure to your life. Balancing responsibility with moments of joy is key to living a fulfilling life. Sometimes, spending a little on what makes you happy is the best investment you can make.
Focusing solely on short-term goals may provide immediate satisfaction, but it often comes at the cost of long-term success. While short-term productivity is easy to measure and rewarding, it can overshadow the crucial, yet often invisible, benefits of long-term planning. To achieve true success, we must balance both perspectives, recognizing that the greatest rewards often come from the patience and discipline to prioritize the future.
The traditional notion of productivity doesn’t align with most aspects of our lives. It’s a crude measure designed for high-level analysis, but it fails to capture the complexity of our human experiences. Productivity metrics can’t fix the real issues, like available technology, access to diverse teams, or organizational dynamics—factors that truly impact productivity. Contrary to popular belief, motivation often has little to do with it.If you compare it to a production plant, the flaws in the concept of productivity become clear. Just as you can’t measure a plant’s output without considering the tools, workers, and processes involved, you can’t measure human productivity without acknowledging the broader context. It’s time to rethink how we define and measure productivity and recognize that it’s not just about working harder or faster, but about understanding and optimizing the systems we operate within.
As a business professor building a platform, I’m not here to tell you about incredible successes or glamorous achievements. The reality is much more raw. Building something meaningful isn’t about hitting home runs or having a great story to tell. It’s about waking up every day and doing the work because you feel a deep need to make a difference.There are days when it’s tough, when you don’t want to continue, and when progress feels nonexistent. But you get up and do it anyway because you believe in the importance of what you’re doing. The true challenge isn’t in the big wins; it’s in the daily grind, the persistence to keep going even when it’s hard and unenjoyable.This is what it really means to build something that matters: it’s the courage to push through the hard times, the dedication to stick with it, and the passion to keep doing it every single day. That’s the raw, unfiltered truth of entrepreneurship.
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