Every hoop we pass seems insurmountable from one side and near negligible from the other (unless we’re excessively narcissist, we usually look for the next big hoop rather than revel in our momentary accomplishments). But there seems to be a systemic need to make the hoops seem larger than they are–be it because those in charge remember how big it seemed to them and how hard it was to overcome, or be it because there’s a vested interest in gatekeeping…

So my mantra tends to be “Don’t panic!” and “You can do it!” Most everyone who gets to a certain stage has the intellectual abilities to move forward. Many worry themselves into paralysis, and psychological self-doubt becomes its own impediment.

The good news these days is that there ever-growing sources of academic advice. The bad news is that academic advice is almost never “one size fits all.” Every moment and ritual (excellent use of this term, Jonathan) is wrapped up in many layers of contingency, specific to that place, that event, those relationships.

However, one piece of advice I hope is general enough to apply broadly is to put on different hats at different times. This becomes not only easier but nigh unavoidable the further one’s career goes, but it’s an essential step in understanding bigger pictures. Most grad students’ first new hat is the one marked “Instructor.” Having to prepare materials, lead discussions, and grade student work is a critical understanding of a different perspective. And from there it just expands (not replaces; expands. Once you’ve worn a hat, you can’t quite get rid of it). Wonder how conferences choose papers? Get on the program committee. Wonder how journals or books are edited? Review manuscripts. Wonder what really goes on in job searches? Serve on a committee. And on and on.

The thing is as well that there’s always things you don’t know, and things even people you’d think would know, don’t know! By that point hopefully you’ve figured out that a substantial chunk of what we do is improvise, though knowing when to lead rather than follow is (again) something you may need (drumroll) advice about. Of course it all changes when you change jobs and locations. At that point, you’ll definitely start a new hat collection.

All that said, here’s another piece of advice. Conspiracies, whispering campaigns, and cutthroat academic politics make sexy stories at the conference bar. Almost all of the time, however, events perceived as such are much more than likely the results of much more mundane circumstances: miscommunication, different priorities, and (most likely) sheer exhaustion. Almost all of the time.