Advice To Young Researchers: Avoid Instant Gratification!—Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.—21st-Century Philosopher & The Father of “Soft Leadership”

 

 “My best teacher is not a person. My best teachers is my books, my experience, my observations, my failures, and my students. They are all my best teachers. In a nutshell, my best teachers are not persons but books, experience, observation, environment, and students who provoked my thinking and encouraged me to research and improve my teaching." ―Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D., The Father of Soft Leadership

Young researchers are ambitious, intelligent, smart, and tech-savvy. They appreciate inspirational insights from experienced researchers to proceed in the right direction. In this regard, we will discuss ideas, insights, and advice for them to become successful researchers and leave their marks for future generations.

A Blueprint for Young Researchers

“The reward of the young scientist is the emotional thrill of being the first person in the history of the world to see something or to understand something. Nothing can compare with that experience.” —Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin

Everything starts with passion. Therefore, be passionate about your area of research. Have dreams, pursue them, and work very hard to accomplish them. Have a vision and mission. Contribute in the right direction consistently. Surround yourself with geniuses and talk to them regularly to understand the latest developments in research. Be curious and ask appropriate questions. Enter unexplored areas where there is the least competition. Identify the gaps and explore them persistently. Experiment to fill those gaps. Learn by doing. Don't worry about failures. Treat failures as experiments. Publish papers in quality journals. Work hard, smart, and wise for 20 to 25 years. Enjoy the journey to reach your destination. Avoid instant gratification. Inventions mostly happen by choice, not by chance. Research ideas come from the strangest sources and places while walking, driving, reading, writing, teaching, cooking, washroom, and music. Believe in pluck, not in luck as luck plays a minor part in the research. Create solutions, add value to the world, and win the Nobel Prize.

Malcolm D. Shuster in his research paper Advice to Young Researchers¹ offers advice to young researchers as follows: Work hard and do good work! Be focused. Put not thy trust in drawings! Put not thy trust in others! Be real! Don't always be practical! A wise man can learn from anyone. It is better to be right than "practical." Pay attention to small details! Develop intuition! Not all work is valuable. Be a dilettante! Be unreasonable sometimes! Knowledge is infinite; humans are finite. The most important research is often about finding questions, not about finding answers. Check your work! Have courage! Carpe diem! Keep it simple. Be useful. Research ideas sometimes come from the strangest places. A simulation is a valuable tool. Thinking is better than computing. Simulation is not proof. Not all simulations are equal. Write as you go! Don't rush to publication! Use clear and systematic notation! Do not build permanent monuments to bad work! Don't defend your mistakes! The world will remember only your archival publications. Good ideas often come quickly; good publications always require a lot of work. Not quantity but quality! Be pedagogical in your papers! Good cooks leave good recipes. Always give credit where credit is due! Pride goeth before a fall. Non illigitimi carborundum est! Good teaching in engineering is research. The dark side of research is that we all screw up, life is not fair, and don't let the blues get you down! Research isn't everything. When in doubt, do the right thing. Take all advice with caution. Above all, be happy with your work!

Conclusion

"Science means constantly walking a tightrope between blind faith and curiosity; between expertise and creativity; between bias and openness; between experience and epiphany; between ambition and passion; and between arrogance and conviction – in short, between an old today and a new tomorrow." —Henrich Rohrer

Most scientists are not geniuses. Their hidden potential was spotted by their teachers and mentors in the early stages. They pursued their passionate areas with persistence and patience. Therefore, never give up. Enjoy the process and love what you are doing. Don’t check for outcomes frequently because outcomes take their own time. Have fun and enjoy the journey to succeed as a researcher and scientist.

“Research is seeing what everybody else has seen and thinking what nobody else has thought.” —Albert Szent-Györgyi

Share if you care!

“Things You Don’t Know about Professor M. S. Rao” http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2015/10/things-you-dont-know-about-professor-m.html

Read my ‘Vision 2030 One Million Global Leaders’ URL: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html

Note: I had a brain hemorrhage. I was in bed for five months. My right hand has been numb and paralyzed. I am recovering. Thanks for empathizing with me. With gratitude. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFJrSRLHPUk&ab_channel=ProfessorM.S.Rao

Life is great!

Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.

Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM

Vision 2030: https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao

Substack: https://professormsrao.substack.com

X: http://twitter.com/professormsrao

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorMSRao

Meta: https://www.facebook.com/Professor-MS-Rao-451516514937414

See the Light in You: https://www.amazon.com/See-Light-You-Spiritual-Mindfulness/dp/1949003132

Thanks for reading!

Kindly share your thoughts and comments below. I’m sure someone out there will find your story useful.

Copyright©2025 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

This nonprofit blog will share Professor M.S. Rao’s passion and vision to build one million students as global leaders by 2030. Please don't cut articles from my blog; redistribute them by email or post them on the web. The use of this material is free provided the copyright is acknowledged and a reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com. Without permission, this material may not be sold, published, or used to provide business services to a third party.

1 http://faculty.iitmandi.ac.in/~tushar/files/adviceYoungResearchers.pdf

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Professor M.S. Rao’s Philosophy—Truth, Wisdom, and Knowledge #profmsrao ...

Professor M. S. Rao’s Vision 2030: One Million Global Leaders : Effective Tips for Note-Taking—Professor M.S. Rao,...

Professor M. S. Rao’s Vision 2030: One Million Global Leaders : Effective Tips for Note-Taking—Professor M.S. Rao,...:   "Never use a sentence when you can use a phrase, or a phrase when you can use a word" —Berkeley Note-taking is an art and ...

Effective Tips for Note-Taking—Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.—21st-Century Philosopher & The Father of “Soft Leadership”

 

"Never use a sentence when you can use a phrase, or a phrase when you can use a word" —Berkeley

Note-taking is an art and the process of writing the content in a shorthand format in an unstructured manner without losing the essence for future reference and records. Usually, the speaking rate is faster than the writing. When any lecture takes place the entire information can not be written by the listeners. Therefore, the key and important information is written succinctly in a notebook. It is a skill anyone can cultivate and inculcate through the right application of tools and techniques. There is also software related to this, which is known as note-taking software that has several advantages.

Merits of Note-Taking

Note-taking helps in absorbing and memorizing the material effectively due to the muscular movement of the hand. It helps in broadening your mental faculties. It saves time and energy. It helps in bridging the gap between speaking and writing. It can be used for future reference.

Dos and Don’ts during Note Taking

1. Focus on the content, not on the speaker.

2. Listen attentively to the speaker.

3. Write clearly and legibly for your clarity.

4. Write the keywords.

5. Write only what is required.

6. Don’t write lengthy sentences.

7. Don't sit beside your colleague as you may be disturbed during note-taking.

8. Don’t divert your mind here and there.

Note Taking Tips

Studies on memory have shown that, without review, 47% of what a person has just learned is forgotten in the first twenty minutes and 62% is forgotten after the first day. (University of Texas at Austin).

• Develop a positive mindset about the speaker and the content as it encourages you towards note-taking.

• Be attentive and listen carefully to the speaker.

• Create and develop your method of taking notes which helps to decode as and when required.

• Write on one side of the paper so that extra information, ideas, or insights can be added later on.

• Create your shorthand style to note down the key relevant content.

• Pay your attention closely and keenly to the content.

• Divide the page into three columns. In the first column write down what was taught in the class in key words. In the second column, write down the same in an elaborate form after reading from the text. In the third column, write down the queries to be posed to the teacher, if any. It saves your precious time as you don't have to duplicate the content freshly in another page book. In addition, this approach aligns the entire information in depth and makes the information available on a platter.

• Use different colored highlighters to accord the priority of importance.

• Research reveals that we can recall what was taught in the class within 24 hours only by 80 percent. Therefore, jot down immediately after the class what was said if you don't find time during the class.

• By referring to textbook material before being delivered you get to know idea about the topic. Secondly, it will help you to jot down what is not there in the text. In this way, note-taking adds value to your knowledge as you get knowledge beyond books delivered by the teacher.

• Maintain separate notebooks per subject. It helps in organizing things properly and also saves your time and avoids stress arising out of searching for the content.

A Take-Home Message

“A short pencil is always better than a long memory.”

Students can do well with note-taking skills. It is a skill anyone can develop and hone. In schools, note-taking skills should be taught as it saves time and helps in better memory retention.

Teachers should write key content and concepts on the board as it helps both the teacher and students. For teachers, it helps to teach better in the next class due to the muscular movement the key facts can better be remembered. For students, it becomes easier to write and also helps in separating grain from the chaff. Therefore, brush up your note-taking skills to achieve optimum results.

Share if you care!

“Things You Don’t Know about Professor M. S. Rao” http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2015/10/things-you-dont-know-about-professor-m.html

Read my ‘Vision 2030 One Million Global Leaders’ URL: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html

Note: I had a brain hemorrhage. I was in bed for five months. My right hand has been numb and paralyzed. I am recovering. Thanks for empathizing with me. With gratitude. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFJrSRLHPUk&ab_channel=ProfessorM.S.Rao

Life is great!

Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.

Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM

Vision 2030: https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao

Substack: https://professormsrao.substack.com

X: http://twitter.com/professormsrao

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorMSRao

Meta: https://www.facebook.com/Professor-MS-Rao-451516514937414

See the Light in You: https://www.amazon.com/See-Light-You-Spiritual-Mindfulness/dp/1949003132

Thanks for reading!

Kindly share your thoughts and comments below. I’m sure someone out there will find your story useful.

Copyright©2025 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

This nonprofit blog will share Professor M.S. Rao’s passion and vision to build one million students as global leaders by 2030. Please don't cut articles from my blog; redistribute them by email or post them on the web. The use of this material is free provided the copyright is acknowledged and a reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com. Without permission, this material may not be sold, published, or used to provide business services to a third party.

How to Deliver Your Commencement/Graduation Speech?—Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.—21st-Century Philosopher & The Father of “Soft Leadership”

 

 “We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.” —J.K. Rowling, Harvard University

I was invited to deliver a convocation address in 2020. Here is how you can proceed with your commencement or graduation speech. Research the audience thoroughly, brainstorm several ideas, shortlist the best one, prepare unique content, and rehearse several times to build your confidence, connect with your audience effectively, and ensure takeaways to them successfully.

Here is the template for your commencement speech. In the introduction, thank the host and congratulate the audience for their efforts and achievements. In the body, share three ideas with anecdotes or inspiring stories. Appreciate the audience. In conclusion, thank the listeners for their time and listening, and wish them good luck.

Preparation and Delivery of Your Speech

“I know that men are won over less by the written than by the spoken word, that every great movement on this earth owes its growth to orators and not to great writers.” —Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf

Delivering a commencement address is a great responsibility. So, you must choose your words carefully. The audience expects unique content on your presentation plate. Here are some tips to consider before delivering your speech successfully. Keep your speech between 10 to 15 minutes. Focus on three ideas and share them with anecdotes, examples, and illustrations. Keep your content crisp and communication clear. Write your speech and edit it several times to drive home your messages effectively. Rehearse your prepared speeches, delivery, hand gestures, and body language. Include animation to convey your ideas and ideals emphatically. Take feedback from your facial expressions, vocal expressions, and body expressions to improve your oratory. Perfect the art and craft of public speaking by emphasizing excellence.

Be an energetic and inspiring speaker. Appreciate the audience for their efforts, discipline, focus, and sacrifices to acquire their degrees. Don't spoon-feed the audience by defining the concepts. Get straight into the examples and illustrations. Avoid using famous quotes. When you are invited as a speaker, you are special and your messages should become quotes for others. Avoid sharing conventional content. Instead, share unconventional and unique content to make your speech memorable and everlasting. Understand the body language of your audience and adapt your oral language accordingly. Give adequate pauses to enable your audiences to understand your ideas and applaud. Communicate in the language of the audience to connect with them. Create a unique brand by including emotional and inspiring words. Speak with humility with an emphasis on humanity and hope. Share them slowly and steadily to enable your audiences to digest the essences easily. Be lively filled with energy and enthusiasm. Your voice must be clear, content must be crisp, and communication must be effective. Avoid jargon. Use your body language positively. Use your sense of humor appropriately. Remember that your speech must come from your heart, not your head.

Conclusion

"Of all the talents bestowed upon men, none is so precious as the gift of oratory. He who enjoys it wields a power more durable than that of a great king. He is an independent force in the world. Abandoned by his party, betrayed by his friends, stripped of his offices, whoever can command this power is still formidable." ― Winston Churchill

Don’t make your speech preachy. Ensure that your speech is inspiring and calling for an action to dream and achieve big. To conclude, delivering a commencement or graduation speech is a great opportunity for speakers to convey their ideas, insights, and challenges. The content must be strong and communication must be clear. The ideas and insights must be simple and straight hitting the bull's eye.

"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." —Steve Jobs

References

https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Successful-Public-Speaking-Speaker/dp/1628656107

https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2020/06/tips-to-deliver-your.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgvtd6W8GNw&t=275s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuPl0oFxQXU

Share if you care!

“Things You Don’t Know about Professor M. S. Rao” http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2015/10/things-you-dont-know-about-professor-m.html

Read my ‘Vision 2030 One Million Global Leaders’ URL: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html

Note: I had a brain hemorrhage. I was in bed for five months. My right hand has been numb and paralyzed. I am recovering. Thanks for empathizing with me. With gratitude. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFJrSRLHPUk&ab_channel=ProfessorM.S.Rao

Life is great!

Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.

Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM

Vision 2030: https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao

Substack: https://professormsrao.substack.com

X: http://twitter.com/professormsrao

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorMSRao

Meta: https://www.facebook.com/Professor-MS-Rao-451516514937414

See the Light in You: https://www.amazon.com/See-Light-You-Spiritual-Mindfulness/dp/1949003132

Thanks for reading!

Kindly share your thoughts and comments below. I’m sure someone out there will find your story useful.

Copyright©2025 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

This nonprofit blog will share Professor M.S. Rao’s passion and vision to build one million students as global leaders by 2030. Please don't cut articles from my blog; redistribute them by email or post them on the web. The use of this material is free provided the copyright is acknowledged and a reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com. Without permission, this material may not be sold, published, or used to provide business services to a third party.

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