untitled

8 CAREER ADVICE FOR LIFE SCIENTISTS

Saying “No”

Zena Werb

University of California

San Francisco

A

s the countdown to the next millennium draws

closer, it seems that the life of a working cell

biologist grows more hectic everyday: too

many commitments, too many demands, days that are

too short. How do you manage your time and keep

control of your professional and personal life?

“No” is one of the most powerful words in the

English language. When I was asked to write this arti-

cle, my first inclination was to say “No”. But I said

“Yes”, because I felt that I had the responsibility to do

so. I have learned to control my life, get satisfaction

from doing an excellent job, make decisions, take

chances, and have fun. So, how do you decide when to

say “No” and, more importantly, when to say “Yes”?

When to Say “Yes”

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

Saying “Yes” always has a cost, even when there is a

benefit. Develop a clear concept of your reasons for say-

ing “Yes” or “No” to requests. First ask, “do I have the

time?” There are time-consuming activities that need to

be done for career advancement, personal interest, or

other positive motives. Set career objectives and priori-

ties, realizing the inherent obligations. However, recog-

nize that there is a fine line between entitlement and

helping out. Try to avoid being exploited.

Secondly, ask, “do I know how to do this?” If you do

not have the expertise, then avoid the challenge. A poor

job benefits no one.

Setting priorities helps to develop a set of responses,

although not all situations are black and white. Trust

Trust your inner voice that you are

doing things for the right reasons.