I’ll square with you – this blog exists for mostly selfish reasons. Although frankly, I’m guessing that’s actually why most blogs exist. Selfish in that my reasons for starting ProjectRisk are primarily to make a habit of writing and as a vehicle to organize and record my thoughts on various topics related to my PhD research. I already write a lot, albeit in a very informal and fragmented way. Scrawled notes. Loose paper. Google docs, Evernote. Recently, I’m finding that I need something more substantial to help facilitate meaningful learning and insight. More meaningful, certainly, than the graveyard of yellow sticky notes wallpapering my desk.
The topics I cover will be anything that directly or tangentially relates to my own interests or PhD research, or anything else for that matter. So, anything. But mostly ideas related to capital projects, project planning, project strategy, megaprojects, risk analysis, risk management, and decision analysis. Throw in a little bit of mathematical modelling and simulation – I dabble in management science. I will discuss journal articles, books, magazine articles, my own ideas. I will explore topics previously foreign to me. I will attempt to share what I learn.
“Study hard what interests you the most in the most undisciplined, irreverent and original manner possible.” Richard Feynman
Everytime I read a new journal article, I write a three-part summary. I summarize the key points, I write any observations, questions, notes, or comments I have, and then I think about how the ideas in the article affect my own research. I will try to apply the same approach here: to introduce a topic, to cover it’s major points, to discuss my opinions and thoughts, and to relate it to adjacent topics or my own interests as required. I’m new to blogging, so I suspect I’ll find my own groove in time.
I’m an accidental academic. I never thought I’d do a PhD, and I’m sure the majority of my friends and professors in my undergrad would agree. Although challenging, frustrating, and a lot of other choice words, the decision to pursue research has been unexpectedly liberating. I get to decide what I ideas I want to explore, and then….just explore.
“To interact with the world of ideas at the highest level, I reminded myself, is a pretty cool way to make a living.” Cal Newport
I don’t expect a sizeable readership, if any at all. There aren’t many people who would be interested in this topic, so I don’t think I can judge my success by how popular this blog becomes. Without trying to sound like a philosophical ass, I really am doing this for the journey, not any preconceived destination. Undisciplined and irreverent sounds great.