title: Daring to venture beyond the bench.
abstract: Few people are exactly where they thought they would be 20 years into their careers. Careers, like life, are full of twists and turns. Brains and an inviolable work ethic are table stakes in virtually every profession involving science. Beyond these basics, however, each of us brings our personal blend of talents and skills to creating a career. Some of us know exactly what we want and chart a direct course. Others are masters at seizing opportunities. Still others go with the natural flow of events. Since success and security can only come with time, begin by choosing your adventure. Follow your interests and passions. Radically rewrite your resume, network, take people to coffee, get out of your comfort zone. Sticking to the same things you've already tried simply means you travel the same path over and over. Stepping out into the unknown can be scary, but it can also lead to unexpected places. Take a look.
authors.affiliation: Landes Bioscience, Austin, TX USA.
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wylie
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology; D002321:Career Choice; D002322:Career Mobility; D003585:Cell Biology; D019295:Computational Biology; D018973:Intellectual Property; D008967:Molecular Biology; D011643:Publishing