Motivation

Erica Capito
Jul 23, 2017 · 2 min read

What keeps you going when all these great ideas you had turn out to not be as original as you had hoped?

When I started some research I’m currently doing, the topic was handed to me. Starting from scratch I kept coming across the same information over and over. But it was what I couldn’t find that intrigued me. I started branching off into differing, but complimentary, areas to try and find answers to questions I had. And I had a lot. Questions written on separate papers, scribbled into the margins of my notes, even on post-its stuck here and there.

Two areas really got my attention. I kept finding myself going back to them over and over to add more questions. I started to wonder if I could make one of these an area of my own research and study, maybe even write a paper. But I should have know that was a pipe dream for someone who doesn’t actually have a degree in paleontology (mine are in other areas). As I reached out to someone who’s been working on my subjects for a while, I’ve found that others have already had these questions and done the research.

So what is my motivation to keep going? Why go the extra mile if the work’s already be done? While it is nice to know that prominent researchers in your area have had the same thoughts as you, how do you keep from being discouraged? What keeps you from saying, “what’s the point?” And, most importantly, how do you get others to take your seriously when your ‘original’ thoughts/ideas aren’t so original?