The Power Of A PhD, Foreword Written by Donna Serdula

When Isaiah asked me to write the foreword of his book, I found myself enveloped in effervescence.  I truly was touched because Isaiah is a person who has inspired and impressed me since our very first meeting. It certainly helps that I feel he and I have true synergy in our life missions. We both enable people to look ahead, break free from their shackles, transform their lives, and realize their most sought-after goals.

Our paths intersected because he knew the power of LinkedIn to conduct a successful job search.  Isaiah reached out to me because my business specializes in LinkedIn. My team and I empower professionals through career branding; by building success into their brands and aligning their stories to their goals. By optimizing clients’ profiles, opportunity collides with them. I saw early on the professional opportunities available through LinkedIn and how the platform leveled the playing field for every professional, regardless of title or background, in managing reputation, growing their brand, and positioning themselves for their career vision. As I worked with professionals, Isaiah was empowering PHDs to enter into the private sector. He knew LinkedIn was the tool for them to find success.

Isaiah created a community of engaged PHDs, hungry to use their education, knowledge and mental strength and persistence as a competitive edge in the professional world.  It was after joining his Cheeky Scientist Facebook Group, that I began to understand the true depth of what Isaiah was providing to his community. The posts on the Facebook group told a story. PHDs, who spent their lives studying and researching, felt stuck, unsupported, and alone. He gave them the confidence, motivation, and inspiration in addition to actual professional training. He provided the PHDs with impetus to change their lives and pivot in a more fruitful direction.  These success stories of PHDs, who put his advice to use, changed their future vision, and found new, fulfilling, and well-paying careers outside of academia were inspiring and refreshing.

Even though, I knew he was guiding and impacting his audience, I never truly understood what was driving his mission. It was during a podcast commercial break when I saw a video interview of Isaiah speaking of his own background as a PHD. He spoke of the hard work he had put into his career. Regardless of his dedication, there was an extreme lack of support in the academic world. The respect I had for him magnified, realizing that he once had been in his audience’s shoes and now dedicates his life to empowering others so they would not have the negative experience he had, and they could find the right path in order to soar.

For you, your doctorate may have been your goal and vision. Know that there is more out there for you and it’s time to pivot, to use all that you have acquired through years of dedication and research in a new way. This book is the tool that will help you take your strengths and abilities and create a new vision and ultimately a new future for yourself.

Most people do not understand that growth and success are forged because of sustained moments of discomfort, anxiety, and fear. Hopefully this book will trigger those feelings inside you which will then lead to your growth and lead you outside your comfort zone and into that next chapter of your life.   Keep your eye on the future you envision for yourself. Put your trust Isaiah.

You have the power to determine your story and your future. The fact that you are reading this foreword should tell you that you are ready.  It is your time right now to soar high and dream big!  You too can live an inspired life! The instructions are right here, just keep reading.