================================================
THE ALL-BUT-DISSERTATION SURVIVAL GUIDE(tm)
Devoted to practical steps for
completing your doctoral dissertation.
www.ecoach.com
================================================
To subscribe, visit www.ecoach.com or e-mail S@mentorcoach.com
with SUBSCRIBE ABDSG in the subject line.
INDEX
1. Ben's Note--Facing Prostate Cancer
2. Two $2000 Fellowships for ABDSG Readers for Virtual
Coach Training Program (MCP19)
SUMMARY:
Ben's Note--"Facing Prostate Cancer":
In January, I learned I had prostate cancer. Now,
thankfully, I'm cancer-free. And my parenting,
coaching, teaching, writing--all have taken on a
new intensity.
<>===<>===<>===<>===<>===<>===<>===<>===<>===<>
IN THIS ISSUE
Ben's Note--Facing Prostate Cancer
==============================
Ben's Note--Facing Prostate Cancer
==============================
June 3, 2001
Dear ABD Survival Guide Reader,
In January, I learned I had prostate
cancer. Until that point, I had always
been in vibrant health, happily raising
two small children with my bride of
11 years.
Then an elevated PSA (a blood test
that screens for prostate cancer) led
to a biopsy and the cancer diagnosis.
Initially, I wanted only to sleep, read novels,
and play with my kids.
Then I began a four-month journey that
has brought me tears, fear, joy, and a new
appreciation of my family and closest friends.
On April 11th, I had surgery at Johns Hopkins; now,
thankfully, I'm cancer-free. And my parenting,
coaching, teaching, writing--all have taken on a
new intensity.
Life is so short.
I knew this intellectually before. But now I *know*.
Now with fresh, post-surgical energy, I'm renewing my
commitment to you and to all other "All But Dissertation
Survival Guide" readers.
We now have 6685 readers in 84 countries on 6
continents--a good start but still a number that barely
scratches the universe of exceptional ABDs and other
graduate students whom our community could support,
and who have the potential to impact the world through
their professional work.
So here's my stake in the ground.
I'm rededicating the "ABD Survival Guide" to all the
brilliant, gifted, often weary, ABDs/scholars
throughout the world who are our readers.
I am here for you whether you are a fully funded
graduate student in a prestigious Western university, a
first-year student in a little known graduate
program, or a lonely, isolated off-campus ABD
with an incompetent chair, a disinterested
committee, and little left but hope and courage.
You have so much to contribute and if you
relentlessly persist, you will get there.
Because I believe that, I'll do all in my power
to help you jump every last academic hurdle,
create a life you love, and bring your
gifts to the world.
Warm wishes,
Ben
P.S. Over the last 4 months, I decided, with some initial
anxiety, to let my friends in the MentorCoach community
(the community of coaches I work with) know what I
was facing on the cancer front.
If you'd like to scan some of the e-mails I sent to our community
while in the heat of this battle, you can. Just send any
e-mail (it can be blank) to this address:
mailto: HopkinsUpdate@mentorcoach.com
P.P.S. The ABDSG is a *community* filled with wisdom
and street smart savvy. Please share your hard-earned
wisdom with all our readers. And don't be too quick to
assume you have nothing to share; often that which is
most personal is most general. If you have stories,
lessons, or wisdom to share with fellow ABDSG
readers, we'd love for you to write a
lead article for the ABDSG. Just e-mail me with your
proposed article (Ben@mentorcoach.com) and,
in the subject line, put in all caps: ABDSG ARTICLE
IDEA.
=============
BEN J. DEAN
=============
Ben holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the University
of Texas at Austin and is a psychologist in private
practice in Bethesda, Maryland.
In addition to his clinical practice, Ben loves
to train professionals to become virtual coaches.
(If you would like to see Ben's *other* free
newsletter, you may subscribe at:
http://www.mentorcoach.com/)
If you would like to attend any of Ben's
upcoming workshops, send any email to
mailto:workshop@mentorcoach.com
Ben lives in suburban Maryland with his wife
and two children.
================================================
THE ALL-BUT-DISSERTATION SURVIVAL GUIDE(tm)
================================================
"The All-But-Dissertation Survival Guide"(tm)
focuses on ways to help its readers more readily
overcome the roadblocks that often seem to stand
in the way of completing the dissertation. It is
read throughout the world.
ABOUT TO GRADUATE?
-------------------------------
First, congratulations!!!! Yeaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!
Second, please send any email to
mailto:FreeAtLast@mentorcoach.com
It's an autoresponder. Within seconds, you'll
receive a note from Ben.
A FAVOR
-------------
There are more than a million graduate students
in the US alone. Although we have subscribers
worldwide, we have barely scratched the surface.
If you find this newsletter helpful, forward it
with your endorsement to your friends, ABD list
servers, sympathetic faculty and administration,
and, editors of print publications (who will have
our full permission to reprint these newsletters--for
free--if they wish).
ARCHIVE
-------------
Past issues of this newsletter are available at
www.ecoach.com/.
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------
If you've received this copy from a friend or
colleague and would like your own subscription,
you can sign up for it directly at
http://www.ecoach.com/
If you would like to have your name removed
from the subscription list, please unsubscribe at
http://www.ecoach.com/
CONTACT INFORMATION
----------------------------------
Ben J. Dean, Ph.D
MentorCoach(tm)
Voice: 301-986-5688
Fax: 301-913-9447
Email: mailto:ben@mentorcoach.com
Web: www.ecoach.com/
Web: www.mentorcoach.com
(c) Copyright 2001 Ben J. Dean. All rights
reserved.
DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS
---------------------------------
The above material is copyrighted, but you
may retransmit or distribute it to whomever
you wish as long as not a single word is
changed, added or deleted, including the
contact information. However, you may not
copy it to a web site. Reprint permission
will be freely granted, upon request, to
student newspapers, universities, and other
non-profit educational organizations. In
addition, advance written permission must
be obtained for any reprinting of this
material in modified or altered form.