You have made it to ABD Survival Guide! Now you're on your way to finishing that thesis, with support, guidance, ideas, mentors, and more...

ABDSG is A Free, Monthly E-mail Newsletter

As a subscriber, you'll receive once a month (or a little more often) a succinct article devoted to practical strategies for successfully completing your doctoral dissertation.

We will focus on ways to overcome the inevitable obstacles you'll face along the dissertation marathon including the twin devils of all dissertations: writer's block and procrastination.

We'll have periodic interviews with highly productive scholars uncovering the tips and secrets they wish they'd known at the beginning of their own careers. And we'll never forget the special challenges of the isolated, off-campus, working ABD.

Our goal is to speed you on your way towards your doctorate and, in the process, to enhance the skills you'll need for a lifetime of academic productivity.

More than 10,000 ABD's receive this newsletter, and we're proud of our feedback.

Browse the site for years worth of archives, and other supplementary articles.

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14 Free Telephone Groups for ABD Survival Guide Readers
Be sure to read through all 14 workshops before registering for your favorites. Workshops are free, but space is limited.

FINISHING STRONG:
Learn to apply your strengths to stay motivated, focused, and organized while you complete your dissertation

Doctoral programs recruit smart and capable people, but the process of completing a dissertation can leave students feeling demoralized and disorganized. In this group, you will reconnect with your strengths, and get group support while learning effective ways to manage your attention, and keep on track with your dissertation-related work.

DATES. First and third Tuesday of each month at 4:00 PM (Eastern Time). There is no fee for the first 4 sessions. Group will be limited to 20 members.

DATE OF FIRST SESSION. September 1, 2009

CONTACT: Andrea Meier at flourishwithcoaching@gmail.com. Please write: "ABD Group" in the subject line. With your email registration you will be provided with the telephone bridge for this class.
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DEFEATING THAT 'DARN' DISSERTATION!
And doing it with DISCIPLINE and DETERMINATION

In this group, we will:

* Apply a 'success formula' for increasing productivity and obtaining results
* Maintain a level of commitment despite internal and external obstacles
* Provide support to self and others to facilitate this challenging process

DATES: Thursdays, for one-hour every other week, at 11:00 am (EST) for 4 sessions. There is no fee for the first 4 sessions.

DATE OF FIRST SESSION: June 25, 2009

PLEASE CONTACT: Angela Sorensen, Ph.D. at sorensen1234@comcast.net. Please include "ABD Group" in the subject line. Upon e-mail registration, you will be provided with the telephone bridge for this class.
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Dissertation- A Done Deed:
Powerful Strategies for Thesis Completion from Someone Who's Done It and Coached Others to Ph.D. Success

• Add An Experienced Academic Coach to Your Team.

• What would it mean for you to handle internal blocks, master action strategies, and celebrate getting your doctorate?

• Dr. David Wolf has coached many students from stuck in the muck to satisfied and moving forward.

• Get professional support to achieve your goal.

Dates: Tuesdays, weekly from 3-4 PM (Eastern) for 4 group sessions. No fee for these 4 sessions.

Date of First Session: July 21, 2009.

Contact: Dr. David Wolf at DavidWolf@Satvatove.org or DavidBWolf@Windstream.net. Please include "ABD group" in the subject line. Also, describe your greatest challenge in completing your dissertation.

This class is limited to first 12 responders. Upon registration you will be provided with the telephone bridge line for this class.
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OVERCOME PERFECTIONISM AND
EAT YOUR DISSERTATION FROG NOW

Are you not moving forward because you are chewing too much on your ideas looking for the perfect words? Are you procrastinating because you do not like the taste of your dissertation frog?

Then join this v-group and learn how to:
• Move from being the perfect chef to being the kitchen STAR
by applying Significant Techniques and Actions leading towards Results
• Reward and/or punish yourself to help you eat the baby frogs on your dissertation frog menu

Dates: Thursdays, weekly at 12:00 noon (Eastern) for 4 one-hour sessions. No fee for these first 4 sessions.

Date of first session: Thursday July 16, 2009

Contact: Maddy Swinnen, MBA, MAP, and recovering perfectionist, at maddy.swinnen@happinex.org. Please include "ABD Group" in the subject line.
Upon email registration you will be provided with the telephone bridge for this class.
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DRIVING YOUR DISSERTATION TO THE FINISH LINE
Implement Tangible Strategies for Success

Where is that dissertation finish line??? This workshop will help you

• Set SMART goals and leverage your strengths to keep you on the road to success
• Develop effective strategies to get unstuck, and remove roadblocks
• Boost your productivity by managing your energy and time

DATES: Thursdays, weekly at 11:00 AM (Eastern) for 4 one-hour sessions. No fee for these first 4 sessions.

DATE OF FIRST SESSION: July 9, 2009.

CONTACT: Neena Newberry at neena@newberrycoaching.com and include ABD Group in the subject line. Upon email registration you will be provided with the telephone bridge for this class. Class size is limited to 12 participants.
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Your Ultimate Dissertation Motivation:
6 weeks to overcoming procrastination and blocks
Regain and maintain your momentum to PhD completion

Combining teaching, visualization, coaching, and practice, you will:

• Discover your Personal Dissertation Motivator (PDM)
• Learn how to access and apply your PDM
• Empower your PDM in partnership with ego
• Create a motivating action plan to complete your PhD

DATES: Thursdays, weekly from 12 noon to 1:15pm ET for 6 weeks. No Fee for the first 6 sessions. Maximum 12 participants.

DATE OF FIRST SESSION: June 11, 2009 at 12 noon ET

CONTACT: Stefany G Burrowes, PCC at stefany@sensationalwisdom.com.
Please include - ABD Group - in the Subject line. Upon email registration you will be provided with the telephone bridge line and further instructions for this class.
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Writing With Focus, Flow & Follow-Through:
Creative Solutions for Dispelling the Dissertation Doldrums

In this experiential workshop, we will approach your writing project by cultivating the best habits of body, mind and spirit:

Weeks 1 & 2: FOCUS: Design your purpose and structure, by accessing inner knowing, daily discipline and an ideal vision for your work;
Weeks 3 & 4: FLOW: Develop your process, by learning to shape the optimal flow of your reading, thinking, synthesizing, and writing;
Weeks 5 & 6: FOLLOW-THROUGH: Practice the skills of time, energy and attention management for stamina, structure and successful completion.

NOTE: Limited to 6 motivated people from the arts or humanities.

DATES: Meeting 6 consecutive Mondays from 1:00-2:00 pm, ET.

DATE OF FIRST MEETING: July 27th, 2009.

CONTACT: Mary Jansen, mjansen1@verizon.net. Please include "ABD GROUP" in the subject line. Upon registration you will be given the telephone bridge line for this workshop.
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Find Joy in the Doing. Celebrate Your Accomplishment!
Discover the pleasures of getting your dissertation done.

Use Appreciative Inquiry to energize your day and find more pleasure in your dissertation work. Leave the dread behind and start asking these questions:
• What am I appreciative of?
• How can I find a more positive approach to my challenge?
• What are my strengths?
• What does happiness have to do with anything?

DATES: Wednesday, weekly for one-hour at 11:00 AM (EST) for 5 sessions. No fee for the first 5 sessions. Registration is limited to 12 people.

DATE OF FIRST SESSION: Wednesday, June 10th 2009

CONTACT: Please contact Anette Due Rosenzweig at adrcoaching@gmail.com. Include "ABD Group" in the subject line of the email. Upon email registration you will be provided with the telephone bridge for this class.
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WHEN RESEARCH BECOMES PROCRASTINATION

Many ABD learners are excited by the act of researching - the reading, the discovery, the interpretation, and the interaction with subject matter experts- that it becomes difficult to determine when enough information and insight is enough. Moving beyond the research to writing is very difficult for many to achieve. If you see yourself in this description, this is the group for you. Over the course of four weeks, this group will:

• Learn to manage time so that the writing process fits around your life

• Build and maintain confidence in your writing skills and your chosen topic

• Move beyond the individuality of the research process and provide a forum to discuss ideas and get the creative juices flowing

• Set short-term deadlines and become proactive

DATES. Tuesday's from 7-8 p.m. EST for 8 weeks. (NO Fee for the first 4 sessions)

DATE OF FIRST SESSION. June 16th

CONTACT: Dr. David DeHaven at david@d3coaching.com and include "ABD Group" in the subject line. Upon email registration you will be provided with the telephone bridge for this class.
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DISSERTATION 911:
Emergency Techniques for Unsticking the Desperately Stuck

Are you trapped between the shame of dissertation paralysis and the terror of not finishing? Have you unsuccessfully tried to overcome the distractions of life's minutiae and build support from others? The good news is: Sometimes desperation is the best catalyst - and you have lots of that.

You will learn:

• extreme 'block-busting' techniques
• radical strategies for managing your own and other's expectations
• winning techniques to change your attitude, approach, and actions

If you are desperate enough to finally do what it really takes to complete your dissertation, then this workshop is for you. This workshop is NOT for the faint-hearted.

DATES: Tuesdays, weekly at 1:00 pm (Eastern) for 8 one-hour sessions. No fee for these first 4 sessions.

DATE OF FIRST SESSION: June 9, 2009

CONTACT: Jan Hill, PhD at jan@lifeworkscoaching.ca and include "ABD Group" in the subject line. Upon email registration you will be provided with the telephone bridge for this class.
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READY, AIM, BULL'S-EYE!
Turn Your Dissertation Goal into a Heat-Seeking Missile that Can't Miss!

Session 1: Get Ready! Seek & Destroy your Motivation Blockades
Session 2: Aim! Line up Your Shot by Learning to Direct your Focus …
WHERE IT COUNTS!
Session 3: Prepare to Launch: Crucial Techniques that you have been missing!
Session 4: Fire! How to Hit the Mark without Melting Down

DATES: Mondays weekly for one-hour at 12:00 pm EDT time for 4 weeks. There is no fee for these first 4 sessions.

DATE OF FIRST SESSION: Monday, September 14th, 2009

To register, please contact Michelle Goble at michelle@heartsongdiscovery.com and include "ABD Group" in the subject line. Upon email registration you will be provided with the telephone bridge for this class.
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MAKING MOLEHILLS OUT OF MOUNTAINS:
Tools to help you complete your dissertation journey!
Does finishing your dissertation look like an awfully big mountain to climb? Sign up now for this group to learn ways turn that mountain into hills that are more easily journeyed.

• Capitalize on your natural strengths
• Manage time and priorities
• Overcome procrastination
• Create a vision of success.

DATES: Every other Tuesday for one-hour at 1:00 pm EST for 5 sessions. There is no fee for these first 5 sessions.

DATE OF FIRST SESSION: Tuesday July 7, 2009

CONTACT: Please contact Paula Solomon at pksolomon@aol.com to sign up or with any questions you may have. Please include the words "ABD GROUP" in the subject line. When you register you will be provided with the telephone bridge line to access this class.
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5 ESSENTIAL STEPS TO OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION:
Simple Ways to Get into Action and Stay Motivated

If you have been putting off completing your dissertation or haven't even started due to procrastination, this workshop will help you get into action. You'll also learn easy ways to stay motivated until you finally get your dissertation done.

Dates: Wednesdays, weekly from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. (Eastern) for 5 sessions.

Date of First Session: July 1, 2009.

Contact: Coletta Hagan at coletta.hagan@yahoo.com and include ABD Group in the subject line. Upon email registration you will be provided with the telephone bridge for this class.
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Declaring War on Dissertation Obstacles:
Proven Strategies to Win the Final Battles

A 6-Week Program to:

• Create Your Personal Battle Plan
• Keep Your Goal in Mind When You're Down in the Trenches
• Handle the Generals: Advisors to Add Ammunition
• Align Allies
       The ones in your Life
       The ones in your Head
• Promote From ABD to PhD!

Dates: 6 consecutive Tuesdays 7:00-8:00 pm (Eastern). There is no fee for these 6 sessions.

Date of first session: July 8th, 2009

Contact: Naomi Zemont at momentumconnection@gmail.com. Please include "ABD Group" in the subject line. Upon email registration you will be provided with the telephone bridge for this class.