It's not PhD-related, but still works for me when I feel down or disheartened:

"We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that death will tremble to take us." Charles Bukowski

By the way, I'm new (though have been around for a while, but always only read threads - they've been a great help), so hello everybody!

Hey Jojo and Sixkitten,
funnily, that's exactly what I intend to do. I am only considering a 2008 entry anyway and want to come up with a phd topic myself (which I guess in business is rather common). I'll meet my former master's dissertation supervisor at the end of this month and will talk about the whole phd issue with him. He knows me quite well and has just completed his phd last year (and has a couple of years experience in academia after working in the private sector), so he should be able to give me some valuable advice on how to proceed. Thus, I am planning to start reading around my area of interest from June onwards to get updated and see how it feels. If everything goes well and I get really into it, I'll start drafting a proposal etc to hopefully be able to apply at the end of this year. I think that leaves me enough time to seriously weigh my options and see how I get on with it without jumbing at things or risking my job. How does that sound??

"We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that death will tremble to take us" (Charles Bukowski)

Sorry for sounding horribly solemn, but that came to my mind when I read your last answer, Jojo. I so much agree with you! And it's exactly why I'm thinking about doing a phd - so no, it's not confusing at all.
For me, a phd is still like the great big unknown - which is why my heart and mind are debating seemingly endlessly whether I should go for it, with my mind being annoyingly reasonable and playing the killjoy part. It's controllable, but I can't always silence it

Still, your views helped me a lot, so thanks to everybody. If anyone has any other opinion, criticism, encouragement or whatever - I'll be grateful to hear/read

I've posted here myself and got some great answers that really helped - but I think your question is very general, so you should check the links on this site first. Such as http://www.findaphd.com/students/explain.asp
Maybe that helps to start somewhere and then you can come back with more detailed questions...

Dear Queen Jojo and Princess Sixkitten,

thanks a lot for your answers. I agree with you - I have to be 100% sure a phd is for me. But I find that asking others for their views helps making up my own mind.

Strangely enough, I usually have a very reliable "gut feeling", when it comes to making major decisions (the one time I didn't listen to it I failed big time). But regarding this phd question I feel rather lost: My heart says "Yes"; my mind says "Careful - are you really really sure? This is not like 'pizza or pasta for dinner'" and my gut feeling keeps out of the discussion and has apparently gone on holiday.

What I'd like to know: How did you decide to do a phd?? Was it a rather natural move because of the field you're in or because you always wanted to be in academia? Or did you have to weigh options like me??

Greetings to the Great PhD Kingdom from the humble Republic of Industrial Employees,

Lady Ally.t (sorry, without appointment by The Queen)

Hi satchi,

thanks for your message. It's good to hear supportive opinions - it really motivates me and gives me a more secure feeling about the whole phd thing. Which factors lead you to doing a phd? Was it hard to decide?

I guess there are big differences between doing a phd in sciences and in business, since for a career in the latter field, a phd is not essential (at least not outside academia). Whenever I tell people I'm thinking of doing a phd in marketing, they look at me strangely and ask "What for??" On the other hand, I hope my professional marketing experience would add to the quality of future academic work...

Any other views on my pro&con list at the top of this thread? I'd value any opinions - even if you tell me to stay where I am...

Haven't been on this forum for quite a while, but thanks Goods for your answer. Yes I have considered a p/t phd, but know I'd probably never finish it (let alone start properly) while working f/t at the same time. Whatever I do (job and/or phd), I want to do it wholeheartedly.

Though 2 months have passed since I posted this, I'm still thinking about a phd - and I think if I don't at least try to apply, I'll always regret it.

A lot of you already doing a phd will probably laugh about my "naive" pro&con list, but for me this is really serious - so any more views on this would be very much appreciated!! I really need advice from people who already know what's it like!

- I feel trapped by the very regular schedule of everyday life (working from 8am-6/7pm etc) - though free weekends are luxury when doing a PhD)
- I'd like to live in the UK again for some time (not a very "qualified" reason)

At the same time, I am thinking
- whether a PhD could also damage my career (what if I realise that academia is not for me? in marketing, experience counts more than a title)
- how I'd feel having to live with only little money (not that I'm earning a lot now...)
- whether I'd be too old when I finish - I'd be 30 by then...
- whether I'm really capable of doing a PhD (my former supervisor says I'd do well, but I'm not sure about that)
- how the prospects for an academinc career in Germany look like with a PhD
- whether this is really serious or whether it's only a mental "escape thought" because I'm not completely satisfied with my current life....

This may sound quite ridiculous, but is very serious for me. Can anybody help please???

I completed my MA in Marketing (Distinction) in 2005 and am currently working in the legal marketing sector. However, the thought of doing a PhD is buzzing around in my head. The earliest starting date would be 2008 (obviously, I'll need some preparation while still working). But I can't quite get my head round if a PhD is really for me - so I was hoping to get some help from you guys...

What are the right reasons to do a PhD?

I'm thinking about it because:
- despite of all the hard work during the Master I quite liked writing courseworks + the challenge of struggling with thoughts etc (well, most of the time :-))
- I could imagine working in academia, but don't know if I want to do it for the rest of my life
- I'd like to do something not many people apart from me do
- I like the thought of seeing my name in a publication...
- Am very interested in arts marketing, but didn't get a job in that sector (but am in touch with someone from a big name in this business, so maybe a PhD-cooperation with them would open doors)