The model that helped me:
• Finish my dissertation in 12 months
• Publish 4 single-authored journal articles
• Gain 115k+ followers on Twitter in 10 months
is called the Bamboo Growth Model.
Here's how it works:
• Finish my dissertation in 12 months
• Publish 4 single-authored journal articles
• Gain 115k+ followers on Twitter in 10 months
is called the Bamboo Growth Model.
Here's how it works:
Bamboo is an incredible plant. It's a grass and grows like other grasses.
It takes bamboo takes several *years* before it's ready for harvest.
It takes bamboo takes several *years* before it's ready for harvest.
But once it's done establishing its roots, it grows exponentially in just 2-3 months.
For years, bamboo works quietly on establishing its roots underground.
There's no visible growth — for years.
But just because the growth is not visible doesn't mean there's no growth.
There's no visible growth — for years.
But just because the growth is not visible doesn't mean there's no growth.
The process of learning academic writing works much the same way as bamboo.
You will have to spend years learning to read and write — laying down your roots, as it were.
You won't be able to "see" your growth because it will be invisible.
You will have to spend years learning to read and write — laying down your roots, as it were.
You won't be able to "see" your growth because it will be invisible.
Just like bamboo grows its roots a little every day, you will have to work a little on your reading and writing every day.
While establishing its roots, bamboo does not seek any external validation.
It doesn't ask people to praise how efficiently it's working on its roots.
While establishing its roots, bamboo does not seek any external validation.
It doesn't ask people to praise how efficiently it's working on its roots.
You will have to build this mindset too.
You will have to work quietly every day and forget about external validation.
This will require you to have faith:
• in yourself and
• in the process
You will have to work quietly every day and forget about external validation.
This will require you to have faith:
• in yourself and
• in the process
Good news is you don't have to do a lot in any given day.
You only have to do a little, but regularly.
You only have to do a little, but regularly.
So, how do you put the bamboo growth model into practice?
Start by building a simple reading/writing routine.
Pick a time you feel at your productive best: early morning, afternoon, evening, late night — doesn't matter.
Choose what works for YOU.
Pick a time you feel at your productive best: early morning, afternoon, evening, late night — doesn't matter.
Choose what works for YOU.
Remove distractions.
• Put your phone in another room
• Disconnect the internet
• Communicate with your family and tell them you need this time to work
• Put your phone in another room
• Disconnect the internet
• Communicate with your family and tell them you need this time to work
Set a timer to 25min.
Take an academic text (journal article, book, etc.) and start reading it the moment the timer goes off.
Don't rush. Read slowly. Very slowly.
Take an academic text (journal article, book, etc.) and start reading it the moment the timer goes off.
Don't rush. Read slowly. Very slowly.
Take a notebook and write:
• What the author is saying
• What you are thinking
Stop reading when the timer stops.
Get up and reward yourself.
Go for a short walk, eat something you like, watch a short YouTube video of your favorite comedian, etc.
• What the author is saying
• What you are thinking
Stop reading when the timer stops.
Get up and reward yourself.
Go for a short walk, eat something you like, watch a short YouTube video of your favorite comedian, etc.
Set the timer to 25min once more.
This time round leave the text alone.
You don't have to read it anymore.
Take a notebook and start writing whatever comes to your mind as soon as the timer goes off.
Don't worry about spellings or grammar.
Stop when the timer stops.
This time round leave the text alone.
You don't have to read it anymore.
Take a notebook and start writing whatever comes to your mind as soon as the timer goes off.
Don't worry about spellings or grammar.
Stop when the timer stops.
Repeat the same process the next day.
And the next.
And the next...
Don't beat yourself up if you miss a day.
Shit happens.
But try not to miss two days in a row.
And the next.
And the next...
Don't beat yourself up if you miss a day.
Shit happens.
But try not to miss two days in a row.
Do it day after day,
week after week,
month after month.
Just like bamboo.
Once you've established your roots, you will see yourself grow exponentially.
week after week,
month after month.
Just like bamboo.
Once you've established your roots, you will see yourself grow exponentially.
Do you know most bamboo species are evergreen?
If you work a little every day on academic writing, you will acquire a skill that will be evergreen too.
If you work a little every day on academic writing, you will acquire a skill that will be evergreen too.
When I started writing on Twitter, I had only 5,000 followers during the first five months.
My account was growing but very slowly.
But because I knew the bamboo growth model, I kept writing.
And over the next five months, I gained more than 100,000 followers.
My account was growing but very slowly.
But because I knew the bamboo growth model, I kept writing.
And over the next five months, I gained more than 100,000 followers.
Found the thread helpful?
1. Scroll to the top and hit the "Like" button on the first tweet.
2. Follow me @MushtaqBilalPhD for regular threads on academic writing.
1. Scroll to the top and hit the "Like" button on the first tweet.
2. Follow me @MushtaqBilalPhD for regular threads on academic writing.
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