One of the saddest conversations I've ever had was with a two-time assistant professor who had just been denied tenure (second chance is the last). A mutual fr

One of the saddest conversations I've ever had was with a two-time assistant professor who had just been denied tenure (second chance is the last). A mutual friend had referred him to me for advice on how to transition to industry. I gave him a pep-talk and explained how to build a portfolio to show skills that matter in the workplace. I think he turned things around, but for a little while he couldn't stop thinking about the "wasted" years. PhD, postdoc(s), 3-5 years of assistantship, repeated once, ... it's a tragedy for such a smart, capable person to succeed so much and yet feel like they failed.