The previous chapter described some of the stereotypical scientist behaviors that are not very helpful in an industry environment. Of course, many scientists have built very successful careers in the private sector, but they are successful primarily because they have learned quickly and adapted to the private-sector environment. Most of us do not learn much if anything about the private sector as graduate students, and so few of us enter the private sector with these habits.

Some of us have been lucky enough to have patient managers to mentor us and help us develop new habits. I was one of these fortunate PhDs, but many are not so lucky. Not all managers are good mentors. In addition, many technical companies have managers with business or marketing backgrounds, so they may not understand how to transition a PhD scientist into a product development environment.

This chapter will help you learn how to be more productive and more effective in the private sector. Here are five critical habits that scientists who are successful in the private sector practice regularly.