One year ago, I penned my first column for C2W International! In one of my early columns, I shared how this journey began when KNCV Director Jan-Willem Toering commented on my LinkedIn post suggesting I should consider a career as a columnist. Today, here I am, writing every other week for C2W International, reaching hundreds of readers, and (hopefully) empowering and inspiring early-career researchers. 

I’ve always wanted to write for a public audience – not just scientific articles, but stories that merge my passion for science and education, stories that could somehow impact society. But how do you reach this goal when you don’t have any credits in this field beyond academic publications? 

I started small. In 2018, I launched a blog covering scientific topics related to health and lifestyle in an entertaining fashion. Despite the low number of readers (it often felt like writing to myself!), this platform allowed me to practice my storytelling skills and find my voice. Last year, I expanded to LinkedIn, experimenting with different content and formats while carefully observing my audience’s reactions. 

My path to becoming a regular contributor for C2W International started long before that fortuitous LinkedIn comment, and this journey perfectly mirrors what happens in PhD research: the biggest achievements result from years of invisible work. Just as it took me years of practice to develop my writing style, it takes months or even years for PhD students to see their first tangible success – whether that’s a scientific article, a conference presentation, or their thesis: 

The PhD journey typically follows a non-linear trajectory: tangible outcomes are often produced in the final two years, while the foundation is built through what seems like invisible progress early on. 

What I’ve learned from both writing and research is that breakthrough moments – whether a successful publication or landing a dream role – are built on a foundation of persistent, often unrecognized work. Here are my suggestions to maintain momentum when results aren’t immediately visible: 

• Acknowledge your progress. Track your small wins, whether it’s a successful experiment or a manuscript draft sent to your supervisor (even though you know it will return with many comments). These incremental improvements form the foundation of expertise. 

• Build your foundation quietly. Use “silent” periods to develop your skills. While few read my early blog posts, each one helped refine my storytelling. Similarly, those months spent optimizing methods, writing manuscripts or conference abstracts, or designing posters build crucial skills. 

• Create your own opportunities. Starting my blog gave me a platform to practice, learn, and explore outside of my regular job. If you’re passionate about a specific aspect of science, don’t hesitate to think outside the box and create unique opportunities. 

• Embrace the learning curve. Each draft, experiment, and attempt adds to your expertise, even when you’re disappointed by the results. Success rarely follows a straight line. 

• Look beyond social media. While social media overflow with celebration posts about new papers and grants, people rarely detail their journey. Look to documentaries or stories of artists and athletes who needed years or decades of hard work before achieving success. 

Looking back at my first column, I see how each piece I wrote contributed to my growth as a writer. And the journey continues! I keep learning and improving, thanks to feedback from my KNCV / C2W International colleagues and readers. 

For those currently in their own period of invisible progress – whether you’re troubleshooting experiments, writing your thesis, or building your professional presence – remember that impact often accumulates silently before becoming visible. Keep experimenting, keep writing, keep sharing – your breakthrough(s) might be closer than you think.