This book presents 52 essays by individuals in higher education on their own personal career paths and experiences. Part 1 contains essays focusing on suggestions for optimizing career success including one woman's journey to becoming a scholar, personal and cultural factors and cross-cultural influences, the transition to academic life from another profession, and observations regarding creating a career. Part 2 discusses becoming a teacher at a research university with essays on: the motivation to teach; research/teaching boundaries; teaching as an act of scholarship; programmatic research; the publishing process; the development of doctoral students; mentoring relationships; tenure; and the integration of work and personal life. Part 3 focuses on traditional career paths with sub-sections on: professional relationships and collaboration; a reviewer's experiences; the role of a journal editor; reflections on the role of department chairman; a professor's role; and stress management. Part 4 is on nontraditional career paths such as: working as a consultant; developing innovative teaching materials; and working inside the university and with policy makers. Part 5 focuses on the importance of renewal with accounts of sabbatical experiences. Part 6 looks at rhythms of the field with essays on future trends such as the role of business schools in higher education and coping with change in the school environment. Many of the essays contain references. (CK)