Stop Applying Everywhere.
Start Leading on Purpose.
Dear Researcher,
If hustle were the answer, you’d be funded by now.
But we both know it isn’t.
I’ve seen brilliant researchers grind themselves down chasing every grant call that crossed their inbox. Weeks spent tailoring the same proposal to 10 different funders. Months lost to rejections with vague feedback.
And the result?
Burnout. Frustration. A CV filled with “almosts.”
I lived this cycle myself when I came back to Cameroon after my PhD. No Western degree. No network. No safety net. Just a vision and the constant sting of rejection letters.
What changed everything wasn’t writing faster or applying everywhere. It was leading on purpose.
3 Lessons From Breaking Free of the Shotgun Strategy
1. One idea can change everything.
When I stopped scattering proposals and doubled down on one clear, fundable problem, reviewers finally said yes. Not because the science was suddenly better, but because the story was sharper and easier to believe in.
2. Funders back clarity, not chaos.
The more focused I became, the more funders could see where I was going and wanted to be part of that journey. Randomness signals uncertainty. Clarity signals leadership.
3. Recognition follows funding not the other way around.
I thought I needed visibility first. I was wrong. Each small grant became proof of trust, building credibility brick by brick until doors opened to bigger awards, collaborations, and leadership roles.
Why This Matters for You
If you’re an overlooked postdoc stepping into independence or a mid-career researcher stuck after one small win, you don’t need more hustle.
You need to pause, focus, and realign.
That’s how you move from rejections to recognition, from invisible to influential.
An Invitation
That’s exactly why I created Researchers Who Lead.
It’s a two-day live, practical workshop where I’ll guide you through the same mindset and strategies that helped me (and now dozens of researchers I mentor) break the cycle of scattergun applications.
Here’s what we’ll do together:
Craft one €20K fundable idea reviewers can believe in and turn it into a compelling story.
Build your fundable proposal so you
Map a 12-month €100K pipeline that matches your life and lifts your visibility—because funding builds recognition, not the other way around.
📅 Dates: Sept 3–4 (live, hands-on)
🕐 Time: 12:30–14:00 CET / 11:30–13:00 WAT
🔗 Join here: researcherswholead.d2africa.com/researcherswholead
If you’ve been carrying the weight of “almost” and endless rejections, maybe it’s time to stop applying everywhere and start leading on purpose.
With grit and clarity,
Luria