Crossroads of the academy: advice from a sometimes mistaken, but victorious trajectory

An academic trajectory is marked by victories and defeats, hits and misses. Each trajectory is personal and unique. It’s common to find oneself at a crossroads, with no clear choice or segue to the next step. At such times, we rely on advice from mentors and peers. From this viewpoint, I discuss seven directives I believe to be important for everyone involved in academic life, especially those in biomedicine and young professors or researchers in geriatrics and gerontology: (1) be empathetic, (2) be available, (3) be studious, (4) be different, (5) be communicative, internationally, (6) always be a mentor and a mentee, and (7) be a leader (not a boss) as soon as possible. These directives have helped me over the past 20 years, and if someone had given them to me at the beginning of my career, I would have been much more successful and have enjoyed a much smoother, happier ride down this road, avoiding many wrong turns.