I have been in your shoes! Being a novice researcher was one of the most challenging experiences of my career. I had no guidance, no mentorship, no support, let alone was assigned work that was not necessarily research nor added value to me being a successful researcher. I had great ideas and deeply wanted to contribute to science but had no one to cheer me on let alone the funding to do it. Just when I began to think that my PhD was a waste, I had a serendipitous opportunity to serve as the Director of Research for a hospital that was starting a new research department from the ground up. A novice researcher now in charge of an entire research department was the ultimate trial by fire but the best learning experience I could ask for. As I learned the policies, regulatory requirements, and politics associated with conducting research; and interviewed researchers about their needs, the same themes emerged. Each had wonderful ideas and the passion to do research but did not have the time, funding nor mentorship. So, I thought if I could go back in time and design a research consulting and education platform that could have helped me and the researchers who I now serve, what would it look like? As time passed, I had the opportunity to serve as a research subject in several studies, a Research Assistant, a voting member on several Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), the Principal Investigator on funded and non-funded studies, the Director of Research for a new research program and even the Deputy Director for a research program that was ending. I even had the honor of serving as the Human Protections Administrator and research consultant for the Commanding General for all military healthcare research conducted in Europe. I've had successful studies and studies that failed. Now, I don't say all of this to brag or boast, but merely to let you know that I’ve seen clinical research from every possible angle and have learned key insights as to how to efficiently move from a research idea all the way to the published manuscript of a successfully completed study. Let me take that journey with you!