Lessons Learned in Science

1. Choose an objective apparently ahead of its time.
2. Work on problems only when you feel tangible success may come in several years.
3. Never be the brightest person in a room. Nothing can replace the company of others who have the background to catch errors in your reasoning or provide facts that may either prove or disprove your argument of the moment. And the sharper those around you, the sharper you will become.
4. Stay in close contact with your intellectual competition. The presence of worthy competitors is an assurance that the prize ahead is worth winning. The smaller the field, the better you can size it up, and the better the chance you will run an intelligent race.
5. Work with a teammate who is your intellectual equal. Two scientists acting together usually accomplish more than two loners each going their own way. The best scientific pairings are marriages of convenience in that they bring together the complementary talents of those involved.
6. Always have someone to save you. In trying to be ahead of your time, you are bound to annoy some people inclined to see you as too big for your britches. So it always pays to know someone of consequence—other than your parents—who is on your side.

Source: Avoid Boring People.