In some ways, achieving tenure is like building a new door to a house: (1) you study an existing door; (2) build a new door that is recognizable as such, but also "improves" on the old door; (3) invite a team of previous door-builders to certify your new door; and (4) convince the team that even though the door might squeek a little bit, it's solidly contructed so it won't collapse anytime soon, and you'll go on to build additional doors in other houses....