Risky business
Have you ever felt that gravitational-pull to do something risky and new? What feelings does that stir up? Crippling fear and anxiety? Same.
Some people get pumped when they’re hit by inspiration! They’re energized to work on their cool new idea and quit their job or drop out of college to make it happen.
These folks are the innovators. The entrepreneurs. They’re the Steve Jobs or Moira Roses. Most of us aren’t that.
I wouldn’t consider myself an innovator but I’m a fairly successful designer and have taken big risks in my career.
Exhibit A: I quit my first design job after 3 years to start a freelance business with little experience or work ethic. I leveraged it to teach myself web design, which led to a successful career as a product designer and leader.
That seems strategic and intentional now but you won’t see how I spent the next 3 years struggling to keep my design business afloat. I taught myself how to design websites but it was reactionary and through pure desperation. Next, I pivoted from web design to UI/UX design in 2017. What I didn’t know was that the job market for UI/UX designers was about to heat up. That’s what I’d call “dumb luck.”
Today’s job market is very different. Thousands of designers have been laid off at some of the biggest companies in tech. There’s a glut of top-tier designers looking for work. Where does that leave designers without the resume or years of experience in this competitive landscape?
The path less traveled might not be as crowded but it might be scary.
My experience freelancing full-time was similar to a novice hiker on a less-traveled path. There weren’t many guideposts letting me know I was on the right track. I was scared that I might get lost; misjudged the hike’s difficulty or my ability to reach the summit. I might even get mauled by a bear. (It could happen!)
Looking back, I’m shocked I took the risk and quit my job. I enjoyed my job and the people I worked with. At that time I also had crippling insecurities and gave up on opportunities before even trying.
There is a push and pull inside all of us. The voice of inspiration whispers like the wind to “try something new” while the loud voice of self-doubt yells “The risks are too great!” “It’s already been done.” “It’s too much work!” “I caaaan't dooooo it!!!”
Something inside me said I’d regret not taking the chance.
I took the risk but didn’t reach the summit. My freelance business shut down in 2010 after 3 years. But the skills I taught myself were the key to finding my next job and a new focus.
That experience proved that I could survive getting a bit lost and falling on my face. It also proved that failure is a great teacher. I taught myself web design and animation because I was struggling as a freelance graphic designer. I would’ve never pivoted to digital product design if I hadn’t been so desperate to find a way to succeed.
Embrace uncertainty.
Uncertain times can be scary but they’ll also be the best to make risky choices. Want to get into AI or spacial design? These are bleeding-edge industries without a ton of subject-matter experts and with a potential for explosive growth. Have you been thinking about how to align your work with your values? More clean energy start-ups, non-profits for underserved communities, and government agencies understand the power of design. They’ll need skilled and passionate designers in the future. My advice is to quiet the loud voice of self-doubt and listen to the whisper of inspiration. So start your business. Switch careers. Focus on that new technology. Apply to a job you feel unqualified for. Take on new challenges at your job that make you uncomfortable.
These aren’t easy choices. You’ll have to work hard and get lucky to succeed. Failing will be extremely painful… but not as painful as a bear attack. So you might as well give it a shot; you’ll learn more from it than if you never tried at all.
*Insert Michael Jordan quote about missing shots here.
