How learning User Experience/Interface Design and web development changed my perspective on failing.

People spend their lives with a mental expectation of success. When that expectation isn’t met we automatically feel as though we’ve failed. Failure is like death it is something everyone has to experience but we all wish it were avoidable. It’s uncomfortable, sometimes it makes you feel embarrassed, inadequate, or worse.

 “It sounds simple telling people to work hard and never quit, but to really execute and demonstrate those principles takes discipline and faith. Those are the two factors that I believe separate the good from the great; the successes from the failures.”

 -Nipsey Hussle

In life, especially career wise, people have in their minds that they should have some milestone accomplished by a certain timeframe. If that deadline appears to not be accomplished our disappointment eventually manifests into a feeling of failure.

I want to discuss how learning UX/UI Design and development has changed my perspective on the idea of failing.

I graduated a year ago from my UX/UI bootcamp and although I chose UX/UI specifically for the “problem solving” and creativity I faced a burn out before the middle of the third month of the program. In short, I quickly learned these weren’t the problems I was passionate about solving. 

Unfortunately, this realization was discovered after being financially committed. Luckily I had found excitement in the frontend portion of the course. After graduation, I committed myself to getting a “return on my investment”as one of my course mates put it. I adamantly searched for employment, mentorship, really any type of guidance and all roads lead to nowhere.

 "Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.

 -Steve Jobs

One day I saw a job for junior developer role, I knew I wasn’t that good but I figured I could throw it into my pile of “We regret to inform you’s…” and say I tried. Instead I ended up getting an interview.

Read how this one interview shifted my entire perspective on alignment vs. ability on LinkedIn.