Founder of Design Buddies | Designer & Illustrator | Content Creator & Speaker | World Traveler | IG: @irungracepace
4 year glow up and a million dollars USD made later, here’s a reflection: 2020: Insecure, sad, restarted my career path so many times, felt like a noob at everything. In my early 20’s I had negative body image. I was constantly injured from running. It reminded me of past successes I felt like I couldn’t replicate. I didn’t go out and socialize. I didn’t take any photos of myself because I thought I was too ugly I was not enjoying my engineering majors. I was the person in my class to finish programming labs. But felt the need to keep studying and didn’t allow myself to travel or enjoy life I thought I’d never land a job and be poor —- Then I decided to do something that makes me feel uncomfortable every day ?? For example: putting myself in rooms I don’t on paper belong in, talking to strangers, hosting events, building Design Buddies which blew up, hosting a conference, traveling to 40 countries, posting on social media, quitting my corporate job, testing out many business ideas, making mistakes in public and owning it, getting canceled and almost quitting Design Buddies because I felt like a failure but I didn’t quit. Most importantly, I removed myself from “friend” groups that bonded by talking negatively about others. —- 2024: Vibing, thriving, left a nice paying corporate job to be time and locationally free. A few months later, I’m making even more money. Made a million dollars USD in my mid 20’s I’m traveling and living anywhere I want to. I get to events with Design Buddies around the world I’m running happily again! Slower than I was in high school for now but working towards racing again with no expectations. I don’t let anything hold me back. I’m taking more photos and videos and creating even more content. No more negative body image to stop me because I decided that. I’m not afraid to fail in public. I know that my true community will support me. I’m okay with being disliked. —- I’m grateful for you all and our Design Buddies community! I started posting on LinkedIn in 2020. I’ve gotten to meet many people that changed my life here. This is only the beginning, stay tuned ?? How have you changed since 2020? #glowup #reflection #slay #storytime
U look familiar, were u at buildspace s5 by any chance ???
"Most importantly, I removed myself from “friend” groups that bonded by talking negatively about others." Such an important piece often overlooked. Hats off to you for realizing and sharing how big of an impact that makes getting away from toxic victims who only can bond with people who join their negative thinking and bullying. More power to you!
Well done! Amazing progress! Keep at it! To the moon!
We met back in 2019 at GDC (or was it siggraph?!) I was a UX designer at Autodesk back then and was interviewing students because I was revisiting the 3ds Max personas. I remember being sooo impressed by you, you were so young but so driven and professional. I knew you were gonna do great things back then! Congrats, you are inspiring!
This is inspiring. My 2024 is like your 2020. I am determined to succeed. Very glad to see you prospering.
What an inspiring journey! Your transformation is a testament to the power of stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing growth. It's amazing to see how far you've come, both personally and professionally. Excited to see where your next adventures take you! Keep shining!
Amazing story Grace! I hope you keep inspiring others they to can change their life with one decision ???
this attitude trickles down to the whole design buddies community, where everyone is helpful and kind to each other, and glowing up and getting better. One of my fav discord servers ever
Founder of Design Buddies | Designer & Illustrator | Content Creator & Speaker | World Traveler | IG: @irungracepace
1 周How have you changed since 2020?