A Career is the Sum of so so so many Decisions

A career isn’t a single grand choice but rather the sum of countless small decisions we make daily. For designers, these decisions shape not just our trajectory but our growth potential and ultimate impact.

The Self-Starter’s Dilemma

Many designers find themselves comfortable in the CEO-PM-Designer workflow, but this comfort can become a cage. While this structured approach works well within established teams, it can limit our ability to self-direct and innovate. Personal projects offer a path to building self-starter muscles, but they require careful balance to avoid impacting our primary work performance.

The Learning?Question

Choosing when to learn is as crucial as choosing what to learn. Whether it’s early morning focus, lunchtime skill-building, or evening deep dives, our learning schedule must align with both our energy patterns and career goals. For neurodivergent professionals who experience varying engagement levels, creating intentional systems becomes even more critical for maintaining consistent growth.

Network Intentionality

Our professional network shapes our perspective and opportunities. However, surrounding ourselves with mere cheerleaders can be dangerous. We need mentors and colleagues who challenge our assumptions and push us to grow, not just celebrate our current achievements. Being intentional about building these relationships can mean the difference between stagnation and continuous evolution.

The Humility Advantage

Perhaps the most crucial decision is choosing humility early in our careers. The feeling of “not knowing enough” never truly disappears?—?and that’s a gift. When we embrace this perpetual state of learning, we remain open to new perspectives and opportunities. Pride in our knowledge can become the first step toward obsolescence.

The discomfort with not knowing everything isn’t a bug in professional growth, but a feature.

The Path?Forward

Making the right decisions requires balancing confidence with humility, stability with growth, and comfort with challenge. While we can’t guarantee every decision will be perfect, being intentional about our choices and remaining open to learning can help us navigate the complex landscape of a design career.

Remember

The best decision-makers aren’t those who never make mistakes, but those who remain adaptable and ready to learn from every choice they make.

Thanks for reading.

Derrick Tsorme

https://uxderrick.com/