How I law of attracted the world’s most amazing career that didn’t exist yet.
In this SUPER long post I give you my path toward finding (my) perfect company and career with all of the great things a CDO would have there.
On my 40th birthday I had the great insight to leave my job in order to seek out my life’s passion. The only problem was that, like most people, I didn’t know what it was.
As my husband was going through an extensive interview process for an out-of-state job, I figured if we had to move away from our friends and family then we may as well both be engrossed in our new careers. I spent the first few days of my “intentional unemployment” scouring the many jobs posted for one perticular company in the state where we might be moving. I soon found a position that totally resonated with me. It was a position within a very prolific company to be the UX Design Research Lead. I read the job description and spent a good week priming my resume and coverletter to cater my current set of abilities as closely as I could to a job description in a totally new industry that I didn’t even know.
I’ve heard that women will tend to stay away from applying to jobs where they don’t meet all of the qualifications wheras men will apply anyway with the thought that they will just learn on the job. I thought, “I can do that too,” and I had nothing to lose if I applied.
The reality was that I had no way in hell of getting the job, nor was I surprised when I was given the robo-reply stating that I was no longer being considered. The real point was that I had a path and a goal to work toward now.
I spent the next four weeks, attempting to learn front-end code so that I could begin my path by getting a #DevelopHer scholarship which would pay for a 12-week program through #GrandCircus (a Detroit MI, tech bootcamp and community).
A few weeks before classes began and before the completion of my pre-homework set for final admission (the last of three steps into the process), I was recommended to leave the program because I asked too many questions on the #slack channel (I couldn’t wrap my head around #GitHub of all things). The moderator didn’t feel that I would be self-sufficient enough to succeed with their program so that was that.
It obviously stung to hear the news but it was by no means the first time I’d been told I couldn’t do something. As Barney Stinson of “How I Met Your Mother” would say;
“Challenge Accepted!”
They were right to turn me away and I’m certainly not bitter about it. I wasn’t ready for a 12-week accelerated program after only having aquired a month’s worth of knowledge in #HTML and #CSS. I also lacked #JavaScript experience having only learned a bit through the pre-work. I mistakenly was under the impression that I didn’t already need to be a compitent coder (or a hella fast learner) to enter the bootcamp where I was to learn these things and more.
I realized that I learned quite a lot in that month, although incremental, into a whole set of skills and language that was foreign to me only weeks earlier. I also realized that I liked some of the detailed minutia that came with coding.
At this point I wanted to move forward with coding AND still wished to influence the simple beauty and navigatability for what happens infront of the “screen.” That came in all forms varying from website and mobile layouts and apps to #AR (augmented reality, mixing tech into real environments) and #VR (virtual reality, a completely tech generated environment) platform.
I wanted to understand mobiles and sites from the design aspects and layout in front as well as the code just behind it. Today the titles for these avenues have names ranging from:
- #HCI, Human-Computer Interaction researchers,
- #UIdesigners, User Interface to the look of apps for example
- #UXperience researchers, dealing with the interactions with people
- #UD or #UX, User experience design, accessiblity and usability
- #IA, information architects, builders and thinkers
How did I learn all of these terms and MANY more? I started my own UX research of UX-ing my career jump. I created a path of steps that grew as I added new knowledge bases and skills. You can see the PDF of that process and my steps here.
This, in-turn, made me seek out a free beginning online course in HTML5 and CSS3 out of a series that our library graciously pays for from Gale Courses called Ed2Go. I’ve completed the beginning and intermediate classes and now moved on to Lynda.com tutorials where I have officially invested money in furthering my education. Meanwhile, I’ve also interlibrary loaned books such as “Don’t Make Me Think,” “Learning Responsive Web Design (frequently called the Polar Bear book in various UX podcasts I listen to while running in the morning), and have other books to read soon like: “Lean UX,” “Paper Prototyping,” “Sketching User Experiences,” “Learning Web Design,” and many more related to business and leadership aspects.
The great thing is that the internet is such a wealth of knowledge. All I did was look at existing university’s UX and HCI programs and get the books their classes expected students to purchase and use. Although it doesn’t give me quite the same education or interactions with students it supplements my learning for now.
The divergence of learning front-end initially kept me from dipping my hands into practicing using #Sketch or other UI software pairings like #AEM (Adobe Experience Manager) the @InVisionapp or other wireframe programs to further my UI abilities so I began pivoting to the front of the front-end gearing up to the visuals and research where the customers interact. This is where I continue to expand my learning as I compile a new online portfolio due to launch late this year.
And so it began through an online article… in-fact, it was this article, and a company that remains to be un-cloaked (it might even be your company), which inspired me to write the following letter…
A letter to my best friend from a year-from-now (as today I’m 41 I have amended it only slightly).
DEAR, MY NEW CAREER (prospective vision to law-of-attract), below is a series of seven letter sections to my future career.
As I write this letter today, I never would have imagined saying any of the below things — in a GOOD way, of course. I was a bit nervous when I got fully immersed into this research #UX / design of #UI, and front-end coding opportunity since I was starting from a pretty small knowledge base. I didn’t directly know anyone or anything in regards to the industry aside from a few awesome people that I met (through Meetups in Detroit and Ann Arbor), a handfull of articles, industry books, and podcasts, which I collect and reference on a daily basis through my LinkedIn page and twitter account, and quite a few UX Lynda.com tutorials and YouTube videos to become familiar with terms and the execution of things.
Earlier in the day, last year, I posted this Ikigai map that I designed using Illustrator. It’s purpose was to try to solidify my love of beautiful design, with my keen eye, and my desire to help spread #accessiblity to the world.
When I used this map along with this letter as a law of attraction method to score this amazing opportunity it didn’t even exist yet!
I had used the ideas of law of attraction before to attract finding money, my first dream career, and my husband but the pure focus to imagine so many crazy exactitudes coming into fruition was above and beyond anything I had ever done.
- DEAR, OUR TEAM GROWTH:
Now I have more of a career than I ever thought possible. The growth is real and I am actively a part of a true team environment. The crazy part is that even with the dizzying growth here, the culture and diversity in hiring that we’ve managed to attract has just been ludicrously unheard-of but still unbelievably seamless and cohesive. It’s amazing how a little more organization and foresight brought up during the company’s inception has led to the avoidance of the usual growth issues and personality conflicts that other companies I’ve worked with have dealt with in the past.
2. DEAR, OUR RELATIONSHIPS:
I thought doing all of this stuff and getting a job in this industry would negatively impact my relationship with my husband, Brandon, or even my coworkers (you know how I can get hyper focused when I’m in the “state of flow” making me seems stand-off-ish).
I initially worried that the work would hinder my ability to sleep but it has actually been a Godsend! I sleep very well every night because I am so fulfilled and busy during the day. And because I’m so fulfilled and challenged on a daily basis, all in positive ways, I have more to share when I see Brandon at the end of each day even as I approach my one-year mark with the company. It has totally brought our relationship closer together because now we have things to share with one another and he continues to share his words of wisdom and creative ideas, which are much appreciated for me and for our team. We are both pumped and feel included and listened to during our nightly conversations.
The work relationships are great too. There aren’t any sagas because everyone is very committed to their home lives and significant-others already. There is no inter-office dating of any kind, not even snuck in on the side. It keeps family and dating drama virtually non-existent. We are so much of a family that we even hang out after work sometimes and it’s fine and encouraged to bring our families out. Even crazier, when we all hang out we rarely talk about or worry about work because it is so clearly disseminated from our lives with our work/life balance. We go out because we want to, not because of some “forced fun” or dry “team building” exercise.
3. DEAR, OUR RESPONSIBILITY:
Initially when I heard about all of the stuff I would be doing and be responsible for I thought for sure that I would be too busy and stressed and that my mind would always be whirling and buzzing, as it usually does with things, but since I started at this place it’s been nothing but a positive blur.
I surprise myself everyday with the support of a really amazing boss who believes that anything is possible for me. We also have a mentor program that’s really successful at transitioning people into new roles no matter what age they are (mentally or realistically, hee hee).
I’ve learned a lot of new skills and programs and enjoyed doing every bit of it. I mean, it’s not without its challenges but they have been such small incremental challenges that have built on top of themselves that I hardly notice any struggle, which really is the perfect way for me to learn.
The best part is that although I have a boss we really are just colleagues. Equality and empathy is the corner-stone here. My mentor is primping me to someday be the CDO of this place which, as you know, has been a more recent pipe dream of mine.
The mentorship is refreshing because you know how many times I’ve been told I won’t/can’t do something to the point where I’ve just had to prove people wrong.
Part of this is obviously my stubbornness, this you know, but it’s so great to have someone who gives me guidance and resources plus their commitment to believe in me and continually see my successes increase and multiply. It’s so much better than pandering to blind faith beliefs from old bosses whom lacked actionable steps or the desire to give helpful growth mentorship.
4. DEAR, OUR BENEFITS:
Initially I was worried that I was being overvalued or that I didn’t have the savvy to do the design work or find the right necessary research pieces or code needs but I guess I didn’t give myself enough credit during my last career move for just how well I learned on my own depending on YouTube and a built understanding of Google-ing stuff. It wasn’t exactly imposter syndrome, I think it was more like my sense of self-esteem took a downward spiral at my last job.
I was also nervous because this new position wanted to pay me much, much, more than I have ever made in my life! The funny thing is, what “they” say about passion is that money will follow. Boy did it! Not only do I have a hard time believing my paychecks but I still have a flexible schedule for when I need to go to appointments and I got a phat amount of vacation time — paid of course. Not only that but I finally feel that I have value and worth not only in my pay and benefits but also with our contributions to society.
The health benefits and the facilities here are also amazing and beautiful. It’s a fun place to be where I can listen to my music or talk to people in the office, even just casually. I don’t feel like I’m being watched or judged because you have autonomy and the support of the mob that we work with.
It all comes back to the #Agile manifesto where “We are uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it.”
This place also caters to my gluten free, diary free restrictions and everyone here feels fully included (#underrepresented #diversity #inclusion #accessibility for all). Frankly the company is just that great about considering themselves accessible to everyone and strives to keep open dialogue.
They really believe and live their open mission, vision, and values and it shows in all that they do for all people.
5. DEAR, OUR SURROUNDINGS:
You wouldn’t think you could have both the paycheck and the surroundings but I suppose that’s how they attract the amazingly eclectic talent. It’s like being on a vacation inside these buildings. There are so many different spots to hang out and focus, or play and learn. It’s like being in preschool; discovering all over again (except this time I have friends who appreciate my honesty, genuine nature and the true me). Lots of windows and outdoor patios with natural light with beautiful views help keep everyone content too. It doesn’t feel like an office although we surprisingly get a lot of work done. We also are encouraged to bring in community speakers on various topics to expand our knowledge bases and have half-day workshops or listen/lecture sessions that allow us continual growth and expansion that we can talk to one another about and refrence.
6. DEAR, OUR CULTURE:
It’s such a positive environment that I don’t even feel stressed and, although days are packed, I’m able to be fully immersed and energetic at work and at home. I haven’t gotten sick because the energy in the office is so positive. The best part is that this isn’t just me stuck in the honeymoon stage of this career. This is a reality even for the people that have been here longer. No one stays that doesn’t want to be here so I think that helps a lot. It avoids unhappy people on the team or others that just don’t mesh well in the environment because they weren’t being true to the group from the start. It helps that we are an honest bunch of “do-gooders.” The other people that I work with are also totally amazing and talented. We all get along so well that I never knew this kind of happiness was possible.
I’ve also helped a lot of people through what we do, which has been rewarding to my soul. Everything here is really a group effort but there is never any downtime because we have multiple people whose roles are flexible!
We are even encouraged to #volunteer in our areas of interest, which also helps us grow our knowledge base and understanding of the outside community.
When we say we work as a team we really mean it! It’s not like you go and do a bunch of tasks alone and then check in with someone or do something that gets added to some larger project that you never see again, it’s cohesive and insanely creative! We also have our parts to do but they are intertwined like a web. I’m finally a linchpin and not a cog, which makes me truly feel valued as a person and know that I’m essential, as is everyone, to our continued team success.
We also enocourage open communication so that when someone does need to step away the overlap in positions is enough that the knowledge can still flow and projects can still move forward successfully.
7. DEAR, OUR LIFE OUTSIDE THE OFFICE:
I actually have enough energy to get up and work out in the morning before work and unwind with a shower before heading out because the commute is so short and flexible. The best part is that, at the end of the day I can fully leave my work and learning goals at the workplace. This makes for a busy day while I’m there but it’s great to have the breather when I come home and know that the two are completely separate entities and that the company values the need for flexibility and home life balance. I never have to work evenings or weekends, unless, occasionally I want to because I’m just that pumped about something we are working on together. It happens sometimes but my husband, Brandon, fully supports it. He knows it makes me happy.
CONCLUSION:
I’m seeing my vision board from last year come to life now and I totally see the “most powerful women” and “businessperson of the year” sayings coming alive from that board in my “Life Purpose & Career Path” section. Looking back at how frustrated I was only a year ago and how low my self-esteem felt back then doesn’t even seem real.
The best part about all of this is that there are always new things to learn and the projects are so diverse that there is no such thing as a honeymoon stage. I knew it was all possible, although not without its challenges to get there.
My old website can be seen at http://www.kcandy.com and my new one is rough and in-process at http://www.UXkris.com
I can make your hands clap… can’t I? Desiminate and share this to anyone who believes the future can be this bright or needs to get there.
