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Writer's pictureKatarzyna Hasnik

Is Startup for Every UX/UI Designer? Recognize yourself before making a life choice.

But first "Choice" by Alan Watts

3.30 min diving deep video to inspire YOU before you read further.

LET THE INTUITION AND CONFIDENCE GROW IN YOU by this shared story of someone's life...


Do you need all those books to know? hmmm 🧐

This would take time...even if I do recommend them truly. 🤨I read a few...not all. Long before.

But the true answer is INSIDE You! ALREADY! 😉But before that, because it is a value to read, have a look at the below post.

I came across Michael Lantry profile on Linkedin, the Director of GemPool Recruiter Talent Company and his valuable article inspired me to write below blog post before diving deep into new exciting adventure and challenge of my new chapter of life.


Please find GemPool website: https://www.gempool.ie/

To connect with Michael Lantry please go to his professional LinkedIn profile:

Now I recommend you to check first the below article. 😏WHY? You will see WHY. 😎


YOU WILL BE INSPIRED AS ME and this blog is to inspire you to make better, more openminded braver choices. Would you like first to read the expert thoughts and after below post? I feel it will bring much more insides for YOU and I am here for YOU.


Do you need to go to a class workshop, maybe but at the same time, because the time of decision in the process of recruiting is FAST, QUICK, SPEED, you have to know the answer already! Before you are approached by many recruiters, companies, hiring managers...

IT HAS TO BE INSIDE YOU.



Life gives you choices. LOTS OF CHOICES.

Because in CHOICE there is freedom and also RESPONSIBILITY, which might be forgotten quite often when there are too many choices we might be lost to stick with the one which we put our thoughts on. WHY? Because quite often those choices are made for us, without even asking us.

We think like we made choice, but actually Life took as over as we lose control of who we are, what we are up to and where we are going.

ARE YOU IN CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE?

YES?

NO?


Yes, you are in charge of your life or NO, and you can as default.


However, you make your own little and big choices. EVERYDAY!

Every second and minute ACTUALLY. Don't you see it yet?



Let's start with FUN & HARD questions to YOU before we talk anything about STARTUPS.

WHY? Because you will evaluate yourself...

The bravery of choosing Startup starts long before.

It starts in YOUR CAUSE.

In Your FOUNDATIONS OF VALUES.


The NEW BEGINNING starts with a simple choice between A or B like the User Testing A/B.


Between Tea and Coffee, and if Tea, which kind of? If Coffee, what type?

Bath or shower? Electric Toothbrush, standard or wooden...please say at least that you use one of those above...not your finger...😉


Ok brushing teeth with a finger is ok when you camp in the middle of nowhere in Iceland...on Solo Trip off the track. You are lost, but not scared. No GPS signal, no map. Because you didn't print one,...because you actually go for an adventure, not for travelling from place to place...ticking boxes...ticking a list


Your boot is locked because the locker broke during your adventure on bumpy roads and you have nothing else than yourself, car, petrol and empty road in the head of you.


You stuck with your Golf as you risked to push it forward through the gravel roads to the max even "they" told you not to. Sorry Renting Company... Ooops, I did it again and you didn't even recognise it. 😅 You have a feeling now who is behind this post.


For me. COFFEE AS BLACK AS DARK NIGHT. Please. Most of the time...as I like changes...🙃


MEANING BEHIND YOUR CHOICE IS IMPORTANT.

ALWAYS AND IN THIS CASE LITERALLY ALWAYS

FIND MEANING IN YOU CHOICES.


Speak Truth or lie or stay silent. Walk away or cheat or be miserable?

Argue with a good cause to win together or argue for fighting with no solution ahead.

Vote Yes. Vote No. Stay Away. Go for QUALITY or QUANTITY. In Fashion, in Interiors, in Food.

Carry an unwanted child or perform an abortion.

Love or Hate. Let go or feel resettlement. Fear or walk bravely in or out.

Believe in God, Gods, Goddess.

Believe in Nothing. Believe in EVERYTHING. BELIEVE IN SOMETHING.

Those choices coming from you, through you and are given to you, they around you.

What kind of man /woman/ you want?

Are you into "settle type of life"... "Average Joe" or "Plain Jain", "Average Job" or "Passion Career".

Which college, which degree, which profession? Which location, where.


I quite often do not use HOW. I ask WHY?

Myself and others.


In the amount of FREEDOM, there is also lost.

If you do not have REASON, MEANING BEHIND YOUR CHOICES YOU MIGHT BE LOST SALL YOUR LIFE.


To find the meaning in your choices, you have to know who you are first. Ask Yourself.

WHO AM I? WHAT KIND OF PERSON AM I? AM I COWARD OR BRAVE? and make a choice.


Remember you can always reverse. Although where would be dignity, commitment, stability, dedication...tea vs coffee is just a tiny choice done every day, but yes it affects your body and your brain. Especially if you drink a lot. Taking a deep breath and choosing between


Startups, Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large brings much more impact on you, your family if you have one. But what if you have a family of 3 but you are unhappy...because you lost the meaning in your "settle for safety" job...there is already answered.

Everything starts to creep slowly and fall apart... WATCH YOUR CHOICES ALL YOUR LIFE!

 

CHOICES. CHOICES. CHOICES. CHOICES. CHOICES...

 

LET'S DIVE DEEP INTO STARTUPS.


The below post was addressed as the comment to the above article.


Choosing Startup via "safety settle job" was my conscious decision, which I have already executed not only decided. I was exposed to choice. Large, Medium or Startup.

I clarify who I am and what I truly want and here is my WHY?

NOW YOUR WHY IS....?


My comment to the above article about the startup.

"Well written, thank you for sharing. I must admit I asked those type of questions before reading your valuable article. When I was asked, "What company can do for you?" I said I want a challenge and adventure. To be part of the startups, you have to have a risk implemented in your mindset, in your life story, personal and professional, the feeling of inner security higher than any documentation written on the paper, you understand the value of the importance of every step with high and lows, you are driven by adventure with super well management of stress, your own and those around you."


You know that even if it's not yours, you have to feel like it is yours - something like you are teacher/Aupair/volunteer and your care, protect, educate, dedicate and love those children even they are not yours.


When a kid falls down from slide you know that you did best to keep an eye on him, but you needed to give the ability to grow independently too and time of joy even when time to time might be scary.


Overprotective adults do not let children grow independently.

AND PASSION IS LOST.

MY PARENTS ARE NOT PERFECT! BUT GAVE ME FREEDOM, LIBERATION AND PASSION TO FOLLOW MY DREAMS, MY CRAZY GOALS, UNSTABLE DECISIONS, RISKY APPROACH.

OPEN MY WINGS, INSTEAD TIED THEM UP.

They screwed up other things but they make me ALIVE and I am so grateful for it.


I am delighted to be memorised by all parents who remember me well as "One of the Millions" who let the child become self-aware, brave and responsible for own action and even with bruises and scars, have a smile through tears.


This feeling of commitment, dedication and care is the feeling of "ownership" towards not your kids and not your business.


YOU HAVE THIS FEELING OR NOT.


YOU MIGHT LEARN IT.

ALTHOUGH IF IT IS NATURAL IS BETTER.

IT IS LIKE natural TALENT vs learned SKILLS.


YOU CAN EVALUATE YOUR OWN VALUES and become ONE OF THOSE WHO even if they do not pose on paper, they feel like it is theirs.


Your "ownership" attitude brings to the startup what they need. What your BOSS needs. Your Team.


TIPS FOR YOU WHEN YOU CHOOSE STARTUP.


Be a part of it. Feel it. Own it.


Grow together no matter what.


Don't give up when things are going hard.


Remove the "blame" and "guilt" scenario.


Understand the FREEDOM and RESPONSIBILITY of choice as ONE, United Goal.


BE UNITED AS TEAM.


Starts ups are for people who are vivid, energetic, dedicate, look for the positive aspects in every situation no matter of what, risk-takers, adventures, independent, have 2nd income, passionate, team players, leaders at the same time, a bit crazy and feeling safe even everyone else would just "play safe".


Innovation, motivation, inspiration, togetherness.

That's STARTUP.


When startups grow, is good to memorise the hard moments, big and small steps, wonderful moments and celebrate them all as the part of the growing process.


The celebration doesn't have to big but has to be noticed.


When the growth is going well, necessary is to remind everyone about the humbleness and friendliness to potential competitors.

Because you already know, that

ONCE UPON A TIME EVERY MAJOR COMPANY IT WAS JUST A STARTUP. Unfortunately, some of them became...a..h...remember not to be one of "those".


Everyone starts somewhere...and grow.


WHO CAN BE PART OF STARTUP?

POSITIVE PEOPLE ONLY.

THOSE WHO ARE SO POSITIVE THAT EVEN ANNOYING.

 

I am a feminine female who at the same time is the Warrior of Light by heart and soul.

I am so optimistic no matter what even in the most challenging situations.

This can be quite addictive for others or super annoying. Depends.


Do I care?... No, because I find the meaning in my choice.


I find that I always had the attitude and mindset of Startups been in I was in a large, medium or small company or at school, college, university or various volunteering projects from addressing the homelessness to drug addiction, orphan children, Special Olympics, etc. all around Europe.


As a freelance Graphic Designer, as a Yoga Teacher, as Art Teacher learnt it or maybe I haven't learned it, as I was always like that as Kid and that's why those choices became natural to me as part of my personal and professional life.


NOT EVERYONE IS ADVENTURES. BRAVE. COURAGEOUS. OPTIMISTIC.


NOT EVERYONE HAS START-UP BUSINESS MINDSET.

NOT EVERYONE COMES WITH IDEAS.


And that's absolutely ok too.


Because you are making SAFE CHOICES, doesn't mean that you are unworthy.


Although if you are similar in some percentage or in most to "this above described young woman". I WOULD SAY! GO FOR IT!


LIFE IS JUST A GAME. YOU PLAY. YOU LOSE. YOU WIN. YOU COME BACK AND PLAY ONCE AGAIN.


By personal tendencies are obvious. HOW ABOUT YOURS?


DO YOU PLAY HARD OR YOU PLAY SAFE?


Because if you at least a little similar to me, DO NOT SETTLE FOR SAFETY.


BUT PROOF YOURSELF BEFORE MAKING FINAL CHOICE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO HANDLE RISKY SCENARIOS AND UNCERTAINTY.

Respect also your spouse and consult with him/her.

Although if they cut your wings they are not for you...😉

Love is to support not to deny your dreams.


AS FORMER YOGA & MEDITATION TEACHER, I FEEL, KNOW, TRUST, BELIEVE THAT CERTAINTY IS IN YOU.

And even if you "fail", something better pops out.

Why fail is "..."? Because Failing isn't really happing. It is a new chapter, lessons taken and here you go! You go for the next adventure, next challenge.


LIKE CASINO. THOSE WHO PLAY HAVE ANY CHANCE TO WIN. Others they just watch. Some players play and they lose. Gambling is addictive and risk-taking is addictive too. It is adrenaline.

Some folks jump from a parachute jump. I jump to various careers paths.


NOW IT IS UP TO YOU TO DECIDE.


NOT ONLY DECIDE AS DECISION MAKE ON NEW YEARS"S EVE RESOLUTION.

BUT TO EXECUTE IT.

TO EXPAND.

TO ENGAGE.

TO BE EAGER.

TO EDUCATE.

TO EVOKE.

TO REACH HIGHEST POTENTIAL, which I believe we all have it but quite often hide it under a mask of the given us game called a play in the safe system and we die unfulfilled that we even didn't try to reach something different, extraordinary, something unusual in professional and personal life.


AS DESIGNER YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT YOU DESIGN STUFF. NOW IT IS TIME TO DESIGN YOUR PATH.


Ready? Here we goooooo...

Enjoy the ride on the slide as this amazing kid when I was 19 yrs old AuPair in Holland ...

Stef Heijnen and his wonderful sister Nina Heijnen, and their great parents, Sigrid Hoffman and Remco Heijnen thought me something. IMPORTANT.

TO TRUST even I was a total stranger, no idea how to care of kids, especially Dutch kids, with basic English...but this knowing which they had towards me and I had towards them just after the basic plain English chat on the headline phone call and a couple of photos of my smiley face with a kid of my mum's friend grandchild who I hold for the first time, was certain.

Btw we are still in touch from time to time.


TRUST. THEY GAVE ME GIFT OF TRUST.

They felt safe to give their kids under my care. When someone like that trust you and you just finished secondary school. Your own parents support your idea, that you are not ready for college but you are ready for a bit of adventure from all 1.500 students, you know that you will be all good as EVERYTHING ALWAYS WORKS FOR YOU.


Those kids fell a few times over a year, from that slide - to as scary I must say, from the bike, when they were too heavy to ride with me, a skinny that time teenager and the wind was so strong and I lost control. Lots of tears, lots of bruises. But much more SMILES.


Startup as like those kids. The startup can fall down. But as a team, you lift it up with your Co-Founders.

You work it out- somehow.

It is not yours but somehow it is. YOU TRUST. INTERNALLY AND YOUR BOSS TRUST YOU.

And that's priceless. Just like it was priceless to be trusted by those two parents.


Because I had this dedication and care mindset, I didn't give up. Some Au-pairs gave up...

They couldn't cope with stress. They didn't value up and downs and hundreds smile and even more hugs. They were just not a commitment, caring, dedicated and loving to stay. They wanted just something EASY. Not too responsible.


Stef and Nina do not remember me themselves. They know me through family stories and plenty of funny and wonderful pictures. But I do remember them.

They told me a lesson. TO LOVE THEM, CARE OF THEM, EDUCATE THEM AS my own.


Even I did mistakes as parents they too, we had a great year.

There were more kids like that. My Niece and kids of friends and other family members. Montessori School. Summer Camps. Orphan houses. Yoga Kids. Art Kids Classes.

Sometimes you have to go experience LIFE before you make a choice to join STARTUP or open your own business but about that another time...



Kids are already young adults. Wonderful young adults.

Together with my parents and their parents and many other parents, choices, companies, up and downs they gave me a valuable lesson. To trust. To get up when hurts and smile. Think positive and ride again.

Disaster accidents happen and children pass away in parents, doctors, and teachers' hands.

It didn't happen to me. To some friends' it happens. It is a life-changing story. It is pain.


But to have kids, you have to risk this possibility. It is how parents, become parents.

They BELIEVE. They TRUST. They CARE. They DEDICATE. They LOVE.


The startup can fail. It is risky. It is LIFE. But can teach you and open you for much more than super ordinary but the empty playground of safety job.


But you have to LOVE IT. Without Loving the idea of Startup you won't do the best of yourself.


You will moan and complain. SO DO NOT GO THIS DIRECTION IF YOUR MINDEST IS NOT BRAVE, DEDICATE, ADVENTURES, RISKY AND OPEN FOR UPS and DOWNS.


Safe yourself and play it safe but remember playing in the fancy large playground it might be fun but it is a playground without kids. You just do what you ask to do.

You not having "ownership" feeling.


Not everyone can be part of Startup as not everyone can mind, teach other children.


The startup is like a kid but not yours.

One day you might finish your part but until you there play it well.

The startup will teach you the best how to have your own business if you one day decide to have it. Just like caring, teaching and minding other children is the best way to teach you how to be a better parent. You still will make mistakes. But at least you have tangible learning lessons not just parenting or business lessons. And if you love others' kids as yours you will love yours even more. AND THAT"S JUST AMAZING! and cannot be described even more.


ENJOY THE RIDE. ENJOY STARTUP.


Only if you are the right candidate for it...and you can

MAKE THIS CHOICE and SOMEONE CHOOSE YOU.


ARE YOU the right fit for Startup?

ARE YOU?


Listen to this song of the Balthazar - "Decisions" and ENJOY your OWN STORY.


or this one

"Choices" by Zimmerman


LIFE IS FOR WARRIORS AND LIFE ASKS YOU TO CHOOSE AND TOO LOOSE TO CHANGE TO TAKE CHANCES AND TO MAKE CHOICES. TO SACRIFICES.

Life is not just for easy pleasure moments.

Life brings pain too. DEAL WITH IT.

Without those BIG WARRIORS WHO ONCE GAVE UP SAFE JOBS, WE WOULD HAVE NOTHING...

Are you WARRIOR?


To join the Startup you have to be a leader and you have to be a team player. Are YOU?


If you wanna really play, you have to allow yourself to be able to catch the ball...and have balls...😎

Typical Job doesn't give you the BALL to play with it.

Give you safe sit to watch...

They give you the sensation that you have a ball or a very good sit to watch the real players.

You never really touch it, you do not even see, talk to the REAL BOSS...

You have to move step by step by ladder to grow...and maybe, in the end, you get the ball.

But most of the time not.


Are you a player or just wanna watch the match?

You have to do something great.

YOU CAME HERE TO DO SOMETHING GREAT.

To feel great!

To do Great things. Are You READY?

On a bigger scale or smaller but something great that you are passionate about it.

Passionate about product, service, people, idea, mission, purpose, challenge.

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