A little over five years ago I was working a mediocre café job while doing sparse freelance design gigs here and there. I was making barely above minimum wage. Walking home early in the morning from a friends’ house, getting ready for work, I realized this job was going to get me nowhere. It was taking an opportune time away from me.
Previously, I had interviewed for a gig to design a full-page magazine ad for a music equipment company. They liked, at that time, my limited portfolio and were happy to hire me.
While interviewing, I noticed they needed other design work, social media and even internal administrative help. I was so excited to do this gig and to convince them to hire me on full-time to work on other marketing and design needs they had.
Just as I had that thought, an owl swooped down and landed in front of me.
We both froze, staring right into each other’s eyes. Then the owl took off, and I watched it fly up in the sky and behind a few student resource buildings.
I thought to myself, “Well, that was a sign.”
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I immediately called that café and quit. I told them about the owl and how I needed to focus on other things. They laughed at me, but ultimately sympathized and wished me luck.
A week after that, I completed the ad design and successfully turned that gig into my very first full-time marketing and design job.
For over four years now my agency Promote Local has produced entire branding campaigns, brought new revenue to high traffic sites, developed beautiful and responsive websites, and so much more.
Your gut can give you some of the best advice told. I jumped off the cliff of uncertainty and dove head first into the crystal clear blue waters of professional development.
When did you decide you were all in? Or when will you?