I made a decision
jasonleow • 6 Oct 2024 •
It all started in early July. Maybe I’ve been brewing it even before that. But July was when I wrote it down, that I already made a decision about leaving the design industry.
On one hand, an old but good life.
On the other hand, a new but promising adventure.Which would you choose?
In asking, I see I already know the answer.
Around one month later in early August, I revisited the question again, this time opting for a more rational approach of removing a painful gig and to keep going until my passion products earn more. For now…
Now it’s two months since that last post, and I think I’m finally settled on a decision.
I’m leaving. For good. In 2025.
I’ll finish up my current commitments, but will not take up more moving forward. My last design thinking training gigs will finish up in November.
Why?
I’ve been getting signs that I should move on. Just the other day, I got offered to do more hours for my web dev freelance gig. Just like that. I didn’t even request for it. In the first place I found this gig (and the other freelance gigs) relatively easily, which is another sign. The opportunities simply seem to be pulling me there. And when I told an industry buddy about leaving yesterday, it felt gooood. Another sign.
Whereas for design, I feel like I’m pushing a boulder uphill. Less and less opportunities, and when there’s an opportunity, I’m often not paid my fair day rate. Some gigs are painful too. I think market forces is tapering it off gently for me but all the signs are there it’s kicking me out of that house…
I once heard this definition of product-market fit: Grinding uphill - no PMF. Running downhill - yes PMF.
My experience with web dev definitely sounds like running downhill.
After all, who am I to go against what the market (or Universe) wants?
Comments
I like how you are coming to accept the decision, and how you are finding clues to reinforce your initial instincts about it.
haha when freelancer try to switch over to teaching yet you switch over to do freelance!
@haideralmosawi YES! It’s such a good hack isn’t it? Like that trick to flip a coin and if you’re disappointed with the result it shows the true choice in one’s heart. 100% right about using it to gauge values.
@drodol Thanks buddy! Yeah it’s like I put it out, then ask the universe to show me or otherwise. Sometimes I wish I don’t have to take so long. I can imagine if I’m in my 20s I would have done it months or years ago. But the burden of responsibility means I got to thread more carefully now.
@knight Haha right? I always like that, go opposite. Tbh I hate training. It’s just not in me to stand on a stage and talk. I’d rather be doing.
“And when I told an industry buddy about leaving yesterday, it felt gooood. Another sign.”
I’ve come to lean into this sign for decision-making a lot more.
I was offered a good opportunity recently, but I turned it down. It felt really good turning it down. I also gauged my values this way: I would rather work on improving our educational material in the dept (course notes, quizzes, etc) and have my pay reduced, but I wouldn’t accept the new opportunity if my pay was reduced.
This made me realize what I care more about and should be spending more of my time on.