From Fear to Fulfillment

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

From the earliest days of my life, I have always been a natural leader. Throughout my school years, I noticed that people respected and listened to me when I spoke. This innate ability to influence others fueled my desire to use my voice in various aspects of my life, be it at work, at home, or during my education.

However, I always felt that there was more I could do. I yearned to write on platforms like Medium, speak at conferences, and make a meaningful impact on my community by sharing the knowledge and insights I believed I had to offer.

Despite my strong desires, I found myself battling with fear. Questions plagued my mind: What would people think of my work? Would my colleagues perceive my articles as lacking quality? Would I be seen as an annoying presence on LinkedIn, sharing content that no one cared about?

The fear of judgment held me back, preventing me from taking the necessary steps to pursue my goals.

A Transformative Lunch

One day, while having lunch with two incredible women whom I admired and respected, our conversation turned to career aspirations and continuing education.

In that moment, I mustered the courage to voice my hidden desires: to write about user experience, leadership, and share my thoughts with a larger audience.

I confessed that I yearned to speak at conferences but believed that building a personal brand would be a necessary step before achieving such a milestone.

To my surprise, the two ladies I held in high regard responded with nothing but support and encouragement. They pushed me to seize the opportunity, urging me to “just do it.” Suddenly, my desires were no longer confined within me; I had shared them with the universe and two dear friends. With their support, I felt a greater sense of responsibility and determination to make it happen.

Taking the Leap

Grateful for their encouragement, I took the plunge. I started posting my writings on Medium nearly two months ago, and the response has been astounding.

Each day, I am humbled by the outreach and support I receive. Peers express their anticipation for my posts, envious of my ability to make time for writing — something they too aspire to do.

Aspiring UX professionals reach out to me, finding my topics helpful, and seasoned experts in the field regard them as therapeutic or excitingly different. Even my own team members express their appreciation for my articles.

I find great inspiration in the day-to-day events that unfold in my work environment. Each interaction, challenge, and success holds valuable lessons and insights. This space becomes a canvas for me to reflect upon those experiences, to share my unique perspective, and to engage in a continuous cycle of learning. It is within the fabric of my work life that I discover the fuel for my ideas, the catalyst for personal growth, and the foundation for building meaningful connections with others. Through this process of reflection and sharing, I not only solidify my own understanding but also create a platform for collaboration and mutual learning, where others can contribute their perspectives and collectively expand our knowledge.

Unexpected Opportunities

In a serendipitous turn of events, the universe presented me with an opportunity to speak at a conference — an opportunity I would have missed had I not shared my passion during that fateful lunch. It seems that when we release our desires into the universe, it responds in mysterious and often rewarding ways.

Recently, I had the honor of speaking at the Digital Food Conference. Participating in a panel discussion on customer journey and leading a workshop on building journey maps was an incredibly fulfilling experience. Surprisingly, the nervousness I had anticipated never materialized. It felt natural and effortless, as if speaking and sharing knowledge were what I was born to do.