4 years ago, I was banned from my home country's fintech employee list for promoting my Y2K work ethic. My Name is Alex, and I help build & monetize your Design and Career skills. Here is the story for you to understand Y III K and me better.
It all starts with me stuck in a low-paying job, feeling like I was hitting a wall. I didn't have the fancy degree or the connections that everyone said you needed to make it in the design world.
So, I thought to myself:
If I can't speed up learning design to bump my salary, why not aim for a job that pays twice as much, right now?
Sounds a bit nuts, but that was the game plan. I dove headfirst into every piece of feedback from countless failed interviews, realizing I didn't fit the designer stereotype, which was kind of awkward but also eye-opening.
Then, boom, I landed a job that actually doubled my salary. I could hardly believe it myself. Everyone around me was stunned—not just at the paycheck but at how I managed to balance speed and quality like some kind of magician.
Next thing I know, I'm juggling two projects, leading a B2B project while consulting on a B2C gig for another dept. Six months in, and I'm building a design department from the ground up, going toe-to-toe with execs to stand up for potential hires.
<aside> 🦾 My point was simple:
if someone's eager to learn and has the right attitude, they're worth fighting for.
</aside>
After wrapping up the B2B project, I noticed the B2C team struggling without a clear leader. So, I did a bit of detective work, figured out what was missing, and proposed a whole new team structure. But when I suggested this, the higher-ups were like:
You're too good, too fast. We can’t promote you in this year. How about leading your team without extra pay?
I decided to bail a few weeks later. My salary had not only doubled but quadrupled within a year of leaving my first place. And the craziest part? My team left too. Without the guidance and growth they needed, they followed my lead and moved on to better opportunities.