My brother told me I was overthinking my career change - he was right

I spent 6 months reading self help books and making spreadsheets about switching from concrete work to graphic design. My brother Mike sat me down and said 'you're just scared to make mistakes like the rest of us.' So I signed up for a $200 community college class in Austin last fall and just started. Two semesters later I've got a real portfolio and a part time gig. Has anyone else found that just jumping in worked better than planning forever?

2 comments

2 Comments

sarah_johnson4620d ago

Yeah but that $200 class probably did more for you than all those books combined. The thing people miss is that planning is often just avoiding the actual work. You can read about color theory and typography for months but until you actually mess up a layout or two you don't learn anything real. That's the part nobody talks about - making the mistakes is how you get better, not reading about how to avoid them. Good on you for just doing it.

terry_hayes1819d ago

And @sarah_johnson46 nailed it - that $200 class probably taught me more in two weeks than all those books did in months. The spreadsheets gave me a false sense of control, but messing up a logo the first time actually taught me what works. Planning is just a fancy way to stay safe until you're brave enough to stumble.