I just tweet-stormed about my 10 years of “self-employment.” Here it all is.
It’s humbling to look back at August 22, 2008 when I walked out of my last full-time job and published I’m Going Solo. Can’t wait to see what the next 10 years bring!
Today marks 10 years since I gave up a cushy salary, bonus, benefits, free snacks, routine, weekends, PTO for the dream of being my own boss
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
I had saved up 3 months of expenses, so I was certain I was rich. I figured if client work dried up, I’d go get a job at Barnes & Noble.
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
It never occurred to me I could fail. Thank goodness for that naiveté. Without it, I may never have taken the risk. I might have waited.
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
Instead, I was in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. And I had the flexibility (and innocence) to take anything anywhere.
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
I met so many amazing people who inspired me to pursue excellence, and who gave me chances to prove myself. And I did! I made sure of it.
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
I worked my tail off for the first 2 years straight without a single day off. Meetings 9am-6pm. Events til 10pm. Work til 2am. Over & over
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
I also got ridiculously lucky. Influential people gave me airtime. I rode a wave of interest in UX that never crested. Even in a recession.
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
A lot of people didn’t like the success I was building. Oh well. I made the very most of every opportunity that fell in my lap. I knew how.
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
And then ~4 years in, after my best year of business, I admitted to myself that my passions had changed and I needed to redirect my efforts.
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
THAT felt like a risk. Now I had something to lose. Money. Reputation. Influence. Value. I had to give it all up to follow my heart, again.
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
Now let me be very clear here. I am fully aware of how much PRIVILEGE I have bestowed on me as a white, upper-middle-class, educated person.
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
My privilege is a major factor in my success. It is what empowers me to follow my heart. Less advantaged people don’t have these choices.
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
It is that awareness of my privilege that governs my decision-making daily. How can I use my privilege and my position as a force for good?
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
I’m sure I continue to act in self-interest and don’t do everything I can to benefit others. Hell, I’m human and I’m flawed. But I try.
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
I’ve always wanted to use my time on earth to make a difference. I haven’t felt that was possible within someone else’s corporate entity.
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
Being in charge of my business let me to move from UX practitioner to certified coach, from designing products to designing orgs & leaders.
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
10 years ago I spent my days talking about buttons & copy. Now I spend my days talking about consciousness & relationships. Mostly I listen.
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
My mission has never changed: to put humanity back into business. But over time I’ve gotten to decide how I make it happen, what role I play
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
Maybe that growth/shift could have happened within a company. I don’t know, but I don’t believe it could have for me. I need space, freedom
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
Sure, I terribly miss the security and stability and predictability and accountability that employment provides. I’ve suffered in many ways.
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
But the sacrifices I’ve made are nothing in contrast to what I’ve gained, what I’ve experienced, how I’ve loved this wonderful and wild ride
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
I am eternally grateful to every single person who has played a role in it, directly or indirectly, client, colleague or hater. I love you.
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
I would never be here without you. I would never have lasted TEN YEARS (holy shit!!) of this crazy rollercoaster without your love & support
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
Self-employment is a misnomer; so is independence. Running your own show is ALL about interdependence. Life is interdependence. This is us!
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
Thank you thank you thank you universe for this wonderful life and so many beautiful people to share it with. Thank YOU for reading this. 💗🙏
— Whitney Hess (@whitneyhess) August 22, 2018
Full text in case Twitter embeds don’t appear
Today marks 10 years since I gave up a cushy salary, bonus, benefits, free snacks, routine, weekends, PTO for the dream of being my own boss.
I had saved up 3 months of expenses, so I was certain I was rich. I figured if client work dried up, I’d go get a job at Barnes & Noble.
It never occurred to me I could fail. Thank goodness for that naiveté. Without it, I may never have taken the risk. I might have waited.
Instead, I was in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. And I had the flexibility (and innocence) to take anything anywhere.
I met so many amazing people who inspired me to pursue excellence, and who gave me chances to prove myself. And I did! I made sure of it.
I worked my tail off for the first 2 years straight without a single day off. Meetings 9am-6pm. Events til 10pm. Work til 2am. Over & over
I also got ridiculously lucky. Influential people gave me airtime. I rode a wave of interest in UX that never crested. Even in a recession.
A lot of people didn’t like the success I was building. Oh well. I made the very most of every opportunity that fell in my lap. I knew how.
And then ~4 years in, after my best year of business, I admitted to myself that my passions had changed and I needed to redirect my efforts.
THAT felt like a risk. Now I had something to lose. Money. Reputation. Influence. Value. I had to give it all up to follow my heart, again.
Now let me be very clear here. I am fully aware of how much PRIVILEGE I have bestowed on me as a white, upper-middle-class, educated person.
My privilege is a major factor in my success. It is what empowers me to follow my heart. Less advantaged people don’t have these choices.
It is that awareness of my privilege that governs my decision-making daily. How can I use my privilege and my position as a force for good?
I’m sure I continue to act in self-interest and don’t do everything I can to benefit others. Hell, I’m human and I’m flawed. But I try.
I’ve always wanted to use my time on earth to make a difference. I haven’t felt that was possible within someone else’s corporate entity.
Being in charge of my business let me to move from UX practitioner to certified coach, from designing products to designing orgs & leaders.
10 years ago I spent my days talking about buttons & copy. Now I spend my days talking about consciousness & relationships. Mostly I listen.
My mission has never changed: to put humanity back into business. But over time I’ve gotten to decide how I make it happen, what role I play.
Maybe that growth/shift could have happened within a company. I don’t know, but I don’t believe it could have for me. I need space, freedom.
Sure, I terribly miss the security and stability and predictability and accountability that employment provides. I’ve suffered in many ways.
But the sacrifices I’ve made are nothing in contrast to what I’ve gained, what I’ve experienced, how I’ve loved this wonderful and wild ride.
I am eternally grateful to every single person who has played a role in it, directly or indirectly, client, colleague or hater. I love you.
I would never be here without you. I would never have lasted TEN YEARS (holy shit!!) of this crazy rollercoaster without your love & support.
Self-employment is a misnomer; so is independence. Running your own show is ALL about interdependence. Life is interdependence. This is us!
Thank you thank you thank you universe for this wonderful life and so many beautiful people to share it with. Thank YOU for reading this. 💗🙏
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