- What are you doing?
- I design.
- So, you’re a designer?
- No, not yet. I just design.
- But where are you working?
- Right now, I don’t have a job.
- So, why aren’t you looking for one?
- That’s why I’m designing—to turn this passion into a full-time profession.
- But do you have a degree in design?
- No, I have a degree in economics.
- Aha! So, why aren’t you looking for a job as an accountant?
- Because I don’t like it.
- You don’t have to like your job. It’s a job. Accounting has money.
…
Conversations like these are on repeat, aren’t they? People expect you to fit neatly into a box—”What are you doing?”—hoping for a title, a label. But when you’re in the midst of reinventing your life, answers aren’t always that simple. And that’s more than okay. It’s not about having a polished job title. It’s about exploring, about listening to that inner voice asking, “What do you want to become?”
When I left my marketing job, I wasn’t walking away from a lack of opportunity. I had stability, and I was surrounded by talented, supportive people. But the role itself didn’t ignite my creativity. It didn’t feel like me. So I made the hard decision: I stepped away. I took time to figure things out, even though I didn’t have a concrete plan. And yes, it was terrifying. The uncertainty, the questions from others—“What will this gap on your CV say about you?”—they were constant.
Inspiration doesn’t come from playing it safe. Stories like Cassie Kozyrkov’s resonated with me—she left her high-profile role at Google to seek something more fulfilling. Taking a year off was my version of that leap of faith. I spent months learning new skills, battling doubt and challenging the idea that career success follows a straight line. With no safety net or endless resources. But after all the uncertainty, I’m now proud to say: I’m a graphic designer.
Long story short: I did it. My CV now says ‘Graphic Designer‘.
But was that the most important part?
The real value came from finding people who genuinely value unconventional paths—like the team at Starttech Ventures. They collaborate with ‘atypical entrepreneurs’—those who bring unique perspectives, valuing the person, their personality and soft skills, just as much as their resume. Starttech understands that building something meaningful takes more than just credentials; it’s about backing people who are adaptable, authentic, and ready to make an impact. Joining this team felt like finding my place—a real check on my list that goes beyond any job title.
More than the degree you hold or the career you left behind, it’s about your commitment to yourself, to becoming who you truly want to be. It’s about letting go of what you think you know to relearn what you need to know. So, to anyone standing on the edge of change, whether it’s a career, a relationship, a side hustle, or your life’s direction: Don’t be afraid to pause, to pivot, to take the leap. The clarity you’re searching for comes through action, not hesitation. As futurist Alvin Toffler wrote: ‘The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.’
