7 Career Truths I wish I knew Earlier

Summary

This video offers seven pivotal lessons for a thriving creative career in 2024. The speaker, a UX design professional, shares personal experiences from hackathons to startups, emphasizing the value of skills that benefit tech businesses. They advocate for learning UX design, effective communication, and the importance of patience and hard work. The speaker also stresses the significance of soft skills, personal branding, and the power of reading from quality sources for rapid learning. A bonus tip on gratitude and recognizing one's privilege is included, encouraging viewers to make the most of their opportunities.

Takeaways

• 😀 To succeed in tech, focus on skills that save time or generate revenue, such as UX design.
• 💡 Learn to solve problems for wealthy individuals or large corporations to increase earning potential.
• 🚀 Utilize tools like ChatGPT Pro for career guidance and to explore lucrative career options.
• 📚 Prioritize learning and mastering skills that can scale within the tech industry, especially if you're under 25.
• 🌱 Practice patience for results while being swift in taking actions to learn and apply new skills.
• 💪 Work on tasks that others can't or won't do to gain a competitive edge in your field.
• 🗣️ Develop strong communication and soft skills, as they are crucial for long-term success and building relationships.
• 💼 Recognize that your appearance and success can significantly influence how others perceive and treat you.
• 🍽️ Maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, as your physical and mental well-being are essential for sustained success.
• 📘 Choose to learn from well-written sources and documentation over videos for more in-depth understanding and retention.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial educational background before switching to design and marketing?

The speaker initially studied computer science engineering before switching to learn design and marketing.

Which hackathons did the speaker compete in during their career transition?

The speaker competed in hack MIT, hack Howard, and the Microsoft Imagine Cup.

What role did the speaker take on at Swiggy and what was their subsequent career move?

The speaker joined Swiggy as a UX design intern and later joined a startup as their first UX designer.

What is the primary advice the speaker gives for choosing a skill in the tech industry?

The speaker advises picking a skill or finding a way where one's talent can help a tech business save time or make money, typically in management, design, or development.

Why did the speaker choose to learn UX design?

The speaker chose to learn UX design because it represented an intersection between creativity and technology, which is a field where designers can be well-compensated for their ability to save companies time and improve conversions.

What is the significance of solving 'rich people problems' as mentioned by Alex Horoi?

Solving 'rich people problems' means addressing issues that are important to wealthy individuals or large companies, which can lead to better financial rewards.

What does the speaker suggest using for guidance on commercializing one's talent?

The speaker suggests using a mentor or, if unaffordable, Chat GPT for guidance on commercializing one's talent.

What is the importance of communication and soft skills according to the speaker?

Communication and soft skills are emphasized as taking time to develop but offering significant returns, being crucial for building relationships and persuading others in both professional and personal contexts.

How does the speaker recommend approaching learning new skills?

The speaker recommends learning with speed, leveraging documentation rather than relying solely on courses, and having patience for results to manifest over time.

What is the 'sandwich technique' mentioned by the speaker for giving feedback?

The 'sandwich technique' involves starting with a positive comment, followed by the feedback, and ending with another positive remark to make the feedback more palatable.

Why is it important to consume positive content and maintain good savings according to the speaker?

Consuming positive content and maintaining good savings are important because they help sustain one during tough times when external support may not be available.

What are the speaker's views on the role of style and appearance in professional success?

The speaker believes that while style and appearance are not the primary aspects of one's personality, they play a significant role in making a strong impression and should be understood and managed effectively once one starts making money.

What is the speaker's advice on learning and executing knowledge?

The speaker advises learning from well-written sources, such as books and documentation, over videos, and emphasizes the importance of daily learning and documentation for compounding knowledge and growth.

What is the bonus tip the speaker shares related to mental health and gratitude?

The bonus tip is to recognize one's own luck and privileges, such as having access to the internet, education, and health, which can improve mental health and foster a sense of gratitude.