One of the personal development people I really like is Jim Rohn. Rohn once said,

“Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person you become.”

So who are you becoming? For 2016, I have been asking myself this question and one of the quickest ways I’ve found to know who I am becoming is to find a hero or role model.

Finding someone who inspires you, that makes you FEEL excited about the field of UX, is key. Their ideas and beliefs will add to your own. You will then expand and grow faster than others. Over time, their ideas will integrate with your own thinking and uniqueness.

We sadly live in a world where its hard to find good role models, people to aspire to, so we often silo ourselves. We continue “the daily grind” and zone out. Don’t do that. Develop a personality. Get emotional about your life, feel excited about UX and who you are becoming. Only then can your “work” transform into “emotional labor” and an expression of yourself.

Who are you heroes? Which people do you watch on youtube? What books do you read? Do you have a picture of this person on your wall?

If I ask you “who are you becoming?” and you answer with “a UX Designer” I think thats a limited view. You need a richer answer. There are many UX designers – how are you different? What is your flavor? What is your own brand, your own value proposition? The answer to this question comes from borrowing ideas from other great people along with your own introspection and exploration.

Isaac Newton once said “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” Who’s shoulders are you standing on?

Food for thought for 2016.

cheers,
Monish