Amy Thib ❄️deau (... is still here)

But every successful leap I've experienced in my career was due to *not* focusing, biting off more than I could chew, and stretching towards things I wasn't sure I was qualified for. I've always been honest when I don't have specific experience, but I always give it a shot.pic.twitter.com/DM7pPIsEqA

One of my first breaks was working in an arts agency and they asked me to take on writing & producing their annual report (I was a grants coordinator). I'd never done anything like that before, but did it anyway and learned a ton about writing, layout, and print.pic.twitter.com/9ujznOwjMX

Then I worked for a museum where I taught myself how to design billboards and exhibition posters using InDesign, I learned how to license Warhol paintings, and I appeared on the local cable station to promote programs and exhibitions.pic.twitter.com/iKzSDcOnJi

Lots of things in-between, and then I found myself at Facebook working on products for millions of people because a recruiter found my blog and invited me to Palo Alto to give a presentation in front of about a dozen crazy smart people. (@joulee and @katearonowitz were there !)pic.twitter.com/MQ0bKqi3xi

I was terrified and did it anyway. More than eight years later and I'm at Shopify. In my first month I started championing the project that launched our design system Polaris (had never done that before!) then moved into a role leading UX for our Platform team (another first).pic.twitter.com/VGZ7GL0Xn0

Now in addition to leading designers, researchers, content strategists, and UX developers on our Platform team, in January, I started building Shopify's first UX ops team (#designops to many of you). It's fun, challenging, and I'm learning a lot.pic.twitter.com/LyXB5aN92k

Most of these things wouldn't have happened if I'd said, "No thanks. I need to focus on one thing" or "No thanks. I'm not ready for this kind of opportunity." All this boils down into some advice:pic.twitter.com/1gxWknrfCL

1) Don't worry too much about focus. Try lots of things and see what fits. 2) Start small. You don't need to quit one job to explore a new area. 3) Even if you're not sure you're qualified, say yes anyway and learn everything you can.pic.twitter.com/VEzl61QT3G

4) Swim outside your lane. Your career doesn't have to fit into a box defined by the path other people have followed.pic.twitter.com/njxvqYsDV0

This isn't an argument for burn out, hustle, or whatever the kids are calling it these days. It's an argument for making space for weird turns, serendipity, and thinking expansively about what your career might be.pic.twitter.com/YlOvF7nq8h