As a senior project leader, developer, and UX designer, my work involves a unique blend of creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving, also often only remote and with video calls. Over the years, I’ve realized there are a few key things that keep me engaged and motivated to continue in this creative work.
The Pure Joy of Solving a Challenge
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of untangling challenges and generating and testing ideas to a solution in collaboration with others. The fun of a breakthrough, or an “aha!” moment, is a powerful motivator. It’s even more rewarding to then see that idea implemented and know that your work and coaching has made a tangible difference. This is what initially excites me about a project, and it’s a feeling that never gets old.
Creative Teamwork
While I love solving problems, I’m not a lone wolf. The process of working with a team is a huge source of motivation for me. Using design thinking to solve customer or user experience problems, redesign products, services, and places through workshops and collaborative sessions is incredibly inspiring. The synergy of different minds working toward a common goal is something I wouldn’t trade for anything. And its not just for large corporations or challenges, it works for any organization or small challenge or change.
Seeing Others Learn and Grow
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is the opportunity to coach others. As a senior professional, I get to guide people, on how to use design thinking to create better customer and guest experiences. Seeing someone’s skills improve and watching a business become more empowered because of that new knowledge is genuinely fulfilling.
A Human-Centered Approach
My work is all about making things better for people. It’s incredibly motivating to know that my job is to create the best possible experience for a customer or a guest. Seeing a user or customer happy or enjoying the result and knowing my work contributed to that is truly rewarding.
Unleashing Creative Potential
I’ve had the chance to collaborate with a variety of businesses—from B&Bs and tour guides to museums and conference organizers. What I’ve found is that these businesses are filled with creative people who often lack the time or a starting point to develop their ideas. My role is to help them gain empowering skills and turn challenges into ideas and then into a reality. There’s always something to do to enhance the experience, and helping these passionate people unleash their creativity is what keeps me going.
These five motivators are the core of what I do. They remind me that my work isn’t just about project work or design; it’s about collaboration, growth, and making a positive impact on the world, one experience at a time.
Read more about design thinking here.
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