Man, August 2020. That was a weird time for everyone, right? The world was still figuring things out, and honestly, I was right there with it, scratching my head trying to make sense of my own stuff. My career at that point felt a bit… well, it felt like I was stuck in a slow-moving queue at the supermarket. You know, you’re moving, but not really getting anywhere fast, just inching along. I was doing my thing, clocking in, clocking out, but deep down, a little voice was bugging me, whispering about wanting more, needing a fresh start.
I remember feeling this strong urge to just shake things up. Like, really shake them. My job was stable, sure, but “stable” had started to feel a lot like “stagnant.” I’d been watching others, folks I knew, making moves, jumping into new roles, and honestly, a tiny bit of envy was brewing. I kept thinking, “Why not me? What am I waiting for?”
Then, out of nowhere, this email landed in my inbox. It wasn’t some mass-distributed thing; it was from an old acquaintance, someone I hadn’t properly talked to in years. He was launching something new, a startup in an area I’d always been curious about but never really dived into. The email was pretty casual, just a “Hey, been following your work, saw you’re still at [old company]. Thought you might be interested in what we’re building. We’re looking for someone to head up [a specific new department/role].”
My jaw pretty much dropped. Head up something? Me? I read it like five times. It felt like a massive left turn from my current path, but the thought of it… it just ignited something. It felt like that “big opportunity” everyone talks about, just dropping right into my lap when I least expected it, or maybe, when I needed it most.
But then the doubts started piling up. My current job was safe. It paid the bills. This new thing? It was a startup. Risky. Unknown. What if it flopped? What if I wasn’t good enough to “head up” anything? My mind started racing, playing out all the worst-case scenarios. I talked it over with my partner, my close friends. Everyone had an opinion. Some said, “Go for it! What do you have to lose?” Others were more cautious, “Are you sure you want to give up stability for a gamble?”
For a few days, I was seriously torn. I went back and forth, making pros and cons lists that just got longer and longer. But every time I thought about saying no, that little voice popped back up, louder this time, telling me I’d regret it. I started feeling this pull towards the unknown, this excitement that was way stronger than the fear. So, I decided to go for it. I figured, what’s the worst that could happen? I try, and if it fails, I learn something, right?
The first step was replying to that email. I crafted a careful response, expressing my interest but also asking a ton of questions. We set up a video call, then another, then a few more with other folks on their small team. I spent hours researching their industry, reading up on everything I could find. I dug into their competitors, tried to understand the market, even though I was a total newbie in that specific niche. I really wanted to show them I was serious, that I wasn’t just looking for a change, but for a challenge.
The whole process felt intense. I had to put together a little presentation of my ideas for the role, sort of a vision for what I’d do if I got it. It was nerve-wracking. I remember staying up late, tweaking slides, rehearsing what I’d say, trying to anticipate every single question they might throw at me. It felt like going back to school, but with much higher stakes.
Finally, they offered me the position. It was exhilarating, but also terrifying. I remember sitting there, staring at the offer letter, my stomach doing flips. Giving notice at my old job was hard. It was comfortable, familiar. My colleagues were surprised, some even tried to talk me out of it. But I’d made up my mind.
Starting at the startup was a whirlwind. It was chaotic, exciting, and absolutely nothing like my old corporate gig. We were literally building things from the ground up. I was wearing multiple hats, learning new software, new processes, new ways of thinking, almost every single day. There were days I felt completely overwhelmed, like I was drowning in a sea of tasks and decisions. I messed up sometimes, sure, everyone does. But then I’d pick myself up, learn from it, and push forward.
Looking back now, August 2020 was indeed a turning point. It wasn’t just a “big opportunity” on paper; it turned into a massive learning curve and a huge personal growth spurt. That initial leap of faith, the one where I decided to chase after something completely different, was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my career. It taught me that sometimes, the biggest opportunities aren’t found on a perfectly paved path, but on the rocky, untrodden one you decide to venture down yourself.
