So, here’s the thing. I’m not usually one for horoscopes, right? Like, never really paid much attention to ’em. But back in early April 2023, things were just… meh. My career felt a bit like old socks – comfortable, sure, but worn out and not really inspiring any kind of joy. I’d been plugging away at the same gig for years, just doing the daily grind, ticking boxes, you know the drill. It paid the bills, kept the lights on, but deep down, I knew I was just coasting. Felt like there was more in me, but I just couldn’t quite figure out how to grab it, how to even see it.
Then, outta nowhere, a buddy sends me this screenshot. It was one of those daily horoscopes, specifically for Virgos, and it was all about career stuff for April. I kinda chuckled, ready to scroll past, but something in the text just… snagged me. It talked about hidden talents bubbling up, about stepping outside comfort zones, and how new opportunities would appear if you just bothered to look. And the big one: “Unlock Your Potential.” Man, that phrase just echoed in my head.
I read it a few more times. And for the first time in a long time, instead of just dismissing it, I actually listened to that tiny voice in my head. I started to think, really dig deep, about what I actually wanted. What was I good at that my current job wasn’t using? What did I secretly wish I could be doing? I grabbed an old notebook, one of those beat-up ones with coffee stains, and just started scribbling. No judgment, no filter. Just dumping every thought, every half-baked idea, every little dream I’d suppressed over the years.
Taking Action, Bit by Bit
The first thing I did was just identify what was making me stagnant. It was the routine, the lack of new challenges. The horoscope kinda gave me permission to admit that to myself. Next, I remembered I always had this weird fascination with making short videos, like those goofy explainers or product demos. Never really pursued it, just messed around on my phone. So, I figured, why not actually learn? I spent a few evenings just searching online. Found a really basic, cheap online course on video editing for beginners. Signed up that night.
It was tough going at first. Really clunky, trying to get my head around the software. I was fumbling with timelines, cursing at keyframes, and my initial attempts looked like something a five-year-old made. But I just kept at it. Every night after the kids were asleep, I’d pull out my laptop and spend an hour, sometimes two. Watched tutorials, re-watched ’em, then tried to replicate what they did. I just practiced. Made these little silly videos for fun, using old family clips or stock footage, just to get the hang of it. It wasn’t about being perfect; it was about doing it.
While I was deep into this video-making rabbit hole, I also started to talk more. Not just about my boring job, but about my new little hobby. Casually, you know? Like, “Hey, guess what random thing I’m trying to learn?” to friends and old colleagues. One evening, chatting with a buddy from a previous workplace, he mentioned his company was looking for someone who had “a knack for visual storytelling,” even if they weren’t a full-blown video editor. Someone who could help out with internal comms, maybe some social media stuff.
My ears perked up. This wasn’t exactly what I’d imagined, but it sounded like a door opening a crack. I told him about my little video editing journey, showed him a couple of those rough practice videos I’d made. He seemed genuinely impressed that I was actually doing something about it, not just talking. So, he said he’d put in a good word, but that I should still send in my resume and a short cover letter.
The Shift Happens
That was the next big hurdle. My old resume was… well, it was exactly what you’d expect from someone stuck in a rut. So, I pulled it apart. I rewrote it from scratch, not just listing duties but focusing on skills. I highlighted my new, albeit amateur, video editing skills, and how they related to communication and conveying messages. I didn’t pretend to be an expert, but I showed the initiative. I even included a link to a super-basic portfolio of my practice videos. It felt weird, putting something so unfinished out there, but the horoscope kept buzzing in my head: “Unlock Your Potential!”
I sent it off, not expecting much. But a week later, I got a call. Had an interview. It wasn’t super formal. More of a chat, really. They asked about my journey, why the sudden interest in this new path. I just told them the truth – about feeling stuck, about picking up the video editing as a personal challenge, and how it really ignited something in me. I showed them my little amateur videos again, explained my process for them.
Long story short, a few weeks later, they offered me a hybrid role. It wasn’t a complete career pivot, but it was a massive step. Part of my old type of work, but a significant portion dedicated to creating internal communication videos and helping with social media content. More creative, more challenging, and definitely not “old socks.” It wasn’t exactly what I’d scrawled in my notebook initially, but it was a clear path towards that potential I knew I had.
Looking back, that April 2023 horoscope didn’t magically land me a new job. What it did was give me that little mental kick in the pants to stop thinking and start doing. It pushed me to explore those tiny curiosities I’d ignored and to actually act on them. That whole “unlock your potential” thing? It meant rolling up my sleeves, getting messy, and actually doing the work to find out what that potential even looked like, even if it started with just a silly online video editing course.
