Three years ago I left Dare where I was an Experience Lead and began freelancing. I had some of my best years with Dare but I’d reached a point in my career where I wanted something different and that’s what the last three years have given me.
Soon after I started freelancing I got involved in speaking at events, running workshops and doing inhouse training. As I shared at the start of this year in the Bringing you UX fika post I’ve found myself enjoying this much more than I ever thought I would. I’m now at a point where a steady stream of those kind of engagements are coming in but also at a point where it’s time to take the leap for other reasons.
byflock has been ticking along on the side, but far too slowly. It’s been frustrating and at times, as D can attest, utterly heart breaking not to be able to give it the time it’s needed. I’ve known it was a temporary must and had this goal in sight for a while and worked really hard to get here. And “here” is that I’m not going to take on another freelance contract but instead focus on where my heart lies.
Beside byflock it’s been clear over the last year in particular that my passion when working with agencies, corporations and individuals lies in helping them with UX related matters. To share and pass on what I’ve learnt over the years and provide simple tools, advice and guidelines for how to go about anything from understanding and working with UX, practical day to day skills or project specific needs, to more overarching strategic aspects. So from now on that’s what I’m going to focus on together with byflock.
I’ve got a number of companies that I know and will continue to work with on an adhoc basis, and I’ll still be available for random days of pitch help, or a week or two here and there, but I won’t take on another contract where I’m working from someone’s office four days a week for a long period of time.
It’s a bit scary but also incredibly exciting and as I made the decision yesterday a big weight was lifted off my shoulders. I’ve known that this is what I should and want to do for a while and I’m finally able to do it.
The UX fika website will be up soon and as part of that I’ll be able to share a bit more, but until then there’s the UX Fika page that I’ve added to this site, in case you’re curious about what’s coming.
Image via Shutterstock
