📣 New series - "Failure Fridays" - launching this Friday, October 4th
Ever bombed a UX project? Your next big break might be hiding in that mess.
My dear UX friends!
We've all been fed this sanitized version of UX success—a linear path of steady growth, each project more "delightful" than the last.
It's a comforting fairy tale, while the real growth is messy, painful, and yes, full of spectacular failures.
You see, the UX community loves to preach about "failing fast" in design iterations.
But what happens when it comes to our careers?
We're terrified of admitting if/when we've messed up!
❌ News flash: Your fear of failure isn't a badge of honor. It's a pair of career handcuffs.
✅ The best UXers I know are not the ones with spotless records. They aren't just good at their craft—they're masters of turning disasters into rocket fuel for their careers.
They know that every mistake is a potential goldmine of insights that no "best practices" article could ever teach you.
Now, if you're comfortable hiding behind your polished portfolio, pretending that every project you worked on was a glorious success, this column isn’t for you.
But if you're ready to embrace the chaotic, often humiliating reality of real career growth, buckle up.
We're going to explore career-defining failures that would make most people uncomfortable.
We're talking multi-million dollar launch disasters, stakeholder relationships bombed beyond recognition, and design decisions so bad they became company-wide cautionary tales.
But more importantly, we're going to dissect how these UXers turned their lowest moments into launchpads for unprecedented success.
This isn't about feelgood "learning experiences."
It's about transforming failure to launch your career to heights you never imagined before.
So, are you ready to stop playing it safe and start embracing the power of epic failures?
Why focus on failure you ask?
Because our most valuable lessons often come from our most challenging experiences.
Each Friday in October, I'll feature a story that goes beyond the surface of a UX disaster to uncover:
The root causes that led to the failure
The immediate and long-term impacts on projects and careers
The strategies used to recover and grow from the experience
The invaluable insights gained that propelled careers forward
These aren't just cautionary tales – they'll be masterclasses in resilience, adaptability, and strategic thinking.
You’ll hear from UX leaders who have navigated complex stakeholder relationships, managed the fallout from failed product launches, and transformed disappointing user feedback into opportunities for innovation.
My goal is to foster a community where we all can openly discuss and learn from our professional challenges.
By sharing these stories, I aim to:
De-stigmatize failure in UX careers
Provide practical strategies for turning setbacks into opportunities
Encourage a growth mindset in approaching UX work
And of course - offer insights into the often-unseen aspects of career development in our field
Whether you're a seasoned UXer or just starting your journey, "Failure Fridays" will give you the knowledge and perspective to approach your own career challenges with confidence and creativity.
If you are ready to reshape your perspective on career setbacks, "Failure Fridays" will guide you on your journey to a more resilient and successful UX career.
Till Friday,
UX Mentor Diaries helps UXers become (and remain) successful and influential through quick tips, in-depth guidance and personal experience stories. Become a paid subscriber for just $8 a month or $49 for the whole year and unlock every article and resource in the archive.
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During the session, we'll identify your natural strengths and explore how you could lean on them to accelerate your career growth.
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