The Upside of Being an Underdog
Lessons learned from embracing my underdog moments
Hi friends, happy Lunar New Year! Welcome to the 23rd volume of Morning Pages, a newsletter sharing inspirations to help you cultivate creativity and fulfillment in life.
How much do you identify yourself with these statements?
You started from a disadvantaged position in meeting your goals compared to your peers.
There are more obstacles in the way of you succeeding compared to others.
You struggle more than others to get to where you are in your life.
It was hard to get where you are today compared to others in your position.
You often feel like you’re a minority, trying to break in.
You feel that the odds are against you in pursuing your goals compared to your peers.
You have to compete with others who have more resources than you.
You have to fight against more discrimination compared to others.
For the first six years of growing my design career in America, I was constantly feeling these things. Those external disadvantages added lots of heavyweight to my shoulder.
This week, I want to share the stories of how I embraced my underdog moments when I first started.
The Courage to Jump In
In 2009, UX was still a brand new topic in China. There were very limited resources and a very small network of people. So I had to be very creative and scrappy to break into the industry.
I did research on Chinese institutions that offer education relevant to User Experience. There was only one, a graduate program in Usability Studies. I made a cold phone call, talked about my interests in UX, and asked to visit the program. No one has called to ask for sitting in the same room with other students for a few weeks. A few days later, I was accepted for a visit.
What I didn’t expect was that during my visit, an American professor was also there to lead a few seminars. I still don’t remember where I found the courage to volunteer myself to present a talk in English. Imagine a senior student who has no background in UX, talking for 20 mins in front of a group of Ph.D. and professors. It was probably the bravest decision that I’ve made for myself then. In the end, the American professor agreed to write a reference letter that I used to apply for grad school.
What I’ve learned: Being an underdog means you have little to lose but everything to gain. Put yourself out there and give it your best shot.
The Spirit of Not Giving Up
All of my courage and confidence got shattered to pieces when I moved to the US.
For the first three months, I was a fish out of the water and completely stressed out. The intense coursework and pressure of landing a job in a year overwhelmed me. I was envious of other American students who are social, funny, and charismatic. I felt hopeless that I would never be enough.
It was always taking me more time to read an essay, finish a deck, and draft an email. I was nervous every time when I spoke up and never volunteered to lead a group project. I preferred to watch in a corner and stay in my safe zone because I didn’t want more people to witness my struggle.
Things started to turn around once I began to focus on things that brought me hope and joy. Through coursework, I discovered that reseaching, sketching, and visualizing data were my strengths. I sought opportunities to apply my strengths and gain relevant experience. In the end, I created a competitive portfolio and landed my first first-time job shortly after graduation.
What I’ve learned: Being an underdog means not giving up your hope even when you have failed many times. You stay determined by focusing on your gains, not your gaps.
The Passion to Make a Difference
When I first started designing I went to many design events and networking opportunities in SF. Despite making some great connections, it was challenging for me to find seasoned design leaders who are women of color. It was even more difficult to find women of color with an international background.
Studies show that women are 24% less likely to get career advice from senior leaders.
As a result, I had to learn things the hard way. I did not negotiate my salary early in my career. I did not persist or ask for things I wanted, whether it was a promotion, a green card sponsorship, or an intern. The feedback I received was I was doing good work but it was not visible enough, and that I needed to work on my confidence and communication.
Many women of color (WOC) that I know have been leaning in all along. We need more leaders in power to sponsor WOC and create an inclusive environment for them to feel like they belong. When I shared my struggles, I found other women and people of color resonate with my experience. It ignited the fire within me to make a difference for the community that I care for.
Later on, I created a mentorship program for women designers at Airbnb. I felt empowered to ask difficult questions about Diversity & Inclusion and to hold our leaders accountable. I curated a design book collection to highlight diverse authors in design. Most importantly, without experiencing these struggles I would not have discovered the purpose of my work.
What I’ve learned: Underdogs have to fight against more discrimination compared to others. Passion and determination will keep you from feeling like a victim. Every moment gives you the opportunity to decide who you want to be.
Final Thoughts
In recent years, I gained enough external advantages to not feel like an underdog in the design industry anymore. Despite many struggles earlier on, I feel incredibly fortunate to have a career that I’m proud of. Every single day, I feel the privilege to coach, teach and mentor other creative professionals.
If you feel like the odds are against you, remember:
Stay determined even when you lose.
Show more resilience than others in the face of adversity.
Be passionate about your goals.
Do not quit when others expect you to fail.
Do not give up easily.
Even when you fail, don’t lose hope.
Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life.
Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end.
― Roy T. Bennett
Do you identify yourself as an underdog? It’s okay if you feel there are more obstacles in the way of you succeeding. Sometimes, it helps to navigate with the support of a guide who has lived through it.
I’m leading a small-group program: Design Career Jumpstart for early to senior-level designers. Scholarships are available. I look forward to supporting you.
Thank you for reading this volume of Morning Pages. All views in this newsletter are my own. If you’re enjoying this newsletter and want to express your appreciation, spread the word and support the studio for the price of a cup of ☕️.
Yuan Studio is a space that explores the intersections of global cultures and identities. Currently, the studio is incubating a series of creative projects, such as Morning Pages, and coaching women and people of color to unleash their creativity and leadership potential. You can reach out on Twitter and LinkedIn.