๐Ÿ™‹๐Ÿพโ€โ™€๏ธ In 2011, I was hired into my first junior role in tech @Groupon

๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿพโ€๐Ÿ’ป By 2020, I was headhunted into a VP role in a global tech company @Brandwatch

๐Ÿค– I achieved this progression in less than a decade, without ANY coding skills

๐Ÿ”ฎ How did I do it?

*a thread*

๐Ÿค“ I established a track record of results.

๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿพ No magic formula can replace hard work: do your job well & hit all the targets you are set.

๐Ÿ˜ฌ When you're struggling, ask for help so you can stay on track to get results, or collaboratively adjust targets.
๐ŸŽจ I stayed creative.

๐Ÿง™๐Ÿฟโ€โ™€๏ธ When challenges arose I was bold enough to try new solutions. Not everything worked, but constantly trying produced valuable innovations.

๐Ÿง  I was proactive in finding new, better ways to get the job done.
๐Ÿคฉ I was a self-promoter. I recorded my achievements & ensured they were mentioned in any performance / compensation reviews.

๐Ÿ˜Ž I put myself forward for any opportunities to gain recognition e.g. speaking opportunities or awards.

๐Ÿ‘€I actively worked on gaining visibility.
๐Ÿ™‚ I was myself. Some say you need to be ruthless to succeed. I don't buy it. I'm a nice person so I'm nice at work, too.

โค๏ธ I didn't fake it. I always acted on my values, and spoke up when something didn't feel right. I showed integrity.

๐Ÿค— I was a team player. To everyone.
๐Ÿ‘Š๐Ÿพ I toughened up & thickened my skin. Mostly to absorb constructive feedback better.

๐Ÿ—ฃ I learned how to ask for feedback that showed me my blind spots & flaws so I could work more effectively.

๐Ÿ‘‚๐Ÿฝ I learned how to listen without defending myself, and simply absorb & learn.
๐Ÿš€ I took risks. When a career opportunity arose that better served my purpose: I jumped at it.

๐Ÿ‚ I embraced change AND I embraced failure.

๐Ÿ˜’ Things don't always go to plan, I accept that, I expect that.

๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿพ Every step in the journey made me wiser & more resilient.
๐Ÿค  I followed my gut & learned to filter out naysayers & those who didn't get me.

โœŠ๐Ÿพ @hustlecrewlive wouldn't exist if I listened to super smart, experienced tech pros who told me it wouldn't work. We're on track for 7 fig ARR. And it's my side hustle.

๐Ÿค“ I did things MY WAY.
๐Ÿค— I built a support network who understood my ambitions & eccentricities.

๐ŸŒˆI embraced my differences & uniqueness & leaned *heavily* into these.

โค๏ธ I surrounded myself with people who bigged up these parts of me.

๐Ÿ™‹๐Ÿพโ€โ™€๏ธ In doing so, I built my self-belief & self-confidence.
๐Ÿ“š I never stopped learning & challenging myself.

๐Ÿง I surrounded myself with people smarter, more ambitious & driven than me.

๐Ÿคฏ I expanded my knowledge thru podcasts, articles, videos, books.

๐Ÿง  I built a network of mentors I've never met but whose content I've absorbed.
๐Ÿ“ˆ An economist by training, I accepted the sacrifices required to succeed.

๐Ÿ˜• I accepted missing out on fun stuff when in-between jobs or starting @hustlecrewlive.

๐Ÿ› I accepted times I could only afford essentials.

๐Ÿ˜ฅ I accepted declining mental & physical health, too.
โœ๏ธ Finally, I mastered the art of story-telling.

๐Ÿ—บ I never had a plan for my career progression, although I always so desperately wanted one.

๐Ÿšถ๐Ÿฝโ€โ™€๏ธ I just keep putting one foot forward, then at specific milestones, craft a compelling narrative looking backwards.

๐Ÿ’ซ Good luck.

More from Tech

"I really want to break into Product Management"

make products.

"If only someone would tell me how I can get a startup to notice me."

Make Products.

"I guess it's impossible and I'll never break into the industry."

MAKE PRODUCTS.

Courtesy of @edbrisson's wonderful thread on breaking into comics โ€“
https://t.co/TgNblNSCBj โ€“ here is why the same applies to Product Management, too.


There is no better way of learning the craft of product, or proving your potential to employers, than just doing it.

You do not need anybody's permission. We don't have diplomas, nor doctorates. We can barely agree on a single standard of what a Product Manager is supposed to do.

But โ€“ there is at least one blindingly obvious industry consensus โ€“ a Product Manager makes Products.

And they don't need to be kept at the exact right temperature, given endless resource, or carefully protected in order to do this.

They find their own way.

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