How can you as a Product Designer reignite that intrinsic motivation and drive for success?

Are You Seeking Success or Are You Avoiding Failure? 💬

This question has been on my mind after witnessing a common scene among product designers: talented individuals working tirelessly, yet often feeling disconnected from the passion that initially drew them to design. It’s not solely about the workload; the absence of meaningful engagement and dialogue can lead to burnout and a quest for survival rather than success.

As a designer, how can you reignite that intrinsic motivation and drive for success? 🌼

1. Autonomy: “I Own My Decisions” ⚡️

Align your work with your capabilities and aspirations to steer the creative direction.

Taking ownership also means aligning stakeholders with your vision and making your voice count. Avoid merely executing others’ visions; assert your unique perspective to truly shape the design.

When your ideas come to life, the fulfilment is unparalleled.

2. Mastery: “I Improve” 📈

Challenge yourself to surpass your last achievement.

Think not just about what you can create, but what you want to create to make the user feel valued, like a true VIP. Then, map out the steps to turn that vision into reality.

It’s about pushing boundaries, going above and beyond, and making each project a testament to your evolving skill and creativity.

3. Purpose: “I Make a Real Difference” ✨

Link your work to big goals.

It’s about solving problems and helping people. It’s about service. When you see your design making life better or changing things for the good, that’s when you know your work matters.

The drive you get from aligning yourself with a mission that is greater than you is unmatched.

4. Progress: “I Measure, Therefore I Achieve” 🚀

Embrace data and user insights to gauge progress. Set clear, meaningful goals that align with your purpose and measure each milestone. Every achievement, big or small, is a step forward in your skill and creativity.

Celebrate these wins as markers of your journey and motivation for future challenges.

5. Community: “I Connect with Others” 🤝

Acknowledge, It’s not an Independent game. We are all interdependent. So, foster relationships within your design community as well as with your stakeholders. Collaborate, share knowledge, and seek feedback.

We can always learn from each other, we need to have the humility to accept the feedback and courage to speak up. And we need to help each other to feel self-motivated.

If this resonates with you or you’re navigating these feelings, let’s connect. I’m here to support. 🔆

Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anmol-maggon-3b8555164/

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