Struggling in school > to giving a talk at Google Developers I/O Extended

Punit Chawla
Aug 28, 2017 · 2 min read

I remember sitting in math class and scribbling in my notebook, things like cartoons and even UI elements which fascinated me. I did struggle often in school, changing subjects, getting called in by the vice-principal wasn’t exactly a pleasant experience. But here is how I overcame all this & succeeded in my passion.

Having it tough helped me become a better multitask-er

My skills were not exactly appreciated in school, since my design took up a lot of my schedule. Knowing I had to pass in school, I learnt how to handle my time, which still allowed me to complete my designs on time. I learnt better scheduling, time management and productivity. I also learnt how to speed up designs by reusing elements and creating my own toolkit. But remember one thing —

Learn from someone who made it from the streets

Became an opportunist at a young age

From an early age of about 16, I knew I would be rich soon, but I also saw that apart from all the hard work, I had to take all the right opportunities. I started off slow, taking less risk and hence getting lesser returns. Stepping up my game wasn’t easy. It required for me to take independent decisions and follow my own path, which was very different from what I was used to — doing what your parents told you to or follow people you look upto. Some decisions need to be made, and this was one of them.

Know how to say NO

Classic Jonah Hill

Now that I know how to pick opportunities and make the best of them, I also know when and how to say NO. Designers often say yes to every project that comes their way in order to get a larger clientele and to earn some extra dough. At the end of the day, if you know your own value and stand by what you think and believe in, you’ll have a better stand in the industry and will eventually be a happier person.

Too many projects can also lead to what designers call, a Designers Block. I wrote about this too — https://goo.gl/2kwWbY

Speaking at GOOGLE I/O extended 2017, was a new yet powerful experience. This is one of the opportunities I took and was one of my best decisions I ever made.

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Punit Chawla

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UX / UI Designer, Entrepreneur, Motivator & Marathon Runner

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