Was at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore a few months ago.

They had this incredible Pixar flower festival.

Got a photo with Carl Fredricksen from UP.

(Yesss... we do look alike hahaha)

You know, the guy who spent decades planning his adventure but never actually went anywhere until life forced his hand.

Standing there, I realized something.

This is exactly what's happening to most UX designers.

They spend months perfecting portfolios.

Reading every design article.

Taking course after course.

But they're not actually moving toward better opportunities.

Meanwhile, the designers who DO move forward?

They're not the most qualified ones.

They're the ones who take action before they feel "ready."

Here's what I've noticed working with designers at every level:

The ones earning $130k-180k+ aren't necessarily the most skilled.

They're the ones who build relationships with hiring managers while others are still studying.

They apply for roles when their portfolio is "good enough" not "perfect."

They position themselves as strategic problem-solvers, not just pixel pushers.

The senior designers making $200k-300k?

Same pattern.

They focus on demonstrating business impact, not just beautiful interfaces.

They cultivate internal advocates before roles are posted.

They negotiate from a position of confidence, not desperation.

It's not about having the perfect skillset.

It's about strategic positioning and genuine relationship building.

Most designers treat their careers like Carl treated his adventure.

Always preparing.

Never departing.

But your dream companies won't wait while you perfect every case study.

The roles that pay well go to designers who can articulate their value clearly and connect with decision-makers authentically.

Not the ones with the most Dribbble followers.

If you're ready to stop perfecting and start progressing toward roles that actually excite you, Career Creators shows you how.

How to build strategic relationships at target companies.

How to position yourself for opportunities before they're posted.

How to have conversations that lead to offers, not just interviews.

Reply "Ready" if you want to move from preparing to actually landing the role you want.

Joseph

P.S. Carl got his adventure at 78. Most designers can't afford to wait that long for career fulfillment.