Man, 2014 ended in a blur for me, and I walked into 2015 feeling like I was just floating, you know? Like a fish going with the current, no real direction. My old gig was okay, paid the bills most times, but it just felt… thin. Like my pockets were always just a couple of bucks away from being completely empty, and my career path was more like a squiggly line than an actual path.
I remember sitting on my couch one cold January morning, just staring at the peeling paint on the ceiling, thinking, “This ain’t it.” Something had to give. I needed to grab onto something solid. This wasn’t just about making more cash; it was about feeling like I was actually building something, not just drifting through my workdays.
Hitting the Pavement: The Grind Begins
The first thing I did was actually just stop and think. Really think. I pulled out an old notebook, dusty as hell, and just started scribbling. What did I actually want to do? What was I good at? What pissed me off about my current setup? That notebook became my battlefield for a few weeks. I wrote down all the frustrations, all the half-baked ideas, all the dreams that seemed too big.
Then, I started talking. I hit up some old buddies, people I used to work with, even distant relatives who seemed to have their shit together. I didn’t ask for a job directly. Nah, I just asked them what they were working on, what they found interesting, what kind of problems they were solving. I was just soaking it all in, trying to get a feel for what was out there. That was a big step, getting out of my own head.
By March, I was sending out applications. Not just a few, but a flood. I must have customized my resume and cover letter a hundred times. I applied for stuff I thought I was barely qualified for, and stuff I figured I was overqualified for. It was a shotgun approach, hoping something, anything, would stick. I kept hitting refresh on my email, just waiting.
And boy, did the rejections roll in. Automatic emails, then silence, then sometimes a super polite “no thank you.” It felt like getting punched in the gut, over and over. I started doubting myself. Like, “Am I even good enough? Was I crazy to think I could do better?” Those thoughts really mess with your head.
Small Wins and Big Lessons
But I didn’t stop. I kept applying. I changed my resume again. I rewrote my whole LinkedIn profile. And then, something shifted. I got a call back for an interview in April. Not my dream job, but it was for a company that seemed to be doing interesting things. I prepped like crazy. I researched them inside out. I practiced answers in front of my mirror until my cat thought I was losing it.
I didn’t get that job, actually. But the interviewers gave me some solid feedback. They said I had good ideas but needed to frame them better. That was a huge insight. It wasn’t just about what I knew, but how I presented it.
Around this time, my money situation was getting tighter than a drum. I was cutting out everything I could – no more expensive coffees, fewer nights out, cooking at home constantly. I started tracking every single dollar coming in and out. That was painful, seeing it all laid bare, but it was also liberating. It gave me a clear picture of what I was dealing with.
I also picked up some freelance writing gigs online, just to bring in a bit extra. They didn’t pay much, but it was money coming in that wasn’t from savings, and it kept my skills sharp. I was writing about all sorts of random stuff, from obscure tech to gardening tips. It taught me to be versatile and quick.
The Breakthrough Moment: Turning Pro
By late summer, I finally got another interview, this time through an old connection from one of my buddies. It was for a role that sounded a little out of my league, but it aligned with some of the things I’d been scribbling about in my notebook. This time, I went in with a different mindset. I didn’t just try to answer their questions; I asked my own. I showed them how my specific experiences, even the small freelance ones, connected to what they needed.
- I pitched a specific project idea during the interview.
- I explained how my past struggles made me more resilient.
- I talked about my newfound discipline with money and planning.
And you know what? They hired me. It wasn’t just a job; it was a step up. A real, solid career move with a salary that actually made me breathe easier. I officially started in October 2015. Getting that first full paycheck felt like a weight lifting off my shoulders that I hadn’t even realized was there.
From there, I really doubled down on managing my money. I set up an automatic savings transfer every payday. I started looking into small investments, just baby steps. I learned to live within my means, but now my means were a whole lot better. I felt like I wasn’t just working anymore; I was actively building a future. That year, 2015, pushed me hard, but it also made me realize I could actually steer my own ship instead of just floating along. It made me feel like a pro, not in some fancy title way, but in the way I handled my own damn life and money.
