Empowerment in UX Expertise: Your Mentor’s Impact Matters.
On mentorship (and Yoda)- — 🌎 🚀 💫
Welcome to the wild world of UX, where seasoned UXers roam free, finding specialties in design or research, or continuing to grow their massive skillsets, sending their resumes off into other galaxies and beyond.
What’s even more intimidating than the Professionals millions of light years ahead of you is what you need to do to get there.
*Cue Star Wars Intro Sound Track*
To excel, you’ll also need a shining portfolio, real-world experience, tech wizardry, communication expertise, project management ninja skills, research prowess, UI sorcery, and a handful of other design-specific tricks that you’ll be asked to reveal at the WHSSKK of a lightsaber!
Sound intimidating? It’s all good.
When things feel heavy, just dance it out, or go to your local bar. I’m not encouraging drinking your feelings away, but I am encouraging you to settle your little brain on this one.
You’re not alone in this unearthly UX Galaxy. Everyone starts as a young UX Jedi. The clan of UXers who build you up want you to succeed!
And for those who doubt you, well, let’s just say they’re not worth the pixels on your screen (trust me, don’t let them get you down). I learned that last one from one my mentors.
Here’s the big secret: find a mentor, or better yet, assemble a council of wise UX freakin’ jedis!
These mentors can be your pals or colleagues, or they can be the heroes of UX you read about in books or watch on YouTube.
Mentorship can also come in the form of non-humans and galaxy creatures. Consider podcasts, books, or a Youtube channel that gives you that extra “umph”.
But seriously, people. You need at least one that’s real and available. They’re not ghosting you on LinkedIn or standing you up on a scheduled coffee chat. No. You need a real-life Yoda.
Here’s the standards for your Yoda. Choose wisely!
✅ Invested humans. They care about your well-being, not just your pixel-perfect designs or wordsmithing genius.
✅ Scrap busy schedules. They’ll make time for you faster than you can say “cognitive load.”
✅ You admire them or envy their spacecraft. Either way, they’ve got something you want.
✅ They’re straight shooters. They tell it like it is. Honesty is a true trait of any noble Jeti.
✅ Patience is a virtue. They won’t mind explaining the same thing seven times if needed…with minimal anger.
✅ Mutual benefits. You’re not just a charity case. You bring something to the table, too, whether it’s a glowing recommendation or a humbling reminder of where they came from.
The genuine Yoda doesn’t simply share his Jedi tricks. Oh no, Yoda, like a true mentor, are the superheroes who boost your powers, and not just once — but every time they get the chance.
It’s like having a personal Yoda, but with more jokes and less green skin. 💚
As a mentee, I’ve learned that real mentorship demands commitment. It involves actively participating in someone’s growth rather than simply observing their struggles.
It requires real empathy — stepping into someone else’s shoes.
It’s about consistently recognizing their worth and tirelessly working to help them recognize it, too, in big and small ways.
A meme, some praise, an impromptu pep talk, late night career chats, or just showing up. It’s not just making the time, but leveraging it. ✨
True mentors go above and beyond conventional boundaries, putting aside their concerns to help their mentees navigate challenges, reminding them of their capabilities, and instilling the belief that their goals are attainable — in sometimes humorous and endearing ways.
So yeah, you can casually throw “mentor” onto your resume like it’s confetti.
But let’s be real, only a select few can boldly claim they’ve mastered the rare and elusive art of true mentorship, and add “Yoda” to their skillset.
*Walks off podium, trips on the bottom step, and is caught by my mentor*
Anywhoo. I mean this:
May the skills be with you.
