In my first design job after graduation, my manager (and the owner of the company) told me I didn’t have what it takes to make it in the design industry. He told me on several occasions that I simply wasn’t good enough and should consider other careers.

This feedback nearly broke me. For a while, I thought I’d made a mistake pursuing HCI and design. I was the highest performing student in my class, but this one piece of feedback nearly forced me to walk away from design.

Humans have a tendency to focus on the negative over the positive.

Due to several factors, I was able to overcome this period in my life and career. With help, I started to believe in my skills again. I started to see that I’m not represented by an opinion but my own humble, belief in myself. Not everyone is as fortunate as I am.

If you’re a design manager (or aspiring to be), I have some advice: Always be uplifting. Even with those that are struggling with their craft. All designers fear not being good enough, so we just need someone to believe in us.

That belief can help a designer transcend what they thought was the limit of their abilities.