Looking back on the year, one project stands out—not because it was groundbreaking or transformative but because it felt almost impossible when I started.
I was hiring someone. But not the usual way, where you put out an ad, hope for the best, and work your way through resumes from local candidates.
This time, I was hiring someone overseas. My plan? Use Upwork, a platform I’d never tried before, to find a website designer.
What sold me on the idea was glowing recommendations from colleagues and the appealing prospect of saving costs. What I didn’t realize was how much longer everything would take—or more accurately how indecisive I’d become.
From writing the job posting to reviewing applications, paying initial fees, and narrowing down candidates, the process was exhausting.
The hardest part? Picking people to interview.
Everyone seemed to have similar skills, and my lack of tech knowledge didn’t help. But I’d already paid the platform fees, so quitting wasn’t an option.
Nervously, I hit “send” on my meeting invitations and braced myself for what felt like the most difficult project of the year.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t just a lesson in hiring remotely. It became a crash course in understanding what I value most in people.
Proactiveness: The Online Gut Check
First impressions aren’t just for face-to-face meetings. They happen digitally too.
As someone who relies on gut instincts, I didn’t expect to feel anything through email exchanges. But I did.
Of the 19 candidates who responded to my job posting, five made it to the interview stage. After sending them meeting confirmations, two emailed me with follow-up questions about the role.
One of them stood out even more. Let’s call him Candidate M. In his email, he didn’t just clarify the job requirements—he offered unsolicited advice.
He explained why I shouldn’t use pre-made themes to build the website and how a custom-built approach would save time and trouble in the future.
Did I understand all the technical terms? No. But I understood the logic.
Candidate M wasn’t just trying to win a job; he was thinking ahead for my (and his) benefit for the future.
That level of proactiveness felt rare. When I interviewed the other candidates, they were knowledgeable but didn’t raise questions, let alone suggest better approaches. Guess who got the job?
Flexibility Feels a Lot Like Generosity
Once Candidate M came on board, my inexperience with Upwork—and with tech projects in general—quickly showed.
I had endless questions, some of which I was embarrassed to ask. But he was patient.
Instead of throwing tech jargons my way, he explained things clearly, in terms I could actually understand.
He was generous with his time and willing to adapt to my learning curve, even when I knew I was slowing things down. His flexibility made the entire project less stressful and, dare I say, enjoyable.
Working with a stranger online can be tricky. You don’t know their work style, and they don’t know yours.
Without flexibility, things can go downhill fast. But M set the tone, and his generosity made it easy for me to reciprocate.
Slowly, I started feeling more confident—not just about the project but about asking for help when I needed it.
Final Thoughts
Certain lessons only come from diving into something new and uncomfortable. Hiring Candidate M was one of those experiences.
At first, I was uneasy about the process and unsure about my decision.
But I learned that the things I value most—proactiveness, flexibility, and generosity—don’t just show up in person; they translate online too.
I’ve made plenty of hiring mistakes over the years, but maybe those stumbles prepared me for this. They helped me recognize the qualities that truly matter.
What was your biggest project this year? And more importantly, what did it teach you about yourself?
Life Outside of Design Studio 