Life has a way of surprising you. You never really know what’s waiting around the next corner. One moment you're cruising along, the next you’re standing at a crossroads. Choices in front of you that don’t just shape your future, but affect the people around you too.
Some paths will feel familiar. Safe. Within reach. Others will look like cliffs. Overwhelming, impossible, not even worth attempting.
And look, I’m not here to preach that you should always pick the hard road. I’ve read those posts. I’ve seen the tweets. “Get out of your comfort zone!” “Push through the fear!” I get it—but life’s messier than that. Fear exists for a reason. Timing matters. People have their own stuff going on.
But here’s the one thing I can say with confidence, regardless of the path you pick: it won’t be easy.
Let me give you an example.
A few years ago, I felt stuck. Really stuck. On paper, everything looked fine. I had a job close to home. My bosses liked me. I could pretty much run things how I wanted. It was stable. Comfortable. Safe. The kind of setup people envy.
And I was miserable.
It wasn’t burnout or a bad team. It was the slow ache of knowing I wasn’t growing. That I had more in me, but no idea how to reach it. Worse, nobody around me seemed to share that urgency. I felt like I was sinking in quicksand, and the longer I stayed, the deeper I went.
So I started looking around.
At first, I played it safe. I considered a few local companies: same vibe, slightly better conditions. I knew I could land those jobs. Hit the ground running. Make a smooth transition.
But deep down, I knew I’d end up in the same place again. Different logo, same regrets.
So I asked myself: What do I actually want?
I wrote it out. Literally made a list. I wanted to work with modern, cutting-edge technologies. I wanted to collaborate with smart, international teams. I wanted projects that challenged me, inspired me. Work I could be proud of.
The problem? I didn’t feel like I belonged in that world. I figured I’d apply, get ignored, and spend months picking up the pieces. The fear of rejection felt heavier than the pain of staying where I was.
Luckily, I wasn’t alone.
I’ve been blessed with a few close friends who believe in me far more than I believe in myself. They listened. Pushed. Challenged me. Gently told me to get over it and just try. Every excuse I gave, they knocked down. Every fear, they met with quiet certainty. They told me I had a shot. And more importantly. They made me believe it.
So I applied.
One of those companies replied. They took a chance on me. I’ve been there ever since.
Four years. Countless lessons. Some of the best work I’ve done. And it all started because I had people around me who saw me clearly, at a moment when I didn’t.
That, I guess, is the real point of this post.
The hard paths? They matter. They’re usually where the real change happens. But you don’t have to walk them alone. You need people. People who listen. Who challenge you. Who remind you of what you’re capable of when you’ve forgotten. That’s what saved me. That’s what still saves me.
And I’ll never stop being grateful for it.