The script of safety and stability shaped by her multicultural upbringing influenced Ann-Lor's career choices and decision-making process.
Embracing uncertainty and deviating from societal expectations allowed Ann-Lor to experience freedom and unleash her creativity.
Deep dives
Discovering the Expectations of Safety and Stability
Ann-Lor shares how her multicultural upbringing shaped the script of safety and stability in her life. Her mother prioritized ensuring a roof over their heads and food on the table, leading to decisions centered around the safest path in terms of education and career choices.
Navigating the Pre-Scripted Path
Ann-Lor reflects on her experience of following the pre-determined path set by her parents and society's expectations. She describes feeling trapped in a path that didn't align with her true interests and passions, yet finding inertia in deviating from it. She discusses the pressure to take a safe, logical path and the challenge of breaking free.
From Googler to Startupper: The Pull of the Tech World
Ann-Lor shares her journey of working at Google and being drawn into the world of tech startups. She highlights the allure of the game-like career path, the sense of challenge and growth that kept her engaged. She reveals the pressure to conform and play the game within the tech industry.
Embracing Uncertainty and the Path Less Traveled
After leaving her job and exploring freelancing, Ann-Lor delves into the benefits of embracing uncertainty. She discusses the freedom and creativity that comes with not knowing the exact endpoint, and the opportunities that arise from taking a path less traveled. She encourages finding a balance between uncertainty and stability for personal and creative growth.
In this episode, I talk with fellow creator and curious human Anne-Laure Le Cunff. She left her job at Google and embarked on an entrepreneurial journey about one month before I did in April 2017. We compare the lessons we have learned over the past five years as well as talk about:
How her mother's experience as an immigrant influenced her work scripts
Her creative interests vs. practical career choices
Getting into google and getting sucked into the tech world
Quitting her job and thinking she needed to found a company
Shifting to freelancing and creating space in her life
Creating and writing online and building an audience
Creating in a second language
Hiring employees vs. hiring contractors
Pursuing an academic path at the same time as a solopreneur path