Never count anyone out, including yourself.I was 28 years old and everyone I knew thought I was failing. I was barely getting by selling my soft sculpture creations at street fairs, but loving every minute of it.Still, I had to make a change. A friend suggested that I start making stuffed animals out of plush, so I began practicing pattern making. Sure enough, not too long after, Dakin offered me my first freelancing gig. I had knocked on their door, and it turned out their plush designer had just quit. They gave me my first job, which was to design a golden retriever. A real job! It really was that easy.A month later, I read an article in the Fremont newspaper about a startup that was making the first talking teddy bear. Their prototype looked terrible.So, I made a point to visit this startup on a Monday and knocked on the door of their trailer.They hired me because of the job I had at Dakin. Little did they know, I had just started designing plush animals! It was my first full-time paying job.Here’s one of the first prototypes of Teddy Ruxpin.
Needless to say, the job at WOW changed my life, in large part because I met my wife, Janice, there. Sometimes you have to take a chance!
I didn’t have a lot of experience, but I had the desire to learn and grow.Here’s what I’ve learned:
It’s okay not to have all the answers.
It’s okay to take chances and be willing to fail.
Step outside your comfort zone; you’ll be okay.
Never count anyone out, including yourself.
Thank you for reading!
– Stephen Key
inventRight Cofounder