I Owe My First Byline in Vogue to Yugen
Perhaps success is a delicate mix between luck and ambition, helping you to arrive at the goals you set for yourself, no matter how lustful they are.
For me, seeing a Vogue byline felt a lot like a pipe dream, not a reality I would see in black-and-white.
And while yes, I’m grateful and honored and proud and humbled and all of those things, it was more luck than work that led to this story assignment (and the ones that have and will follow).
Luck that a friend told me about Remote Year. Luck that I actually applied. And got in. And accepted. Luck that so did 59 other people who, like me, would call themselves Yugen. (Bad) luck that on the day of my very first deadline for THE one-and-only Vogue, I would spill coffee on my laptop, rendering it useless for a few days. Luck that these Yugens I just met would rush to my side, offering all they could to help me, as I stammered “…But not today. Of all days.” Luck that my friend Kirsten would pack two heavy laptops for a trip around the world, and so kindly offer me one so I could make my deadline. (And ironic luck, that of course, when I submitted, I received my editor’s out of office, prompting a round of beers at sunset.)
There’s a lot of work that goes into freelancing and while, yes, I did work for more than a decade to build my portfolio, the effort isn’t what I’ll remember about this byline.
It’s the splendid, the unexpected, the absolutely indescribable nature of this journey I signed up for. And no, not living in Croatia or Prague… but the people.
Because another key part of success? Those you surround yourself with. Mentors and mentees, challengers and managers, co-workers and creative, critical thinkers, competitors, cheerleaders and naysayers. They all contribute to who you believe you can be, what impact you aim to have and what legacy you desire to leave.
Because even with the work – and the luck – Vogue wouldn’t have been possible without this community.
So thank you, Yugen. If I could put dedications in articles, this one would be for you.
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