The Best Bet You’ll Ever Make (Hint: It’s You)

What if I had Quit?

If I had listened to the people who told me to quit, I’d probably be stuck in a job I hate, wondering what could’ve been.

I grew up in a tiny Texas town that couldn’t wrap its head around a creative career. I still remember my sister’s words when I told her my plans for college -

"That sounds fun and all… but what’s your Plan B?"

To me, having a Plan B meant I was planning to fail. So I shrugged it off and went after the life I envisioned. And I’m so damn glad I did.

But this pattern of people I’m connected to and supportive of telling me I will fail has persisted throughout my education, my career, and my life - and it’s taught me a lot.

Betting on Myself

Seven years ago, I landed a web design project with a client who lived about 30 minutes away. We’d meet halfway to go over progress, and over time, I got to know her well. She had a big vision—to build the energy company of the future. One day, she looked at me and said, “Do you want to join my startup as Director of Marketing?"

If you know anything about joining startups, you know they’re a massive leap of faith. It was a bet that this company would work out. And so, I bet on a unicorn—and once again, I bet on myself. I doubled down on myself actually - deciding to do both, build my design studio alongside building the energy company of the future.

Not long after, I was out for drinks when I ran into a friend in the design industry. I told him what I was up to, what I was working toward. His response?

"You’re just going to burn out. It’s not going to work out."

You’re going to fail.

It won’t work out.

It won’t make you happy.

You can’t do that.

It. Won’t. Work.

A different time, I took a road trip with a close friend to New Mexico for his dream job interview. We hyped him up the whole way there, he nailed it, and now his business is thriving. But when I told him about my own ambitions, he said -

"That’s not going to work out for you. You’ll get the job, and you’ll hate it and quit."

I was pissed. Not just because he doubted me, but because I was a cheerleader for his dreams and it took half a second for him to shoot mine down.

Protecting Your Energy

I’ve been told I would fail so many times that I eventually stopped sharing my dreams with people who didn’t get it. I started protecting my journey. I took my goals inward, I thought about them everyday, and I shared them with people selectively.

I realized that my time is currency—and the people who deserve it are the ones who stoke my energy and fuel my ambition. The true homies. The ones who recognize the grit that keeps me going. Those are the people I choose to invest in.

What I’ve Learned Along the Way

🌟 Big goals make people uncomfortable. But people achieve big goals every day. Every brand around you was once someone’s big goal and I bet at some point a  friend told them they should, “just quit”.

🌟 When someone tries to limit you, it’s not about you. They say you’ll fail because they think they would. They can’t even imagine the kind of determination you have—and that’s okay!

🌟 Your cheer and support won’t always be reflected back at you. Not everyone will root for you, even if you root for them. Protect your peace and don’t take it personally.

🌟 Success doesn’t look the same for everyone. Sometimes the path that makes the most sense doesn’t make sense for you. Walking the same path as everyone around you does not guarantee fulfillment.

A Sweet Spot of Support

College was expensive, and if a young designer asked me today if they should go, I’d tell them absolutely not. I’d send them to YouTube and online master classes. But I needed it—because it connected me with professors who got me.

When I struggled to niche down, when I ignored the advice to specialize in one design style, my favorite professor told me -

"You won’t get a job at an agency with this portfolio… but you don’t want to work at an agency. Keep going."

And she was right.

Today, I take a variety of design jobs on that I truly enjoy - from web design to logo suites to packaging design. I’m actively working on what the next phase of my design studio, Katie Mont, looks like. I have the freedom and flexibility to structure this change in a way that I feel will help brand builders while bringing me the most joy.

On the flip side, I’m a founding member of a global company changing the future of energy. Our team has grown a bold vision from a startup to a successful and ever-growing company against the odds, through a worldwide pandemic (and all other obstacles thrown at us).

So, if you’re wondering whether to go all in or keep a Plan B, here’s my advice - Bet on yourself. Every damn time.

Now tell me—has anyone ever told you that you’d fail? What did you do?

- Katie Mont