Have you ever wondered what quitting your unfulfilling job to find something more exciting or even start your own business would be like?
Paula's story is proof of how determination and a burning desire to find your path can change your life in ways you've never imagined. After years of building her career, Paula faced the financial crisis of 2008, followed by professional and personal challenges. A secure job at the office that seemed like a safe space to recover soon turned into years of unmet goals and missed professional milestones. Like many others, she stayed there for many years because the job paid the bills. But she was battling an inner conflict — how to find a job that would satisfy her self-expression and allow her to balance her work and family life.
But everything changed when Paula decided to quit her comfortable job and pivot her career completely. With little to no no-code skills, she started a new journey to self-discovery. Now, Paula’s already practicing her skills with real clients and is thinking of her own business. Just a few months before, she was unsure about her future, but now she’s on the way to fulfilling her dream of working independently and inspiring more people to follow her lead.
A dream job and the Great Recession
Paula’s professional life started like everyone else’s. At 18, when it was time to pick a degree, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. But she had to decide, and at that time, architecture was an exciting choice that allowed Paula to combine her passion for buildings and creativity. The more she learned, the more the curriculum inspired Paula, and she realized that architecture could change people’s lives.
However, after graduation, she faced a different reality. It was difficult to find a job in her field. But after a careful search, she found a position in the center of Lisbon, where she worked on building renovation and restoration in the old town.
But Paula’s dream was to go further. From a young age, she dreamed of leaving Portugal and working abroad. Soon after, this dream came true as she found a job in Seville, Spain. Working in a historic city like Seville is every architect's dream, and Paula enjoyed every minute of it.
But after a few years working in Spain, the great financial crisis of 2008 changed everything. She lost her job and had to move back to her parent's home in Portugal.
The period was a dark time for everyone at that time. It was challenging to find work, especially in a field like architecture. But Paula managed to find a job at a company that sold furniture for supermarkets.
Stuck at the job that paid the bills
Paula worked in the furniture company for 12 years. She was responsible for many different tasks like design, administrative work, human resources, clients, and a little bit of everything. She felt it wasn't her calling, but it was a safe position. At that time, Paula already had two kids, so she had to make sure to provide for them. The job could have been better, but it paid the bills. However, after some time, she noticed that the position lacked a work-life balance. It was important for a young mother to combine her work and personal life.
The conservative management of the company didn't see their employees' well-being and happiness as essential to their professional success. But Paula believes that only when you're satisfied with your personal life can you do a good job at work, "I think that's the future. And COVID showed us that family is important that people are important. If I'm happy with my personal life, I'm happy at work, and I do my best. But if I'm worried about my family, I can't be full-time focusing on my tasks.”
That was a sign that something needed to change. Her friends and family encouraged her to look for something that made her happy. She was passively searching for a better position, sending CVs. But Paula felt stuck and unsure about changes, “I like when I can stay in the same place for longer, with the same people. Every change makes me feel stuck, and I don’t adapt easily.”
After many attempts, she decided it was time to quit and find something else where she could express herself. So Paula started a coaching course, but it wasn’t enough. She needed a plan B. And that’s where she found No Code Institute.
A plan B turned into an idea for a business
Paula came across an ad from No Code Institute and decided immediately that this could be her plan B. Even though she was initially unsure — after all, she didn't have a tech background or any coding experience, her curiosity and determination led her to sign up for the course.
Her first idea was that it would be nice to learn to build websites, but soon after enrolling in the course, she realized she could do much more than just websites. The course started slowly changing her mindset. “The highlight of the course for me is Nelson and Miguel. They are motivators and teach you more than just no code. They motivate you and lead you through each topic, where you discover new ways to do things. No Code program isn’t only no code, we have a part about mindset and coaching. In the beginning, I was confused about why we were learning about mindset, but in the end, I understood how important it is to have the right attitude.”
With each lesson, she discovered a new world of no code — new tools, software, and methods to create digital products. And now, Paula is motivated to finish her course and find ways to incorporate it into her life. She describes this transformation as going from being stuck in life and staying at the same job to exploding with motivation to create her own projects and inspire others. Now, she wants to learn everything and try every new no-code tool. At the end of the program, Paula started working with an assigned client. She’s building an internal portal designed for investors. And while it’s challenging at times, Paula is learning a lot about new software, functionality, and no-code features.
After the course is finished, her dream is to help other coaches. With many great professionals not having the right tools and online presence, she’s set to change that. Paula wants to have her own independent business helping people put out their ideas into the world.
And when asked about what she would say to someone who feels stuck professionally or personally, she advised that the best way to come out of stagnation is to move. It’s important to be open to new opportunities and have an open mind to notice what life has planned for you. And sometimes, even a small ad on social media can shake up your world and help you start anew.
Your new beginning lies here
Your sign of changing your life is here. Like Paula, you can change your mindset and find ways to improve your current career or pivot it completely. No-code skills are great for someone without experience in tech but who is curious about creating digital products like apps, websites, databases, digital functionalities, and more. No Code Institute program is a leading no-code development course where right away, you'll learn different no-code tools, create your own projects, and work with real businesses. Take advantage of a life-changing opportunity. Register now!
