This article is based on a conversation that surprised me more than I expected.
We initially planned to talk about data analytics, Power BI, and technology. And yes — we touched on all of that. But as the conversation unfolded, it became clear that the most important topics were somewhere else entirely.
We talked about ambition, fear, career decisions, freedom, work-life balance, and the complicated relationship many of us have with work itself.
My guest was Iga Kwiecińska — a Power BI expert, trainer, and consultant, someone who moved relatively quickly from an internship to expert-level work and running her own business. But this is not a story about “fast success.” It’s a story about mindset, self-awareness, and conscious choices.
This is not a technical interview.
It’s a conversation about work as part of life — not a replacement for it.
From Internship to Expertise: What Was Actually the Hardest Part?
Looking at Iga’s career path, one could easily assume that everything went smoothly. An internship in 2021, and just a few years later she is delivering Power BI trainings, working as an expert, and running her own business.
So I asked her directly: what was the hardest part of that journey?
Surprisingly, it wasn’t technology.
The biggest challenge was the overwhelming number of options. From the very beginning, Iga knew she wanted to work with data — but “data analytics” is an incredibly broad field. Data engineering, analytics, BI, finance, visualization, tools, roles. Too many paths, too many decisions.
She didn’t want to become a generalist who knows a little about everything but doesn’t truly specialize in anything. She used a comparison that stuck with me: a general practitioner versus a specialist. Both are valuable, but they serve different purposes.
From early on, she wanted depth, not breadth.
That mindset eventually led her to Power BI — not because of some perfectly calculated long-term market forecast, but because:
- the market demand was clearly visible,
- automation mattered to her,
- visualization mattered to her,
- and, most importantly, she genuinely enjoyed working with the tool.
Specializing in One Tool: Risk or Strategic Advantage?
One concern that often comes up among people learning data analytics is this:
“What if I invest heavily in one tool and it becomes obsolete?”
Iga’s answer was refreshingly honest — she didn’t overanalyze it.
Her journey started with Excel, which quickly became frustrating. Too much manual work, limited automation, and visual limitations. So she started looking for alternatives. When browsing job offers, one tool kept appearing again and again: Power BI.
Her logic was simple: learn one tool really well first.
Once you understand data modeling, visualization principles, and best practices deeply in one environment, switching tools becomes much easier. Technologies change. Fundamentals don’t.
This approach stands in sharp contrast to the paralysis I see in many aspiring analysts — the fear of choosing “the wrong thing.” Often, that fear leads to not choosing anything at all.
The Shock of Real-World Data
At some point, every analyst hits the same wall: the difference between learning and real-world work.
Iga pointed out something extremely important — learning Power BI basics is relatively easy. The real challenge begins when you enter an organization and face production data.
Messy sources. No star schema. No documentation. No standards. Chaos.
This is often the moment when people start doubting themselves. “I thought I knew this — apparently I don’t.”
But the issue is rarely lack of skill. More often, it’s the reality of how many companies implement analytics. Poor data modeling, rushed implementations, no long-term vision.
For Iga, this realization became motivation to go deeper — to learn not just how tools work, but how analytics should work in real business environments.
Why Mindset Matters More Than Technology
At this point, the conversation shifted away from tools entirely — and for good reason.
According to Iga, discussions about careers in tech and data focus far too much on skills and far too little on psychology.
You can learn SQL, DAX, Python. That’s manageable.
What’s much harder is dealing with the voice in your head saying:
- “I’m not good enough.”
- “Who am I to apply for this?”
- “This probably isn’t for me.”
She strongly believes that our own mindset is often the biggest blocker, not lack of competence.
This resonates deeply with my own experience. Regardless of age — whether someone is 22 or 42 — these doubts show up again and again.
Planning, Ambition, and the Illusion of Control
Iga described herself as someone who likes setting clear, measurable goals — not just professionally, but in life in general.
At the same time, she was very realistic: life is unpredictable. Planning doesn’t guarantee success. But not planning almost guarantees drifting.
Without some form of direction, it’s easy to fall into the narrative of “this is just how it turned out.”
A goal doesn’t have to be rigid or perfectly defined. But having an intention — a direction — creates momentum. Without it, it’s hard to move anywhere at all.
Fear Is Inevitable — Stagnation Is Optional
One of the most valuable parts of the conversation was about fear.
Iga made a simple but powerful distinction:
You can be afraid and act, or you can be afraid and stay where you are.
Fear doesn’t disappear in either scenario. The difference lies in the outcome.
If you stay still, you bear the long-term consequences. If you act, you give yourself a chance for things to improve.
She also emphasized something important and often overlooked: if fear becomes overwhelming and paralyzing, seeking professional help is not weakness — it’s responsibility.
Perfectionism as a Safe Excuse
We talked a lot about perfectionism — especially common among people entering data and tech roles.
Waiting until you feel “ready.”
Waiting until you meet 100% of the job requirements.
Waiting until confidence magically appears.
The problem? That moment rarely comes.
Even meeting all formal requirements doesn’t guarantee success. Cultural fit, timing, team dynamics — many factors are beyond your control.
Perfectionism often isn’t about quality.
It’s about avoiding rejection.
Corporate Life, B2B, and Going Independent
Iga’s transition into self-employment wasn’t a dramatic leap into the unknown. It started with a B2B contract for a single client. Only later did it evolve into multiple collaborations.
Two things mattered most:
- Mismatch with corporate culture
Politics, corporate language, and unspoken rules drained her energy. - Need for autonomy and ownership
Control over her work, responsibility, flexibility.
Understanding her own strengths and preferences — including through tools like Gallup — helped her realize that the issue wasn’t her capabilities, but the environment she was trying to fit into.
Is Work-Life Balance a Myth?
This was one of the most intense parts of the conversation.
Iga doesn’t believe work-life balance means equal hours every day. Instead, she sees it as a long-term equilibrium. Some periods require intense work. Others allow recovery.
What matters is that these choices are conscious — not automatic.
From my perspective, the traditional division between “work” and “life” is often misleading. We all have obligations and activities. Some are enjoyable. Some are demanding. Labeling them doesn’t always help.
Do You Have to Love Your Job?
This question doesn’t have a universal answer.
Not everyone needs to find fulfillment through work. For some people, work is simply a means to support passions outside of it — and that’s perfectly valid.
The real problem arises when someone convinces themselves they’re fine, while feeling constant internal resistance.
The key is honesty — with yourself, not with external expectations.
The People Around You Matter More Than You Think
One topic we couldn’t ignore was environment.
Partners, friends, colleagues — the voices we hear daily shape our decisions. When someone constantly hears that change is risky or unrealistic, it becomes incredibly hard to move forward.
Sometimes the solution isn’t changing everything — just changing part of your environment. Communities, conversations, learning spaces, people who are on a similar path.
This is one of the reasons I strongly believe in the power of learning communities around data and analytics.
Conclusion
This conversation started with Power BI and ended with fundamental questions about ambition, freedom, and meaning.
And that’s exactly how it should be.
Technology is a tool.
What truly shapes a career happens much deeper.
If this article gave you something to reflect on, I’d really appreciate it if you shared it on your social media. There’s a good chance it might reach someone who needs it at exactly the right moment.
The article was written by Kajo Rudziński – analytical data architect, recognized expert in data analysis, creator of KajoData and polish community for analysts KajoDataSpace.
That’s all on this topic. Analyze in peace!
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