Zi Cong left his first job at a top-tier bank to pursue his dream of becoming a published author. After fulfilling his dream in 2017, he went on to turn his passion for career coaching into a full-time job as a career consultant at Maximus Asia, where he is now a Program Manager delivering health & wellness workshops for companies.
This article is part of a series featuring different people in different professions and how they find meaning in their work.
Growing up, I always feared the day that I would enter the workforce. No more school holidays, and no more freedom to hang out with friends or play video games. I could not imagine a life of being confined to earning a salary from Monday to Friday, with only the weekends to do whatever I liked.
Or so I thought.
Never did it cross my mind that work could be fun and fulfilling, that I would actually like or even come to love what I do. Nor did it cross my mind that I would find friends that make work enjoyable, that the days could go by so quickly and I would even wake up looking forward to work!
Photo by Malificent from Getty Images
A paradigm shift
Before we are tempted to think that work is something to be dreaded, let us take a step back to appreciate the opportunity that we get to work.
Back in the day, opportunities didn’t abound like they do today. Many of our grandparents or even parents didn’t have the luxury that we have to choose a meaningful or enjoyable job – all they were concerned about was putting food on the table so that we could have a better future!
Well-known comedian Steve Harvey said it best in this short motivational clip—it makes a world of a difference when we go from “we have to work” to “we get to work”!
Perspective changes everything.
There are many places in the world today where job opportunities are scarce. Yet here in Singapore, we have an abundance of platforms to build our careers, provide for our families and give our loved ones a better life. We also get to contribute to society and some of us are even able to make a difference for others with the work of our hands!
Perspective changes everything.
As we come to be thankful for what we do have, gratitude will take the place of fear and apprehension!
Photo by FotografiaBasica from Getty Images
Start with the end in mind
Career coaching is something that I’ve enjoyed since my university days and my first question to the youths that I coach is often, “What is your passion or dream job?”
In other words, what would you do if pay was not a factor? What makes you come the most alive or what would you gladly do for free?
Given the things that they enjoy doing or the skills and experience that their dream job requires, I would then guide them along by suggesting career pathways that they could explore.
Granted that it may not be a foolproof plan (as our dreams and goals can change as we go through different stages in life), simply having some measure of clarity and a goal to work towards often gives us a sense of purpose and grounding.
For example, an administrative-heavy job may often feel tedious and mundane, but it develops your attention to detail and your ability to organise your work. A customer service job may be routined in nature, but it also trains your interpersonal and communication skills.
If your dream job requires these skills, every day is an opportunity to hone your skills and move towards your end goal!
When asked why he smiles with every repetition at the gym while other bodybuilders looked sour and miserable, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s response was, “I smile because I know that with every rep that I do, every set that I do and every weight that I lift, I get one step closer to turning that vision of mine into reality and becoming Mr. Universe.”
Eventually, it will all add up, and when you get good enough at something, the doors will open to you!
Photo by Schäferle from Pixabay
Trust the process
In my line of work as a career consultant where I used to help unemployed people back into work, I had the privilege of serving clients from all walks of life—return-to-work mums, senior executives and just about everyone in between. Each time I was able to help someone find employment, I would feel an immense sense of joy and satisfaction!
As meaningful as my job was, not every day was a celebration. There were many mundane things that we had to do too.
But as meaningful as my job was, not every day was a celebration. There were many mundane things that we had to do too—reviewing resumes, searching for jobs, documentation, paperwork, and so on. Especially when there were stretches where my clients were not landing jobs, I would find my motivation being sapped.
This is when I find it useful to do a number of things:
a. Practice gratitude for what I do have
b. Remind myself why I’m doing what I’m doing and re-align with my purpose and goals
c. Add a little creativity and try different ways to get my work done
d. Engage in fun and meaningful activities outside of work to give myself a boost
It is also helpful to manage our expectations that there is no “perfect job” and even dream jobs come with routines! Just ask any pro-athlete—they have to stick to the same regimen, diet and training every single day!
Above all, we have to trust the process. It takes time for skill to develop and for results to show. So long as we do not lose heart in putting in the work towards our goals, it will only be a matter of time before we get there!
Photo by metadog from pixabay
Bloom where you are planted
My team knows this of me, that I am most motivated whenever I’m able to help the people around me succeed. Be it as a full-time career consultant or pro-bono career coach, program manager or mentor to youths, nothing compares to making a difference in the lives of others for me.
What keeps me going is simply this: the more I develop myself and get better at what I do, the greater the influence I can gain and the more lives I will be able to impact!
Being paid to do what I enjoy is something I do not take for granted. The path wasn’t always straight for me, but I have found that doors will open to those who continue to give their best at what they do – no matter how challenging it gets.
I hope that you too will find your purpose and motivation, and a job that is worth dedicating yourself to. It may take some time before you get there, but set your mind to bloom where you are planted. The day will come when it will all pay off!
