Career Conversations by Ronald Tay

This is one of the best book I have read on choosing your career path. Ronald Tay compiles insights from 20 professionals on how they get to where they are today. It came at the right time when I was deciding on my career direction. I knew I love to do something else, and my character yearns for the same thing too. It is different from what I have been doing the last few years which pays well.

From reading this book, to speaking with people, I have decided on my career path. I would like to share the main insights I have gotten from this book. (Note: Different people may have different interpretations from reading it).

I sorted through the main points that captivate my interests and grouped them together into categories. There is a very strong agreement across everyone of them that following your passion and persevering is crucial for success. I have noted down the main points below so I can reference to them easily in the future.


INTRODUCTION

We never know how life will treat us. School results do not determine your future; your values and beliefs can always bring you to greater heights. It is about following your heart and it is also about what you want. My own ambitions have evolved over time. Now it is about making a difference, so that when I step out of public life, I will leave behind a system that sustains itself, and by then I can be forgotten.
Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State

The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.
Mark Twain, Author

三百六十行，行行出状元
明朝冯惟敏


FOLLOW YOUR PASSIONS AND PERSEVERANCE (14)
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
Confucius

Talent and smarts may get you to the door of the company but it is passion and perserverance that will lead you to the top. (x4)
Baey Yam Keng, MP for Tampines GRC and Chan Ee Mun, Architect

Better to be Number One in a seemingly less glamorous career that you are passionate about than to follow the crowd and do something you care less for and perform worse at.
Ronald Tay, Director at UBS Business University

You have to be excellent at something and you tend to be excellent at the things you like.
Nagaraj Sivaram, Partner in Ernst & Young

Do not choose a career or specialisation because of its glamour and reputation. Know yourself and your personality to determine the best fit for you and the chosen career.
Ivan Ng, Eurosurgeon

Do something that excites you, that makes you jump out of bed every morning for.
Damian Pang, Consultant at AIA

It's better to build your career to become the Number One expert in your chosen field - even if it's not the most lucrative one - than be the average Joe in the most popular field.
Eugene Goh, Regional GM of Aveda-Luxasia

As long as you get the purpose and motivation of your career right and act accordingly, rewards will come naturally.
Hon Chiew Weng, Principal of Hwa Chong Institution

Getting to the top of your career is not about impressing others. The true meaning of self-actualisation is being able to share your experiences and knowledge with others, and that is the true joy to be found in working.
Andre Chiang, Chef-Owner of Restaurant Andre

Learning and mastering a craft can be a lifelong journey but a very motivating one if you learn what you enjoy and enjoy what you learn.
Chan Ee Mun, Architect

You know you have found your career passion when you care less about the amount of time you spend, but more on how well you do.
Chan Ee Mun, Architect


LEARNING (7)
When you are at a place in the organization where you're no longer able to learn anything from your bosses and yet also do not aspire to work in their roles/positions, it may be time for you to consider possible exit strategies.
Azmoon Ahmad, Vice President of Desay SV Automotive

When starting out on a new career, always start with a blank piece of paper to learn and seek out mentors who are willing to teach. If you are too full of yourself, there will be no space for anyone to "feed" with you anything.
Patrick Liew, CEO of HSR Global

When entering an unfamiliar market to work or invest in, one can cut short the learning process by collaborating with a local partner who knows the environment.
Andre Chiang, Chef-Owner of Restaurant Andre

Do not be enticed simply by a job prospect promising a bigger salary. Consider whether there are opportunities for development and growth from within.
Louis Lim, Partner of Bain & Company

When making a career switch, don't be caught up with comparing norms of compensation and bonuses; instead, focus on the learning and development opportunities that the new career holds.
Baey Yam Keng, MP for Tampines GRC

Spend the first six years developing a strong competence, then three years broadening and finally six years deepending a competence, after which you are a true professional. This is the 6-3-6 rule.
Adrian Lee, GM of Shell Chemicals

Don't be intimidated by people who are better than you. Learn from them instead, and emulate their successful habits and behaviours.
Irene Ang, CEO of Fly Entertainment


CROSS LEARNINGS AND FORWARD LOOKING (6)
Taking a sabbatical away from work or a lateral transfer from your usual field of profession can help you recalibrate your career vision and invigorate your energies.
Nagaraj Sivaram, Partner in Ernst & Young

Never be complacent with current success but look for avenues and inspiration (from new projects and people connections) to reinvent yourself.
Royston Tan, Filmmaker

To deepen your mastery of your craft, look for ways in which you can learn from multiple disciplines and merge them and see if you can come up with something new and different.
Royston Tan, Filmmaker

To stay current and gain new ideas in your field of work, be sure to go beyond the boundaries of your field and explore diverse perspectives that can then synergise with what you know.
Andre Chiang, Chef-Owner of Restaurant Andre

Do not just be working in the industry but make it a point to know the industry - the movements, players, the history and the future.
Andre Chiang, Chef-Owner of Restaurant Andre

Do not blindly follow trends. Instead be observant of where society is moving, and look for the opportunity to be the trendsetter.
Chan Ee Mun, Architect


PRIORITIES AND CONTRIBUTION (6)
Learn how to manage priorities or else priorities will end up managing you.
Tung Soo Hua, News Presenter

Establish some of the key pillars of your life, know what the order of focus among these key priorities is, and let other issues fall into place.
Junie Foo, Banker

There are always things beyond your control - optimise what you can control and not excessively fret over what you cannot.
Teo Lay Lim, Senior MD at Accenture

If you sometimes feel that what you do at work is insignificant, think of it as a crucial piece of the puzzle in the grand scheme of helping the organisation and clients solve their problems.
Teo Lay Lim, Senior MD at Accenture

When you are feeling sorry for yourself or about the work you do, think of ten things you do that allow the world to be a better place or that make someone's life better.
Azmoon Ahmad, Vice President of Desay SV Automotive

Graduate with the intention not just to be successful and earn a good living, but also to find a way to contribute back to society.
Hon Chiew Weng, Principal of Hwa Chong Institution


ATTITUDE (5)
It is easy to teach someone the skills for the job but difficult to teach curiosity, humility and eagerness to learn.
Andre Chiang, Chef-Owner of Restaurant Andre

Develop these key attributes as a job candidate - strong drive, quick intellect, coming across confident yet still humble and willing to learn.
Louis Lim, Partner of Bain & Company

If you want people to take you seriously, show sincerity and effort.
Kit Chan, Performer-Producer-Creative Director

Do your best in every job, because your next job will depend on the current one.
Kit Chan, Performer-Producer-Creative Director

Your ability to "dare to ask" can create many shortcuts to successes in career and life.
Ivan Lee, Founder of ThaiExpress


CHALLENGE YOURSELF (5)
Dare to swim against the tide and it will take you to places you never imagined.
Royston Tan, Filmmaker

Saying "yes" to taking on additional projects or roles can literally pave the way for you to be scouted for another one. Hence taking on challenges and additional tasks are really favours you are doing yourself to strengthen your skills and resume.
Teo Lay Lim, Senior MD at Accenture

Volunteering for "unpopular" tasks and assignments not onl makes you stand out as a leader but also can give you the sense of control and choice to make that task and assignment a success.
Irene Ang, CEO of Fly Entertainment

There is more than one way to reach your final destination. Sometimes, taking a less conventional path or a less direct track can have unexpected takeaways.
Patrick Liew, CEO of HSR Global

You may not have to switch job to look for more challenges. In these days of constant change, most who stick around the organization may get the interesting assignments or even their bosses' jobs.
Hon Chiew Weng, Principal of Hwa Chong Institution


FINDING THE RIGHT DIRECTION (4)
Companies have different cultural norms. Ideally choose to work for one where your personality matches the institutional culture.
Junie Foo, Banker

Some opportunities are truly "once in a lifetime", and you may have to jump right in. Try to get as much advice as you can from trusted sources, and ultimately listen to your heart.
Baey Yam Keng, MP for Tampines GRC

Do not be tempted by short-term gains and lose sight of the long-term implications of the choices you make.
Baey Yam Keng, MP for Tampines GRC

Redefine the meaning of wealth in your life - do not let material possessions be the sole driver of your choices. Have a clear sense of how greater wealth can improve the lives of loved ones and society; otherwise it becomes a meaningless pursuit.
Damian Pang, Consultant at AIA


LANGUAGES (2)
Having additional language skills is an asset but far more valued if you are able to speak, read and write fluently rather than have just conversational abilities.
Tung Soo Hua, News Presenter

If you learn a foreign language, learn it very well, so that it can be a distinguishing advantage that sets you apart from others, especially if you apply to a foreign MNC from that country.
Junie Foo, Banker


FAILURE (2)
Do not be afraid to say you have failed before. Be afraid instead to have not even tried at all.
Patrick Liew, CEO of HSR Global

The key to success is to fail often enough to accumulate enough lessons in order to make more than one shot in life.
Ivan Lee, Founder of ThaiExpress

Only the Paranoid Survive by Andrew S Grove

 
This is my first completed book from the online national library. There are pros and cons to reading on a tablet as compared to a printed book. It's easy to bring a tablet anywhere and just start reading it. But it feels different from reading on a paper-printed background. It took me 5 days to complete it - while waiting and during my daily morning commute.

The title is something which I strongly agree with. In this fast-changing modern economy, only those who are constantly evolving, on the look out for changes - befitting of a paranoia character will survive.

The book is mainly on how Intel evolve over the decades to be a leader in microprocessor business. The main concept it convey is the 'Strategic Inflection Point' which we need to keep a lookout for. It mentioned about the 6 different forces that will affect business and the 10X force which is something will change the playing field altogether.

The computer industry is used to illustrate the strategic inflection point - on how it evolve from a vertically integrated industry to more horizontally integrated.

At the end of the book, it brings the topic closer to us by mentioning that 'Your career is your business'. We have to keep a lookout for strategic inflection point ourselves.

Do Over by Jon Acuff

Rescue Monday, Reinvent Your Work, and Never Get Stuck wrote the sub-title by Jon Acuff.

The title to this book caught my attention. Perhaps Jon Acuff could give me new insight on how I can perceive my work.

In his introduction piece, he related on how his neighbor Nate lost his job on a Friday. The people liked Nate, and he was great at his job, hitting his numbers for 8 years in a big company. But things changed and his role was no longer needed.

What happen if career ceiling starts coming in? The few options available include:
1) Getting a job at another company (delay tactics)
2) Doing a job that you do not want to do (becoming worst off)
3) Play along and die inside as long as you remain in the company (reality for most)

We all have this career repository known as the Career Savings Account. In it there are 4 elements (relationships, skills, character, hustle) where Jon explained in greater detail throughout the book.

1) Relationships
One of my take-away from the relationships segment is to continue to maintain good relationships with people we meet in our life. It can be from our school days, our ex-colleagues, people we met in professional or interest groups. It's good practice to keep in contact with them every though many people may be busy with their family or careers. In our relationship, there are some which we can regard them to be our mentor (advocate) in our career.

After reading this piece, I looked through my phone contact and started messaging some of my good old friends which I have not contacted more than a year.

2) Skills
Jon started by explaining on some key invisible skills such as the below:
Main:
1) Go to work, showing up on time
2) Adding value
3) Own your attitude
Others:
A) Exceed expectations
B) Be diplomatic
C) Express gratefulness
D) Show consideration for others
E) Focus on what matters (quality of work)
F) Play to your strengths and everyone else
G) Be flexible (environment)
H) Respect their gear (gadgets)
I) Continue your education

When we want to develop new skills, is it out of necessity of curiosity. It is at this point of the book where I started to think through the skills which I need to do my job better. Two necessity skills pop into my mind, they are 'Change Management' and 'Knowledge Management'. I immediately made my way to the library to borrow books on it. And moving forward, I will be attending a course on Acupuncture Pressure which is something of a curiosity learning for my side.

To develop new skill, the following need to be in place: Time, money, gear, access to experts and knowledge. Knowledge can be obtained from the library or the internet. But time maybe something which working professional may find lacking. There's two way in identifying time. One is a macro perspective of looking at our calendar year/month and setting aside time for learning. The second is the micro perspective where we look at the days and hours where we can squeeze out time for learning.

If we look at our time, we will realize we can get time from activities that are requesting resources without providing anything in return - such as Facebook, online gaming, watching TV, etc.

3) Character
He mentioned some typical bad character traits such as narcissism, dishonesty, pessimism, apathy. Good character includes generosity (which creates loyalty), empathy (how do we make people around bigger), being present (manage phone, computer and meetings).

The character portion is something that is linked to morality and an individual value system. For those with religion, their character are often guided by beliefs.

4) Hustle

Last is working hard. It means putting effort on our Relationships, Skills and Character. But do note that there are seasons to hustling. There are good times to hustle and certain times to not hustle. We have to be flexible on our dreams as we hustle. As we acquire more skills, strengthen our character and develop our relationships, we start to know our dreams better. It is important to note that focus important. As such, sometimes doing less is better.

Reading

Reading is often the best approach towards lifelong learning. You can read anywhere and anytime at your convenience.

I read an article recently on how many successful entrepreneurs spent their free time reading. It came as a pleasant surprise and it also serve as a reminder to myself that lifelong learning is not just about attending courses.

Here are some of the books recommended by them:
- Bill Gates
- Mark Zuckerberg