Boost your career with two P’s

For many adults in Singapore, life is a long and difficult speedway that stretches from the instant they begin working to the moment they goes into retirement.

On average, a Singaporean spends around thirty years working, with financial security and comfort as the main goals in doing so. Some use up less time to accomplish these aspirations, while others take even longer than the typical three decades of employment; however, with the demands of our fast-paced lifestyles, the latter is more common. Moreover, the retirement age in Singapore has moved to sixty-two, so most of them have to work beyond thirty years.

During this lengthy period of time, many employees, regardless of their profession, will be struck by moments of exhaustion and lack of interest. We are all familiar with that dreadful phase: frustration, then disillusionment, then the inevitable weariness of body, mind and heart. And then you find yourself dragging your feet to work every day. More often than not, these feelings are caused by wrong motivation and a lack of direction in your career—how do we recover from such a slump or better yet, avoid it?

Steve Jobs left a legendary quote on what he felt about great work. "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do, if you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on."

This is where passion and purpose comes in. In choosing a (potentially long-term) career, it is important that we identify what we are most passionate about. Some discover it during polytechnics or universities, while others may start honing their interests only during later years. Baking pastries, getting involved in the advertising industry, teaching technology to impressionable minds—whatever your interests might be, constantly expose yourself to them and learn what you can about them. This will help motivate and inspire you. And by trying many things, you might have the Aha moment in know which one gives you the most important impression.

Pursuing your general purpose in life can also do wonders to your career. Ask yourself: What are your values? What matters most to you? Who do you want to become? What makes you excited to wake up each morning to do that stuff? Questions like this can uncover some significant insights that can help you to make better career choices or employment decisions.

While financial security is on top of everyone’s list of reasons for working, it is not the right type of motivation and it does not necessarily guarantee long-term happiness. For example, you might be having a high salary, but you really hated your job. Do you feel miserable or happy? Financials are important, but that should not be your primary driver to a purposeful and meaningful career.

The key to avoid losing interest is by pursuing something you love and working on something you truly enjoy. Improvement in performance is possible once you stick to what you know and like best, thus, giving you a rewarding sense of satisfaction that cannot be matched by any amount of money.

Furthermore, remember that given the right amount of positivity, direction and determination, every single Singaporean has the inborn potential to be happy with and succeed in his or her career expectations. Stay focused and inspired, and your career is bound to reach new heights. 

Chan Ngee Key, Career Coach and Strategist, Training Edge International