👋🏻 to 10k followers on LinkedIn!
To celebrate, I’ve decided to share 5 big “failures” in my life. 😳
1️⃣ Life of an Almost Artist
Growing up, I loved art and drawing. I even wanted to do Art History while at Columbia University!
However, my parents advised me to major in economics instead, so I did.
Which is how I ended up spending my first 7 years working at BlackRock. 😅
2️⃣ GMAT
While at Columbia University, I thought that my step would be to go to business school, which is why I ended up taking my GMATs (and got a pretty decent score).
However, I never applied to any business school because I realised that most MBA graduates just ended up in another soul-sucking job. It was prestigious, but they were so miserable.
I realised that if I went down this same path, I would be right back where I was at BlackRock.
Miserable and stuck.
3️⃣ Quitting after being made VP
While at BlackRock, I was:
✅ Earning 6-figures in my early 20s; and
✅ Had worked in Hong Kong, New York and London.
But I was miserable.
I realised that switching locations and even roles wasn’t enough so I gave myself a goal: Become VP.
And when I was promoted to VP, I sent in my resignation letter. 😅
My rationale was simple: If everything came crashing down, I had still left the finance world with a VP title so it shouldn’t be so hard to step back in!
4️⃣ Too American
After BlackRock, I worked at Style Theory - a fashion startup.
And that was where I learned the importance of work culture.
I had been immersed in the American work culture for 7 years at BlackRock - being efficient and extremely direct with what I wanted and thought.
That same working style did not fly in a Singaporean startup. Being direct or “too American” was a huge setback and even affected my relationship with my colleagues!
5️⃣ Creating my own fashion brand?!
While deep in the startup world, I felt the itch to create my own fashion brand.
I made my own pencil skirts, visited different trade shows and factories, created samples and even had a hotel tell me that they were interested in my startup idea!
But it went nowhere because, at the last minute, I felt too overwhelmed and decided to let the dream go. 😳
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My LinkedIn profile might seem prestigious but the reality is anything but!
I made a lot of mistakes, and was swayed multiple times by what seemed “prestigious” and ultimately, it took a long time for me to land on what I love: Helping others help their dream career.
It wasn’t easy, but it’s worth it.
I hope my failures encourage you to step out and try something new.
Failure is not the end.
It is just a chapter in your journey.
P/S: If you’d like to find your dream career, DM me FAILURE!
I’ve helped clients from J&J, BCG, Amazon and Google find their perfect-for-you career and would love to see how I can help you too.
