I didn’t know what I was good at for a very long time.

And that was a big mistake.

In my first role at BlackRock, I took on a data analytics role because it was a fancy job and had the kind of long-term longevity that I “should” be looking for.

In any event, I was convinced that a fresh graduate like myself should tackle anything I was given with enthusiasm - there was so much to learn!

And indeed there was.

I spent my days coding and querying in SQL and it was… humbling.

Because I was terrible at it.

And that realisation really hurt my self-confidence.

Things got better when I started paying attention to what people said I was good at - connecting with people, selling products and having a high EQ - so I asked to be transferred to a more sales-oriented role as a product strategist at BlackRock.

But it still wasn’t quite there. I knew there was a creative side to myself that I wanted to explore.

So I moved to Style Theory.

There, I discovered and honed new skills - creative problem-solving and the ability to build something from scratch.

This translated into setting up a 2-person business in Hong Kong from scratch with minimal setup cost, and also multiple marketing experimentations designed to build brand awareness and increase revenue.

I also learned to manage and optimise a P&L and understood the importance of investing early on in the right software and people - an investment that many first-time entrepreneurs tend to avoid because of their need to minimise cost (despite the huge long-term benefits!).

Upon reflection, I’m glad to have gone on the career journey I’ve made.

Over time, I learned where my skills lie and how to translate them into career paths that over each iteration were a better fit and utilised more and more of my strengths.

Today it’s helped me build a career as a business owner and career coach that is uniquely perfect for me given its use of skills that I’m both naturally good at and which I’ve acquired. And that includes:

🌟 Commercial awareness - including how to scale a business from the ground up
🌟 Building communities
🌟 People reading - to understand what makes them tick (and what limiting beliefs are holding them back)
🌟 Data crunching & analysing marketing performances
🌟 Selling

Want more guidance on how you can identify your natural strengths and pivot into a job that is perfect for you?

Just contact me STRENGTHS!

I’ve helped many clients from BCG, DBS and Accenture and I’m confident that I can do the same for you.