Afterthoughts

Just one week away from my next travails, a backpacking trip across the Philippines! I'm traveling with new CS friend Karl, and we're doing something off-the-beaten track, with farmstays, free dives, and some good ol' spelunking!


Right after that in mid July, I'll be kickstarting my career in SABIC, the largest public company in Saudi Arabia and a diversified manufacturing powerhouse. The program was what really attracted me: a two-year leadership development program for IT professionals, and boasting a lot of investment. Four diverse rotations across entire IT functions and working on projects spanning the globe! And a 3-week training course in the Netherlands in Aug/Sept to boot!


Of course, it's a riskier move than some of my other offers, which have stronger brand reputations and offer better remuneration packages that'll probably appeal more to others. That aside, I'm thoroughly excited about the opportunities abound, and will be looking forward to learn and garner as much experience as possible, and meeting all the interesting people out there!


With income coming in, I met with Alan to look at insurance planning options and some of my priorities in life. Undoubtedly he's someone I trust very much and have a lot of respect for. And i feel that it's a huge element in choosing your agent; it's not really about the policy or company but about the sense of trust and protection, the intangibles and emotional aspect, that really counts in the life insurance industry. I am glad to have someone whom I have worked with closely and built up a relationship with to choose as an agent.

He mentioned a personal observation about me that was a particularly striking theme in my job search... that I was someone who's outwardly unambitious, but inwardly ambitious. I don't really agree with that inward part, but I'm sure that's how many people see me. When interviewers look at my resume and see the double firsts, the volunteer initiative, the leadership roles, they're thinking like this: One of those high-achieving guys. What's his sweet spot? What keeps him going? Ambition for power, achievement, etc?

And, possibly contrary to interview guides out there, I always answer the same thing.

To make change happen. To bring great ideas and innovation into reality. To push what I think makes a difference out into this world. And to me, it really doesn't matter if I benefit from it in any way. I remember saying, Don't expect me to compete with others (in the program) to get ahead. I'm not going to fight for attention or clamour for credit. I'm not going to enjoy the political game. Because I don't get driven by the thought of climbing for power or money. It really doesn't appeal to me at all. I don't get power for power's sake.

But empower me to learn, to think and to dream, to pitch my vision out to a listening audience, to source for resources and connections that'll make it possible, and to lead the team to drive it through and make it a goddamn success - that keeps me going.

In that sense, I'm not a very consistent performer. Times when the environment set me free, I flew. Times when I just got put down, I plummeted. Sometimes it's tough to get a great attitude going when things are against you. I'm still working on it, too. And i guess that's why it is so important to find a good fit of company and personal culture.

Personally it was a tough choice amidst all the corporate Kool-Aid. In the end I trusted in my UBS mentor's advice: 'Go West, young man.' Well, not exactly, but anyway...

Time to start earning my flying creds.