Does the dream job truly exist?
On finding happiness at work
When seeking a career as you come out of school or making a job change, always take the job that looks like it will be the most enjoyable. If it pays the most, you’re lucky. If it doesn’t, take it anyway, I took a severe pay cut to accept each of the two best jobs I’ve ever had, and they both turned out to be exceptionally rewarding financially. - Byron Wien
I finished reading Eric Sim’s book “Small Actions Leading Your Career to Big Success” not too long ago and besides the host of wisdoms that I have taken away, one section also made me ponder about happiness at work.
In Chapter 55, Eric mentioned that we need different types of happiness from our jobs:
Financial - to survive or maybe thrive
Relationships - especially good relationships at work
Interests - ideally work is your passion but all’s not lost if it isn’t
Meaning - is there meaning in what you do?
Health - all other forms of happiness pale in comparison to this one if it is poorly taken care of
As I reflected about my short career journey thus far, I realise that I was in pursuit of this elusive ‘happiness at work’ all along. I could not find any of the above in the law, nor in the startup that I entered into after that. As I thought about where I am right now, and looked back at some of the notes I wrote in my diary (yes I kept many diaries), I got a shock - I am actually working in my dream job!
By ‘dream job’, I mean that my current role actually ticks all the boxes that I wrote down that I wanted in a job, back in 2019 when I was so unhappy in the law.
What else do you want in your career? (1 June 2019)
Flexibility of time to do what I want
Flexibility to work from home
Meet people
Talk to people
Walk around outside
Learn new things
Explore
Flexibility to take leave when I want
Speak
Analysing people/society/relations/cultures
Be my own boss
The above are word-for-word.
When I told my dad about this desire in the past, he told me to be a financial consultant. Yes, self-employed roles seem to be the only viable career path for all my requirements. But I did not want to settle for a job that I was not passionate about. And so I waited.
When I applied to Star Magnolia Capital in July 2022, I was interested in exploring the family office industry. I was in my startup then but I wanted to do something different, and I specifically wanted to dive into the world of family offices.
So, I interviewed with Shinya Deguchi, founder of Star Magnolia, for a role on the investment team. Unsurprisingly, I was found to be unsuitable since I do not have any prior experience. However, Shinya offered me the role of Business Manager at Next Gen Investors Endowment instead, the non-profit passion project started by himself and Tiffany Liu, another investment professional at Star Magnolia.
Little did I know, that this role would provide me with happiness and purpose that I never expected to find in my career.
First of all, my role ticks all of the criteria that I listed back in 2019. I am not the boss, but my bosses (Shinya and Tiffany) afford me the trust and independence to deliver, take initiative and make things happen.
Secondly, I get to fully work from home and this provides me with the flexibility to respond to any emergencies or situations in the family.
Finally, I get to learn and grow in the areas that I am most interested in - the world, companies, and people. Beyond learning about people I have never met, I meet so many people from all industries and stages of life. I get to interact with people all the time, and that is what adds the meaning to my work.
Although no job is perfect (yet), as Byron says, this job is the most enjoyable so far.
“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” - Mark Twain
Of course, every job has its ups and downs. There are times I feel frustrated and helpless, and sometimes there is just too many things that need to be done, and too little resources available.
However, Eric also mentioned in his book about the importance of being grateful and counting your blessings. When you start to be grateful, you may realise that you are in a wonderful place, and the grass is not actually greener on the other side.
These days, it is so common for people to have side hustles to do something they find meaning in, while earning a living in their day job. In some other cases, people work 2 jobs to supplement their income and they don’t have the ‘luxury’ to do something they find meaning in.
Personally, I would encourage everyone to keep searching for the job that gives them both purpose/meaning and financial sustenance. Of course, the financial reward may not be ‘exceptional’ at the start. But I am of the view that one should not compromise on purpose in exchange for financial reward.
In any case, I would love to hear your thoughts as well on what constitutes happiness at work and whether you have found it, or are in pursuit of it.