Staying True to Your Calling

Discover the journey of embracing calling, entrepreneurship, and life's unfolding puzzle.

Hello, lovely souls!

In my last post, I shared my first experience standing before the Shard in London. I anticipated feeling a sense of displacement in a city resembling Jakarta with its skyscrapers and hustle. Yet, upon my return to Edinburgh, I sought something distinct despite persistently applying for jobs. The job hunt began as early as November 2022, quite unusual, but the school indicated that many Graduate programmes commenced recruitment at that time. However, these programmes didn't align with my career aspirations. Although some may argue that taking a step back can propel us forward, this wasn't that kind of step. I instinctively knew it wasn't the path meant for me, so I continued focusing on product management roles.

I'll admit, relentlessly sending out job applications without any responses was soul-crushing. It seemed as though each CV I sent remained unread, and even my LinkedIn premium membership, aimed at reaching out to new connections, proved futile. I felt exhausted and desperate.

It's ironic; I recently spoke to my mentees about how desperation attracts further desperation. I plan to delve deeper into this topic in a future post about the law of attraction and letting go. The core idea is that my energy while sending those applications reeked of desperation. Consequently, my applications didn't yield positive outcomes. It was almost as if my mind predicted failure, and my emotions aligned with that, shaping my reality to confirm my anticipated failures.

The process of applying for jobs became excruciating, taking a toll on my mental well-being. I naively assumed that graduating from a prestigious business school in the UK would offer a significant advantage. I couldn't have been more wrong. A hint of doubt crept in, and I allowed it to grow, eventually forming the thought: "What if I remained unemployed for months? What if I couldn't secure employment before graduation or even find a place to live?"

Echoes of international graduates enduring prolonged job searches (~9 months) and personal anecdotes from acquaintances reinforced my belief in these possibilities.

It's reminiscent of a passage in 'The Power of Now' questioning Tolle about why animals die if they have no thoughts or pain. It's because they are part of a world where we believe in the possibility of their demise.

Remember, thoughts shape our reality.

I endeavoured different manifestation techniques, doubling down on my spiritual efforts, not solely the physical act of sending out multiple job applications each week. I consistently dispatched my CVs for PM roles daily. You see? Desperate measures.

However, nearing my dissertation, I reached a point where I couldn’t juggle three major focuses: job search, flat hunting, and dedicating myself to my dissertation. I hadn't aimed specifically for Distinction, but I was determined not to produce a half-hearted deliverable. Financing my degree from my savings, I was resolute not to squander my hard-earned money. Leaving a well-paying job and a supportive team for my degree, I was committed to delivering my best for the ultimate outcome of my study.

So, I had a conversation with the Lord, expressing my decision to cease my search for a job and a flat just to conform to my ideal order. I chose to concentrate on my dissertation and moved home after my lease at the student accommodation ended. I avoided wasting my time pursuing enticing new opportunities, such as the job opening ads on LinkedIn. I resisted the temptation of wondering 'what if' I pursued other career paths, like Business Analyst (which I applied for a couple of times).

Staying True Leading to the Magic Moment

I stayed true to my calling as a Product Manager, in the crypto-space, an aspiration I had contemplated since January this year.

Much like what I mentioned in the previous post, I experienced a sense of relief while explaining a take-home assignment, seeing its similarity to my dissertation topic, albeit with different focuses. The process went relatively smoothly, and the job offer came when I least expected it. It was the only one in progress, with no other competing offers.

Even before I boarded the plane to Jakarta, I hadn’t yet received the offer confirmation.

The magic occurred the moment I switched on my phone at Jakarta airport. There it was - a message from the headhunter, stating that the company would shortly send me the offer! 😊

That was the defining moment when I realised this opportunity was undoubtedly destined to be a part of my journey towards my higher calling. The job didn’t quite match the ideal I had in mind. It wasn't UK-based, and aside from Jakarta, I was uncertain about where I might end up living. There were doubts about building a robust network again.

(Hint: I penned this section on the morning of 23-Nov, less than ten hours before I connected with a strong network of Indonesian diaspora students who returned to our homeland. This occurred during an event hosted by the headhunter company that linked me to this job. Link here.)

But I knew I would navigate through it all. I realised that the ultimate goal wasn't solely about securing a job in the UK. So, what happened next? Read on for the rest of the story.

The Call to Entrepreneurship

Since I encountered numerous solopreneurs and entrepreneurs in my blockchain network in the UK and Singapore, my inner self was aware of what I was missing. And I recall that quote from Harry Potter, paraphrased: "Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it." In a jest, I was in Scotland, the land of Hogwarts, in Edinburgh no less. Well before moving there, I prayed to God to illuminate the path to realizing my true potential.

The people I surrounded myself with, the projects that piqued my interest, and the trajectory of my career—all seemed to converge in one direction. My role as a product manager wouldn't have materialized had I not pursued that dissertation topic, which effortlessly prepared me for the take-home assignment. During the dissertation phase, a good friend asked if I'd join his team in an entrepreneurship competition centred around blockchain. How serendipitous was that chance?

(My favourite view in Jakarta: the setting sun peeking from between the skyscrapers)

From the human perspective, it might seem mundane. But when I delved into my calling, I recognised it as a part of my life's journey to become who I am meant to be. Our team made it to the UK national finals but didn’t proceed to the international final. Despite the outcome, the experience of collaborating with my friends, crafting a business pitch, and more, bolstered my confidence in Singapore and every time I spoke about my team's business idea and my career then, and now.

This entrepreneurship journey, while I was part of that team and now as I build my coaching business, means less leisurely time. Yet, it’s gratifying. I once wrote on my mood board: "To make progress, learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable." A friend mentioned that he never saw the life he didn’t take as a sacrifice to his entrepreneurial path but as a choice. That shifted my mindset too.

Returning as a product manager, a career I've been in for almost seven years, I recall Steve Jobs' words: "You can’t connect the dots looking forward, you can only do it looking backwards."

I’m still gathering the dots. Occasionally, I catch a glimpse of what the final puzzle might look like. The more obvious ones are the ones I’ve focused on: a life of teaching and coaching to elevate others, and a community of inspiring individuals who share and learn from each other.

I'll delve deeper into our society's cyclical shift to a decentralised manner in another post (I have so many ideas to share).

My North Star is an entrepreneurial journey where I impart my values to others' lives and career aspirations. And with such a clear calling, even holding an office day job harmonizes well—it’s a piece of the puzzle. Life’s grandeur lies in these tiny pieces; a missing one leaves a void.

This perspective makes life more enjoyable. Instead of thinking "I’ll be happy when my business grows, when I return to Scotland..." I perceive life as an unfolding journey. This episode requires me to put extra work into laying the coaching business's foundation alongside my day job, and that's okay. It doesn’t affect my happiness. I'm content in Jakarta, surrounded by inspiring colleagues. It’s part of my learning curve, a vehicle towards the ultimate goal.

Lesson Learned

To sum it up:

• To change your life, align your life and objectives with the Higher Power. I consult and seek advice in my daily prayer session, trusting in God.

• Practice discernment to understand your calling.

• Once your intuition sharpens, let life unfold. Consider it an opportunity to learn, meet new people, or pivot toward the next step.

Ultimately, we navigate our lives as both drivers and observers. Despite practising discernment and knowing our calling, we don’t know the individual threads that will weave our tapestry.

So, relish your life and stay true to your calling. Ignoring it has a hefty price—the life you could live, a calling pounding in your chest and ears. That, my friend, is a cost too dear to bear and a regret to be had later on.

Until then,