Life through the eyes of emery

Work, work, work

I've been getting lots of advice on my first job lately. Basically the gist of it all is 'learn as much as you can from ur first job', 'don't be afraid to work hard while u are young and without commitments', 'when u have to work overtime see it as equipping urself with skills', 'get in a company with a good reputation or brand name as a headstart' etc. From how I see it, it's all about being positive and having a good attitude despite the circumstances. Perhaps that's the ingredient to coping & future success.

Work, on the other hand, is ultimately just work. It makes people sometimes lose focus of what is really important in life. It's a hard thing to balance anyway coz nowadays companies work u so hard, and u r only entitled to 7-14 days leave depending on seniority etc. With bills to pay and what-nots plus everything depending on performance, it's a mad world out there :) I've to try and keep my feet edged on the ground when I start. It just saddens me that there are not many companies flexible enough to allow their people to have some work/life balance. There are friends of mine who can't be back for Chinese New Year coz of work... their once a year reunion with families and friends... or cousins who have to rush back home after the reunion because of work commitments. .. or having to work weekends. Friends who can't meet up as often or even never, coz of .. work. Families who can't be together because of where work takes them. I just wish there was a solution to these issues, coz I've been hearing enough of them way too much, and soon enough I'd be stuck in that cycle too.

Which reminds me of a Swedish couple that a friend of mine met in her New Zealand trip, who actually sold their house to travel! Reason: They were afraid that they would have no opportunity to do so when they actually have the money or time. :)

posted by emeryz @ 9:10 PM