Your job is a trap!

Case Study 1

I met this witty young man when I was doing a survey on happiness in the mall. He works as a project engineer in an engineering firm. I called him once on his birthday and he said he wants to do something else in life and he signed up for the Be At Your Best program. After the 2 days start of the Be At Your Best program he was very excited and motivated to listen to his heart and work on doing something different. However, when he is back at the work he is sucked back into the busy working lifestyle and forgets about working on the things his heart wants. He tries his best to come for the follow up workshops and talks but many times can’t make it because of conference calls, late meetings, deadlines and other work related demands.

Me in action in the Be At Your Best 2 days

Case Study 2

She hates her job … yes really and just wants to take a break. She was fascinated with my lifestyle and my ability to follow my heart, leave my corporate job and now do what I love doing. The time and money freedom I have. The time with my children especially, the time for myself,  the happier me attracted her to do the Be At Your Best program. After the 2 days start of the Be At Your Best program she was very excited and motivated to listen to her heart and work on balancing her life, her happiness and do something she loves.  She came for that week’s talk, bringing her daughter.  But after that, the demands of her job set in and she could not make it for the weekday talks nor the weekend follow-ups. At first she tried her best to come, but later, in time it was no longer a priority and soon she forgot about it. She heads the operations of a private hospital. Work stress often gets to her to the point that she falls ill, suffers from back and neck pain, gastritis and headaches. Once in awhile when I call her she will remember the part of doing something different but by now the fear of stepping out of a well paying , monthly paying job, scares her. The perceived security of her current job supersedes the adverse impact on her happiness and health.

They are not unique in this, many of the participants of the Be At Your Best program get excited after the 2 days but get sucked into their environment after that. Their old habit patterns and fear overshadows their heart and intellect.

So you see, your job is a trap! Really it is. Your job becomes the center of your life … more important than family and friends .. your health and happiness! Very so often you get a glimpse of awareness that this is not what you want … but your job will suck you into the busyness, deadlines, meetings … that becomes a priority over your happiness and health … over what your HEART wants.

You see, your heart has the blueprint of your life. Really, even Steve Jobs said it in his Stanford College Graduation Speech. Your heart guides you through life to learn, grow, evolve and fulfil the purpose of your life. When you listen to your heart it gets stronger. When you don’t, well it gets weaker and over time you can’t hear it anymore. You just get lost in the drama of life, mostly other people’s drama, get delusional and the first signs are in your loss of peace of mind, your happiness … later your health.

So … what happens on the flip side?

Case Study 3

Heerraa is an 18 year old singer, song writer, composer, musician and Founder & CEO of Cosmic Records.  Cosmic Records produces music videos, singles and corporate music videos. She follows her heart and does what she loves. She has not worked in a 9 to 5 job nor does she want to. Her hours are filled writing songs, recording and performing.  She is also the Creative Head in Ascendance, a dynamic team of youngsters sharing their success with their peers and supporting them in listening to their hearts, being creative and achieving their goals. Here she is either busy doing workshops and talking to peers or doing presentation in branding partner meetings. Something many adults would envy. Her focus is on her happiness, health and then the wealth her heart desires. Learning about herself and unleashing her potential.

Heerraa recording her music video

Heerraa on stage during one of her performance.

Case Study 4

Mathura is 21 this December. She loves accounting and for her internship she joined Simply Empowering, an ET Ideas Associate Company.  She went against the force and pressure to work in a big four or more established accounting firm. Here in Simply Empowering she is an associate who visits clients doing their accounts, learning not only the full experience of accounting but also people skills. She needs to think and come out with solutions. She has the flexibility of time and huge growth potential to take the business to a new level. In bigger firms you would be photocopying and following instructions, trust me, I know this coz I interned in PWC [one of the big accounting firms]. She is also Ascendance Team Leader. Here she sets the direction for her team, testing and stretching her leadership skills. She leverages their strengths to deliver results. She helps them manage their weakness and grow.  She is also busy doing workshops and talking to peers or doing presentation in branding partner meetings. Again, something many adults would envy. Her focus is on her happiness, health and then the wealth her heart desires. Learning about herself and unleashing her potential.

Mathura with her team, Ascendance.

Mathura managing the camera during Coffee with ET, a talk hosted by Ascendance.

I am just naming 2 examples. There are many other young ET Ideas Associates who have avoided the trap and set their course, their own rules, focused on their goals …. coming up with creative and unprecedented ways to achieve material goals. Hence, if you have not entered the trap then DON'T.  Follow your heart and live your life!

Then the next question is … if you are already in the trap but your heart yearns to do something else, then what do you do?

Case Study 5

Genkes was working in a company when the company did the Corporate Be At Your Best program.  He then realized that he wanted to do something different with his life but did not know what to do. He took the initiative to meet Elango weekly driving an hour to and another back. Then he realized his love for Chess and his passion in teaching children. He kept meeting Elango and exercised discipline in putting into practice the learning, transforming slowly from within and later growing his business outside. He constantly upgraded his skills in playing chess and started teaching a few students while doing his best in the company he worked in. The result is he got promoted into a leadership role in the company and won the bronze medal for Malaysia in the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar.  He is also the Founder and CEO of Chess Master, conducting Chess Workshops in over 10 schools, teaching over 1000 students and creating a generation of thinkers. Now he is full time with Chess Master, focusing on his happiness, health, family, students, doing what he loves,  learning about himself and growing spiritually and intellectually. He is now guiding new and upcoming instructors for Chess Master. He is very successful and still understands the importance of being in the environment and is there with his family at ET Ideas Weekly meetings.

Genkes with his Chess Master team

Genkes during one of his Chess classes

So if you are in the trap, joining the Be At Your Best program is only the beginning. There is no magic pill. You need to prioritize your change … use willpower, put the lessons into practice and most importantly keep coming to the ET Ideas environment.

Case Study 6

Huoy Tyng was my ex colleague and when I wished her on her birthday, she told me she had quit her job and doesn’t know what to do next. She was unhappy in her job, had health problems due to stress and was emotionally down. So I asked her to come for ET Youth Talk, she did. Then she kept coming for all talks. She did the Be At Your Best program and was one of the most disciplined person to put it into practice. Her transformation was very quick and evident in her happiness and health. It was really heart-warming to see her grow. She is now a qualified personal trainer and does Inside-out Mind Body Solutions talks and workshop, a unique program she founded.

Huoy Tyng sharing her experiences with Ascendance On The Road participants 

If you want to get out of the trap by taking the plunge and quitting your job like Huoy Tyng and me then you must have enough savings to sustain you for at least 2-3 years coz change takes time, especially personal transformation and then building a business doing what your heart loves. Secondly, you must be persistent in being in the ET Ideas environment where people are working on their goals and listening to their hearts. Third, be disciplined on working on your goals and willing to work hard.

Option 2 would be like Genkes. Do your best at work, learn and grow. But be clear of your priority … your ultimate goals … make sure you are in the ET Ideas environment as much as possible …. come for all the talks, the follow-up workshops and be part of the other ET Ideas activities. Absorb the vibes. Slowly you will start listening to your heart and start working on your goals, starting with your happiness. Many Be At Your Best participants have become ET Ideas Associates this way … transiting slowly from working 9-5 to doing what they love … first in a small scale then in a scale beyond their imagination.

ET Ideas Associates catching the Star Wars premiere.