Along our career paths, we face so many challenges and choices.
How can I make the best decisions for myself? This is a question that bothers us for the majority of our youth. Growing up in the ’70s, ’80s or even ’90s, we don’t have role models for career development.
Looking back, our parents’ generation — who received professional training under China’s planned economy — was very much used to the idea of going to work from 8am to 5pm, and believed in doing the assigned job diligently. They were not aware of the difference between a job and a career.
In addition to that, working overtime was an alien idea to them: why should one work so hard for their employers, as it is the employer who benefits, not each individual?
Our generation grew up in a reformed China, where more job opportunities had been created, new industries were developing, and Western values like “career development” had flooded in. However, we are pretty much on our own to navigate these changes, and learn how to build our careers.
Jackie You
Without realizing it, we’ve stepped on a career development treadmill, where we believe the only direction to go is forward. As we march ahead and grow older, we accumulate more and more baggage — families, mortgages, and children’s tuition all become factors dominating our career choices. Is that the only path we’re destined to take? Is there another option?
Jackie You’s response to this questions is clear and sound: No, don’t let these factors affect your choices. You should follow your heart!
Jackie is an ex-investment banker, former CFO of a US publicly listed company, and an entrepreneur. On our latest episode, Jackie uses her personal experience to explain why your heart knows better than your mind when it comes to certain life choices — according to her, when your heart points you in one direction, you should just go with it.
Previous episodes of the Wǒ Men podcast can be found here, and you can find Wǒ Men on iTunes here.
Have thoughts or feedback to share? Want to join the discussion? Write to Yajun and Jingjing at womenpodcast@outlook.com.
Soundcloud embed (if you’re in China, turn your VPN on):
