As a kid, we all were told to study hard so that we can have a good life later. The problem is we are studying without knowing who we want to be. I was in a tight spot when I graduated, I didn't know what I wanted to do but I clearly knew what I didn't want. So, I always used the exclusion method to make a decision; took out everything I didn't want to and went with whatever was left in hand. This method worked to some point but deep down I kept looking for an answer to the same question: What do I want to do in life?
Don't get me wrong. I'm always grateful for every opportunity I earned to this date.
I learned medicine for my bachelor's degree and this helps me provide the right medical knowledge and advice to people around me.
When I joined a web design & marketing company, I learned what digital marketing is and some incredible knowledge of Search Engine Optimization. I met a great mentor who taught me how to do business and behave properly as a leader. Working with my mentor stretched me from head to toes, from a small, timid, super-nice girl to who I am today and gave me a really strong foundation to be a responsible, daring and accountable person for society.
In 2020-2021, while I was working for a company, I also started a bakery and online shopping as a side job. I was everywhere but not moving forward at all. I was doing a lot of work but not empowered inside.
In 2022, I changed my career again, this time as a Logo Designer. Luckily, before I am fully committed to this new profession, I had a chance to talk with my business partner who is a professional life coach. She asked me: Why do you choose to be a logo designer?
After thinking carefully, my answer was, to my surprise, that I just wanted to have a specific professional title, a title that I could use to answer when I was asked "What do you do for a living?" In another word, an IDENTITY. I chose to be a logo designer simply to have an identity, not because I was passionate about doing design!
Then, my partner suggested to me to focus on one thing and go for a bigger identity, an identity that I could totally take on but would never dream of before: a Business Developer. Hearing this made me realize that this was what I was missing all this time − Clarity.
The take-home message here is:
If you can't live without an identity, give yourself a BIGGER one.
You are more than your identity. You are greater than your identity.
Yamong Thaw
Jan 23, 2022 (Sunday)
