In this book, Joseph Badaracco explores serious fiction in search of leadership examples for us to explore and learn from.
Intriguing considering that most business books does not deal with such topics in literature but rather historical figures and other leaders in various forms or other.
He always starts each chapter with a question, starting from the dreams to reflection. A very structured approach in my opinion, as everyone starts with a dream and only upon reflection can we then learn from successes or failures.
He asks
1) "Do I have a good dream?"
Arthur Miller's Death of Salesman is then used as the serious fiction for this topic. In it, the salesman had big, great dreams... which were far away from his realities. In escaping from reality, he fails miserably not only in his job, but ultimately also in his relationship with family and his son. Resultant ending culminated in his suicide to earn insurance for his son whom was probably already a failure, but he had still high hopes for.
2) "How flexible is my moral code?"
Tells the story of Chinua Achebe's Things fall apart. A leader who stood by his principles so strongly that he refuses to accept other ideas and other people's opinions. In short, the leader failed eventually to repel the British Colonialists and committed suicide.
3) "Do I have unsettling role models?"
Perhaps the most poignant tale amongst the stories. Allan Gurganus's Blesses Assurance: A Moral Tale, tells of a young man who was so affected by an unlikely role model during his time working as a insurance agent, that he somehow still remembers after nearly forty years later when he suffered an heart attack. He had tried to help to poor old folks in paying their insurance until he himself who is not well-to-do could not afford to. But he translated this in his later years, by doing community service, building an ethical business but at the same time still feel guilty about his eventual inability to help them.
4) "Do I really Care?"
F.Scott Fitzgerald's The Love of a Tycoon. A story of a committed and determined business leader in Hollywood's film studios who used his patience, courage and tenacity to continue his the film production business but at the cost of personal family and eventually his life.
5) "Am I ready to take Responsibility?"
Joseph Conrad's The Secret Sharer. The story of a new captain of a ship who took the huge risk of taking secretly a sailor whom had potentially commited a crime in another ship. Along the way, he learns about the nature of leadership and steering a thin line between effective command of his ship and maintaining his desire to assist the sailor for his escape.
6) "Can I resist the flow of success?"
Louis Auchincloss I come as a Thief. A pretty sad story of how a very successful lawyer with promising career ahead of him, took into the path of destruction by choosing to pursue a criminal activity even though he had a choice not to. But he took the courage to expose himself and eventually took responsibility of his ill-intentioned choice and paid the price of losing everything.
7) "How well do I combine principles and pragmatism?"
Robert Bolt's A Man for all Seasons. The story of Thomas More who uses wit, humour while maintaining his strong principles in the face of King Henry.
8) "What is sound reflection?"
Sophocles Antigone. Tells story of Antigone and Creon. Both individuals whom I think had perhaps been too quick to make decisions without thinking through their actions. If a fair measure reflection was done, perhaps the end tragedy would not have occurred.
Good read.... we should ask ourselves these questions all the time....
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Moving On....
It has been awhile since my last post... but it has been quite eventful period.
I shall be moving on from my current position, one which I have held for the past nearly 8 years. Moving on is tough... but sometimes it is a necessary and perhaps mayb could a good thing. Being in a single place for too long, one could become really stale... and become the small frog in the well who wonders what is like out there.
Again, the decision was not easy but it was not difficult either, just a matter doing it. Perhaps, I already knew that I had to move on... staying would have not made any sense, because it would mean another couple of years doing the same things, with the same people and same challenges leading nowhere and learning nothing.
Life is a continuing journey of learning, experiencing and also enjoyment... we should perhaps be conscious that this could be really the state of being human...
I shall be moving on from my current position, one which I have held for the past nearly 8 years. Moving on is tough... but sometimes it is a necessary and perhaps mayb could a good thing. Being in a single place for too long, one could become really stale... and become the small frog in the well who wonders what is like out there.
Again, the decision was not easy but it was not difficult either, just a matter doing it. Perhaps, I already knew that I had to move on... staying would have not made any sense, because it would mean another couple of years doing the same things, with the same people and same challenges leading nowhere and learning nothing.
Life is a continuing journey of learning, experiencing and also enjoyment... we should perhaps be conscious that this could be really the state of being human...
Monday, April 7, 2008
Warren's Way
Been reading quite abit on Warren Buffett's letter to Berkshire's Shareholders. This is a man that does not fear admit that he is also fallible like any other human. He admits the mistakes that he had made and also made provisions for his eventual departure from this world.
I think in real terms, the kind of tacit knowledge that Warren has in his brain will be difficult to replicate, although Charles Munger may be a ideal replacement for him, and that the transfer of knowledge had taken place for many years. Charles himself is also of advanced age, so I wonder how his three nominated successors are going to be able to carry on the traditions of the his style of value investing.
Great read for anyone... can learn by just reading what he writes in his letters the philosophy and investment style. BTW, managed to purchase "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham at a value price $10 only yesterday... Thanks to Roddy's tip.
I think in real terms, the kind of tacit knowledge that Warren has in his brain will be difficult to replicate, although Charles Munger may be a ideal replacement for him, and that the transfer of knowledge had taken place for many years. Charles himself is also of advanced age, so I wonder how his three nominated successors are going to be able to carry on the traditions of the his style of value investing.
Great read for anyone... can learn by just reading what he writes in his letters the philosophy and investment style. BTW, managed to purchase "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham at a value price $10 only yesterday... Thanks to Roddy's tip.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
One Paper Clip at A Time
Tonight, I watched a film titled One Paper Clip at a Time. An award-winning documentary, it shows touching scenes of how a group of students led by their teachers and principle of Whitewell Middle School, Tennessee, taking on a journey of which they would never expected to become an incredible success. The journey was called The Paper Clips Project.
They had intended to do a group project focusing on the Holocaust. The purpose was to educate the 8th grade kids on the importance of diversity and tolerance. Hence, they began searching doing posters and class group discussions on it. One day, one of the students found that the Norwegians during World War 2 had used the paperclip as a symbol of defiance against the Nazis.
And thus began their journey of collecting 6 million paper clips to represent the loss of the people during one of twentieth century's greatest tragedies. It was amazing how they took upon themselves to bring forth to educate themselves considering they were from the south of the United States, typically white kids with very little interaction with other kids other races and cultures.
They had intended to do a group project focusing on the Holocaust. The purpose was to educate the 8th grade kids on the importance of diversity and tolerance. Hence, they began searching doing posters and class group discussions on it. One day, one of the students found that the Norwegians during World War 2 had used the paperclip as a symbol of defiance against the Nazis.
And thus began their journey of collecting 6 million paper clips to represent the loss of the people during one of twentieth century's greatest tragedies. It was amazing how they took upon themselves to bring forth to educate themselves considering they were from the south of the United States, typically white kids with very little interaction with other kids other races and cultures.
All in all, at the filming, they collected a total of 29 million paper clips from all over the world. Finally, they managed to get hold of a old German railway car (supposedly have carried prisoners during the war), refurbished it with the help of the town community and filled it with 11 million paper clips. Subsequently, a memorial was held and the students themselves starts to educate other students from the state who come over to Whitwell on field trips.
It was a 2-DVD set, and I took the opportunity to have open the 2nd one. This time, it showed them in New York at ground zero of the World Trade Center. There, one of the kids could not help but feel so sad that he wanted to be alone.
This documentary had opened my eyes that our adult prejudices and intolerance can indeed be overcomed through education of young. Only then, that could this world in the future avoid the constant wars, acts of terrorism and move society towards a more compassionate treatment of people who are different.
I could still remember the speech made by one of the Holocaust survivors. It was so heart-wrenching how he and his family was separated into the Left and Right lines. Only he and his brother survived by being on the Right, while his mother and other relatives move on to the gas chamber. Similar to what Viktor Frankl had described in his book, The Search For Meaning which I had posted here.
Definitely, a film worth watching.
Rating: *****/5 stars
It was a 2-DVD set, and I took the opportunity to have open the 2nd one. This time, it showed them in New York at ground zero of the World Trade Center. There, one of the kids could not help but feel so sad that he wanted to be alone.
This documentary had opened my eyes that our adult prejudices and intolerance can indeed be overcomed through education of young. Only then, that could this world in the future avoid the constant wars, acts of terrorism and move society towards a more compassionate treatment of people who are different.
I could still remember the speech made by one of the Holocaust survivors. It was so heart-wrenching how he and his family was separated into the Left and Right lines. Only he and his brother survived by being on the Right, while his mother and other relatives move on to the gas chamber. Similar to what Viktor Frankl had described in his book, The Search For Meaning which I had posted here.
Definitely, a film worth watching.
Rating: *****/5 stars
Three Signs of a Miserable Job
This book by Patrick Lencioni tells of a fable of a retired CEO, Brian Bailey who sets out to transform a small dilapidated pizza outlet with umotivated employees to people who take pride in their work.
Simple but a powerful story nonetheless, but have lots of meaning. In a nutshell:
Anonymity
People cannot be fulfilled in their work if they are not known. All human
beings need to be understood and appreciated for their unique qualities by
someone in a position of authority.
Notes: Give due recognition to people no matter what kind of job/work they do. Everyone is an essential part of the unit. Get to know them personally.Irrelevance
Everyone needs to know their job matters to someone. Anyone. Without seeing a connection between the work and the satisfaction of another person or group of people, an employee simply will not find lasting fulfillment.Notes: Link relevance to the job. Think in term of service and linkage to others in the entire team
Immeasurement
Employees must be able to gauge their progress and level of contribution for
themselves. They cannot be fulfilled in their work if their success depends
on the opinions or whims of another person.Notes: Provide opportunity for the person to set his/her measurements that can tangibly seen through his/her own standards.
Rating: **** stars
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Sadness in my Heart and Jewel's Hands
I was following up on my assignment of James W. Pennebaker and decided to do more research on him.
He had found that during September 11 attacks after the planes had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, bloggers had expressed an "elevated rate of negative moods in the days after 9/11 - were generally quite healthy. They were psychologically distancing themselves from the emotional turmoil of the event."
So, I thought I would look up in YouTube for some videos of the traumatic event and found a couple of them. The first one, was posted by Brian Bezalel showing George Bush and the numerous images of the event with Jewel's song Hands. I felt that the song was most appropriate, sounded so soulful....
Second one here, was a about a lady named Melissa Doi. She was trapped at the 83rd floor of one of the towers, and I could really feel her despair and desperation while the policewoman handling the call was trying to calm her down. At some point, she had raised her voice which I could fully understand... and then suddenly I felt very sad in my heart... cannot really explain it but just like a sense of emptiness as I hear her pleas for help.
Third one here. After listening to Jewel's Hands in the first video, I was curious... I decide to look for her MTV video and there I found her singing... and again the scenes were of terrible devastation. The initial scenes were again of people suffering and crying, but at the end there were signs of hope and courage.... see the video and you will know what I mean.
Final one here. I decided to find Jewel's lyrics on video and finally understood the message she was saying.
In life, we will face ups and downs. In the end we can overcome whatever obstacles we encounter if we maintain our faith....
I do not know whether after blogging this here, would I feel better and meaningful. But definitely doing this assignment really had made me feel sadness but also hope that we can triumph in the face of adversity and troubles.
He had found that during September 11 attacks after the planes had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, bloggers had expressed an "elevated rate of negative moods in the days after 9/11 - were generally quite healthy. They were psychologically distancing themselves from the emotional turmoil of the event."
So, I thought I would look up in YouTube for some videos of the traumatic event and found a couple of them. The first one, was posted by Brian Bezalel showing George Bush and the numerous images of the event with Jewel's song Hands. I felt that the song was most appropriate, sounded so soulful....
Second one here, was a about a lady named Melissa Doi. She was trapped at the 83rd floor of one of the towers, and I could really feel her despair and desperation while the policewoman handling the call was trying to calm her down. At some point, she had raised her voice which I could fully understand... and then suddenly I felt very sad in my heart... cannot really explain it but just like a sense of emptiness as I hear her pleas for help.
Third one here. After listening to Jewel's Hands in the first video, I was curious... I decide to look for her MTV video and there I found her singing... and again the scenes were of terrible devastation. The initial scenes were again of people suffering and crying, but at the end there were signs of hope and courage.... see the video and you will know what I mean.
Final one here. I decided to find Jewel's lyrics on video and finally understood the message she was saying.
In life, we will face ups and downs. In the end we can overcome whatever obstacles we encounter if we maintain our faith....
I do not know whether after blogging this here, would I feel better and meaningful. But definitely doing this assignment really had made me feel sadness but also hope that we can triumph in the face of adversity and troubles.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Expressive Writing, Traumas and Health
I just finished reading one tough article titled: Expressive Writing, Emotional Upheavals, and Health by James W. Pennebaker and Cindy K. Chung.
Wow... incredible... I did not understand the material at all during my first reading... totally lost. Was supposed to do a presentation on this as part of my Knowledge Assets course requirements. This paper is published in a Health Psychology journal, but my group was asked to do this... strange ah? But I think the main crux of this paper maybe linked to the course after all. We, humans are also Knowledge Assets, so understanding ourselves could definitely be beneficial.
Anyway, back to the paper. In a nutshell, the paper suggests that writing expressively has certain health benefits.
Some of my notes indicate:
1) Writing forces people to stop and reevaluate their life circumstances.
2) Talking and Writing about emotional experiences are superior to writing about superficial topics.
3) Disclosure of writing of emotional events has broad benefits.
4) Timing of writing is important. Too early may have negative consequences. Sometimes, denial, detachment and distraction is healthy. However, prolonged thinking of the trauma in the following weeks and months would require expressive writing intervention and benefits will occur.
Interesting paper.... this means blogging about your feelings can actually help attain better health.
Wow... incredible... I did not understand the material at all during my first reading... totally lost. Was supposed to do a presentation on this as part of my Knowledge Assets course requirements. This paper is published in a Health Psychology journal, but my group was asked to do this... strange ah? But I think the main crux of this paper maybe linked to the course after all. We, humans are also Knowledge Assets, so understanding ourselves could definitely be beneficial.
Anyway, back to the paper. In a nutshell, the paper suggests that writing expressively has certain health benefits.
Some of my notes indicate:
1) Writing forces people to stop and reevaluate their life circumstances.
2) Talking and Writing about emotional experiences are superior to writing about superficial topics.
3) Disclosure of writing of emotional events has broad benefits.
4) Timing of writing is important. Too early may have negative consequences. Sometimes, denial, detachment and distraction is healthy. However, prolonged thinking of the trauma in the following weeks and months would require expressive writing intervention and benefits will occur.
Interesting paper.... this means blogging about your feelings can actually help attain better health.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
The Little Prince:
I have been reading a children's book, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery recently.
Surprisely, I find myself having difficulty understanding it on my first read. I was perhaps able to grasp the underlying message the author was trying to tell the reader. I don't know, but maybe it is meant to be read lesuirely as it is classified as a children's book.
But somehow, Saint-Exupery manages to tell the tale of the little prince and at the same time explores a very human condition of man. There are several characters which appears this novel which I trying to decipher:
(1) the King
(2) the Conceited Man
(3) the Drunkard
(4) the Businessman
(5) the Lamplighter
(6) the Geographer
(7) the Snake
(8) the Fox
(9) the Flower
Well... will repost my thoughts and reflections once I have gained a deeper understanding....
The Medici Effect: Free Download
The Medici Effect is now available for download for free here. Read the book last year, and it gave me a new perspective of innovative capacity.
My thoughts on it... Risk Taking and Breaking out of comfort zone and into different networks of one's life to gain new perspectives.
Rating: **** Stars
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Harbinger to Global Slowdown or Crisis
The recent episodes of stock markets melting down and the story SG losses in the derivatives market is just a small taste of what I think is going to be a slowdown or crisis that will blow the entire world.
The US sub-prime loans had been on the horizon since early 2007 and it has now shown its teeth twice, first during June-July 2007 and now January 2008. It seems that cycle of boom-bust had shortened to half-yearly episodes.
With current increasing prices in everything from fuel, food to other commodities, a slowdown might not be necessary bad thing, considering that it will help moderate the prices down to acceptable levels. The idea of a economic slowdown may not appeal to many, but in my mind, a slowdown can actually help bring more sanity to the incredible prices of property, stocks and other asset-inflating bubbles. Although, it has not reached the levels of tulip-mania, I feel the euphoria of the past couple of years has really brought a level of over-valuation on everything.
Comparatively, a full blown crisis will not be a welcome event of course. I have been reading that people think that Asia will not be affected significantly as we now have more rising consumption of India and China. But I beg to differ. The global economic machinery cogwheels are all interlinked. Any part that is being damaged will definitely impact on others. The domino effect cannot be discounted. The only problem is that such economic meltdown can just occur in a flash, a disruptive event that can just pop out of nowhere. Globalization has made us all highly depedent on each other.
Furthermore, the US has a lame duck president at least until November 2008. With the Iraq quagmire unsettled, the incoming president could either be an elderly gentlemen, a woman or a African-American, which the US has not have had before. How can this affect his/her effectiveness, no-one can be sure, but definitely sweeping world events can be overwhelming and determine whether his/her legacy can endure for generations to judge.
So, where does it leave Average Joe in this uncertain times? Well, just be prepared I guess... and adopt some prudent measures like keeping enough cash, limit investments to dividend yielding instruments, and avoiding large purchases at least for the time being.
The US sub-prime loans had been on the horizon since early 2007 and it has now shown its teeth twice, first during June-July 2007 and now January 2008. It seems that cycle of boom-bust had shortened to half-yearly episodes.
With current increasing prices in everything from fuel, food to other commodities, a slowdown might not be necessary bad thing, considering that it will help moderate the prices down to acceptable levels. The idea of a economic slowdown may not appeal to many, but in my mind, a slowdown can actually help bring more sanity to the incredible prices of property, stocks and other asset-inflating bubbles. Although, it has not reached the levels of tulip-mania, I feel the euphoria of the past couple of years has really brought a level of over-valuation on everything.
Comparatively, a full blown crisis will not be a welcome event of course. I have been reading that people think that Asia will not be affected significantly as we now have more rising consumption of India and China. But I beg to differ. The global economic machinery cogwheels are all interlinked. Any part that is being damaged will definitely impact on others. The domino effect cannot be discounted. The only problem is that such economic meltdown can just occur in a flash, a disruptive event that can just pop out of nowhere. Globalization has made us all highly depedent on each other.
Furthermore, the US has a lame duck president at least until November 2008. With the Iraq quagmire unsettled, the incoming president could either be an elderly gentlemen, a woman or a African-American, which the US has not have had before. How can this affect his/her effectiveness, no-one can be sure, but definitely sweeping world events can be overwhelming and determine whether his/her legacy can endure for generations to judge.
So, where does it leave Average Joe in this uncertain times? Well, just be prepared I guess... and adopt some prudent measures like keeping enough cash, limit investments to dividend yielding instruments, and avoiding large purchases at least for the time being.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Harvard MBA and A Fishing Guide named Joe
I found this story in a book called Creating a Good Life by James O'Toole, which I found to contain alot of meaning and to be highly insightful. Still half-way reading it as I have been swarmed with school work since the start of the year.
Read this and reflect on it....
A Harvard MBA took a vacation to a sunny clime,
Where he hired a fishing guide named Joe to help him land a Marlin.
Joe was in his forties and lived in a modest house by the seashore, with his wife and two children.
Every day, Joe rose when the sun was warm and took a swim in the ocean with his family.
Three days a week, He escorted clients out to sea in his boat, and they would fish until they hooked the big one.
The four mornings when he chose not to work, Joe would sit in his hammock and read from breakfast until it was time for mid-day lunch with his wife.
Almost every afternoon, He picked up his kids up after school and took them on "an adventure" or to his workshop for handicrafts.
After a long dinner, en famille, Joe and his wife would walk to a nearby cafe where the locals gathered to discuss issues facing their community.
As the vacationing MBA immediately appreciated, Joe's fishing expeditions were first-rate:
Joe was a skilled guide, knowledgable not only about anglers' tackle but also marine biology, oceanography, meteorology, and other subjects about which vacationers were curious.
The MBA saw the potential for a big, profitable enterprise. He explained to Joe that it would be easy to put together a group of venture capitalists to "Build your underperforming business".
Instead of inefficiently taking one client out at a time, Joe could have a fleet of high-tech fishing boats, each accomodating a dozen or more clients. With a little strategic advice, he could branch out into related businesses, perhaps build a high-rise hotel on the beach.
Most important, Joe could go on TV and become the marketing face for his business, creating a brand that could be franchised at other sleepy fishing communities:
"A Guy like you could become a CELEBRITY"
The MBA then delivered the clincher: "When that happens, We have an IPO and you get RICH!"
After listening patiently, Joe asked, "And What Then?"
The MBA quickly answered: "Well, you retire to some nice place on the beach, do a little fishing and reading, and get to spend some time with your wife and kids....."
Great irony yeah....
Read this and reflect on it....
A Harvard MBA took a vacation to a sunny clime,
Where he hired a fishing guide named Joe to help him land a Marlin.
Joe was in his forties and lived in a modest house by the seashore, with his wife and two children.
Every day, Joe rose when the sun was warm and took a swim in the ocean with his family.
Three days a week, He escorted clients out to sea in his boat, and they would fish until they hooked the big one.
The four mornings when he chose not to work, Joe would sit in his hammock and read from breakfast until it was time for mid-day lunch with his wife.
Almost every afternoon, He picked up his kids up after school and took them on "an adventure" or to his workshop for handicrafts.
After a long dinner, en famille, Joe and his wife would walk to a nearby cafe where the locals gathered to discuss issues facing their community.
As the vacationing MBA immediately appreciated, Joe's fishing expeditions were first-rate:
Joe was a skilled guide, knowledgable not only about anglers' tackle but also marine biology, oceanography, meteorology, and other subjects about which vacationers were curious.
The MBA saw the potential for a big, profitable enterprise. He explained to Joe that it would be easy to put together a group of venture capitalists to "Build your underperforming business".
Instead of inefficiently taking one client out at a time, Joe could have a fleet of high-tech fishing boats, each accomodating a dozen or more clients. With a little strategic advice, he could branch out into related businesses, perhaps build a high-rise hotel on the beach.
Most important, Joe could go on TV and become the marketing face for his business, creating a brand that could be franchised at other sleepy fishing communities:
"A Guy like you could become a CELEBRITY"
The MBA then delivered the clincher: "When that happens, We have an IPO and you get RICH!"
After listening patiently, Joe asked, "And What Then?"
The MBA quickly answered: "Well, you retire to some nice place on the beach, do a little fishing and reading, and get to spend some time with your wife and kids....."
Great irony yeah....
Career Anchors
I just did an questionaire exercise that helps to determine what kind of anchors that a person value most in their careers. I found the model to be an accurate depiction of my anchors. It was first proposed by Edgar Schein from MIT. The Anchors are as follows:
Technical/Functional competence
This kind of person likes being good at something and will work to become a guru or expert. They like to be challenged and then use their skill to meet the challenge, doing the job properly and better than almost anyone else.
General Managerial competence
Unlike technical/functional people, these folks want to be managers (and not just to get more money, although this may be used as a metric of success). They like problem-solving and dealing with other people. They thrive on responsibility. To be successful, they also need emotional competence.
Autonomy/Independence
These people have a primary need to work under their own rules and steam. They avoid standards and prefer to work alone.
Security/Stability
Security-focused people seek stability and continuity as a primary factor of their lives. They avoid risks and are generally 'lifers' in their job.
Entrepreneurial Creativity
These folks like to invent things, be creative and, most of all, to run their own businesses. They differ from those who seek autonomy in that they will share the workload. They find ownership very important. They easily get bored. Wealth, for them, is a sign of success.
Service/Dedication to a cause
Service-oriented people are driven by how they can help other people more than using their talents (which may fall in other areas). They may well work in public services or in such as HR.
Pure Challenge
People driven by challenge seek constant stimulation and difficult problems that they can tackle. Such people will change jobs when the current one gets boring and their career can be very varied.
Lifestyle
Those who are focused first on lifestyle look at their whole pattern of living. They not so much balance work and life as integrate it. They may even take long periods off work in which to indulge in passions such as sailing or traveling.
I think I posted about the Lifestyle Anchor previously when talking about people taking career breaks. Typically, people in this category could be misinterpreted
to be frivolous people who do not work hard. On the contrary, they are pretty full of life and wishes to have a holistic and wholesome living which many of us could only dream about. Makes you wonder where most Singaporeans' career anchors are .....
Technical/Functional competence
This kind of person likes being good at something and will work to become a guru or expert. They like to be challenged and then use their skill to meet the challenge, doing the job properly and better than almost anyone else.
General Managerial competence
Unlike technical/functional people, these folks want to be managers (and not just to get more money, although this may be used as a metric of success). They like problem-solving and dealing with other people. They thrive on responsibility. To be successful, they also need emotional competence.
Autonomy/Independence
These people have a primary need to work under their own rules and steam. They avoid standards and prefer to work alone.
Security/Stability
Security-focused people seek stability and continuity as a primary factor of their lives. They avoid risks and are generally 'lifers' in their job.
Entrepreneurial Creativity
These folks like to invent things, be creative and, most of all, to run their own businesses. They differ from those who seek autonomy in that they will share the workload. They find ownership very important. They easily get bored. Wealth, for them, is a sign of success.
Service/Dedication to a cause
Service-oriented people are driven by how they can help other people more than using their talents (which may fall in other areas). They may well work in public services or in such as HR.
Pure Challenge
People driven by challenge seek constant stimulation and difficult problems that they can tackle. Such people will change jobs when the current one gets boring and their career can be very varied.
Lifestyle
Those who are focused first on lifestyle look at their whole pattern of living. They not so much balance work and life as integrate it. They may even take long periods off work in which to indulge in passions such as sailing or traveling.
I think I posted about the Lifestyle Anchor previously when talking about people taking career breaks. Typically, people in this category could be misinterpreted
to be frivolous people who do not work hard. On the contrary, they are pretty full of life and wishes to have a holistic and wholesome living which many of us could only dream about. Makes you wonder where most Singaporeans' career anchors are .....
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