THROUGHOUT. my professional life I have been asked by young                                                                                           
men and women for the secret of success. I have invariably                                                                                            
responded with more questions than solutions.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
Success cannot be duplicated and, in a rapidly changing world,                                                                                        
the circumstances which led to the success of one individual                                                                                          
will be so altered that it can no longer effectively provide                                                                                          
the next person a path to pursue.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                      
As human beings we are all different, with different needs,                                                                                           
capabilities and aspirations. There is, therefore, no                                                                                                 
universal formula for success.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
The common perception of associating wealth with success is                                                                                           
narrow and is the consequence of a materialistic society.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
Many young people have asked me which job or enterprise                                                                                               
provides the best financial returns as a guide for their                                                                                              
career movement. Is this what we want out of life? To acquire                                                                                         
wealth for wealth's sake?                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
Yet, throughout history we have come across individuals and                                                                                           
groups who have traded the pursuit of wealth for more                                                                                                 
satisfying and nobler goals-Albert Schweitzer, Lord Buddha,                                                                                           
Mother Theresa, to name a few.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
We have also come across people who have invested considerably                                                                                        
in the study of medicine, engineering and law only to abandon                                                                                         
their pro fession later for something more compatible with                                                                                            
their interest and challenge in life.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
For most of us, we are where we are today simply because                                                                                              
someone else or circumstances had influenced us.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
There was a time when we joined an organisation and remained                                                                                          
for a substantial number of years, contributing and growing                                                                                           
with the organisation. For quite a number of us the                                                                                                   
relationship became enduring and we retired from the                                                                                                  
organisation we first joined.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
The choice of a career was right the first time, and the                                                                                              
relationship was mutually rewarding for both the employee and                                                                                         
the employer. There was commitment on both sides which                                                                                                
produced loyalty and the willingness to invest in further                                                                                             
development without the fear of termination or a resignation                                                                                          
letter.                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
The grass may appear greener elsewhere, but like in a good                                                                                            
marriage, there is enough joy and challenge in being just                                                                                             
where we are.                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
But in more recent times, perhaps coinciding with the economic                                                                                        
upsurge of the late 80s and 90s, the corporate man is becoming                                                                                        
the exception as young adults keep chasing the ringgit. I have                                                                                        
interviewed numerous candidates for jobs and detect an                                                                                                
increasing propensity to job-hop over shorter intervals,                                                                                              
sometimes into jobs that are totally incompatible.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
There is a danger in this as it does tell a lot about who you                                                                                         
are and the prospect of your own loyalty to your new employer.                                                                                        
At best you are treated with caution and as someone not to be                                                                                         
invested upon; at worst you are treated as a mercenary, used                                                                                          
for what you can now do and dropped in times of economic                                                                                              
crisis.                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
It is precisely because of good economic opportunities that we                                                                                        
are in a better position to seek fulfilment. We have a choice                                                                                         
in a seller's market.                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
When moving into a job, you have to take into account the                                                                                             
strengths and image of the organisation, the development and                                                                                          
career opportunities available, the culture and core values of                                                                                        
the organisation, quite apart from financial compensation.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
After all we do not always marry for financial gain, but for                                                                                          
compatibility, support and intimacy. Making the right choice                                                                                          
is one step towards fulfilling our expectations.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
- The fault probably lies in the lack of knowing what we                                                                                              
ourselves want out of life. We are shaped by our parents,                                                                                             
teachers, friends and by our own perceptions of what lies                                                                                             
ahead.                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
Economic prosperity and financial security are very powerful                                                                                          
attractions. But many of us want more.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
We begin with the dream. What do we want to become? It refers                                                                                         
to that part of us that yearns for fulfilment.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
The architect's passion is with the mind's creation of an                                                                                             
edifice that is beautiful, lasting and symbolic of that                                                                                               
creativity. The scientist's joy is to get closer to                                                                                                   
unravelling the mysteries of the universe and to make a                                                                                               
breakthrough that will enrich our quality of life.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
The manager's excitement is his ability to fulfil a vision                                                                                            
through the combined efforts of all resources.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
Dreams are part of our make-up, part of our persona. No one is                                                                                        
good at everything but we are good in at least one thing.                                                                                             
Dreams, therefore, have to be handcrafted, not mass                                                                                                   
manufactured. .                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
Education is the beginning. Competent career counsellors can                                                                                          
guide the young to think through what he or she aspires to be.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
Matched against his or her psychographic profile, an action                                                                                           
plan can be drawn to translate the dream into a vision and                                                                                            
into the steps that have to be taken to turn the dream into                                                                                           
reality.                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
In the profession of management, the dream and vision of                                                                                              
senior management is to continually change the organisation to                                                                                        
be more successful. And while an important measure of success                                                                                         
is turnover and earnings, the contemporary enterprise owes its                                                                                        
continuing financial performance to the many stakeholders who                                                                                         
have invested in the organisation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
Hence, success is also measured by its reputation as a good                                                                                           
employer, its credit-worthiness, its customer and supplier                                                                                            
relations, its community consciousness and its good                                                                                                   
citizenship.                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
In taking the next step of our career movement and develoment,                                                                                        
we have to head the inner voice- "Are we chasing the dream?"                                                                                
Or are we merely selling our services to the highest bidder?