View From Taft
By Zandro Badua
In a 2019 study by Hootsuite, a social media management system, it was reported that Filipinos spend an exorbitant amount of time in social media. We check out the lives of friends — even complete strangers — and contemplate their lives instead of our own. We fixate on what they have and realize how different our lives are from theirs. As soon as we ask the question “why won’t our job give us that kind of life,” we already know the answer. The answer is really within us.
Why are we not involved? In many organizations, people are being slowly taken out of the equation because of cutting-edge technology. But I believe that even in this fast-paced world, we can make changes so that we enjoy our time at work and cultivate a feeling of belongingness within our organization.
MAP YOURSELF
If you want to feel involved in the world you’re inhabiting right now, an act of starting and believing is necessary. Stop thinking of what you could do and take the first step towards your goal. It’s like what gym trainers tell you on day one, “Take one step now and see the result one day earlier.” Do not be frustrated if your managers do not give you enough time to talk about your desires, they also have a lot on their plates. Make your own move and talk to them about your plans. Design your own path and live your workday achieving it.
MAKE YOURSELF RELEVANT
As my manager says, “Make yourself relevant because no one is safe.” It sounds like a threat but the person next to you in your office can probably do exactly what you’re doing — so what sets you apart? This should be the question driving us to go beyond what is required of us and aim for a better version of ourselves. Don’t forget your training, but don’t stop there. Be challenged every day and make your moment interesting.
NON-STOP QUESTING
Another old saying that we live by is “try and try until you succeed.” I’ve viewed this rule as: Try something new when you’re in your early 20s; find the distinct ability you’re good at in your 30s; develop the field you want to be in when you are in your 40s; finally, continue to improve yourself until you retire.
MONEY VS. GROWTH
I believe that one of the most heartbreaking moments in anyone’s career is having to continuously look for your payslip a week before it arrives. The feeling of an empty wallet can crush your soul. If you choose money over growth, be happy with your hard-earned cash and invest in your own capability. If you choose growth, be inspired by the things that you do to make the weight of your job lighter. Be in a field that offers opportunities to grow every time you tap that ID or badge in that gate. I chose growth for my first job. The pay is not competitive, but it led me to an opportunity three years earlier than planned.
Being in a position that we are not comfortable with takes a toll on our day. Identify the things you want to be known for and act on them. When you simply focus on what you want to do, time flies, and the one-minute rush before you clock out is just another minute in a fulfilling day.
Zandro Badua is an MBA student at De La Salle University’s Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. This essay was written as part of the requirement in his Strategic Human Resource Management class.