When we talk about career what often comes to mind first would be; a job, a business, or a passion.

12 years ago I had my first job interview for a Japanese Engineering design company and it was an experience I would never forget. Remembering it now I still would squirm under my seat when I think how I answered during the panel interview. I always believed that I had good communication skills way back during college and enough confidence to make it good during the interview but apparently I was not. I was stuttering and I was beating thorugh the bushes not making a point (kinda in a way I am doing it now harhar). It was a terrible experience and I still cannot fathom how I got the job.

Despite the unimpressive start by now you would be thinking I was crushing it on the job but honestly I did not. I was assigned to the most menial tasks and I was unhappy and discontented. Years later, I was transferred to another department who did the technical stuff and finally you would think by now I am a butterfly. But nah, I was not. I was struggling to the point I lost confidence in my skills and in myself.

So what is career about?

This agony went on for years, and then one day I had a realization. I realized I was too excited to fly without even growing my wings. I was so engrossed with many success stories around me not factoring the struggles that came with it. I was pretty much focused on making it to the goal and I lost chance of the lesson.

Career is an aspect in a person's life that most often we only associate with successs, prestige and money. But what I realize now is that our career is a process in our life that must be lived and worked on everyday. There is no end game into it as long as you are still alive. It cannot be always a success story nor a tragedy, but indeed it is a story that we try to write everyday. A story we can control by our skills, perseverance and hardwork but at the same time it is a similar aspect with our health and relationships that we can only work as much on the part we are supposed to play.

There is no perfect career and there is no age limit or restriction, our career is that portion of our life where we can truly grow. In our skills, knowledge and most importanly in our attitude. It is in this area that we can work on our personal development. Because in the end of the day, it is not the job or position that defines success in your career, but it is in the depth of how you have directed yourself to improve, in the mastery of your chosen field or skills and in the impact and contribution you have made into that something that is bigger than you...