Resilience Begins at Home
Growing up in a single-parent household, I learned resilience the hard way. My father passed away when I was 13, leaving my mother, who had never worked before to take on a job as a housekeeper at a beach hotel in Penang, Malaysia. Watching her navigate this drastic life shift shaped my understanding of adaptation and survival.
Determined to secure my future, I pursued a university degree, not out of passion, but because I believed it was the safest path to stability. Back then, I had no grand aspirations. I just wanted a decent job.
Drifting Through the Workforce: A Search for Meaning
After graduating, I moved through various sales and finance roles, from banking to a finance firm. At 26, I moved to Singapore seeking better opportunities, but I still hadn’t figured out what I truly wanted. Over the next few years, I explored a range of roles – sales at a maid agency, telesales for banking products, translation in interior design and publishing, hotel sales, training, and career advisory.
It was during my last role as a career advisor that everything changed. I was the first point of contact for Singaporeans struggling with employment, especially senior jobseekers facing immense challenges in a highly competitive market.
A Turning Point: The Future is Now
At my last job, I was the first point of contact for clients seeking career advisory support, many of whom were overwhelmed by job uncertainties. I witnessed firsthand the raw and real struggles Singaporeans face, the intense competitiveness of the job market and the significant disadvantages that senior jobseekers encounter when looking for employment.
I constantly reflected on how to improve the broader employment landscape, knowing that age is something no one can change, as we all grow older, and it’s an inevitable reality. That realization pushed me to take retirement planning seriously, starting immediately. I began actively exploring my retirement options where to retire, what I would do, and how to ensure a secure and fulfilling later life.
Of course, I can’t change policies or create large-scale employment solutions for unemployed seniors. What I could do, however, was to equip individuals with the tools I had learned in career advisory and coaching: building a strong personal brand, refining resumes, speaking confidently, and proactively seeking opportunities.
My obsession with retirement planning grew to the point where I even researched how to secure a spot in a well-run nursing home for the future, knowing that as a married but childless couple, my husband and I would eventually need professional medical support in our old age. During Covid, I took a step toward this plan by purchasing a small village house in southern France, envisioning it as our retirement home. However, by 2024, we came to terms with the fact that we couldn’t see ourselves living there long-term, leading us to sell the house and reconsider our retirement plans.
Embracing this mission, I pursued International Coaching Federation (ICF) training and eventually left my career advisory role to further my education – a Master’s Degree in France, followed by a second semester in Bangkok.
Connecting the Dots (Or Letting Them Float)
Looking back, I can’t help but recall Steve Jobs’ famous “connecting the dots” analogy. Jobs took a calligraphy class with no clear purpose, and years later, it shaped the typography of the Macintosh. His dots connected in an extraordinary way.
Mine? They’re still floating, seemingly disconnected. My journey spans sales, banking, hospitality, training, translation, and career coaching across Malaysia and Singapore, with studies in France and an exciting path ahead as I embark on my second and third semesters in Thailand. Right now, it feels more like an abstract painting than a clear picture, but maybe that’s the beauty of it.
Maybe, like Jobs, I’ll look back years later and see how everything fits together.
Or maybe, some dots just don’t connect, and that’s okay.
Finding My Purpose in Coaching
Despite the uncertainty, one thing is clear: I thrive on reinvention, and I want to help others do the same. Through my own personal and professional journey, I’ve realized that my Ikigai – my reason for being, lies in coaching.
🔹 What I Love (Passion)
I am deeply passionate about helping people navigate uncertainty and reinvent themselves, whether it’s through career coaching, assisting individuals in overcoming job uncertainty and rebranding themselves, or mindset coaching, helping them build confidence, overcome fear, and break free from societal conditioning. I support professionals through life transitions, guiding them through career shifts, relocation, and midlife changes, while also providing retirement planning and future security coaching to help them design fulfilling and secure post-career lives. Above all, I believe in the power of personal reinvention, encouraging people to step outside their comfort zones and embrace change. I don’t just coach – I’ve lived through these experiences myself, which allows me to guide others with empathy and authenticity.
🔹 What I’m Good At (Vocation)
My diverse career experiences have shaped me into a well-rounded coach with expertise in career coaching, cross-cultural adaptation, networking, resilience training, and retirement planning. Over the years, I have helped countless jobseekers refine their personal branding, resumes, and career transitions, equipping them with the confidence to navigate a competitive job market. Having worked across different countries, I also understand the challenges of cultural shifts and identity transitions, making me particularly attuned to professionals adapting to new environments.
Beyond career coaching, I specialize in networking and communication, helping individuals articulate their strengths, develop soft skills, and speak with confidence. My own journey of reinvention across industries and countries has strengthened my ability to guide others through uncertainty and change. Additionally, my deep focus on retirement planning and financial security enables me to support mid-career professionals in preparing for a fulfilling and well-planned future.
With this breadth of experience, I can connect with both early-career professionals seeking direction and mid-career individuals navigating major life transitions, providing them with the tools and mindset to embrace change with confidence.
🔹 Who I Help (Mission)
There are three main groups of people I focus on:
🎯 Group A – Professionals Seeking Career Reinvention
- Stuck in uninspiring careers, needing clarity and confidence
- Mid-career professionals transitioning into new industries
- Struggling with networking, self-branding, and job applications
🎯 Group B – Individuals Struggling with Identity & Societal Pressures
- People from rigid cultures feeling pressured to conform
- Those fearing career changes due to societal expectations
- Individuals redefining success beyond financial wealth
🎯 Group C – Those Undergoing Major Life Transitions
- Expats adjusting to new cultures and work environments
- Midlifers navigating personal growth, reinvention, or crisis
- Professionals struggling with retirement planning and future security
🔹 How I Can Help (Profession)
I offer coaching and consulting services to help professionals navigate career transitions, build confidence, and plan for a fulfilling future. Through 1-on-1 coaching, I guide individuals in career reinvention, overcoming imposter syndrome, adapting to major life changes, and preparing for retirement. My focus also includes key skills such as networking, personal branding, and redefining success beyond societal expectations. Additionally, I support those seeking change by helping them reinvent their careers, build confidence, and achieve financial independence.
Final Thoughts: My Mission in Coaching
I may not have all the answers yet, and my dots are still floating-but I know that coaching is the thread that ties them together.
If my story resonates with you, let’s connect. Whether you’re at a career crossroads, feeling lost in societal expectations, or planning for the next phase of life, I want to help you navigate these transitions with confidence and clarity.
I hope the article provided a greater understanding of ikigai, and I wanted to leave you with a free Purpose Framework worksheet so you can have a go at mapping yours.
You can absolutely work on this worksheet on your own or if you’re feeling stuck and want to talk it out with someone, book a KoPlay Discovery Play Session with me at david@saltnpepper.sg.