May 2014
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miss anything about my previous
career, it was a chapter when I was
single, ambitious and with a different
focus. I’m so grateful to have had such
different careers.”
Go easy on yourself
It’s fair to say that not every
reinvention comes without a touch
of regret. “I still miss the thrill and
adrenalin-rush of turning up to a scene
in the ambulance and the satisfaction
of having helped someone,” says Kylie.
Whilst Tamie admits, “At heart I’m
like a little kid who can no longer
play with her big toy truck. I miss
working amongst heavy machinery
and industrial equipment. There’s
something very appealing, almost
beautiful, about a brand new piece of
machinery.” For Simone it’s “the dread
that faces all kinds of professional
artists – combining creativity with
professionalism. Sometimes it can
be difficult to be both creative and
productive under pressure. I do
sometimes miss the stability a company
can provide and being interactive with
co-workers on a daily basis.”
It’s important to be prepared for
some regret and to ensure that any new
path you choose is fulfilling enough to
keep this at bay. Tamie says, “To be
successful in any career, I believe the
job must be personally satisfying and
working must be, for the most part,
enjoyable. If a career change is likely
to result in job satisfaction then my
advice would be to do the research and
be well-informed, then just take that
step and make the change.” Simone
also highlights that, “In any field of
work, it is necessary to lay a base with
networking first, and this is pretty easy
to do in Hong Kong. There are a lot of
business-related interest groups around
and many professional people are
keen to broaden contacts and business
opportunities.”
In addition to researching and
networking, it’s also important, if
possible, to give yourself time to adjust
to your new locale, to ensure your re-
launch doesn’t end in a burnout. Kylie
suggests, “Give yourself 18 months
to fully assimilate into any culture
or environment. It doesn’t happen
overnight.”
Any change of scene can
encourage a rethink, but a relocation
to Hong Kong – with its various
barriers and advantages – seems to
inspire transformation in many new
arrivals. As Simone says, “Hong
Kong’s business environment is a high-
energy and positive one, so I would
say, if there is some change you always
wanted to make, this is the place and
time for it!”
