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Choco Lee Jia Yin, at just 25, had already achieved what many consider the pinnacle of an early career success. As the perennial ‘smart kid’ at her school, Lee excelled in everything from mathematics to music, languages to accountancy.
Yet, beneath this veneer of achievement lurked a deeper quest for purpose, a yearning to find what truly ignited her passion.
‘They told me accounting has a bright future’
Choco’s decision to pursue accounting wasn’t born from passion but from practical advice.
Her father, who was an engineer with a pragmatic view of the world, suggested accounting as a stable and respectable field. Choco, unsure of her true calling, acquiesced without questioning.
I wasn’t sure about what I should do. My father told me that, as a business student, I should take accounting because it ensures easier access to future job opportunities due to its professional stature. So, I studied accounting.”
She excelled in her studies, graduating at the top of her class, and soon found herself in the competitive world of a Big Four accounting firm.
Life at the Big Four: Success tinged with discontent
At the firm, Choco’s life was a whirlwind of numbers, reports, and deadlines. She also found herself climbing the corporate ladder swiftly, thus earning the admiration of her peers.
“There was a thrill in meeting tight deadlines and solving complex financial puzzles,” Choco recalled. “But as the days turned into months, I felt a growing emptiness. The thrill was fleeting, and what was left was an overwhelming sense of monotony.”
“The teams I’ve had the pleasure of working with have all been exceptional. I’ve had the opportunity to handle various tasks assigned by my managers and seniors, and sometimes they were surprised that I could manage to handle such tasks in a very limited time frame.”
However, the demands of early mornings and weekend work, along with the stress of highway commutes, added to her dissatisfaction.
During the peak season, our leader asked us to be at the office by 9am. However, to make it, I needed to wake up at 7am and leave my house by 7:30am. The 20km journey would usually take me one and a half hours due to the traffic jam on the MEX highway.
“Additionally, we were required to work on the weekends. I had no complaints about this as the team I worked with was lovely and considerate, allowing us to be ‘flexible’ with our weekend schedules. However, the exceptionally long working hours became the last straw,” she told WeirdKaya in an exclusive interview.
All that glitters is not gold
The turning point for Choco came unexpectedly in the form of a late-night working session, surrounded by piles of files and half-empty coffee cups, where she overheard a conversation about a senior partner’s health issues due to overworking.
In the auditing world, with a higher ranking and pay package, your workload and responsibilities also increase. I’ve personally witnessed my superiors working around the clock, leading to health issues such as insomnia and hormonal imbalances. That was a real wake-up call for me.
“That conversation was a jolt. It made me realize that this path could very well lead me to the same fate,” she said.
Big no-no from family members
Making the decision to leave her job was not instantaneous. It involved many sleepless nights, deep reflections, and conversations with loved ones.
At the same time, one of Choco’s childhood teachers called her and subsequently asked her to join her startup as she recognized Choco’s capability and required a competent individual to manage the startup.
Choco saw this as an opportunity and accepted the teacher’s offer, even taking a pay cut to join the company. However, the reaction from her family and friends was mixed.
I remember the look of concern on my father’s face when I first broached the subject,” Choco said. “He had always seen my career as an auditor as a pinnacle of success.
Her father, who first advocated for her to become an account profession — a job that some may consider ‘decent’ and ‘successful’, struggled to accept her decision but eventually supported her exploration.
“He believed that a big company would guarantee me a better future, better pay, and good career growth. However, he also knows I am stubborn and hard to convince, so I told him to give me two years to try. Who knows what’s going to happen in that time?” she quipped.
Diverse roles, new challenges
Post-resignation, Choco’s life took a dramatic turn. Fast forward to today, she now juggles a mix of roles starkly different from her days in auditing — managing a swimming school, and overseeing a ready-to-cook (RTC) vegetarian business.
My life is a tapestry of experiences now. Each day brings its own set of challenges, but also a sense of real achievement,” she shares with a sense of pride.
The pay cut was substantial, but for Choco, the trade-off was worth it.
“At present, I am working seven days a week, a schedule more demanding than when I was an audit associate. However, the experience has provided me with valuable business insights, and the sense of accomplishment is significant.”
No golden formula for your life
Looking back, she expressed that she was well-informed about the expectation to excel academically, secure a university scholarship, and eventually secure a ‘respectable’ job. This was seen as a pathway to be perceived as ‘successful,’ bringing pride to her parents.
“It seemed like a predetermined formula. However, after spending almost two years in the audit field, I realized that mental well-being holds greater significance than simply attaining a good job. I now prioritize my own satisfaction over others’ opinions, valuing internal richness over external wealth.”
If you find yourself at a pivotal point in your life and are still young with minimal commitments, it’s beneficial to consider making a career switch.
This allows you to explore your genuine interests and discover where your true strengths lie.
“Success shouldn’t be solely defined by monetary achievements. While my parents would be proud of me for landing a job at a Big Four firm, my personal happiness was lacking. Despite my proficiency in accounting, it wasn’t a field I genuinely enjoyed.”
As for returning to the world of auditing, Choco is resolute in her decision to move forward. “I’ve found a path that’s more in tune with who I am,” she asserts.
Her journey stands as a testament to the power of listening to one’s inner voice and having the courage to forge a new path, even when it diverges from conventional definitions of success.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and does not purport to reflect the opinions or views of WeirdKaya.
