What the heck am I doing in China anyway? One possible answer.

I had a chat to Pam last night (a strategy consultant friend in HK), about work / life balance, and how sometimes our career choices involve lifestyle sacrifices.  Where is the balance?  And why is it that some of us choose to sacrifice simple pleasures in pursuit of our careers?  Is it really worth it?  I think we left the question open, but we're both sticking to our career guns for now.

 

It spurred me on to finish some of my thinking about what I'm doing here in China, as per my recent blog entry.

 

I figure, if work is your passion, you might as well work somewhere interesting.  Be a part of history.  Make a difference.

 

Sure I could live a fairytale life in the West somewhere, with a fine job, house, car, dog and 2.4 children... but particularly given I'm single, I feel I can decide to chase after my ambitions.  After the first 6 years of my career, I realised that I enjoy making a difference through my work.  Sure it's nice to be paid well and stuff, but I get a lot of personal satisfaction from knowing that my work was actually useful.  As such, I realised that I could help the UK go from good to better... or instead I could help China in its giant leapfrog from the third world to the first.

 

In that sense, maybe I'm drawing parallels with teachers and other service workers.  Although I'm sure they'll resent me for the comparison, though in fairness they probably earn much more than me now.  Many will choose to pursue these careers out of satisfaction for making a difference, not because of the great pay.  Doctors take time to study, and emotionally put themselves on the line for their patients.  Firemen aren't with their families at night, they're running into burning houses to save children.  In a way, we're similar, except for the suit and tie part.  We're all looking for our role in life.

 

I still remember Ming Yee and Sophie keeping me in check, telling me not to delude myself, and that I'm really here for the money.  Lots of money.  Now I'm not exactly earning pots of money just yet, in actual fact I've dropped significantly in terms of wealth.  No disrespect to them, but I'd make more money driving an underground train in London than working as a consultant here.  It's true though, the experience is likely to enrich me.  By the laws of supply and demand, at some point there'll be some value in a person who has experience and languages of both the East and the West.  And so hopefully then I'll start making money again. 

 

Much as I accept this, that my journey is an up front investment that ought to pay off later, I can't believe that I'm here chasing dreams of becoming a millionaire.  Although... the idea of running a large chunk of a large business successfully here appeals to me.  That would be an achievement.  And if I happen to become a millionaire along the way?  I won't complain.