Happy Labour Day!

And with that, we enter the month of May. First third of 2023 is officially gone. How’s everyone doing?

It’s been a little over a month since I got back to work after my paternity leave. And it’s been jam-packed. Not that I’m complaining. What has been terrible for me past few weeks was the whole family taking turns to fall sick, including me. My wife and I spent many hours travelling to and waiting at the doctor’s. Health is truly truly wealth.

On to happier news, a big hello and welcome to our new subscribers Rosh, Adeline, JK, Ben, Khalis, Paresh and Evelyn!

Best,

John Lim

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Building Social Enterprise No Harm Done - Sustainable Local Coffee Pods - with Simon Lieberum [Podcast Ep 17]

It is one thing to have a career change. It is another to do it while you're uprooting your life to move to another country with no social network. It is one thing to start a business. It is another to start a social enterprise where you're chasing other outcomes other than just financial sustainability. Simon Lieberum has done all of the above.

If you are curious about sustainability and social enterprises, this episode is for you. And if you love local Singaporean kopi, you're in for a treat (scroll down).

Simon Lieberum is the Founder and CEO of No Harm Done, a social enterprise which sells Nespresso-compatible coffee pods which are biodegradable. What makes No Harm Done and their coffee pods unique is that the coffee pods are organic, vegan and 100% plastic-free. The coffee pods and packaging are compostable and the coffee beans are sourced from sustainable partner farms around the world.

But what I really love is that No Harm Done does the Singapore local coffee - the Kopi O - so damn good! Kopi-O refers to black Singapore local coffee (also known as Nanyang coffee) with no milk.

Before Simon started No Harm Done, he led a jet-setting career in Europe being a Management Consultant at Accenture. And from flying around Europe suited up and carrying a laptop with beautiful powerpoint slides, he landed in Singapore and ended up working in a family-owned business which sells plastic packaging to FnB brands.

To get a taste of this coffee, use special promo code ONMYOWNTERMS on No Harm Done (click: http://bit.ly/40Lamr3) to receive a special 20% discount. Limited time offer.

Listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts. Watch on YouTube.

4 Career Takeaways I Shared with SMU Students (I Regret Not Doing #4)

In 2022, I had the opportunity to introduce Shopify to students in my alma mater Singapore Management University (SMU) and also shared some career takeaways.

1. At the start of your career, there is no better time to try or experiment

   Opportunity cost at the start of your career is the lowest. Hence if there is any industry/role you are curious about, there is no better time to try.

2. Play the long game

   We are all going to have a min. 40-year career. It is a marathon, not a sprint. Delay short term rewards for longer term growth - invest in your career for the long run - in the form of learning, exposure and training opportunities, having good mentors to learn from, etc.

3. Be open and proactive to reach out

   Be open to reaching out to get insider and/or wider perspectives - on LinkedIn to ask for coffee chats or zoom calls - with people in the company you’re applying for and/or more experienced senior folks whom you aspire to be in your career. You’d be surprised how open people would be.

4. Save up

   Saving up prepares you for emergencies like being laid off (which is getting common); it gives you more freedom and flexibility in your career choices down the road

In this mini-presentation, I also shared my interviewing experience at Shopify.
For full blog article, click here. Podcast episode here. Watch on on Youtube here.

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Thinking something nice about someone? Tell them.

Something I recently read and it resonated:

“When you think something nice about someone, you should tell them. People don’t hear enough compliments. Even well-known people. ....

So I think of it as a duty, when someone has made a difference in my life, to let them know. …

There really is no better use of my time, or yours.”

- Derek Sivers (full short article here)

👉👉👉 For ‘Season 3’ of the podcast, I am currently compiling a list of career questions which I’ll use to interview career ‘experts’ / HR practitioners. Think of it as a crash course in career / HR matters. If you have question(s) you wanna ask, click Reply and send me. No question is too small / silly.

DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed in newsletter and podcast are solely my own and do not represent the opinions of past, current or future organizations that I was, am and will be part of.

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