Happy Sunday!

Hey you, welcome to another issue of On My Own Terms newsletter.

Thanks for sticking with me. I sincerely hope you are doing well. Big hello and welcome to our new subscribers Cherm, Fir, Wilfred and Steve!

Some life update: Since I got laid off at Shopify in May 2023, I found myself actively hunting for full-time role 3 times since. That’s 3 times in the past 12-15 months. More specifically, the last 5 months have been one of the roughest periods in my life. It’s also been the longest period I’ve gone without income.

I’ve applied for over 120 roles and had interviews/responses at 10 of them. I have done/experimented a couple of things including doing some (freelance) consulting work for an AI startup, explored selling watches online, explored starting my own consultancy / software reseller, etc.

When I decided to focus 100% on hunting for full-time role, (together with CV customisation for every application, writing cover letters, preparing case studies, work at interviewing skills, etc), I saw traction. I kinda ended my job hunt with 4 on-going opportunities (I accepted an offer and withdrew from the 3 others). I’m starting my new role on Tues 1st Oct.

I am looking forward to share my learnings from my past 5 months with you. Meantime, if you are currently unemployed and feeling lost or despair in your job hunt, write to me. Click reply and let me know what topic(s) would you be curious in.

P.S. Three quarters of 2024 flew by like that. Last quarter remaining - how would you want to end 2024?

Best,

John Lim

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Job-Hunting: Feeling Anxious + Keeping a Routine

If you find yourself laid off or involuntarily employed, you’re not alone. I truly know how it feels. I got 2 beautiful young boys (4 & 1 years old) and I’m the sole breadwinner.

I’ve always been super positive but in the past 5 months, I have come closest to experiencing anxiety as I watched my savings being depleted. I wrote this blog article on my experience. Everyone’s circumstances are different, but you’re not alone.

If you’re currently actively job-hunting, I highly highly recommend blocking time off to do so. Make sure these are distraction-free time blocks so you can focus. I also highly recommend keeping a routine / schedule. I shared how mine in the past few months looked like - over here 👉 My Daily (Weekday) Job-Hunting Routine.

When was the last time you told / showed your parents you love them?

I watched Channel NewsAsia documentary Dying Alone in Singapore and highly recommend it. It’s provocative, emotional and got me appreciating my parents a lot more - before it’s too late.

Another one - Netflix documentary - How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies. Have tissues near you when watching it.

The main point is go spend time with your parents, tell them you love them. Your parents don’t care how many millions you make, they only want (more) time with you.

Are you hiring a helper / foreign domestic worker?

If you're getting a domestic helper for the first time or you're simply tired of repeating your instructions all the time, I shared a template which I have used - 👉 click here.

👉👉👉 I have a favour to ask - if you have enjoyed this, would you forward this to three of your friends/family/colleagues? This helps me know which of the newsletter content works so that I can better serve you. Simply click forward on your email browser / app 🙏

About John Lim:

John has had an unconventional career by Singapore / Asian standards - with several career switches. He started his career in banking before co-founding a laser tag events company. After building the business from ground-up, growing the team to 20+ and running Singapore's largest indoor laser tag center, he joined an early-stage tech startup to lead business development across Southeast Asia. In 2019, he took a leap of faith to join the e-commerce industry, seemingly unknown sector, until a few months later when Covid-19 pandemic brought the world to its knees.

While John finds himself lucky to have 'survived' the career switches relatively unscathed, he has never forgotten how it feels like to be at the crossroads of your career and life. Now, he has started On My Own Terms Podcast - to provide the resources and perspectives he wished he had - and to help you make the most of your career to live your best life. Join him as he speaks with unconventional career changers and risk-takers, taps into their experiences and perspectives and discusses all things career. Together, they will provide you nuggets of wisdom, inspiration and actionable insights to start living life on your own terms.

Top Episodes on On My Own Terms Podcast:

1. Leaving $500K High Life Career and Co-founding CRM Platform Advocado with Joval Gan 

2. Moving From Finance to Fashion, Test Driving Your Next Dream Job and Investing in Yourself with Career Change Coach Jennifer Ong

3. Finding The Right Business Partner, Co-founding Tech Startup with No Technical Background and Advice on Joining Startups with Matthew Low

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.