My first post is a personal one, and it’s a genuine example of me practicing what I preach; truly eating my own dog food. Up until now, I’m applying the same values and principles I will be sharing with you on this newsletter, learning and improving as I go, so expect plenty of real-life lessons (and a lot of honest mistakes) along the way.

Have you ever had the ground suddenly shift beneath your feet? That’s how I felt on a grey morning in March 2016 when the news finally dropped: my manager, my colleagues and I were being let go. The company was restructuring, and our roles were mere casualties of the change. My stomach churned as I packed up my desk, the familiar hum of the office suddenly felt foreign and very cold. I wondered, “What now?” a question that echoed louder than the silence and the stares of colleagues around me.

Truthfully, none of us were shocked. Ever since the CIO walked out the door, we’d sense a storm was brewing. Still, when the tree fell, it was swift and beyond jarring, like a sudden typhoon gust that knocks you off your feet before you even realize the wind has changed.

For many, unemployment is a dark cloud, a reason to spiral into fear or self-doubt. But for me, it was something else entirely: a wake-up call I kind of knew I needed. I’d grown comfortable, maybe way too comfortable, in my old roles as Software Engineer. The routine had dulled my senses, and somewhere along the way, I’d stopped asking myself the hard questions: Was I really fulfilled? Was I growing? Or was I simply coasting through life?

With a mix of anxiety and excitement, I decided to take this turmoil as an opportunity rather than a setback. It was time to rediscover what truly made me come alive. To help with this, I hired a career coach: a decision that felt both indulgent as I didn't have income, and necessary as I needed something else for my life. I went in hoping for concrete answers, a clear path forward. But after more than three sessions and a battery of personality tests, what I got instead was something far more valuable: clarity about myself.

We all know that sinking feeling when change is forced upon us. It’s scary. But it’s also a chance to ask: what do I really want? My coach didn’t hand me a roadmap, but she held up a mirror. I saw, maybe for the first time, the patterns that had shaped my career up until now. I realized I thrived in teams, that my energy and creativity sparked the brightest when I was collaborating, bouncing ideas, building something bigger than myself. Looking back, It explained so much: why lone wolf type of projects left me drained, why even the most fascinating software problems felt hollow when tackled alone. It was then I've realized that I could perfectly leverage on my software developer expertise combined with my desire to build something bigger.

Armed with this newly acquired self-awareness, I faced the job market in Hong Kong with fresh eyes. I knew I couldn’t just scroll through job boards and hope for the best. Instead, I continuously reached out to my network: friends, former colleagues, anyone who’d seen me work at my best.

It was through these connections and conversations that I got introduced to a boutique consulting company headquartered in Singapore. After a couple of interviews that went extremely well, I noticed it was a team that truly valued the type of collaboration I thrive, that believed in the power of shared purpose and collective growth. They worked the way I wanted to work: with openness, tremendous curiosity, and a genuine sense of camaraderie. And that fellow readers, it's how I became a full-time Agile coach, driving transformations across Asia.

Pursuing my desire to expand my career and deepen my impact, a few months after joining the boutique consulting company I made another big decision, which was to become a professional coach and invest in academic studies. I then joined the Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) to pursue an Executive Coaching degree: a step that’s both exciting and challenging. This journey was much more than adding a credential to my CV; it was about embracing continuous learning, building self-awareness, and ethical practice as a foundation for helping myself and ultimately others grow. As a student, I gained advanced coaching techniques but also joined a community of lifelong learners and alumni, all dedicated to personal and professional development whom I still get in touch till today.

Fast forward to 2025, many things have changed, Agile and digital transformations became different, my employers have changed, and yet, I’m exactly where I wanted to be: challenged, inspired, and surrounded by people who bring out the best in me.

Losing my job was the push I never knew I needed. Sometimes, the world gives you a nudge, out of your comfort zone and into the life you’re meant to live. So if you ever find yourself facing the unknown, remember: endings can be beginnings in disguise. Trust the process, trust yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way. You might just find that the next chapter is your best one yet.

What about you? Have you faced a turning point that changed your path? Hit reply and share your story. I’d love to hear how you’ve connected your own dots. Let’s inspire each other.