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Last week marked the completion of my third year with A*STAR. Time really flies as it feels like just last week that I reported for work. As is my practice, I do annual stocktakes and the following are my reflections of my time here.
Vision. Like most things in life, we don’t often appreciate the things that go on behind the scenes. A*STAR’s work is no different. A*STAR is currently the R&D engine creating economic growth for Singapore and enhancing the lives of Singaporeans, but few Singaporeans appreciate this. As scientific breakthroughs take time, it took time for A*STAR to be the R&D engine it is today. My takeaway is that success takes time but, more importantly, it takes a plan and the courage to walk alone, if necessary, to achieve your vision.
Humility. While I have been doing communications for most of my professional life, each organization is different. Past success therefore does not guarantee present success. The world is in a state of constant change due to scientific and technological disruptions, and those that do not have the humility to accept that they could no longer be right, will fail. My takeaway is that despite one’s title in an organization, one needs to accept that you do not know everything, that you will fail from time to time, and that you need to keep on learning to turn failure into success.
