Focus on personal improvement

In today's world, life-long learning is key. No matter what profession you are in or what role you play, life is always offering opportunities through which to learn and improve yourself, writes Jayanti Menches

Brenda Lee, deputy general manager, Gold Peak

Joining any organisation, whether educational, charitable or professional, presents us with opportunities to improve our interpersonal and social skills. Keeping abreast of what is going on in the market, your profession and your community, as well as international affairs, helps you enhance your personal growth, explains Brenda Lee, deputy general manager at Gold Peak Industries (Holdings) Limited.

"It is important to develop yourself as a well-rounded person and lead a balanced life," Mrs Lee says. "Personal development comes first, then career development." No matter how hard you work, it is imperative to always keep family, friends and the community in mind in order to enhance your personal growth.

As it is important to establish friendships and strengthen your personal networks, you must go out and reach out to others. "Try to be a contributor to your life and community," she emphasises. If you really want to get the most out of the organisations you join, you must be willing to participate. Be active. "Get your hands dirty and be passionate." It takes more than just attending an event. Volunteer your time by joining a committee, participate in a project or even lead your organisation as a member of the board.

Make a contribution

Mrs Lee does practise what she preaches. A core member of the senior management team at Gold Peak, she oversees a wide spectrum of areas, from management and human resources to corporate communications and investor relations. Even with her busy schedule, she still makes the time to volunteer at a number of professional, educational and service organisations.

"I'm a typical example of life-long learning. I have worked for 30 years and have never stopped learning," Mrs Lee says. A graduate of the Macquarie University of Australia, she remains an active member of the Alumni Association. She makes the time to help out and participate and is often called upon to speak at university events.

"Don't use networking simply to help you advance in your career," she advises. "Be genuine and sincere and commit to service. The more you give, the more you get back." As a vice president of the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management, Mrs Lee provides hands-on support to the institute's committees, strategic planning, annual conference and daily operations. "When you join an organisation, you have to be committed. Don't just carry the credential and hand out name cards," she says.

When she discusses the Rotary Club of Bayview Sunshine Hong Kong, you can tell Mrs Lee enjoys her dedication to community and voluntary work. "Rotary is an international service organisation," she explains. As the president-elect and a charter member of the club, founded in 1996, Mrs Lee is very proud of its 25 members and their contributions to society. The Bayview Sunshine club has worked to assist senior citizens, helped build a school in China and is also supporting Polio Plus, an international project seeking to eradicate polio by 2005.

According to Mrs Lee, a career should not be your only aim in life. If you contribute one dollar or one hour of your time to your community, the satisfaction you will earn will enhance your personal growth and interpersonal skills. "If you widen your scope and widen your life experience, you will widen your net," she concludes.

Taken from Career Times 2003/09/26