Never too old to learn

Besides advancing your career, obtaining further qualifications can be a source of personal achievement and satisfaction writes Eric Chiu

About 18 months ago, my boss asked me to put my qualifications on my name card. He said it would help promote the company's image so I did as requested and added to my name card some of the qualifications I've obtained through part-time study or distance learning since joining the firm in 1986.

The qualifications I've earned include an LLM, MA, MBA, ACIS, FCCA and being admitted as a solicitor, together with a BSc, the only qualification obtained through full-time study. The LLM in fact represents two LLMs, which cover different legal jurisdictions and a third one will, I hope, be obtained soon.

I understand that my qualifications are nothing to be especially proud of as I'm already in my late 40s and successful people of my age are eminent scientists, professors, senior government officials, judges, barristers, senior partners in professional firms, millionaire entrepreneurs or CEOs of international conglomerates. I always remind myself that I'm a relatively steady person and shouldn't claim any exceptional abilities.

I like social science very much and treat accounting, law and management theory as branches of applied social science. That's the main reason why I've continued to study part-time for 17 years. Another reason is that the company I've worked for has given me full support throughout those17 years. The company specialises in investment and is a small unit of a Chinese conglomerate. They need knowledge and expertise in all business-related disciplines such as management, law and accounting but, in the past, the salaries on offer were not high enough to attract the right professionals. This was especially true during the brain drain period from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s.

I've found the multi-disciplinary approach to study to be particularly suitable for people like me. It has been my philosophy that if I can't possess one outstanding 'weapon', the best alternative should be to try and possess two or more lesser weapons, with the hope that these two will compensate for each other's limitations, or even achieve better overall results when they are used together.

For example, when I was required to prepare joint venture agreements, my knowledge of management and accounting would always help me to understand the complicated arrangements between the joint venture parties and the reasons behind their deal. My knowledge of law would also help me when I had to exercise my authority to issue warning letters or terminate employment contracts. The multi-disciplinary knowledge and expertise I now possess has also given me confidence when dealing with more experienced solicitors or accountants in business negotiations.

I admit that just possessing qualifications may not be helpful to one's career. For a long time now, my colleagues and the company have treated me as a highly-competent and trustworthy employee but not as a member of the core management team. They respect me, like to discuss things with me and appreciate my advice. My salary has increased quite substantially to keep it commensurate with the qualifications I've obtained. I now understand, though, it's likely I may end up occupying the same secure niche till retirement. But as a person not marked out as a superstar, I will have done well in terms of both career advancement and financial rewards. If by the time I retire, at 60, my son has already graduated from university and I can manage to have a mortgage-free flat of around 1,500 square feet and about 15 million dollars in the bank, I will be more than satisfied !

Taken from Career Times 2003/12/12
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