For myself to revisit every 3 months
3:39:48 PM Benjamin Tseng: in my mind
3:39:52 PM Benjamin Tseng: the one thing u should be thinking about
3:40:03 PM Benjamin Tseng: (this is what ive been telling my brother lol)
3:40:11 PM Benjamin Tseng: is your long-term career
3:40:14 PM Benjamin Tseng: and
3:40:15 PM Benjamin Tseng: to pick that
3:40:17 PM Benjamin Tseng: you need to think of
3:40:19 PM Benjamin Tseng: three things
3:40:30 PM Benjamin Tseng: (a) what do you LIKE doing? and does this job let you do that, or influence that
3:40:52 PM Benjamin Tseng: (b) what will actually be growing/getting big
3:40:55 PM Benjamin Tseng: over the next 10 years
3:41:05 PM Benjamin Tseng: [b/c a rising tide lifts all boats]
3:41:11 PM Benjamin Tseng: (c) what can you actually
3:41:16 PM Benjamin Tseng: differentiate yourself with
3:41:19 PM Benjamin Tseng: set yourself apart from other people
3:41:27 PM Benjamin Tseng: with skills that people respect and think are valuable
3:41:34 PM Benjamin Tseng: all careers that fulfill all 3
3:41:45 PM Benjamin Tseng: are good ones to shoot for
3:41:54 PM Benjamin Tseng: i can help you answer (b)
3:41:57 PM Benjamin Tseng: b/c that’s my job
3:41:59 PM Benjamin Tseng: (literally)
3:42:04 PM Benjamin Tseng: (both at Bain and in VC)
3:42:19 PM Serena Wu: ok so a. i like to design, draw, write, and take pics
3:42:20 PM Serena Wu: b. everything i’ve listed as options in taiwan
3:42:56 PM Serena Wu: relate to a. somehow b/c even teaching english allows me to work on the book, which is sort of a start as an illustrator
3:43:08 PM Benjamin Tseng: stop
3:43:10 PM Benjamin Tseng: do u want to be an illustrator?
3:43:18 PM Serena Wu: hmmm i kinda do
3:43:21 PM Benjamin Tseng: ok
3:43:25 PM Benjamin Tseng: that’s a good thing
3:43:27 PM Benjamin Tseng: a. you like it
3:43:35 PM Benjamin Tseng: b. working as an illustrator
3:43:38 PM Serena Wu: but i dont wanna be poor.
3:43:40 PM Benjamin Tseng: has promise/potential
3:43:42 PM Benjamin Tseng: lol
3:43:45 PM Serena Wu: illustrators are poor
3:43:45 PM Benjamin Tseng: the thing about
3:43:47 PM Benjamin Tseng: being poor is
3:43:58 PM Benjamin Tseng: as long as all three are true
3:44:00 PM Benjamin Tseng: you wont be poor
3:44:06 PM Benjamin Tseng: the only reason illustrators are poor
3:44:11 PM Benjamin Tseng: it sounds like is b/c
3:44:17 PM Benjamin Tseng: (c) you cant’ really set yourself apart?
3:44:24 PM Serena Wu: c. is true.
3:44:28 PM Serena Wu: im not very…unique
3:44:28 PM Benjamin Tseng: are illustrators a dime a dozen?
3:44:30 PM Benjamin Tseng: haha
3:44:30 PM Serena Wu: i dont have my own artistic style
3:44:31 PM Benjamin Tseng: ok
3:44:33 PM Benjamin Tseng: let me challenge you
3:44:38 PM Benjamin Tseng: to think primarily about C then
3:44:39 PM Benjamin Tseng: b/c i think
3:44:42 PM Benjamin Tseng: thats one source of hesitation you have
3:44:43 PM Benjamin Tseng: and
3:44:45 PM Benjamin Tseng: if i can be so bold
3:44:52 PM Benjamin Tseng: i think u are somewhat immature about it
3:44:57 PM Benjamin Tseng: i say that b/c
3:45:02 PM Benjamin Tseng: i get that u dont want to be an engineer
3:45:08 PM Benjamin Tseng: and u value aesthetics a lot over function
3:45:13 PM Benjamin Tseng: (at least thats what it sounds like)
3:45:13 PM Serena Wu: but i cant value myself enough
3:45:15 PM Serena Wu: and have faith in myself
3:45:18 PM Benjamin Tseng: but u need to realize
3:45:21 PM Serena Wu: yet i refuse to do anything else
3:45:25 PM Benjamin Tseng: exactly
3:45:28 PM Serena Wu: i know
3:45:29 PM Benjamin Tseng: i want to shake your bubble
3:45:30 PM Benjamin Tseng: lol
3:45:36 PM Benjamin Tseng: b/c i think
3:45:43 PM Benjamin Tseng: you need to find some compromise between a, b, and c
3:45:51 PM Benjamin Tseng: and what im saying is
3:45:57 PM Benjamin Tseng: you will never be able to answer (c)
3:46:03 PM Benjamin Tseng: if you just stick at the artistic level
3:46:05 PM Benjamin Tseng: ok that’s not entirely true
3:46:10 PM Benjamin Tseng: if you are like mad artistic genius
3:46:16 PM Serena Wu: and im not
3:46:19 PM Benjamin Tseng: you can fulfill c on your interests alone
3:46:20 PM Benjamin Tseng: but
3:46:22 PM Benjamin Tseng: as you pointed out
3:46:23 PM Benjamin Tseng: you’re not
3:46:31 PM Benjamin Tseng: i think
3:46:37 PM Benjamin Tseng: and this is just a hypothesis
3:46:40 PM Benjamin Tseng: which you can work with
3:46:45 PM Benjamin Tseng: but i do think this process i’ve outlined is good for you
3:46:47 PM Benjamin Tseng: but my hypothesis
3:46:48 PM Benjamin Tseng: is that
3:46:50 PM Benjamin Tseng: you should
3:46:54 PM Benjamin Tseng: (a) apply to grad school NEXT year
3:46:57 PM Benjamin Tseng: (not this coming round)
3:47:00 PM Serena Wu: and stay in taipei this year
3:47:07 PM Benjamin Tseng: im not sure about taipei yet
3:47:14 PM Benjamin Tseng: b/c u need to answer a few more questions
3:47:17 PM Benjamin Tseng: before i have an opinion on that
3:47:20 PM Serena Wu: ok
3:47:22 PM Serena Wu: keep going
3:47:25 PM Benjamin Tseng: and
3:47:27 PM Benjamin Tseng: (b) work on developing
3:47:29 PM Benjamin Tseng: some depth
3:47:34 PM Benjamin Tseng: its not enough for u to take pretty photo’s
3:47:39 PM Benjamin Tseng: or do cute web designs
3:47:40 PM Serena Wu: yea
3:47:43 PM Benjamin Tseng: you need to take it a level deeper
3:47:45 PM Benjamin Tseng: you should start
3:47:46 PM Benjamin Tseng: with what you like
3:47:52 PM Benjamin Tseng: i dont want u to start with something u dont like
3:47:56 PM Benjamin Tseng: but start with something u like
3:47:57 PM Benjamin Tseng: and go deeper
3:47:59 PM Benjamin Tseng: get to (c)
3:48:04 PM Benjamin Tseng: get to some point
3:48:11 PM Benjamin Tseng: where u are special relative to other people
3:48:18 PM Benjamin Tseng: and b/c u dont have a good sense
3:48:18 PM Serena Wu: ok
3:48:20 PM Benjamin Tseng: of what u want to do
3:48:20 PM Benjamin Tseng: this is where
3:48:24 PM Benjamin Tseng: u can be flexible and variable
3:48:29 PM Benjamin Tseng: b/c i think ur good at
3:48:33 PM Benjamin Tseng: (a) web design
3:48:35 PM Benjamin Tseng: (b) photo
3:48:37 PM Benjamin Tseng: (c) writing
3:48:40 PM Benjamin Tseng: (d) social media
3:48:44 PM Benjamin Tseng: push all of those
3:48:45 PM Benjamin Tseng: to the next level
3:49:13 PM Benjamin Tseng: whereas before
3:49:16 PM Benjamin Tseng: i think u were very unfocused
3:49:19 PM Benjamin Tseng: and trying to do everything
3:49:25 PM Benjamin Tseng: here, i want u to do everything by pushing on skills
3:49:30 PM Benjamin Tseng: but not everything else
3:49:35 PM Benjamin Tseng: so that’s the first piece
3:49:36 PM Serena Wu: sooo drop arch and ID and anything design related??!?
3:49:42 PM Benjamin Tseng: well
3:49:43 PM Benjamin Tseng: tell me
3:49:45 PM Benjamin Tseng: do you
3:49:45 PM Serena Wu: i mean those are my biggest passions but also the most impossible right now
3:49:54 PM Serena Wu: b/c i have no experience
3:49:54 PM Benjamin Tseng: think it fulfills (b)?
3:49:59 PM Benjamin Tseng: is that field there?
3:49:59 PM Serena Wu: cant get my foot in any design door
3:50:07 PM Benjamin Tseng: yeah
3:50:14 PM Benjamin Tseng: well
3:50:16 PM Benjamin Tseng: ok
3:50:18 PM Benjamin Tseng: add another thing
3:50:19 PM Benjamin Tseng: design
3:50:21 PM Benjamin Tseng: you might be able to do that
3:50:24 PM Benjamin Tseng: but everytime i talk to you
3:50:25 PM Serena Wu: thats everything
3:50:26 PM Benjamin Tseng: you tell me
3:50:28 PM Benjamin Tseng: architcture
3:50:28 PM Benjamin Tseng: is dead
3:50:31 PM Serena Wu: it is
3:50:31 PM Benjamin Tseng: so it can’t fulfill (b)
3:50:35 PM Benjamin Tseng: like it just can’t
3:50:38 PM Serena Wu: :(
3:50:38 PM Benjamin Tseng: and you shouldn’t
3:50:39 PM Benjamin Tseng: hitch your career
3:50:42 PM Benjamin Tseng: on something that is not growing
3:50:53 PM Serena Wu: but…what about all the other architects…
3:50:58 PM Benjamin Tseng: lol
3:51:02 PM Benjamin Tseng: look
3:51:03 PM Benjamin Tseng: either
3:51:04 PM Benjamin Tseng: ur wrong
3:51:07 PM Benjamin Tseng: and architecture is still viable
3:51:09 PM Benjamin Tseng: and in that case
3:51:15 PM Serena Wu: its viable in china
3:51:15 PM Benjamin Tseng: lets reprioritize what to develop on your skills
3:51:16 PM Serena Wu: i think
3:51:25 PM Benjamin Tseng: is it the kind of architecture u want?
3:51:28 PM Benjamin Tseng: does it fulfill (a)?
3:51:36 PM Serena Wu: maybe
3:51:39 PM Benjamin Tseng: lol
3:51:42 PM Benjamin Tseng: you’re not very certain at all
3:51:45 PM Benjamin Tseng: lol
3:51:46 PM Benjamin Tseng: look
3:51:48 PM Benjamin Tseng: if u can’t concretely
3:51:49 PM Benjamin Tseng: tell me
3:51:53 PM Benjamin Tseng: that it fulfills all 3
3:51:54 PM Benjamin Tseng: id say
3:51:55 PM Benjamin Tseng: dont bother
3:51:59 PM Benjamin Tseng: u have plenty of other oppty’s
3:52:47 PM Benjamin Tseng: ok so
3:52:51 PM Benjamin Tseng: lets make this easier for you
3:52:54 PM Benjamin Tseng: we have:
3:53:08 PM Benjamin Tseng: web design, social media, photo, prod design, and art
3:53:14 PM Benjamin Tseng: (let me know if you’d prefer different categories)
3:53:17 PM Benjamin Tseng: lets say you had to pick 3
3:53:23 PM Serena Wu: i dont like web design
3:53:23 PM Benjamin Tseng: (b/c people are only good at doing 3 things)
3:53:26 PM Benjamin Tseng: ok
3:53:28 PM Benjamin Tseng: fuck that shit then
3:53:29 PM Serena Wu: everything else i like
3:53:31 PM Serena Wu: hahah
3:53:35 PM Benjamin Tseng: lol
3:53:44 PM Benjamin Tseng: ok drop one more
3:53:53 PM Benjamin Tseng: lets be realistic about what you can accomplish
3:53:55 PM Serena Wu: ……
3:54:02 PM Benjamin Tseng: you probably can’t push 4 to completion
3:54:05 PM Benjamin Tseng: so
3:54:05 PM Benjamin Tseng: art, prod design, photo, and social media
3:54:06 PM Serena Wu: what exactly does social media entail for growth
3:54:11 PM Benjamin Tseng: lol
3:54:14 PM Benjamin Tseng: are u kidding?
3:54:21 PM Benjamin Tseng: u and teresa were the ones who sold me on it
3:54:24 PM Benjamin Tseng: and now im trying to sell my client on it
3:54:25 PM Benjamin Tseng: lol
3:54:31 PM Serena Wu: uhh but its not a career
3:54:34 PM Serena Wu: its a tool
3:54:41 PM Benjamin Tseng: right
3:54:44 PM Benjamin Tseng: but if it grows
3:54:46 PM Benjamin Tseng: you like it
3:54:47 PM Benjamin Tseng: the question is
3:54:50 PM Benjamin Tseng: can u differentiate yourself in it
3:55:04 PM Serena Wu: not IN it
3:55:10 PM Serena Wu: but i can differentiate myself in the other categories WITH it
3:55:22 PM Benjamin Tseng: can u really?
3:55:23 PM Benjamin Tseng: lol
3:55:26 PM Benjamin Tseng: b/c i have my doubts
3:55:27 PM Benjamin Tseng: lol
3:55:48 PM Serena Wu: whats the diff b/t IN it and WITH it
3:55:54 PM Benjamin Tseng: mmm
3:55:56 PM Benjamin Tseng: assume no difference
3:55:58 PM Benjamin Tseng: im using that
3:56:00 PM Benjamin Tseng: as a general category
3:56:03 PM Benjamin Tseng: that i think
3:56:06 PM Benjamin Tseng: uve only touched the surface
3:56:21 PM Serena Wu: i guess im confused. how does social media count as…”a future”
3:56:25 PM Serena Wu: “a career”
3:56:38 PM Serena Wu: i dont wanna be one of those self-proclaimed social media strategists
3:56:41 PM Benjamin Tseng: haha
3:56:41 PM Serena Wu: expects
3:56:44 PM Serena Wu: who dont really do anything
3:56:46 PM Benjamin Tseng: right
3:56:48 PM Serena Wu: then i’d be wasting everything else
3:56:49 PM Benjamin Tseng: sorry
3:56:51 PM Benjamin Tseng: im referring to these
3:56:53 PM Benjamin Tseng: as skills
3:56:59 PM Serena Wu: oh ok
3:57:11 PM Benjamin Tseng: ok i’ll make the choice for you
3:57:13 PM Benjamin Tseng: b/c i think its pretty simple
3:57:17 PM Benjamin Tseng: lets eliminate just general “art”
3:57:24 PM Benjamin Tseng: as you pointed out before
3:57:28 PM Benjamin Tseng: that’s ridiculously hard
3:57:31 PM Benjamin Tseng: to differentiate yourself
3:57:34 PM Serena Wu: ok
3:57:42 PM Benjamin Tseng: so we got photo, social media, and prod design
3:58:04 PM Benjamin Tseng: so your mission should you choose to accept it
3:58:12 PM Benjamin Tseng: is to start from the skills/interests you have now
3:58:14 PM Benjamin Tseng: (those 3)
3:58:16 PM Benjamin Tseng: and build on them
3:58:21 PM Benjamin Tseng: so that u can fulfill (c)
3:58:26 PM Benjamin Tseng: it could be some combination of them
3:58:36 PM Benjamin Tseng: (ie photo + social media, or photo + prod design, or all three)
3:58:40 PM Benjamin Tseng: or whatever
3:58:46 PM Benjamin Tseng: it can also even be just somewhat tangential
3:58:55 PM Benjamin Tseng: but u need to go a level deeper than what u have now
3:58:58 PM Benjamin Tseng: that should be ur calling
3:59:18 PM Benjamin Tseng: as for where you should be
3:59:22 PM Benjamin Tseng: taipei or US
3:59:33 PM Benjamin Tseng: id say the only things that really matter
3:59:42 PM Benjamin Tseng: are
3:59:57 PM Benjamin Tseng: 1. does it let you build those skills that you’ll be working on?
4:00:10 PM Benjamin Tseng: [so illustrator deal is not a good reason to stay in Taiwan]
4:00:31 PM Benjamin Tseng: actually i’d say thats the only thing
4:00:33 PM Benjamin Tseng: everything else imho
4:00:37 PM Benjamin Tseng: is part of the 80% that doesn’t matter
4:00:54 PM Benjamin Tseng: you’ll live dealing with your mom in the US, and you’ll survive having only the occasional friend in Taiwan
4:01:01 PM Benjamin Tseng: what you will regret longer-term
4:01:12 PM Benjamin Tseng: is not having a differentiated set of skills/abilities
4:01:19 PM Benjamin Tseng: that match with an area which is growing and which you enjoy
4:18:35 PM Benjamin Tseng: you have one question to ask
4:18:38 PM Benjamin Tseng: and only one question
4:18:47 PM Benjamin Tseng: b/c you have one big goal for the coming year
4:19:06 PM Benjamin Tseng: and btw, after you make your decision, revisit it every 3 months
4:19:11 PM Benjamin Tseng: you’re not infallible
4:19:15 PM Benjamin Tseng: so in 3 months
4:19:18 PM Benjamin Tseng: you may realize you were wrong
4:19:21 PM Benjamin Tseng: and then you should do something about it
4:19:31 PM Benjamin Tseng: but always based on that criteria
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