Project Management in Life - Enjoy & Achieve

Enjoy and Achieve

Work to Live; not Live to Work - I always remind myself of this mantra every time I have too much work on my plate. With the many demands in our job, it’s easy to lose sight of what we are working so hard for. This might be to provide a better life for their family.

The field of Project Management in Construction is challenging yet fulfilling. Every time I completed a project in the past, I took pride in it as if it was one of my ‘monuments’. It’s important to celebrate small and big wins and reward milestones. Not only does it put positive breaks in between the stressful, fast-paced moments, but it also builds a sense of purpose - that the work we do is meaningful.

Here are some suggestions on how you can practice an ‘Enjoy and Achieve’ attitude in Project Management:

1. Take time and look back where you were before and where you are now. Often, you will find that you have achieved so much and feel thankful about it. You can ask yourself:

   • How many projects have I completed?

   • What are the lessons learned that I have applied that make Project Management easier now compared to before?

   • Why am I in the Project Management Industry?

   • How many lives did I touch?

   • How many connections did I make?

You might be amazed by the achievements you have made so far.

2. Enjoy small and big achievements

Milestones don't need to be just for projects, you should have it for your personal life too whether big or small. Here are the daily ways I try to incorporate this:

• In Small Works and Projects: I aim to complete 5 priority tasks every day. If I tick off 25 in my list for the week, I tell myself that it is a productive week despite the never ending uncompleted tasks. This is a small feat but I try to enjoy it. While the unfinished tasks can be anxiety inducing, continuous work is something to be grateful for.

• In Big Works and Projects: Once a project is finished, we suggest having lunch or dinner together with the construction team to unwind and congratulate everyone for the good work. It may be a minor gesture, but it can do wonders for team motivation. At a relaxed environment, people are more willing to appreciate others’ work and share points for improvement, making people’s efforts and thoughts feel seen.

• In Life, through small ways: I included playing basketball every Sunday Morning and having a body massage in the evening as part of my routine as I enjoy both activities.

• In Life, through bigger ways: I have my financial targets which I review every quarter. When I am happy with my achievements in this aspect, I feel more motivated to plan for things I want to do in life (bucket list!). It reminds me of what I live for, because it certainly isn’t to be a slave to earning money! I firmly believe that people should learn not just to make money, but also to spend it (but wisely, of course!) After all, we each have our own definition of happiness - may it be spending quality time with our loved ones, diving into new experiences, or any other personal goal.

Work-life balance is key to living a fulfilled life. If you succeed in your career without having balance in your life, sooner or later you’ll feel incomplete. Having the Enjoy and Achieve attitude both in work and life can make a huge difference!