“Do what you love. Love what you do.” If you had to choose, which would you pick? When I tell people I love my job, they often make a surprised face. It makes me wonder: is doing what you love uncommon? Pursuing a career I’m passionate about seems like a privilege. “You have options. A lot of us don’t.” What I have that others don’t is actually courage.

What is passion?

Do you remember the last time your eyes lit up when you were doing something or talking about what you do? Your eyes don’t lie.

Growing up, I was a curious child about the natural world. My sisters spent time playing computer games and with dolls, but I always went out into my mum’s garden, played with the soil, observed tiny animals, and dissected plants to see what was inside. I found so much wonder in the natural world, which made me want to learn more about it and, ultimately, protect it.

From a young age I knew I wanted to help preserve this beautiful world. I thought: when I become an adult and must work, why not choose something I love that also lets me earn an honest living?

What is courage?

Courage is stubbornness. When people around me suggested I become a lawyer, engineer, doctor, lecturer, or accountant, I chose to be an environmentalist. My parents taught me to study hard, get a scholarship, earn a master’s degree (or a PhD), secure a job in an MNC with a fat salary, and live happily ever after. I defied those expectations and stayed true to what makes my heart race.

Courage is seeing myself clearly. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Our education system teaches us to fix our weaknesses and be perfect, which can make us avoid seeing our true selves. No one tells us to spend more time growing our strengths and accept our weaknesses as they are. Awareness is good enough. Find people who complement you; you don’t need to be everything or do everything alone. At Bernard Business Consulting, I reached a turning point: I chose to see myself as I am, accept every side of me, and embrace them with a loving heart.

Courage is resilience. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone faces failure. What determines success is how quickly people recover from setbacks. I used to dwell on my mistakes for days, draining my energy and affecting my work. Every time my CEO checked on me, the only question he asked was, “How much time did you spend feeling sad? Has it shortened since the last time?” We improve at handling setbacks; we just need to keep going.

When passion meets courage

Passion is subjective. It’s so abstract that I couldn’t find a framework, SOP, or system to explain it. It’s something inside you that only you know it. Courage is straightforward. We’ve heard many TED Talks about grit, perseverance, resilience, and bravery. It’s a skill that can be trained.

When I interview candidates for ESG and Sustainability Consultant roles, many demonstrate courage and resilience. They tell me, “I can learn. I am willing to start from ground zero.” Their resumes show experiences that reflect those skills. But at the end of the day, even if you can work hard and endure hardship, the question remains: “What’s the point?”

Passion is an intrinsic motivation that comes from within. It’s a sustainable fuel that drives you continuously even without external factors like pay checks or workplace perks. It’s the reason I always return to my work, despite the difficulty. Because at the end of the day, when I leave this world, I want to remember I lived the life I wanted. Isn’t that why we are brought into this world — to experience life?

Work is life, life is work

I used to see work and life as separate. I didn’t care much about who I worked for or who my colleagues were. I would shut down work mode at 6 pm and switch to life mode until 9 am. Luckily, I didn’t go crazy living two different identities.

When I began to see work and life as one, everything changed. I found my non-biological family at Bernard Business Consulting. We share the silliest jokes, deepest fears, most embarrassing moments, and best achievements. I feel lighter, more at ease, and, most importantly, more grateful. Everything I’ve gone through has shaped who I am today.

If this article resonates with you, feel free to share it and spread the message: always follow your heart.

May all beings be happy.

Love,
Jia Xin