Your brand is the only thing you truly have. It’s your reputation online and offline. I’ll be the first to admit that brand-building is not easy because a strong brand requires equilibrium.
I define equilibrium as the ‘equality of distribution’. With change as the only constant around us, achieving equilibrium takes a lot of patience, due diligence and practice. And sometimes your focus can shift or your priorities might take you in another direction in life. You may be spending more time with family, getting more involved in hobbies, planning for something big or simply taking a holiday. It’s important to be flexible no matter what. And there’s always a trade-off to every choice. Too much play can lead you to question your purpose and existence in life. On the flip side, too much work can lead to burnout.
I used to define success in the context of my career – how far I could climb up the corporate ladder or how much money I could earn. Early on in my trading career, I was working 18 to 20 hours daily, and it led to an unhealthy lifestyle of junk food, sleep deprivation and lack of vitamin D (lack of exposure to sunlight). Fortunately, I’ve learned to work smarter, not harder. I think years of business and life experience have taught me to take a much broader perspective on success.
I believe to be truly successful is to have balance in your life. So often we are focused on one area of our life at the expense of another. I really believe we are most successful when we are in equilibrium and generally feeling happy with every area of life, whether that’s career, family, friends, finances, personal growth, health and wellness, or even physical environment. I have a strong interest in art, and my lifestyle now allows me to pursue this passion. I’m currently in the middle of converting my living room in my Bangkok home into a private art gallery. None of this could be possible if I was still pulling 20-hour work days on a daily basis.
Achieving equilibrium in your life isn’t something that should be left to a weekly calendar. It’s not something that you check off on a to-do list. It’s a dynamic and daily personal journey.
So how have I been able to strike a balance in my life?
I’ve learned to focus on what’s important at any given time. It’s important to be clear on your priorities. Often there is a disconnect between what people say are their values and what they are actually practicing. Once you define and have clarity about your values, it becomes easier to make decisions in your life. I also believe it’s vital to not only set goals but to also review them regularly. It’s amazing how many goals you can achieve just by identifying and clearly articulating them. Lastly, it’s not just about reaching your goals. It’s enjoying the process of getting there. In my experience, the lessons and experiences along the way make the goal so much more rewarding and meaningful than the goal itself.
I believe equilibrium is the key to success. It’s inspired me to write my own book called The Equilibrium, as I constantly seek to find the optimal balance between Forex trading and life. I hope you are able to achieve equilibrium in your life too.
Authored by Kenneth Kam
Produced by Callio Media