PM-ing in Korea

If a coworker ever asks, “Are you happy right now?” — maybe that’s more than just small talk. Maybe it’s a sign they respect your work. Maybe it’s their way of saying, “You deserve better.” If that’s true, maybe happiness at work isn’t just possible — maybe it’s something we earn through how we grow and how we’re seen. But let’s be honest: how many people can confidently say, “Yes, I’m happy with what I do and where I work”? And even if they say yes, how many can explain why — clearly, right then and there? Probably not many.  (Even some CEOs might struggle with that question too, to be honest.) So... does that mean workplace happiness is out of reach?

When giving career advice, don’t project your own definition of success onto someone else.  Instead, listen to how they define success and have a conversation from their perspective. Success can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s about how much money they make.  For others, it’s about job titles, work-life balance, or the size of their professional network. I once met a headhunter while exploring recruitment as a career. He proudly showed me his contact list and said, “If you work with me, you’ll have this many people in your network too.” He even offered me a job, suggesting that I work for him instead of looking elsewhere.  I turned it down because his definition of success wasn’t the same as mine.