INFOCUS
reinvention
songs How do you go about transforming your life? Three Discovery Bay residents share their stories with Karmel Schreyer
Mike Howard, LeAnn Stanhope and Robin Minietta
T
he days when a person would retire from the
against their wishes. “It's a global phenomenon, and Hong
employer they started out with have long gone.
Kong is not immune. Indeed, the pressures created by a
As they say in China, ‘No more iron rice bowl’.
successful career in Hong Kong are very high, and many
Studies have shown that an average career now
people are forced to change not only by economic factors
spans as little as five years, and the recent popularity of
but also by the need to manage their lifestyle.” In all of this,
career coaches and life-transition consultants is testament
says Bower, “The lucky ones are those that wake up one
to the growing tide of people changing professions. John
day to realise a long-held dream they have. They change
Bower, Director at Human Potential HK Ltd says, “Relying
their career not because they are forced to, but because
on having a single career is an unrealistic expectation even
they see an opportunity. They literally live their dream.”
during boom times, let alone in a global recession. Young
Here are a few.
people should expect, and prepare themselves for, not
24
just one but several career changes in their lifetimes.”
Frontline cop — to ‘bank job’
He adds that older people should also be pondering
Mike Howard joined the London Metropolitan Police
what to do if they are forced out of their current career
Cadets at 16, graduating to Police Constable in London’s
December 2011