“Do you want to become an executive officer in the government sector?”
Not long ago, I had dinner with my father’s former employer — a highly successful businesswoman with a powerful network across Hong Kong and mainland China.
Midway through the meal, she learned I was unemployed. Without missing a beat, she offered to help: “Do you want to become an Executive Officer (EO)?”
For anyone unfamiliar with the role, an Executive Officer is a standard entry-level position in the Hong Kong civil service. Although it’s an entry post, the pay is excellent: HK$35,080 per month (roughly US$4,476), plus medical insurance and strong benefits. For a fresh graduate like me, the salary felt life-changing.
The money would have instantly allowed me to achieve several major goals at once — moving out on my own, saving aggressively, and funding my future studies.
Yet after just a split-second of hesitation, I looked at her and replied: “Thank you, but I know very clearly that I don’t want to work in the government system.”
She smiled warmly and encouraged me: “You can give yourself a chance. Think about it first.”
Even though I was still jobless at the time, my answer came from a place of deep clarity. I knew I didn’t belong in the government culture or environment. Yes, the salary was incredibly tempting, and I desperately needed the money. But I couldn’t ignore the hidden costs:
The golden handcuffs: I’m not a naturally proactive person. I feared I would get too comfortable and never find the courage to leave.
The network risk: This woman has strong connections in Hong Kong and mainland China. If anything went wrong, it could create complications later.
The fundamental mismatch: I simply wasn’t comfortable working inside a bureaucratic government system.
The long-term cost felt far too heavy to bear. So, despite being unemployed, I politely turned down the offer.
That single moment taught me one of the most important lessons of my life:
Sometimes, knowing what you don’t want is far more valuable than chasing what you think you desire.
You are important to us. But don’t expect high salary.
Photo Source： Wikipedia
Nowadays, finding a job is difficult. Even worse, some companies are taking advantage of this situation to exploit fresh graduate and those who are eager to enter the workplace.
This is my friend’s personal experience. She urged me to share this story warn other potential applicants, so here it is.
Last week, my friend attended an interview arranged by an international NGO in Hong Kong. The interviewer was amazed by her skills sets and international working experiences. The CEO even talked to her in person, promising that they were planning to train her to be the successor of the company.
However, there was a sharp turn when my friend asked about the monthly salary. Despite claiming to guarantee work-life balance, they said they could offer no more than 2,297 USD (approx. $18,000 HKD) per month.
It looked so creepy.
Two days later, on Saturday, the hiring manager sent my friend an email with the date and time for a second-round interview. My friend intentionally ignored the email, but the CEO of the company messaged her directly via LinkedIn on Sunday 😂.
“Where is the work-life balance? “, she asked.
At last, my friend rejected the interview invitation.
One month ago, I was having lunch at a Vietnam Style restaurant near the public library. The food wasn’t bad, but something caught my attention.
I saw a man that bore the resemblance of the local photography maestro I saw in a documentary video.
“Is he the photography maestro that turned into a taxi driver? “, I thought.
(For people who don’t know me, I have a special skill – I am extremely good at recognizing human faces. )
Not wanting to make any mistakes, I waited and kept observing the gallant man sitting in front of me.
After a while, I was very sure he was the person I was looking for. I stood up and walked to his table. He was shocked when I mentioned his name.
“Are you Dick Chan? I watched the documentary and I love your work very much! The one in the Chai Wan fire station. “
He looked extremely nervous. It seemed like he didn’t like to be called as a photographer.
“Yes. I took the photos from the little window of my small studio. But I rarely do any photography job anymore.”
Sensing the awkwardness in the air, I returned to my seat. When he left the restaurant, he greeted me, and his large figure disappeared from my sight.
The cruel facts of being a professional photographer/videographer
1. Many people underestimate how much work it takes to become a professional photographer
In the eyes of outsiders (including myself before writing this post), photography is an easy job that only requires expensive equipment, a fancy portfolio, strong networking skills, and experience. They believe that anyone can make a living with a SONY A7 III (including a flashlight) or IV after 3 to 6 months of “training.”
With this mindset, clients without prior experience often set very low rates to hire a photographer. Without any knowledge or idea about quotations, novice photographers use these opportunities to build their portfolios; sometimes they even lower their rates to get the offers. Soon, the novices discover that they don’t enjoy photography anymore, as there are so many changes and demands from clients.
In one sentence: when you turn your hobby into work, it is not fun anymore—unless your “hobby” is “work.”
2. Professional photography and videography are for tough people with excellent physical strength, especially videography
Cameras are heavy. Lenses are heavy. Everything is heavy in this industry.
According to my own experience, some photographers bring a suitcase to a professional photography event (usually, they will include a small chair if they are short).
Apart from the weight of the tools, without good physical strength, a photographer won’t be able to endure long hours of shooting or deal with the accidents and drama happening at the events. An experienced video producer told me that he made a lot of documentary videos when he was young, but he can’t do it now that he is old.
“Documentary production is extremely exhausting.”
Also, one point is overlooked by many people: the post-production process requires photographers/videographers to spend long hours in front of the monitor. Obviously, this will cause significant damage to their eyesight, but the changes suggested by clients will also drive photographers crazy.
(Still, we haven’t mentioned delayed payment in the industry, but it exists in other industries too.)
In my case, since I knew that if I became a videographer, my eyesight would get worse (I have eye floaters already), I decided to treat it as a hobby only.
3. Actually, photographers don’t earn a lot of money in Hong Kong.
Out of boredom, I used Apify to collect data from a Facebook group designed for hiring freelance photographers. Then I asked Gemini to calculate the average hourly pay of each job. Here is the result:
Although the platform itself might be biased regarding the hourly rate, I was surprised by the result. On the surface, $257 HKD (equal to $32.79 USD) doesn’t seem too bad. However, if we include the time needed for adjusting the light and color of the photos, the actual rate is lower than $257.
Meanwhile, a photographer won’t work like a 9-5 worker every day. Even if you become a photography assistant, the hourly pay is quite low in Hong Kong. Veteran photographers in Hong Kong say that apprentice photographers can’t even make enough money to support themselves for the first 10 years of their careers.
No wonder people say it is a perfect career for nepo babies in Hong Kong. OH, I nearly forgot how pricey professional cameras are (but you can rent a professional camera).
Wait… You may wonder: Should I still pursue my dream and step into this field? To be honest, if you are not scared by my words and are strong, healthy, have good eyesight, and don’t need to worry about money
go for it!!!!!!
Even though it is going to be very tough, you will see a lot of interesting things and people on this journey. During different events, I could see a lot of photographers, and they were like black panthers waiting for their prey in the corner. Their adaptiveness and concentration in the setting left me in awe.
Most importantly, rarely could I find the same kind of passion and energy in the eyes of a white-collar worker, regardless of their position or salary level.
PS: Now I have a new hobby, or you could say a calling from somewhere unknown 😂. I want to learn everything about freelancers, the freelance market, and the gig economy. I will share insights and latest trends in the market. Hope my audience will not disappear. 😂 I will continue posting my photos and life updates on this website. Hahaha.
This is the last post for my transformational trip to Japan.
On that night, without any clear plan in mind, I decided to visit the shrine the next day.
The delicious breakfast
The pinkish dream
I returned to my room after finishing my breakfast. Even though it was in the morning, I felt extremely sleepy. I decided to take a nap.
Then something happened.
I “saw” two ladies, both wearing hot pink wind breakers, walked into my room. They looked exactly the same as the host of the hotel and her mother-in-law. With my fully-closed eyes, I could vividly “feel” their arrival and heard them uttering some words in Japanese.
While the old woman was trying to wake me up, her daughter-in-law was arranging the stuff in the room. I was too tired, and the lady’s effort to wake me up was in vain. I “saw” she made a gesture to her daughter-in-law, reminding her to leave the room. Then, they left the room and tried their best not to wake me up.
After a while, I finally awake from the reality. Still immersed in my dream, I observed my environment: my stuff was as messy as always, and there was no signs of anyone had entered the room.
I felt the chill from my back.
At the same time, I received a phone call from a scammer, warning me that someone used my phone number to scam other people in Mainland China. 🤣
When these dramas were over, I embarked on the journey to the shrine.
For some unknown reasons, there was a voice in my heart telling me to go on foot. Even though it would take me more than one and half an hours, I felt like I should do it by myself.
Another reason was very obvious: Save money.
Outside the hotel
Walking out of the entrance, I was overwhelmed by exhilaration. Never had I imagine that I would be going on a journey like the ancient people did in the old times. Every step on the icy path felt so unreal and exciting.
The man in the photo was a good person who wanted to make sure I was safe.
On my way to the shrine, I encountered a stranger who was heading to the same direction. When I showed him the location of the shrine, he was shocked. At last, he said I could call his number if any accident happened.
And he also said, “Don’t worry. I am worried. Just in case you need help.”
Fortunately, I didn’t have to dial the number.
Outside the tunnelThe view inside the tunnel
The man and I separated at the intersection of the street. I became a solo traveler again. Occasionally some pedestrians would appear on the street with umbrellas on their hands. Even though many shops were erecting on the street, their iron roller shutters were tightly closed. My world had never been so calm and quiet.
Instantly, I realized why it was dubbed as “The snow country”.
The boundless whitenessThe real view
I was overjoyed by the unreal scene in front of me. It had been forty-five minutes since I departed from the hotel. I followed the instructions provided by Google Map, and I was getting closer to the shrine.
Soon, I would be able to see the shrine I had been yearning for a long time!
My heart was filled with indescribable happiness.
Here it was!😂
I thought I arrived in the location, but Google Map reminded me that the “true location” existed on the mountain, which would require me to go to mountain peak.
But I saw the shrine in front of me. Confused, I decided to visit the shrine appeared right in front of me.
Except my fear stopped me from climbing over the snow to find it.
I listened to the devilish advice by Google Map and went upwards.
I felt tired after an hour of walk in the snow and rain.
Indeed, there was a silver lining in Google Map’s mistake. If I didn’t go upward, I wouldn’t discover the snowy, blurry scene that only appeared in movies and photo books.
So dreamy
I had never imagined that I would be able to see such a lovely, sacred Panorama in my life.
“If the cost to see such a beauty was the sufferings and shitty things that had happened in my life, they worth it.”, I thought.
My life suddenly became very blissful.
As I got higher, the wind became stronger. My vision began to become clear, as the fog was getting thinner in the air. Worst of all, a slope in front of me was fully covered by snow. It was impossible to go forward without a shovel.
At the same time, my dad sent me a message to remind me be aware of the wild bears in the mountain.
Knowing it was my limit, I decided to return to the starting point.
The shrine
Dilemma
When I was passing the shrine, I was thinking, “Am I losing the only chance to visit the shrine?”
“Yes. If you don’t go, you will waste your effort.”
But it was surrounded by snow that was on my waist level! My shoes and clothes would get wet.
Go for it!
My heart defeated my rationality. I raised my legs and stepped into the snow. The first few steps were fine as hell. My clothes and shoes didn’t get wet. As I got closer to the shrine, the snow stayed on my shoes clothes, and I could feel my socks were fully damp.
My phone also dropped into the snow.
Still heaving, I stood in front of the shrine and made several wishes:
Get an offer from the WEF early cohort program (I didn’t get the offer in the end)
Help me to let go of my feelings towards my former crush
Find a full-time job
Move out
Find an ideal partner
When everything was ready, I added,
“If you could hear my wishes, could you inform me via a special medium or sign? I promise you that I will try my best to reduce my bad habit and live everyday with the best version of myself. “
I bowed three times. No noise. No distractions.
Pure calmness and peacefulness.
It was around 1pm when I left the mountain. I was no longer filled with excitement but calmness and joy. On my way back to the hotel, I had to went through the streets, and I soon discovered that the unknown power heard my wish…
The signs in the cake shop
All restaurants were closed at that hour. To satisfy my hunger, I stopped and rested at a small-scale cake shop. The Japanese lady asked me where did I go since she was surprised to see a foreigner at that moment.
I told her I had been walking from the hotel and visited the shrine. She was shocked to death. Seeing my wet hair and socks, she gave me a cup of green tea. And I also bought two pieces of cake from her. I ate one of them immediately.
The lady then handed me a red mail post shaped rubbish bin.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the word on the bin.
“LARK“.
It was the name of my former crush.
I used the translation app to share the meaning of the words with the lady. Shocked, she also added,
“Lark is the name of a cigarette brand in this area.”
No wonder I got drunk when I was rejected by my former crush. My former crush was my oral fixation. 🤡 Starting from that moment, whenever my former crush’s name appeared in my mind, I could only think of cigarette.
But the lady gave me another gift. Also, she reminded me not to drink alcohol again.
And the chicken on the towel bore the resemblance of the doll I bought in Laos🤣.
At last, I left the shop and returned to the hotel. It was very tough since it was snowing in the afternoon. Yet, I made it, but nearly got myself into biggest trouble in the bathroom, not in the snow.
Back in the hotel, I change my clothes and had dinner immediately. A strange idea emerged –do I really hate the taste of alcohol? Out of curiosity, I ordered a cup of beer.
Sadly, I didn’t like it.
Calm but dangerous
But the worst thing happened. In the bathroom, I saw a bathtub filled with hot water. A day spent in ice and snow intensified my craving for warmth and hot water. Forgetting I had drank alcohol, I bathed myself into the hot water.
I couldn’t feel more comfortable. Five minutes later, I raised from the water and walked out of the bathroom. Then,
I was collapsing. I lost my footing and ability to stand still. I struggled to maintain my conscious.
Nearly fell on the floor, I threw myself to the chair near the wardrobe and put on my clothes.
I had never felt so close to death. My awareness was fading, but my limps were trying to drag me out of the changing room. Then I stumbled, climbed the stairs, and opened the door and laid on the mat in the room.
15 minutes later, I opened my eyes with a heavy mind. I realized I was very close to death. But I felt like I was a new person again. I finally could experience the calm, worry-free emotions.
Even though only one of my wishes was fulfilled, I was very grateful for everything happened in this journey.
After talking to the alumna, a question that had bothered me for years surfaced again:
That same day, I borrowed the Chinese edition of What Do You Say After You Say Hello? by Eric Berne, the founder of Transactional Analysis.
His theory is sophisticated, but one specific premise helped me identify a recurring problem in my life. He stated that our “script” is written based on commands from our parents, and this script determines our life path unless we take conscious intervention.
Reflecting on this, several patterns flashed through my mind:
The Disappearing Act: Tools or resources would often vanish right before I started an important task.
The Crisis Cycle: I frequently found myself in problematic, or even life-threatening, situations 🥶– only for the problem to be solved by a “weird” stroke of luck at the last second.
This happened in Laos when I brought the company camera to a remote province, only to discover the SD card was missing. I was already rushing to the airport.
Miraculously, a nearby camera shop, which was supposed to be closed had the owner arrive just as I stood outside looking hopeless. I saw it as a miracle that saved me, allowing me to film the UXO Team operation.
Here is another story. (if you are interested, please read the original post.)
Then it happened again in Hong Kong. The day before a volunteer videography gig, I couldn’t find my extra battery for my Lumix GH5 📹. My father had been rearranging my things, and the battery had vanished 🤯.
I had to tell the host I only had one battery. Fortunately, they had a charger that ensured we could finish the shoot. The organizers loved the work, but I realized this cannot happen again if I want to be a “professional.”
It can’t happen again if I want to become a “professional”.
Beneath the Surface
When I recognized this pattern, I was shocked. I realized I could have taken steps to ensure success instead of relying on luck. In Laos, I could have bought a spare card the moment I arrived. In Hong Kong, I should have bought an extra battery while renting a lens. My environment affected my decision-making, but that is no excuse for failing to be prepared.
What caused these scenarios? Looking back, I found the root cause was fear of people and a desperate urge to prove my ability.
Growing up without much warmth, I lost hope in the adults and children around me. I “recognized” early on that people couldn’t be relied upon.
So, who could I trust? Animals 🐷? God? Some supernatural power ⚡️?
I chose the supernatural. Whenever I faced a problem, instead of fixing it through logic, I subconsciously hoped for a miracle to save me.
The Hero vs. The Student
There’s another layer: my role in these “accidents.” If I finish a task under extreme duress, it proves my skill more than if everything had gone smoothly. It was my impulse to refute my parents’ low opinions of my ability. I didn’t want to be a “full-mark student” who followed the rules; I wanted to be the hero who survived the impossible.
This discovery completely blew my mind. For people who want to succeed, this may be an inspiration. 🤡
Feel free to share your thoughts and drop your comments!
I thought external force created my reality, but I was wrong.
Last Friday, I met an alumnus of the internship program I had joined.
It wasn’t a bad experience, but I was a bit disappointed by the alumnus’s attitude towards her life. I was expecting this over-achiever would share her passion for fostering gender equality, child rights and development with me.
Instead, I became her dumping ground. She complained about the Taylor management style of the company, the problems of moving out, not earning enough money, and much more. I didn’t expect that.
I saw her as a pathetic woman who lacked the courage to overturn her destiny. Although she was doing something she found meaningful, she wasn’t satisfy with the income.
I tried to consolidate her by offering different advice, and she turned down all of them.
In the end, I found that she didn’t want to improve her situation. She was looking for solace from people. But her reaction also inspired me to borrow a book in the library.
Reading this book completely changed my life attitude towards life.
Back in Laos, while some Canadians was sipping Lao beer, I said I wanted to become a photographer.
What happened?
Fast forward five months: still unemployed, but I recently volunteered as a videographer for an all-day beach event. Even though I didn’t get paid, I loved every second of it. When I excitedly shared the experience with my mum, her response was classic:
I shared my experiences with my mum, telling her how excited I was. Her response was,
“When can you turn these skills into money?”, she said.
The rationale behind it
I wasn’t surprised by her dispiriting answer. I wasn’t surprised by her dispiriting answer, but it got me thinking. My logic is simple: once you monetize your interest, the dynamic changes.
Plus, as a novice, I know I need more “miles” behind the lens to build my credibility.
To quiet her doubts, I told her I would need extra money to attend professional photography training and buy some professional but expensive equipment. Once she heard that, she shut up😅.
A small Discovery
After this small incident, I also reflected on the importance of making money with my interest. And I discovered a strange logic.
If my dream is to be a photographer, what is the actual “dream”? Is it the reward (money/fame), or the action itself?
After chewing on this for a day, I knew the answer – what truly matters to me is the activity itself, not the reward💰. Being able to help people take photos and record videos are enough to make me happy, and money does not matter. Appreciation from others can become a motivation, but the process itself is the core of my dream.
Shift in attitude
This shift has changed how I view all my ambitions. I used to want to be a writer to earn a living, but now I realize I just love expressing ideas and emotions through words. I don’t need the awards or the validation.
I call this true love❤️.
PS: I will make money from something that is not my interest, hahaha.
What do you think of this idea? Feel free to share your thoughts and drop a comment below!
One response to “The True Meaning of Following Your Dreams”
U can learn a lot from my not-so-successful experience!😅
I know this is not perfect -_-|||
I recently volunteered as a videographer for an outdoor water sports event. My mission: capture the kids learning how to kayak and stand-up paddle board.
Since I didn’t expect to be filming directly in the water, I rented a new lens just the day before the event. Because I wasn’t familiar with the new gear and didn’t have time to test it beforehand, things got a bit chaotic! I also didn’t realize how much the outdoor environment, especially the sun and sand would affect the color tones of my shots.
It was a steep learning curve, but these are the valuable experiences I’m taking away.
Lessons Learned by a Novice Videographer:
Power Up: Always bring at least two batteries for any event longer than 4 hours.
Know Your Gear: “Become friends” with your tools before the shoot starts; never use a rented lens for the first time on-site.
Stay Cool: Bring a portable fan to beat the heat.
Rest is Key: Get at least 8 hours of sleep before an event—you’ll need the energy.
Master the Light: Proper white balance is essential on a bright, sunny day to keep colors looking natural.
Post-Beach Cleanup: Don’t forget to wipe down your camera and gear immediately after visiting the beach to remove salt and grit.
Dress the Part: Wear a swimsuit to outdoor water events so you can get into the water for those close-up shots.
Watch the Reflections: Sand and water reflect light intensely, which can drastically change your photo’s color tone and exposure.
Protect Your Kit: Keep your gear (especially batteries!) in a “no-touch zone” away from family members or curious bystanders.
Hydrate and Fuel: Bring plenty of water and eat a solid breakfast.
Dry Feet: Bring an extra pair of socks if you’re filming anywhere near the water.
Hopefully, these tips help other beginners avoid a few splashes!
Feel free to drop your comments and share your thoughts!😄
While I am practicing to be more self-aware of my emotions, I reflected on the events in my life, and I discovered a lie I’ve heard for a long time.
For a long time, we’ve been told a simple lie:
The Academia Path📚: Slows down your development and makes you prone to a life crisis.
The Practical Path (Work)🗃: Accelerates your socialization and helps you find your “direction.”
That is to say if you choose work, you are “safe” from the existential dread that scholars face. But this is a trap.
Two weeks ago, I spoke with an alumna of my UNV program.Two weeks ago, I talked to an alumnus of my UNV🇺🇳 program in Hong Kong.
Despite our conversation lasted for 50 minutes only, her honest sharing was enough stress me out.
Our only intersection was the program I joined. Unlike me, she was graduated from a competitive university and had been working for UNFPA for a year. Also, she won the Chevening scholarship. And her secondary school gives her the greatest networking opportunities in Hong Kong.
Now, at 31, she’s a senior officer at an INGO.
During our conversation, although she didn’t always express herself clearly, her answers were very honest.
“Do you like your job?” I asked.
“I just do the work,” she said.
Then I asked another question.
“If you were financially independent, would you stay in your current position? “
“How can I achieve financial independence? I have to work for so many years! I can’t achieve financial freedom. If I am financially independent, I can do things I want. “
“Have you found your direction→?”, I asked.
When I asked about her direction, she said, “I’m still exploring. I’m not that old!”
I had to laugh. 😂
Even though I am not sure whether I will meet her again, she gave me a valuable lesson💎.
I don’t want to play her game at her age…A life without passion and financial stability. If I don’t want to play the same game, I have to make different decisions.
At the same time, she also proves that degrees from great schools and brilliant working experience can’t guarantee a satisfying life.
When I shared this story with another friend, who is the same age of the alumna, she said she feels the same. But she just got her PHD.
It is clear that a PhD and work experience cannot give you a sense of stability in life. And if there is no stability in life, then why do we need to worry about it?
Feel free to drop your comment below to share your thoughts and opinions!😄
What will happen if I can accept everything happening in my life?
After reading Busting Loose from the Money Game by Robert Scheinfeld, I started doing experiments to help myself get rid of the worries and troubles in life.
In his books, he mentioned a few important ideas:
Everything we see is an illusion.
There is not good or bad in illusion.
The core of everything we see is feeling, no matter how logical or sophisticated it looks
Our inner self have infinite power
Based on these ideas, Robert introduced a method called the “process”. By diving yourself into the emotions, you will realize that it will not affect your real self. They are just feelings, but your soul is not injured.
Once you become at peace with the emotion, you can move to the next step, showing your gratitude to your power to create the illusions. After this, you can imagine yourself collecting the energy from your emotions. Then, things will change automatically.
Then I started doing the “process”.
From my own experience, although I am not a firm believer of his ideas, I have to admit that his method is very effective. Even if your goal is not to escape from the illusions in life, it can help you to become more aware of your own emotions and thoughts.
Long before reading his books, I spent a lot of time to learn about Buddhism*, mindfulness and different kinds of methods to reduce my worries. Some of them work, but none of them is consistent. And my awareness is still very low.
However, after practicing “the process”, I discovered that my self-awareness was quite low, despite spending a tremendous of time to study related topics. Whenever I felt worried, or feeling overwhelmed by the things happening in life, I would use reading or watching YouTube videos to escape from reality😅.
But the “process” forced me to look into my own consciousness and emotions. Within a few days, I have already discovered that:
I was annoyed by my family members’ sleeping habits.
I was annoyed by their fighting at night.
I was annoyed by the prospect of having to rely on a 9-5 job.
And more…
Most importantly, after learning about the power of my Infinite Self, I am getting closer to my Real Self. To be honest, I don’t want to get a 9-5 job, even if it can give me more than HKD 400,000 (51054.68 USD) (or more!) per month. My real self wants freedom to work on my own terms and the time for creativity.
(maybe this is why I’ll never become an i-banker, hahaha)
In the future, I will go on sharing my life and my journey to find my real self while living in this “illusion”.
Feel free to drop your comments to share your thought and experiences😁. If you want to talk to me, please send your email to natalieor828@gmail.com
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