Make the World Want What You Have: Insights on Work and Life Accumulated by CEO Choi In-a

Author Choi In-a · Publisher Haenam Publishing House · Published 2023-04-19 · ISBN 9791167140609

About the Book

Attitude is Competitiveness

The author's insights, gained through a long career spanning diverse work spectra, are deep and broad. Ultimately, however, they converge on the questions of "Why do we work?" and "How should we work?" – in other words, the meaning and attitude towards work. The core message is the importance of creating one's own answers, rather than seeking those of the world.

When faced with numerous conflicts and dilemmas, the author emphasizes, "The problem isn't the company!" Instead, a fundamental reflection on "When, where, with whom, and how do I want to work?" should take precedence. Even if reality is unsatisfying, that time is still a unique part of one's life, so the author advises giving one's best and fully experiencing the joys and sorrows that work brings. Work is not merely about livelihood but a crucial channel for growth, and the time and effort invested inevitably leave their mark within us.

Furthermore, the author suggests that we should strive to become a "power brand" capable of living by our own name, rather than merely remaining organizational members. We often think of ourselves as doing work for an organization, but that time is also a process of building ourselves. In essence, we work for ourselves and contribute through results. A power brand is possible when its substance is solid, rather than just reputation. This requires the right attitude, one that allows us to accumulate our value over time. When we view ourselves as a brand, our priorities become clear, and these choices accumulate to form the foundation for working and living authentically. Ultimately, questions that begin with work connect to the broader question of "How should I live?"

From understanding the essence of one's profession to the core of personal branding

This book presents questions that anyone who works should ask, from the meaning of work to branding, divided into seven keywords: 'Perspective, Growth, Branding, Attitude, Questions, Transition, Choice.' Chapter 1 re-examines the meaning of work and the essence of one's profession. Chapter 2 asks where, with whom, and how one will work, becoming the owner of one's work. Chapter 3 examines whether one can view oneself as a brand and create value that cannot be easily replaced. Chapter 4 explains the attitudes necessary to improve the quality of performance, such as time density, productivity, and sensitivity. Chapter 5 shows that the power to find and continue doing what one loves comes from asking questions. Chapters 6-7 offer courage and wisdom for making self-convincing choices during critical moments in work and life, such as changing jobs, quitting, or starting a business.

The author's confessions of agony and wandering contained in this book offer comfort and empathy. From her early days as a new employee, eager to become a reporter, to her early thirties when she suffered from burnout and suddenly left for India, to her forties in the intense advertising industry where she had to accept the onset of aging – through these pilgrimages, the author set up an antenna within, diligently questioned and answered herself, and ultimately rose again, using that strength to forge her own path.

A book that shakes 'me' with fundamental questions

Amidst a flood of books on work, this book does not offer immediate solutions or know-how. Instead, it shakes the reader with sharp questions and insights that penetrate to the essence, making them think for themselves. As an excellent copywriter, the author's simple yet impactful sentences like "Do you have a world of your own that even time cannot erode?", "You can only last long if you do well, and you can only do well if you last long," and "Time and effort are tickets to the world of fun," along with her distinctive 'calm and steady' style, provide an intimate experience, as if having a one-on-one mentoring session with the author.

Since the pandemic, the labor environment has rapidly changed, from quiet quitting among employees to mass layoffs by companies. This is a time when everyone can feel confused and shaken. When you are unsure if the work you are doing is what you love, when you want to do well but things don't go as planned, when your work and life priorities clash... following the questions in this book will help you view your own problems objectively. It will guide juniors and leaders working in organizations, as well as those working outside of organizations, who wish to stand tall on their own two feet and build their work and life with confidence.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Part 1 Work_ Work for Myself
Contribute through Results

Chapter 1 Why We Work

· If I earned billions, would I not have to work?
· What work gives beyond money
· The happiness of a working person
· Finding the meaning of my work
· Do you have a perspective that penetrates the essence of your profession?

Chapter 2 Work is an Opportunity for Growth

· The problem isn't the company!
· It's not doing company work, it's doing my work
· Working hours are time to build assets
· Where, with whom, and how will I work?
· How do you want to be utilized?

Chapter 3 My Name is My Brand

· What it means to view yourself as a brand
· What value am I offering?
· You only last long if you do well, and you only do well if you last long
· Average is not safe
· "Compete with your main character, not your sub-character"
· Direct your antenna inwards as well
· Do you have a world of your own that even time cannot erode?

Chapter 4 Attitude is Competitiveness

· The driving force that makes our talents bloom
· Time density
· Increasing productivity and focus
· Securing time alone
· Attitude towards work-life balance
· Sensitivity, an essential ability for working together
· The power of "I just did it"
· Don't leave out your seniors
· We have the power to respond to our environment

Part 2 Life_ Time and Effort Invested
Remain Within Me

Chapter 5 Time to Ask Myself Questions

· If I want to respect myself first
· Time and effort are tickets to the world of fun
· You can only know after experiencing at least four seasons
· When "no alternative" becomes an alternative
· The power that keeps you going
· When I don't know my own mind, just write it down
· Don't be conceited
· Shortcuts have traps
· Am I an expert?
· Uncertainty, the universe's test to filter out the solid few

Chapter 6 How to Navigate Critical Moments in Life

· Time is running out!
· Walking and walking and walking again
· What you can only know by going all the way· No one can avoid the path downwards

Chapter 7 Will I Continue to Live This Way?

· Arriving at a conclusion I can accept
· Tying a knot to live differently
· We are all individuals

Epilogue
References