I’m a Gen X. We’re the generation that didn’t grow up with smartphones, AI tools, or ChatGPT to hand us quick answers. Back then, if you wanted to know something, you either figured it out yourself, asked someone in person, or went to the library.
When I started my career, it was as an executive in an event management company. I was the rookie; fresh, clueless, and trying to make sense of it all, while my managers were seasoned and confident. There was no onboarding portal or “how-to” guide. My training was on the job, through mistakes, late nights, and figuring things out on my own.
That messy, hands-on learning shaped my foundation. Nothing was handed to me, certainly not on a silver (or golden) plate. Every skill I gained, every step I took forward, I earned the long way.
Life happened, but so did determination.
Marriage came. Kids followed. My priorities shifted, but my drive to work hard never left me. That’s just how I’m built. I can’t do things halfway.
Still, I learned something quickly: climbing the ladder isn’t just about talent or effort. Sometimes, it’s about who you know.
The ones who seem to leap up.
Over the years, I’ve watched some people climb far quicker than me. Some of them my age or younger, are already in the C-suite. Others, are sitting in senior management teams.
And then there’s me.
But hey, #youdoyou, right?
Because really, is there a standard ruler to measure where we “should” be by a certain age? If there is, I’m probably behind. But here’s the thing, everyone’s journey is different.
Some get there through hard work. Some through connections. Some say it’s “luck,” and if that’s true, alhamdulillah. That’s the path Allah chose for them.
As for me, I believe things will come, insyaAllah. And yes, they usually say, “when you least expect it.” But until then, you still put in the work. You keep showing up. Because waiting for bulan jatuh ke riba? Yeah… maybe (yes or no)?
The slow climb.
I didn’t have family connections to pull strings for me. My late father was a headmaster, my mother a homemaker. No name-dropping. No “my dad knows your boss.” I built my career on my own reputation, my own deliverables.
And sure, sometimes it stings to see others jump ahead seemingly without breaking a sweat. I’ve wondered if “working smart” really is different from working hard. Maybe I’ve been doing one without enough of the other.
I don’t know.
But here’s what I do know: every step I’ve taken is mine.
What I’ve learned…
There may not be a “right” or “wrong” way to climb the ladder. But there’s your way.
Mine’s been slower, harder, and not always pretty, but it’s mine.
And I’d rather stand here, looking back at the good, the bad, and the ugly, knowing that every inch was earned. Not handed. And I don’t have to wonder if I really deserved the seat I’m in.
Because at the end of the day, I can say this with peace in my heart: I’ve built this journey, and I’m still building it. And wherever I end up, I’ll know I got there with my own two hands and two legs, climbing that ladder.
Written by A. Balancing duty in public service and care at home, she writes from the heart of both worlds.