Sorry for the clichéd title, yes, I’m trying to hook you in. But stick with me, because this isn’t about vague “life purpose” philosophy. I’m talking about something more practical: what actually makes people succeed in corporate careers?

Think about it. In almost every field, whether marketing, sales, finance, or software development, you’ll find that most people start strong, but many drop out along the way. Some burn out, some others stay put in middle management until retirement, some settle for “good enough” and some others simply drift. And then there are a few who keep climbing, who seem to stand out and rise above the rest.

People often assume that being an engineer in the software development fiel, I spend all my time solving the most complex and exciting problems out there. While that’s partly true, the reality is a little less glamorous.

Yes, some days are filled with creative challenges like hunting down obscure bugs, brainstorming design decisions, or debating architecture trade-offs. Those days make you glad you chose this field. But every now and then, even we engineers are subjected to the “non–grey-cell-consuming,” soul-crushing, boring, mundane tasks as well. And the irony is, you really can’t have one without the other.

Some days are just off. You find yourself wondering how to pass the time and engage in random activities. The activities themselves don’t need to have any meaning. You just do something, anything, as if your mind is stuck in a cycle of indecision and laziness. And before you know it, BAM! It’s 2 AM, and you’re still staring at your computer monitor. Where did the time go? “Ah, life sucks!” you declare, while continuing to stare, mindlessly browsing, munching on unhealthy snacks that chip away at you bit by bit. Then comes yet another resolution (in vain) to change yourself and upgrade your life first thing the next morning.

I recently attended a two-week workshop on general soft skills, cross-cultural awareness, and related subjects. Two topics really made me sit up and take notice. The others were good too, but the ones below truly caught my attention:

1. Self-Leadership
2. Fostering Creativity

I won’t go into detail about what was taught during the workshop. Instead, I’ll share my own independent thoughts on these topics from my perspective.

1. Self-Leadership

But when you look inward, you realize something important: leadership is not easy. You realize it the hard way when you try to lead yourself into change.

As the day goes by, I sometimes wonder, What truly makes a person happy?

Is it when he finally gets what he wants? Is it when he receives the recognition he believes he deserves? Is it when he rises to the top, when everyone bows to his command? Does wealth and prosperity really bring the kind of happiness we assume they will?

Truth be told, after more than a quarter of a century of living, I’ve come to believe that none of these can deliver true happiness. Happiness is a state of mind; it doesn’t need a trigger. We, as individuals, decide whether we are happy or not.