About 10.5 years have passed since I started working after receiving my 'long service award' at a local polytechnic -- I took 4.5 long years to achieve a diploma -- and serving (wasting) 2.5 years in national service, mainly doing light duties.

I job-hopped for a few years. It has not been bad, I thought. I had the privilege of travelling around the globe and exposing myself to different company cultures.

I have been through two company restructuring exercises but, always being the eager and hungry salesperson, I managed to find my way about and continue to earn a decent living.

I settled down at the company where I am still at today after more than 6 years.

I had envisioned working in a big office in the central business district, with a personal room and a sea view. 10 years on, I am sitting in a small cubicle with my female boss sitting in the cubicle right in front of me and we are in some ulu industrial area.

What have I learnt in the past 10 years and what have I accomplished?

I learnt that everything has a price - if you want to earn more, you need to spend more effort.

Finding good bosses are also very important. If you have rapport with them, works gets easier and more enjoyable.

Also, I realised that it is always important to continue to upgrade oneself. I took up an external part-time degree course as I felt inadequate when all my colleagues are armed with NTU honours degrees and MBAs.

I managed to achieve first class honours. But when I presented my achievement to my boss, she told me the company does not adjust salaries based on that.

Patience - I learnt that being patient is an art and we need to cultivate that in our career and life.

During the past year, I finally realised what I love and enjoy doing -- investments -- and learning about personal finance.

My friends have teased me by giving me the nickname of "guru" as I have repeatedly encouraged them to invest for the long term and plan their finances.

You will be surprised that many people are disinterested in personal finance and continue to spend, spend, spend unwisely.

Among my friends, I am probably the only one who is making plans on retirement and generating passive income.

Talking about achievements, I don't have a million dollars yet but I consider it a big achievement to be able to stay on at my company and being being recognised as one of the better employees.

Yesterday, I was presented with a promotion :)

Aside from my satisfactory career, I have achieved a million-dollar wife. I am just blessed and lucky to find a good wife and will be starting a family soon. I will treasure them and they will be my number one priority.

What do I see myself in the next 10 years when I reach 45?

Careerwise, I will continue to climb the ladder, work on my investments, make plans for retirement and enjoy bringing up my handsome baby son and growing old with my wife :)