Author: Qinn Qinn Chan
Company: Greatus Circles Sdn Bhd
Profession: HRDC Train-the-Trainer Certification
Position: Corporate Training Consultant
Many people often ask me, “You’re a trainer, and you have four children. How do you manage to balance your family and your career?”
Honestly, I have never believed that life has to be a choice between the two.
I have always believed that life is like a puzzle. Career, family, health, friends, and personal growth are all important pieces. A truly fulfilling life is not about making one piece bigger than the others. It is about learning to take care of every part and, eventually, putting them together to create a complete picture of your life.
There was a time when I lost my way too.
I was constantly chasing and pushing myself forward. I wanted to reach the peak of my career while also having a happy and fulfilling family. From the outside, it looked like I was constantly moving forward, but inside, I was becoming more and more exhausted.
I spent less time with my family because of work. In the pursuit of my goals, I repeatedly stayed up late, overworked myself, and eventually neglected my health.
Until one day, I asked myself:
“Is this really the life I want?”
The answer was clear — no.
I began to realise that we only get one journey in this life.
There are beautiful views along the way, people worth cherishing, and different seasons of life waiting for us to experience. If we spend our entire lives chasing just one goal, we may achieve success in our careers, but we may also miss some of the most precious things in life.
So I began learning how to take better care of my life, and I started to understand the meaning of “home” in a different way.
Home is not simply a place where we live.
Home is my greatest safe haven.
It is where I can take off my armour when I am tired, and where I find the strength to begin again.
Relationships should never be taken for granted. They need to be nurtured, understood, and communicated.
When I learned to look at things from different perspectives, my relationships with my family improved, and I slowly found my balance again.
People often ask me, “With four children, doesn’t that affect your career?”
My answer is actually the opposite.
My children have never been an obstacle to my career. They are one of my greatest motivations to keep moving forward.
I want them to see more than just a mother who works hard.
I want them to see that a woman can have dreams, create her own value, and pursue her purpose — while also loving her family, taking care of herself, and enjoying life.
I believe more and more today:
Career can create our value, but family gives meaning to our life.
Life does not require every piece to be perfect.
What matters is that when I look back one day, my life’s puzzle is complete.
A career.
A family.
Love.
Health.
Growth.
And most importantly, I have not lost myself along the way.
Lastly, I want to thank my husband, Jack Ong.
Thank you for your companionship, understanding, and everything you have contributed along the way. Because of you, I have never felt like I was walking this journey alone.
And to every woman who is constantly trying to keep everything together, I want to leave you with this:
Don’t be so busy rushing towards your destination that you forget to look at the scenery along the way.
Because life is truly beautiful.
And the scenery along the way is even more beautiful.