A Bigger Splash

Autonomy shirt
Edwin Jeans
Sperry Top-Sider boat shoes

Do you need more time?

I've always been a big believer in keeping busy. I’m not quite sure if it’s because I’m constantly surrounded by talented and hardworking peers or if it stems from my crazy Asian culture of work ethic, but everyday I try to do something fulfilling and productive. I detest staying at home and doing nothing.

In saying this, and having recently acquired another job, I am now balancing three different workloads. Ironically, only two of the jobs are directly beneficial to my career, and these happen to be ones that pay the least. My friends have advised to cut one of them out, but how will I ever decide which one? I want to maximise my career prospects but I can’t possibly go back to shopping in the clearance section of ASOS now that I've stepped into Net-a-Porter’s death grip. 

The quote, “jumping around and splashing in the water doesn’t mean you’re swimming” by Michael LeBoeuf really resonates with me. There is a big difference between simply being active, and really accomplishing something worthwhile. But is it really worth it? My income has significantly increased, my resume is looking solid but I am finding that I have no time to enjoy the little things now that I am working seven days a week.

I tell myself that this is all temporary. Eventually, life will slow down when I’m successful, and I will have time to focus on the things that really matter – those that enrich my life, such as having fun and spending quality time with family and friends, and not worrying about the price tag on clothes. But when? When you look at all the successful people working in fashion you realise that there is no such thing as a break, they are constantly working all the time.

"Let me know when your personal life is falling apart. That means it's time for a pay-rise".

Realistically, the fashion industry and the world in general is unlikely to slow down. But do I really want to be that crazy fashion gal that just lives and breathes fashion?

One of the biggest regrets of those dying is that they wish they 'didn't work so hard'. I would love to take this advice but I never want to live a mediocre life. I’d like to believe my clothes lovingly embrace  me at the end of each day, the same way I’d like to think that I’m a size 4. But let’s be honest people, I doubt that’s going to realistically happen any time soon...