At 27, I had to make a tough choice.

I was working in industrial design, designing retail experiences for global brands. It was fast-paced, exciting, and creatively challenging.

Then, I saw a job posting: Lecturer at Nanyang Polytechnic.

A full-time teaching role. A completely different path.

I hesitated.

Would this mean giving up being a full-time designer?

Would I fall behind if I left the industry?

Would I regret it?

To decide, I used a simple 3-part test:

1️⃣ Design – Would I still get to create?

2️⃣ Education – Did I enjoy mentoring and teaching?

3️⃣ Travel – Would this allow me to explore new experiences?

When I compared my current job at Barrows to the lecturer role, the answer became clear:

• Barrows: Great for design, but little in education or travel.

• Lecturing: A perfect 10/10 in education, plus more travel and flexibility.

So, I took the leap.

And that one decision changed everything.

✔️ I found a love for mentoring.

✔️ I got to shape the next generation of designers.

✔️ I realized that teaching design was just as fulfilling as practicing it.

Looking back, it wasn’t a choice between design or education.

It was a choice between what looked good on paper vs. what actually excited me.

If you’re at a career crossroads, ask yourself:

👉 What would you do for free because you love it?

👉 Which path aligns with what you value most—not just what sounds impressive?

You don’t have to choose one thing forever.

You just need to choose what moves you forward today.

Have you ever faced a tough career decision? Reply and tell me about it.