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Tokopedia - Nakama Academy: 3 Seemingly Absurd Questions to Help You Find Your Purpose
"I want to be a can opener!" I still remember how quickly my nephew blurted out his answer when asked the question what do you want to be when you grow up. He proceeded by recalling numerous instances where his mother would look around for help when it comes to opening jars or cans. As absurd as it sounds, this gives a little insights as to the quest to finding you life purpose: PROBLEM SOLVING & CLOSENESS TO HEART.
To piggy back on the absurdness of things, here are three seemingly "absurd" questions that might help you find your purpose:
1. What makes you forget to eat and to sleep?
Can you recall the last time you were so into something that you started to lose the sense of time? For some of you, it might be those new video game releases your brother got you into. For some others, it might be those chick flick drama series you binged watch post break-up. Notice one thing similar in those two scenarios: how much you are absorbed into what you were doing. Imagine if you can be that passionate in whatever your life purpose is, how rewarding and accomplishing can that be! (and of course, minus the guilt)
2. If you can ask for any types of superpower, what would you choose and how would you like to be remembered?
Be it the superpower to eradicate poverty or the superpower to go back in time to prevent catastrophic events in history, that says a whole lot about yourself. How would you like to be remembered? What is the legacy you would want to leave behind? One of the books Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh recommends, "Search Inside Yourself", talks not only about finding your ideal career path, but also finding inner joy while doing it. One's priorities must be in synchronize with his values and beliefs in order to bring him the utmost contentment in life. So now, how are you working towards your goal?
3. Which flavor of "melted" ice cream would you choose?
Lets assume that it is a scorchingly hot day in Sunny Wonderland, where the only option you have is melted ice-cream. I know I know, that sounds ridiculous! My point is, you might have all these life plans laid out, not forgetting to prepare your Plan B, C, D, E. The truth is life does throw people down at times! This might seems like a very depressing way to end this article. However, this is actually a very liberating concept! Keeping this in mind, you might as well pick any "melted"ice cream with the best flavor available. Essentially, it is our ability to persevere through rough patches and to ride out inevitable gloomy days that matters.
How does all these tie in to our purpose as a soon-to-be Nakama then? Well, Nakama Academy provides us NewKamas with the hard and soft skills we will need at later stages in our career path. However, ultimately, it boils down to our ability to achieve happiness and fulfillment at work.
Now, only if it strikes your fancy, jot down 3 things that can add meaning to your experience as a Nakama. Repeat this by writing down 3 problems you care about at Tokopedia and start solving them. Obviously, you are not going to turn Tokopedia into some ready-for-a-Wall-Street-IPO company overnight. Also, you might start thinking "Gee, is it all that simple?"
Glad you asked…
The answer is no. But the Bear Clan believes that Tokopedia is one of the few companies in Indonesia who provide ample of opportunity to its Nakama to grow and flourish. With our annual Nakama Day, Tokopedia has gone an extra mile in providing various outlets for its Nakama to channel their creativity and entrepreneurship spirit. After hitting the halfway mark of the Nakama Academy 3rd batch, we are very positive that finding you purpose at Tokopedia has been made a lot more "organized" and "intentional"; therefore, making it somewhat easier on us Nakama :)
