
On 15 February 2013, we had a talk by one of our fellow colleagues, Shak, on his personal project. Shak, like us, has a hectic work schedule and a life out of work. Despite many demanding commitments, he has made time to work on a self project, called the Terror Troopers, which brought him more than just leisure and satisfaction. It also created opportunities for him to explore the world through his works.
A Splashie by day and a Trooper by night, Shak has created his personal T-shirt brand to showcase his illustrations and to also earn some extra cash. He is now selling graphic T-shirts and has even started collaborating with illustrators from Australia and Manchester.
Through this talk, I’ve discovered 3 things that made him a real Trooper – habits, hunger and happiness.
Habits — Hone them
Habits are like drugs – you just can’t help but get addicted. His doodling addiction is crazy. I used to sit next to him; every second when he had nothing else to do, he would doodle. What I’ve learnt from him, is to make your habit a craft. By honing and perfecting your craft, you could pave your way to something beautiful.
Hunger — Satisfy it
His appetite for design is bigger than anyone of us! Having just a day job is not enough for him. So he satisfies this hunger by embarking on external projects.
Happiness — Create it
He found real happiness living and being a Trooper. Despite having to work all day and night, sleeping only 2 hours every night, he never once grumbled about having more work to do. His motto in life is that happiness lies in his own hands. Hence, it is up to him to create happiness by simply doing the things which he likes.
After the talk, I was very much inspired. It’s time for me to hone my habits, satisfy my hunger and create my own happiness. What about you?
- Claire Lim