Our new prime minister, Lawrence Wong, called on Singapore to embrace a wider definition of success. Netizens were quick to note, he probably meant that our traditional measure of success in Singapore, the 5Cs, are now firmly out-of-reach of ordinary people. If you yearn success, you’ve got to redefine what it means.
Some call this moving the goal posts.
We are not unfamiliar with how competitive a society Singapore is. Everyone, at least customarily, yearns for the same things. We certainly need to update the metrics for modern times. For example, credit cards aren’t that hard to come by. Country clubs aren’t that much a thing. Cars are a luxury more appreciated than country clubs, but perhaps not that high a priority. However, I think everyone won’t disagree that cash and condos are things quite universally sought after. Condos could also be any type of private properties, and maybe some more down-to-earth citizens may also settle for premium public housing.
Our prime minister speaks about expanding one’s perspective of success. For example, when it comes to career aspirations, instead of just celebrating doctors, think about other unsung heroes such as nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists, among others.
There is undeniable merit in broadening our definition of success. In a rapidly evolving world, it makes sense to reconsider what we value. We don’t all need to aspire to have the same lifestyle or career path, and fulfillment can be found in a multitude of ways, often in roles that don’t fit neatly into the conventional success paradigm. Different people will inevitably have different aspirations, and that diversity should be celebrated.
Yet, in our fast-paced, cosmopolitan, city like Singapore, inevitably there is one inescapable metric we cannot just set aside — money. Wealth in all forms of worldly possessions. Money can buy many things. It’s a universal currency.
Financial stability provides a foundation for many things in life. This is especially important in an expensive city like Singapore. Money takes care of housing, transportation, healthcare, education, and leisure/recreational activities. Money is the means to many ends. It would be naive to suggest that wealth is irrelevant to happiness or fulfilment, especially in our expensive urban society.
I don’t mean to be narrow-minded about this. There are certainly people who are happy with what they have and what they do. There are others who’ve learnt there are more important things than the traditional measures of success we talk about.
While we don’t want our lives to be consumed by a relentless pursuit of wealth, it remains something that we all need to survive. We certainly know how to make our rules and move our goal posts. The government doesn’t need to remind us about that. Redefining success is less like a choice and more like a necessity.