Cream of the Crop This is a monthly column introducing professionals who represent the best in their respective industries Master of all he surveys By Charles Mak Career success depends on a long-term outlook and striking the right work-life balance Young professionals keen to make their way in the world are generally allowed a couple of false starts. And that is exactly what happened with Cliff Tse, now national director of valuation advisory services, capital markets at Jones Lang LaSalle, before he was sure his career was definitely on the right track. Mr Tse's first move after graduation was to join an engineering company. However, a sense of unease soon set in, once he realised there would be limited opportunities for personal development, and he therefore accepted what seemed like an attractive offer to work for a local developer. That also proved less than satisfactory, and it was only when he became an assistant valuer for the company that is now Jones Lang LaSalle that he knew he had found his niche. "Everything seemed to fit," he says. "I had always been optimistic about the future of the surveying profession, but realised by then that a person's career also depends on the prosperity of the industry and the scope of the company they work for." Any person dedicated to life and work should embrace life-long learning Good advice Since that time, Mr Tse has also recognised the importance of having a wide range of acquaintances both inside and beyond the profession. "You need other people's insights and opinions," he says, adding that it was a former colleague who advised him to look for a reliable and sizeable company like Jones Lang LaSalle, if he was serious about his career. It proved to be excellent advice and Mr Tse has progressed steadily ever since. "Acquiring chartered surveyor status in 1994 was a definite turning point as it enabled me to become head of the mortgage section," he recalls. "Things really took off from there." In his view, anyone who is ambitious should plan for the long term and realise that advancement depends on ensuring that every deal turns a profit for the company. To achieve this, Mr Tse emphasises that continuing education is vital, providing new insights and a broader network of contacts. For this reason, he completed a Graduate Diploma in Management at HKUST in 2000, and then took short courses in leadership, entrepreneurship, customer relationship management and marketing. He also finished a Master's degree in technology management in 2004. However, all this learning is directed towards practical ends. "When I was younger, I was inspired by Lee Iacocca, former president of the Ford Motor Company," he discloses. "In his book, he mentioned that he started in sales and marketing and rose to the top of the company by finding practical solutions to problems rather than applying theory." Mr Tse believes that getting a work-life balance is important and essential As a leading figure in the industry, Mr Tse is now sharing his own views by contributing to local magazines and newspapers. This began when he was invited in 2002 to write for the local professional institute's monthly magazine Surveyors Times, and it led to him starting a book review section. "I have a passion for books and took the opportunity to do some reviews," he says. "I would particularly recommend The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom and Only the Paranoid Survive by Andrew S. Grove. The latter is about business transition and the ideas have been very useful in deciding how to improve things in our own team." Personal transition Mr Tse's current role allows him to take an overall view of the operations of the mortgage division, and includes client contact, employee issues and business development. His working day starts before 8am with emails and other correspondence and usually finishes after 7pm. He admits to being a complete workaholic earlier in his career. "I was devoted to the job and used to work long hours, but it was unhealthy and I became worn down and irritable," he says. "Now I am home by 8pm and leave all work in the office." Mr Tse believes that getting a work-life balance is important and essential As a convert to the idea of having a proper work-life balance, he exercises every day and realises that good performance at work depends on getting sufficient rest. His hobbies include hiking and attending concerts, which help him to recharge his batteries and to spend quality time with his family. Mr Tse feels that nothing helps success at work like a good night's sleep. It helps to maintain enthusiasm and passion for the profession, as well as a sense of perspective about career objectives. "Your job should be something you look forward to every day, not just a way to get a pay cheque," he says. "If you're tired of work, take a day off, and if things don't get any better, perhaps think about moving on to something new." Milestones 2003 Promoted to national director 1996 Appointed associate director and startedto lead the mortgage team 1995 Moved up to senior manager level 1994 Qualified as a chartered surveyor 1992 Promoted to manager 1989 Joined Jones Lang LaSalle as assistant valuer Taken from Career Times 10 June 2005 Your comments are welcome at [email protected]