Pang Tun Yang is the Regional Director (SEA) at StarryNift, the first gamified massive creation platform and launchpad for fun digital collectibles.
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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?
I majored in Human Resources and have recently graduated from Singapore University of Social Sciences. I have a range of internship and working experiences in the Banking, Food and Beverage (F&B) and even Early Childhood Industry.
But you’ll be surprised to know that my current role is in neither of these industries. I have been following the blockchain and cryptocurrency space since 2017, when I first invested in Ripple (XRP). From then on, I have been following the space closely. Just last December, I got approached to take on a leadership role at StarryNift.
My role covers a wide range of activities. And that’s what I like about my work – because I get to explore and learn new things on a daily basis. I determine my scope of work and I have contributed in product planning, strategic planning, research, recruitment and sourcing, design, content management, marketing and much more. You may even find me participating in discussions in Twitter spaces!
2) What does a day in your life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
I typically make a hot cup of beverage (either coffee or tea) each morning to kick start my day.
I usually spend my fresh mornings absorbing crucial knowledge in the crypto space as well as to understand the global economy. I do so by reading online articles, doing research and watching YouTube videos.
In the afternoons, I tend to work on the main objectives that I have planned for myself for the week and attend crucial meetings.
In the evenings, I tend to go for a run so as to get myself out of my seat after a long day staring at the screen in front of my desk.
Recently, we have been working on creating our 3D Spaceship Exhibition Centre. In the morning, I spent time doing some research on the possible concepts of the gallery as well as the things to be put on display. I spent the afternoon drafting out the information, images, and art pieces to be displayed at various corners of the gallery.
Towards the late afternoon, I had to attend a team meeting to discuss ideas and concepts surrounding this so as to finalise our direction for developing this scene. After work, I met my friend for a good run at a nearby stadium.
3) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?
I think the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the term work-life balance, is about having a variety of different things that you care about in life and not just have one focus: work.
I strive to have this balance by planning and prioritising my work. It’s important to have a work plan and schedule so that one can be more efficient and organised. This will really help increase productivity, allowing me to finish most of my work within usual working hours. This frees up time for other areas of my life, such as spending time with close family members and friends.
I also ensure that I put in a good workout on every alternate day because as someone who spends most of the day in front of the desk, as my work is generally working in front of the computer.
In order to have a sustainable lifestyle and mitigate sedentary issues that may arise from desk bound jobs, making sure to provide the body with good care such as working out to release toxins as well as having proper meals and ergonomics will really aid in work productivity and performance.
4) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?
Just recently, I have started to become more active in the crypto space by attending physical events to network with passionate and like-minded individuals.
I have also attended quite a few Twitter Spaces as a speaker, sharing my views on Web3 and Metaverse. These routines allow me to grow my connections in the space and help me in learning from the sharing of others who are successful in this space.
As someone who is more of an introvert, I found this to be challenging initially as reaching out to people requires stepping out of my comfort zone. However, the best way to learn and be comfortable with interacting with people is to put myself out there.
5) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?
In my free time, I like to learn more about trading and financial freedom. A podcast that I occasionally tune in to is The Rich Dad Radio Show by Robert Kiyosaki, where he shares many interesting lessons learnt throughout his journey to financial freedom.
Another book I would recommend for trading would be How to Trade in Stocks by Jesse Livermore.
6) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?
I think most would find my answer hilarious, but I’d say that would be none other than Elon Musk himself. Even though he used to spend 120 hours a week on work and this is now down to around 70-80 hours, that’s still a lot of hours. And somehow, he still manages to find time for his family and is a father of 10 kids.
Apart from that, he still finds time to post memes on social media and engage with his followers. So, yea, everyone defines work-life balance differently and perhaps, this is his ideal type of “work-life balance” and it’s working out for him.
7) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
I’ve seen many entrepreneurs and workaholics who spent hundreds of hours per week on work. While I know that’s part of the hustle culture, research has shown that spending too much time on work can result in reduced productivity and creativity, while also leading to burnouts. Higher number of hours put into work does not always lead to greater results and success.
And hence, I believe it’s important to keep a balance between family, health and work so one can achieve success in different aspects of their lives.
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