I had written my first major article for the travel trade newspaper I had just joined a month ago and the English editor asked if I had a Western name so he could give me a byline. I said no and he asked me if I would take on one. I asked why and he said, “Because it’s difficult for people to pronounce.”

“Difficult for whom?” I asked. I didn’t see the sense in me adopting a Western name when most of our readers were in Asia anyway and to whom English is a second or third language.

So I stood my ground and my name held.

Of course, there’ve been times when I wished I had taken on a Western name as I began to travel overseas and even today, the Australians still call me Ms Hoon and the Germans call me Mrs Hoon, thinking I am named after a chicken.

Patti Smith

In a speech recently, Patti Smith, the singer-poet-songwriter said, “Build a good name. Keep your name clean. Don’t make compromises, don’t worry about making a bunch of money or being successful.

“Be concerned about doing good work. Protect your work and if you build a good name, eventually that name will be its own currency.”

(Watch video below)

Patti Smith also strikes me as someone who found her element early on in life and stuck to it. If you read her book “Just Kids” (which is fantastic by the way), you’ll know it wasn’t an easy journey for her – most of us would have given up but even wild horses couldn’t tear her from her dream.

In his book, “The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything”, Ken Robinson argues that we are most effective as individuals when we’ve discovered our element – and that happy place happens when what we love to do and what we are good at comes together.

He says, “We all have distinctive talents and passions that can inspire us to achieve far more than we may imagine. Understanding this changes everything.”

These are the thoughts rolling through my mind as I prepare for our coaching and career event, WITNext Summercamp, this Friday in Singapore.

I am trying to put myself in the shoes of someone entering the workplace for the first time or folks who have just joined travel and tourism and wondering what’s next and what are the possibilities out there or those in mid-career and wondering what else they could do with their lives – because, isn’t it true, the journey never ends …

I know I’d want to hear from chief executives about where they think the industry is headed and what they are doing to build the “dream organization” for the changing times and aspirations, so that I can make informed choices about who and what I want to work with.

I’d want to hear from senior executives about their element – how they found it and how it’s helped them in their career – and how they can help me find it. Which is why we are running The Element Pitch competition when the winner will walk away with an attractive prize.

I’d want to hear from those in the frontline of recruitment and talent development what the latest trends are and how I can better prepare myself for a changing workplace and demands.

I’d want to find mentors – someone kind and wise who’d be willing to spend time with me to answer my questions. Which is why we are running the Win-A-Mentor lucky draw.

I’d want to make connections with like-minded folk such as entrepreneurs to know I am not the only crazy one with the burning idea that I believe will make me millions of dollars but if not, hey I’ll have fun anyway trying …

I’d want to just come and learn from the best minds in travel and make friends with some of the coolest people in the business.

At the end of the day, the WITNext Summercamp is for everyone who want to build a fulfilling career in travel and tourism and make money. It’s for those who believe the learning never stops at whatever point you are in your career, and for those who want to continue building up their name and finding their element.

See you Friday.

Sign up here – it’s a free event so it’d help if you pre-registered.