I was fired.

First, let me set the scene…

Last week, I’ll admit — I steered a little away from my original purpose with these letters. It ended up reading more like a life story. And while many of my stories are personal, I try to remind myself that I write these letters for my younger self (metaphorically speaking).

In doing so, I hope they also reach anyone who might need a bit of guidance, motivation, or simply comfort in knowing they’re not alone in their mess or their becoming.

Last week, I shared what it means to stay mentally connected to the things that shaped me. This week, my professional life took a turn — and while a younger me might’ve spiralled, this time… I handled it differently.

Also — update alert! These letters will now be arriving on Sundays. After looking at my calendar, I realised Saturdays have become way too jam-packed to give these the love and time they deserve. Plus, a lot tends to happen on Saturdays — and I don’t want to cut my reflections short just because I rushed the send button.

Dear Younger Self,

This week, something ended. I left a job I thought I’d be at for five years — the kind where you build things, make mistakes, grow, and one day look back and say, "That’s where it all started."

Instead, it unraveled.

I was originally hired as a design and email marketing assistant. Then I was moved into branding. Then social media. Then… just, "figure something out." The title shifted more times than I could track, and the work often felt unclear. It became a game of guessing what mattered — to the company, to my boss, to the role I was supposed to be playing.

By the end, I dreaded it. Not because I didn’t care, but because I did. I wanted to be taught, mentored. My boss — who I genuinely respect — had built successful companies, and I joined because I believed I’d learn from him. For a while, it felt like that would happen. But eventually, it became clear: I was stuck. There were no clear systems, no training, no forward motion. And I was emotionally exhausted from trying to make it all make sense.

When Dan joined the company — someone I see as a big brother — it brought back a little hope. We pushed each other, kept each other motivated. Our relationship became one of accountability, encouragement, and occasional banter. He taught me a lot, and for a while, it felt like maybe we were building something meaningful together. I even went to his wedding. It felt like family.

But even with him there, we couldn’t outrun the disorganisation. Long meetings with no clear outcomes. "Restart" conversations every few months. Constant pivots. No real structure for how clients were handled, or how leads flowed through the business. I was responsible for attracting leads, but had no support on what happened after they arrived.

After a holiday in the Philippines, the dread deepened. I didn’t want to go back. I delayed returning, then finally walked in, full of built-up frustration and questions I didn’t want to ask again. That day, I let it all out. I cried. (I always cry in conflict. It's just how my body reacts.) But I told the truth: I was tired. I wanted to learn, and I wasn’t learning. I needed clarity, and all I got was another two-hour meeting re-explaining the company’s mission.

Daniel backed me up. He was frustrated too. Our boss got angry.

I said I wanted to leave.

I left my work computer on the desk, packed up my things, and walked out. There were no formal words exchanged. But later, Dan told me that after I left, our boss said: "I’m done."

So… was I fired? Or did I quit? Honestly, both. It was messy, unceremonious, emotionally charged. But it was also the only outcome that made sense.

I haven’t told my family yet. It’s complicated — we still have a solar installation job pending through my old boss’s other company, and I don’t want to make things weird. Maybe after the panels are up.

Financially, I’m a bit stressed. I still have income from my contractor role and some coaching, but I get paid monthly, and the school term (and coaching income) is about to pause for holidays. I have debt. I need to buy a computer. I’m managing, but it’s tight.

That said, I’m also relieved. I’m working fewer hours now, but earning more. I’m learning again. The agency I contract with is also the company in which my best friend works at — she was also the one who got my this gig — and who I had previously worked under many moons ago, at a previous company. We’re back in each other’s orbit, and it feels right.

I’m sad I don’t get to work with my big brother anymore. But I’m happy I get to work with my best friend again.

On a side note—

I also went back to my old high school this week to speak to younger students. Aside from the usual “What do you do for work now?” questions, the timing couldn’t have been funnier: it was the day after I’d been fired/quit my main job (though I didn’t tell them that — I acted like I was still there to avoid the awkwardness and follow-up questions).

We were also asked to reflect on regrets — if given a second chance, would we have done anything differently?

I knew that question was coming. And I said this: I wish I had asked for help more often. I wish I had asked more questions, annoyed the teachers a little bit more, and realised that even though the system felt boring or stupid at times, it was actually designed to test us, yes — but also to support us.

That morning, I spoke to my dad about it. I told him what I’d said, and he offered something I really liked. He said:

He’s right. Regret leans personal. Emotional. Sometimes even shame-based. It implies that the choice led to an outcome you wish hadn’t happened. But doing something differently — that speaks to growth. It’s not about erasing the past, it’s about evolving. It doesn’t mean the original choice was wrong. It just means you’ve learned something since.

If I were asked that version of the question now, I’d say this:

Life is full of intersecting paths. School teaches you one path — university. But there are others. Sometimes, those paths cross, and you get to choose which one to follow next.

You don’t need to know exactly where you’re going. Just set your standards. Mine is to always be learning. When that stops, it’s time to move. That’s what this week was: a movement. A quiet shift toward something new.

It was messy. But it was necessary.

Love,

Le Hare

Get your highlighter out…

Originally, I intended this section to share key takeaways from my letter. Instead, I’m highlighting the “lifelights” of my week; the destinations or event that were quite memorable.

Officially Undefeated (Technically): We won our first QSL1 game by 5 points — a great start to the season, and I’m excited to see how it all pans out.

On a personal note, I had a pretty solid run. I scored around 5 points (yes, I know that’s not much — but without them, we wouldn’t have won, so I’ll take it). Ego aside, I grabbed 15 rebounds and clocked 8 assists, which I’m way more proud of. I take pride in my defence because I know good defence actually changes the game.

And that brings me to something I’ve been thinking about.

Basketball is one of those sports that’s played differently depending on where you are in the world. Americans prioritise specialised growth, Europeans focus on physical development, Asians value disciplined growth, and Australians? We’re all about cultural growth. You can always spot the Aussie players who’ve done a basketball trip to the States — they come back ball hogs.

Anyway, my point is this: I’ve always played basketball with the same mindset. You’re just as impactful off the ball as you are on it.

For anyone who doesn’t speak basketball: that means the effort you put into defending, creating space, or dragging your opposing player away from the action helps create opportunity for your teammate with the ball to score. It’s subtle, but it matters.

I play for my team. Every score, rebound, intercept, or chance I create — it’s all in service of our shared success.

And I think that’s true for life, too.

Sometimes the most meaningful things we do aren’t flashy or front-facing. It’s not always about being the one who scores — sometimes it’s about creating space for someone else to shine, or doing the quiet work that helps the whole thing move forward. Whether it’s in jobs, friendships, or family — we’re all part of something bigger than just our own stats.

You don’t always need the ball to make an impact.

Here, I’ll read it for you…

I f*cking hate reading. But I love a challenge.

Two letters ago, I list the book: Like A Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You In Business School by Richard Branson.

Chapter 1 Summary – Like a Virgin by Richard Branson

Branson kicks things off by making one thing clear — business isn’t as serious as people think. You don’t need an MBA to succeed. Most of what made Virgin work came from gut instinct, common sense, and learning by doing — not textbooks.

He shares how it all started with small moves: a student magazine, then a mail-order record store. From the outside looking in, people assumed there was some grand plan. But really, it was just a few bold bets that snowballed.

The biggest thing to hold onto amid the chaos of new ventures is your goal — your why. For Richard, it was always about people. Focus on your team, your customers, and keep it fun.

In the end, the plan came down to one phrase: Screw it, let’s do it.

That’s the mindset behind everything. If something feels right and exciting, go for it — even if you’re not fully ready. It’s just curiosity, action, and a bit of rebellion.

Although I still dread reading sometimes, I can list endless reasons why I keep coming back to it. After finishing my very first book (Diary of a CEO) at 18, I was hooked. Since then, I've slowly been growing my little library — and I hope to keep building it.

That said, I come across all sorts of books across different genres. While I tend to lean toward business and psychology, I want to start sharing what I find — just in case one of them ends up being something you’d love too.

Books Of This Week

For a quick dopamine hit…

I’m a bit of a screen addict.

I constantly find myself staring at a screen, but like many of my habits, I aim to transform this into something beneficial — not just for myself, but for others too.

So, here are this week’s interesting discoveries I came across online that I think is worth your time:

I’m a creative at heart, so when I see ads like this, my heart flutters a little. Not only is it beautifully executed, it’s actually convincing me to reconsider a shoe that, for a while, was completely ruined by young boneheads in fanny packs and matching tracksuits (and you if you don’t know who I’m referring to, thats a good thing).

Lately, I’ve been deep in personal projects and the biggest one being the launch of my own brand, Love Le Hare. From there, ideas keep branching out: a fashion label, a creative agency… (Can you tell I’m an ideas person?)

So when I stumble across websites like this — ones that elegantly house a personal brand, a portfolio, and a store — it gets me thinking. This is the next step for me: building a home online. A space where my work, my projects, and the things I create can live and breathe, and where my audience can find and support them.

On September 20, 2024, the Malaysian government unveiled a series of incentives aimed at transforming Forest City, the multibillion-dollar mixed-use megacity project, into a special financial zone. Among these incentives are a 15% income tax rate for skilled workers, multiple-entry visas, and a zero-percent tax rate for family wealth offices, and attractive corporate tax rates.

Would you move there?

Personally, I’ve added it to the bucket list. At the very least, I want to visit. And who knows — with benefits like that, maybe even live there one day.

I’m always on the lookout for emerging or underappreciated fashion labels — the kind that put intention behind every stitch. The kind whose price tags feel (somewhat) justified because you can see the work, the story, the structure.

Unlike the fast fashion giants who slap capital letters on cotton basics, mark them up, and call it innovation.

Anyway. This one made the cut.

Asides from the beautiful meanings behind his work, the websites UI is fun to play with 🙂 .