Musings from Dennis #285. We all recognise its power. It’s that quiet endorsement from a supervisor, colleague, or client that tells us our work mattered. Many of us collect these affirmations as we move through our careers, hoping they speak well of us to the next employer.
That’s why it felt extraordinary to uncover a set of letters
written about my grandfather more than a century ago - work testimonials dating
back to 1911.
From 3 October 1911: “I have great pleasure in testifying to
Mr Tan Piah Eng’s abilities. I have always found him steady, hardworking,
willing and interested in his work.”
And from 6 May 1920: “I always found him a faithful
administrator and employee. I hope he will serve the Bukit Timah R.E. for many
years to come.”
Reading these, I found myself reflecting on my own journey.
Years from now, I want to be remembered the same way - as someone who
contributed positively to the organisations I served, someone regarded as an
asset, not a liability.
But these letters capture only one dimension of my
grandfather’s life. He lived fully and meaningfully, long before we coined the
term “work–life balance.” His story inspired me to spend the last few weeks to
build a dedicated space to honour him - a blog chronicling his life, work, and
legacy.
I’m proud to share it here: https://tanpiaheng.blogspot.com/
It has also been accepted into the National Library Board
Singapore's Web Archive, helping preserve a small but meaningful part of our
heritage for future generations.
