Want to quit the Squid Game?

I received a WhatsApp message when it was almost bedtime. The sender was in my team a few years ago. She was a fast learner and a high performer.

Like many people these days, she is overwhelmed by work. Besides the never-ending tasks coming from the top, she is stressed by difficult people and office politics. Under high pressure, she feels that she is close to a mental breakdown.

Stress intensified in a pandemic

Under a prolonged pandemic, work-from-home arrangement and home-based learning of school-going children leave us with no break, no work-life balance and no peer support. From the frowning faces of their parents, the children can feel the tense atmosphere at home. They sense that there are ongoing family conflicts, work problems or financial troubles.

According to a poll by Prudential Singapore, 35 percent of Singaporeans said their mental health worsened since the outbreak of Covid-19.

Quitting a stressful job is the last resort. Most of us need to make a living. We all have bills, mortgage and other loans to pay. No one want to make a reckless decision when we are facing economic uncertainties. Besides, there is no guarantee that a new job won’t have the same problems.

The rat race is a Squid Game

In the recent Netflix hit Squid Game, adults in debts volunteer to participate in deadly children’s games. In the process, contestants must strategize, cheat, betray and murder to eliminate their competitors. They play to survive and win a final prize of KRW45.6 billion (S$52.3 million).

The Korean drama series precisely reflect our pain and dilemma of joining the rat race.

1. We must follow the rules from the top or be eliminated

They were simply eliminated for breaking the rules of the game.

It is a race under tyranny. There is no room for negotiation or protest. Do what the boss say. It doesn’t matter whether it makes sense or not. Don’t attempt to change the rules to make things better, logical or fair. Whoever trying to make changes fails the game and will face elimination with no exception.

2. We accept peanuts and put ourselves at stake for the final prize

You always say your back is in pain and you don’t even make much.

In Squid Game, contestants who are lucky to survive after each game are only fed with minimum food. They tolerate constant hunger, sleep deprivation, body injuries, life threat and loss of freedom – all in the hope of the promise to stay alive and leave with the final reward.

In real life, we give it all to our job – our time, hard work and loyalty. As employees, we obey every rule and follow through every task. We are contented with being paid peanuts. Everyone accept that this is the way of life in the rat race.

3. We are all dispensable chess pieces

A player is not allowed to stop playing. A player who refuses to play will be eliminated.

To the VIPs in Squid Game, all the players are only chess pieces. Life is cheap. The guards can shoot down anyone without blinking an eye.

It doesn’t matter whether it is an equal opportunity employer that keeps emphasizing “people are the company’s assets”. When the top feels it is the right thing to do, they can sacrifice anyone. Whenever the management makes a wrong decision, we employees will pay the price. After all, they are the ones who set the rules. And we are the ones who sign the agreement willingly to join the game.

4. We can’t be friends with whom we compete against

They are not bad people. They are left with no choice in this society.

All Squid Game contestants team up with their best friend to play the next game. They have no idea that only one in each team can survive. There is no choice but to cheat and betray their best friend. Anyway, the sacrifice of any player will contribute more money to the final prize.

We are not joining the rat race to make friends, but to make money. To bag home the cheese, the rats have no choice but to play office politics like Squid Game contestants made to play childish games. Up there in their comfortable room, the VIPs are entertained by a live show of players killing each other for survival.

5. We dream of being the happy final winner

If you follow the rules, you can leave this place safely with the money we promised.

Squid Game contestants all dream of becoming the final winner. They share with others what they can do and how their life will change with the huge sum of money.

Fancy thinking that on that day we can enjoy the final reward. Once we make it to the top, we will have other players’ blood all over our hands. For all the money in the world, we won’t be able to enjoy it when our heart is filled with guilt. And it is impossible to go back to our innocent old self with the lost peace of mind.

Rising social injustice and wealth inequality

In the Bloomberg article “The money woes in Squid Game are real”, the author mentioned that the Korean TV series highlight social inequality in the country. People have no choice but to follow the rules of the game set by Korea’s large chaebols (industrial conglomerates run by a few rich families). The working class are facing skyrocketed home prices, huge household debts and lack of social mobility. There are widespread social discriminations against women, elderly and migrant workers.

In Hong Kong, developers are building apartments the size of parking lots for first-time homebuyers. There are already 8,500 of such tiny units in the market. These 200-square-foot micro flats or nano flats can only fit a single bed, a small cabinet and a tiny bathroom cum kitchen. Yet young couples save years for the downpayment and spend the rest of their working life paying off the mortgage.

Last week, archaeologists uncovered a 172-square-foot slave room in Naples, Italy. It was built in the 79 AD under the ancient Roman city. The home of the slave family resembles the cramped living condition of Hong Kong people in this 21st century. It is sad to see the revival of slave system in Hong Kong after 1,942 years. Under real estate hegemony (地产霸权), the masters are now the developers with overriding power and big influence over the government. The commoners are slaves toiling day and night for the developers and the banks. To the modern slaves, obedience and tolerance are critical to survive this Squid Game.

Why we can’t quit

All of you in this room are living on the edge, with debts you cannot pay off.

After the first game of Red Light, Green Light, the contestants in Squid Game realize that they will lose their life if they lose in the game. Over half of them vote to quit and everyone are sent home. However, shortly after over 90 percent of the players decide to return for the challenge.

The truth is: These are all cash-strapped losers in life who can hardly keep their heads above water. They are desperate to get that one last chance to reclaim ownership of their life. They would rather die inside because “it is just as bad out there as in here”.

People around may talk about quitting the rat race to be their own boss. Marketers tell us to invest for financial freedom and early retirement. But it is easier said than done. We all have to buy food and pay bills. Most people need to pay for home loan, car installment, children’s tuition, parents’ allowance, etc. We live our life like snails with a heavy shell on our back.

We need a roof over our head like snails need their shells. The moment we take up a housing mortgage we are carrying the financial burden on our back whenever we go, and no matter what happens.

We toil day and night, endure any hardship at work, accept our boss’ unreasonable demand, and do everything we can just to be able to keep that shell house on our back. But even if we compromise, we may still have to sacrifice at the end. Some of us simply can’t escape our fate when the time comes. All because the rules of this world are written by the ‘rich minority’ who ‘hold the power’.

– “A bank employee, a property purchase, and a tragic death”, PropertySoul.com

No guarantee that the alternative is better

One contestant in Squid Game sacrifices herself for the sake of her opponent. Unlike the other players, she doesn’t have any reason to use the prize money once she gets out. There is no meaning for her to live without any plan or hope.

Even if we don’t have to worry about money, there is still the fear of the unknown world and not knowing what to do after we quit the rat race.

Financially, there will be no more regular paycheck and contribution to our CPF account. All the fringe benefits will be gone. We can no longer claim from the company all types of expenses, including mobile phones, motor cars, travel expenses, medical bills, insurance, etc.

Emotionally, there will be no more Monday blues and TGIF or long weekend cheers. We don’t have colleagues to talk to at work. There is no buddies going for lunch or happy hours. No more sharing of small talks or gossips of our bosses and colleagues. We will lose the power that comes with our position. No subordinate will help us to settle things that we won’t do ourselves.

Above all, the biggest fear is the loss of identity that comes with our profession and title. Without a name card or a company name, we are at a loss how to introduce ourselves when we meet someone new. It will be difficult to apply for a banking service, a new housing loan or refinancing of our home.

The courage to quit

In her book Fifty Years Old, I Resigned (五十岁，我辞职了), Japanese author Emiko Inagaki (稻垣惠美子) tells her story of how she quitted her high-flying journalist job. The back cover of the book said she did so with “no husband, no son and no job”.

For a long time, she was living the good life that advocates style and superiority. She bought clothes for the season. She used only expensive cosmetic products recommended by magazines. Spa sessions were scheduled once every ten days. She visited nice restaurants covered by the media. Weight gain after a big feast was solved by signing up a gym membership. When she got used to good salaries and a comfortable environment, it became increasingly difficult to quit.

Inagaki once believed that the harder she works, the more she spends, the better she will be. She would have happiness after having social status, money and a materialistic life. Soon she was exhausted going after them. The more she had, the more she felt unsatisfied.

There was a burning question in Inagaki’s mind: Is working for companies the only way to live a real life? How can people be happy even if they don’t have money?

After she quitted her job, she only picked work that she was passionate about though they didn’t pay much. Suddenly, work became interesting. She finally found that “clean smile on the face” she was looking for.

How to quit the Squid Game

There are three ways to quit the Squid Game and flee the rat race.

1. Play offense

Defenders only know how to react passively to situations to protect themselves. Each move is not about winning but to avoid being eliminated. Their whole life is spent on following the herd pathetically under the fear of losing out.

For instance, we all know property prices are high. But defense players think they have no choice but to buy now for fear of missing the boat. Similarly, Singaporeans already have Medisave and Medishield from CPF. But some still buy insurance products from brokers to play safe. When they have financial pressure paying the premium, they simply dump their plans in the market at a discount.

Playing offense is about being proactive and take things in your own hands. There are two most important things in life: happiness and health. Both rely on your efforts to build because nobody else can help you. Instead of relying on a new home to solve your problems, work on improving your family relationship. Rather than buying another insurance, put the priority on improving your health.

2. Think independently

Never mind what others say. Whatever you do, people will ask you why. Even if you do nothing, people will still ask you why you don’t do anything. You decide what you want to do. There is no need to explain yourself. Comments from others are only for your reference.

Don’t just listen to what the media tell you. Don’t border too much about what people around you say. Never leave decision making to others.

Take a step back to see the full picture. Find out who are the players in the game. Understand their motive, agenda and strategies so you can pre-empt their next move.

Learn the interplay of different factors that can affect the circumstances and consequences. Filter information for the truth. Analyze the facts and come up with your own conclusion.

3. Know yourself

Life is not about following what the majority do. You know best about who you are, what you really want and what you expect from your life. Choose only games you are passionate to play. Start planning the day you start the game. Begin with the end in mind and visualize the process. Don’t forget to set a time frame to end it.

Be honest about your character and capabilities. If something is not suitable for you, quit early and switch path before it is too late. Have the courage to give up things not meant for you even if they look glamorous on the surface. Always put your health, both physical and mental, as number one priority.

Remember: Happiness is not about having it all but getting rid of what make you unhappy.

If you need advice on property matters or residential properties in Singapore, you can check out my personal consultation service.

My new book Behind The Scenes of The Property Market is now available for preview and order online. You can also check out my online courses.