[SSG nudge Leadership] Self-Entrapment of Small Volunteer Work: 15 Years of Automatic Laziness Elimination

- As Treasurer of the Hiking Club, Exchanging Love and Health

Changwook Park, CEO of Korea Knowledge Leader Association (Secretary General of Daewoo World Management Research Association)

Looking back on the path I have walked, I felt deeply grateful for everything. That’s why I wanted to engage in some meaningful volunteer work. At the age of 40, I faced the worst-case scenario of leaving my company due to the IMF financial crisis, but seeing the hardworking people at small and medium-sized enterprises sparked a sudden thought. After all, I had better conditions than most?graduating from a good school, serving well in the military as an officer, and working enthusiastically at a top-tier company while being respected.

However, financial conditions and time were not easy. It became even more so after lecturing became my main job. A thought suddenly came to me: “Let’s volunteer with our bodies, sweat, and time.”

For the third act of life, the three essentials for life after retirement were, in my view, financial stability, health, and a life of sharing. Fortunately, I still have plenty to do, so financial issues have been somewhat resolved. I am always short on time. The idea was to maintain steady exercise while helping others.

The first volunteer role I took on was as the secretary-general of the 'Jaegyeong Samcheonpo Hyangwoohoe,' a hometown alumni association in Seoul, acting as a gofer for senior and junior members. During the five years I diligently served, the organization grew significantly. However, as I needed to focus on earning through lectures, I stepped down due to time constraints.

At that time, a university dormitory alumni group called 'Jeongyeonghoe' was becoming active. Among its 600 members, I was almost the youngest. I proposed a monthly hiking club with the idea of volunteering to take care of our health, which was well received. I ended up wearing the self-binding hat of both hiking leader and secretary-general. This small volunteer work involves sending several text messages each month, booking restaurants, collecting dues, taking photos, and sharing them. Nowadays, it’s much easier with something called 'KakaoTalk.' About once a year, we even go on long-distance hikes. We invite families and rent charter buses, which requires quite a bit of effort but has become an enjoyable activity. Last month, the group held its 160th meeting, marking over 14 years.

I took on one more role. I became a gofer for the Army Officer Candidate Alumni Association. Over 40 years, 60 classes have graduated, and I am a senior member from the 2nd class. Whenever there is a meeting, I receive great respect from juniors. Out of gratitude, I also volunteered as the president of the Seoul Gangnam area alumni chapter for about two years. Since the group has several hundred members, it involved a considerable amount of money. Still, isn’t that a grateful thing?

The most meaningful volunteer work is undoubtedly the practical role I took on 10 years ago in the Daewoo OB (Old Boys) group. Although the company was disbanded and still carries a stigma, I learned a lifelong livelihood and received the love of seniors there. I started this work partly out of remorse for the narrow-minded feelings I had when I left the company 20 years ago. It’s not easy, but the rewards exceed the effort. It is also rewarding to nurture over 1,000 future entrepreneurs through GYBM, a program under the brand of Chairman Kim Woo-joong. Everything is something to be thankful for.

What I dedicated my heart and time to 15 years ago has been greatly useful. I have received much help, love, and respect. Now that I am older, when I go hiking with juniors or peers, I pay for the meal about once a month. It is also a way to repay the juniors for their respect.

Thanks to this, I receive a lot of help as well?from military senior and junior groups, high school classmates, special university groups, to Daewoo alumni. With this network, most things can be connected through people. If it’s the same cost, they help. It is not a relationship where someone suddenly appears to take advantage, but one built through various acts of service and sacrifice.

Last Saturday morning, my body felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. I wanted to sleep in so badly. Still, I remembered the promise I made the day before and the dignity of being the hiking leader. Though my body was heavy, the freshness after four hours of hiking was incomparable. Sometimes with senior members, sometimes with much younger juniors, hiking twice a month has become an indispensable exercise routine to maintain health. In the end, it was tough at first, but it became a 'routine' created in my early 40s.

Park Chang-wook, CEO of Korea Knowledge Leader (Secretary-General of Daewoo Global Management Research Association)

◆What is 'Nudge Leadership'?

- 'Nudge Leadership' is about leading change in organizations or individuals through small and gentle interventions or motivation rather than coercive or directive methods. It also involves improving human relationships through small personal changes, transforming oneself into someone others want to follow. Ultimately, it breathes creativity and passion into organizations or relationships, creating new value and happiness.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.