12 Years an IBMer: What I learned from IBM

Humans develop their own principles for life through two main ways: diverse experiences and continuous learning. These principles play a key role in maintaining moral and ethical standards in our lives. The lessons we learn through these ways don’t just lead to temporary changes; they deeply shape our behavior and mindset throughout life.

We often gain these principles and lessons through unexpected challenges or hardships. For instance, facing financial crises or battling an illness can redefine our beliefs and values, giving us the strength to live a more mature and meaningful life. Another way to grow is by continuously learning, either by gaining new knowledge or deepening our understanding of what we already know.

When I worked at IBM, there was an important activity we repeated every year at the end of December. Every employee created a ‘Business Goal Setting’ for the next year and an ‘Individual Development Plan’ to improve personal skills. This process helped align the company’s goals with personal objectives and gave us clear direction. Quarterly or monthly reviews ensured that we stayed on track, and this became a powerful tool for motivation.

Once a goal was set, we broke it down into smaller, manageable steps, created realistic timelines, and developed actionable plans. Along the way, we adjusted those plans when needed, using feedback to stay flexible. Long-term goals were built on a series of small wins—just like winning a battle to ultimately win a war.

This methodology I developed through repeated practice every year at IBM wasn’t just useful at work. It also applied effectively to my personal life and training, becoming a key principle in how I live. More than a decade has passed since I left IBM, but the structured approach of setting goals, breaking them into detailed plans, and using feedback remains an essential part of my life.

It has been seven years since I first discovered freediving out of curiosity. However, it’s only been about a year since I started seriously competing in events and pushing myself toward depth goals. Freediving is more than just setting records for me—it’s an activity that brings me a deep sense of calm and accomplishment. It reflects how I’ve applied the consistency and repetitive learning I practiced at IBM to this new challenge.

I have an ultimate depth goal I want to reach in the long run. It’s a long-term goal, and to achieve it, I’ve broken it down into smaller, short-term targets.

 One of these targets is in the indoor freediving discipline called DYNB (Dynamic With Bi-fins), where my current record is 165 meters. My next competition goal is 175 meters, and by the end of next year, I hope to go beyond 200 meters. To reach the next level, I’m focusing on building strength and improving my cardiovascular endurance. Even in an environment where depth training is not always possible, I’ve been working steadily toward my goals with pool training and dry exercises. 

Another discipline I train for is STA (Static Apnea), where my next competition goal is 6 minutes and 45 seconds, and by the end of next year, I aim for 7 minutes and 15 seconds. My current official record is 6 minutes and 8 seconds, and I’m continuously improving my breath-holding ability and endurance. I also train in the DNF (Dynamic Without Fins) discipline, which helps strengthen my core muscles and improve my streamlined posture.

In addition, consistent equalization training is essential for depth disciplines. This technique helps adapt to pressure changes and protects the ears, enabling safe and effective diving. I practice daily dry equalization on land and repeat the exercises in the water to improve my technique. This training is a crucial part of achieving my depth goals and ensuring safety while diving.

In freediving, strength helps use energy more efficiently, and endurance reduces oxygen consumption, extending breath-hold times. These two factors are critical for improving performance. To strengthen both aspects, I created a training plan late last year and have been following it consistently. This year, I’ve competed in three events and gradually improved my records, achieving satisfying results. With every goal I accomplish, I gain the motivation to set even bigger goals.

Of course, I’m not doing all this training alone. For every session, I collaborate with my teammates to stay aligned and focused. After each session, we exchange feedback, identifying areas for improvement and making immediate adjustments. When I train alone, I share my plans and results with my trainer, Sunkyoung Lee, through messages, ensuring consistent progress.

All these efforts are not just about setting new records. They are a powerful driving force for systematically improving my skills and abilities. 

One day, I will hit my limits. But until that moment, I will keep pushing myself and challenging what I can do. Even the setbacks and failures I face along the way are all part of my growth journey. This is a lesson I learned during my 12 years at IBM, where I set goals every year and made detailed plans to achieve them. The principle of learning through repetition has always worked in my life, and I believe it will continue to guide me in the future.

In the end, I’m really curious to see how deep I can go...

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