Three years into his ERP career, Jason Hu hit a quiet crossroads.
On paper, everything looked right. He was working across industries, delivering SAP and SuccessFactors implementations, collaborating with teams across sectors, and building a reputation as someone who thrived in the structured chaos of project delivery. But internally, a question began to surface: Is this really where I’m meant to be?
For many professionals in ERP, that moment of doubt arrives sooner or later. The work is complex, the timelines are intense, and the stakes can feel enormous. It’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture when you’re deep in project plans, test cycles, and deployment windows.
A Vision Burned Into Your Mind
Around that time, Jason began thinking about the importance of having a clear career vision — something vivid enough to guide you even when things feel uncertain. The image that always came to mind was a scene from Apollo 13: Gene Kranz standing in mission control, surrounded by teams working tirelessly to bring the astronauts home safely.
That image helped Jason see his work differently. ERP projects, in many ways, resemble mission control — multiple teams coordinating under pressure, solving complex problems together, and working step by step toward a shared goal.
“The coordination of many different teams, overcoming any obstacle and being able to pull off something remarkable is not found easily elsewhere.”
Once he saw that parallel, it became clear that ERP offered exactly the kind of environment where that vision could come to life.
ERP as Mission Control
Jason has now spent close to five years working on SAP and SuccessFactors implementations, with a particular love for project delivery — from project management to testing and deployment. He’s worked across telecommunications, healthcare, retail, and both public and private sectors, building experience while collaborating with people from all walks of life.
It also suits his natural instincts. Jason laughs that he’s always been a planner — the kind of person who genuinely enjoys building Excel sheets and project plans, even for holidays.
The Human Side of High-Pressure Work
But he’s also quick to acknowledge that ERP can be tough. Deadlines are tight, cutovers often stretch through the night, and the pace can be relentless.
“It’s no question this line of work can be tough. So it’s always important to remember your colleagues are right there with you. Find the time to unwind outside of work with them.”
Those shared moments — grabbing dinner after testing cycles, decompressing after deployments, or simply laughing through the chaos of project life — are what make the pressure manageable.
Looking Beyond the Screen
Outside of work, Jason is trying to spend more time outdoors — something that can be easy to neglect in a tech-heavy career. Whether it’s hiking with friends, camping under the stars, or simply sitting in a park with a good book, he’s learning to step away from the screen and reconnect with the world beyond it.
Chasing the Mission
And if ERP disappeared tomorrow? Jason admits his mission-control vision might lead him toward the aerospace sector. But the industry matters less than the mission itself — bringing people together, solving difficult problems, and contributing to work that has real impact.
Because in many ways, that’s exactly what ERP already feels like. Mission control.
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