Principles, balance and purpose: Raja Yusuf Jamalullail on modern men's wellbeing

May 5, 2026

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For many men today, success is often measured through achievement—career milestones, financial stability, and professional reputation. Yet behind these visible markers lies another dimension that is increasingly recognised as essential: balance.

For Raja Yusuf Jamalullail, wellbeing is not simply about professional accomplishment or personal leisure. It is about sustainability—maintaining equilibrium between practical responsibilities, emotional awareness, personal passions, and meaningful relationships.

At 36, Raja Yusuf represents a generation of professionals navigating both tradition and modern expectations. Raised in a family deeply rooted in accounting and finance, his life trajectory—from education to career—naturally followed that path. But beyond balance sheets and business strategies, he believes true sustainability in life requires something deeper: self-awareness.

In this conversation, Raja Yusuf reflects on the lessons he learned early in his career, the value of employment before entrepreneurship, and the role hobbies such as golf and music play in supporting mental and emotional wellbeing. His reflections offer a thoughtful perspective on what it means for men today to build not only successful careers, but also sustainable lives.

Growing Up in a World of Numbers

Coming from a family strongly anchored in accounting and finance, Raja Yusuf’s early environment shaped his practical approach to life and work.

“My whole life—even my education and career—has always been through accounting and finance,” he explains.

Naturally analytical, he describes himself as someone who leans more toward practicality than emotion when addressing challenges. This mindset, he says, has proven useful in solving problems across business, work, and daily life.

However, maturity and experience have also taught him that relying solely on practicality can create its own imbalance.

“There are still emotional aspects to be learned,” he says. “The key theme today is sustainability. If you want everything to be sustainable, you have to balance your emotional needs with your practical efforts.”

Without that balance, even high achievers risk burnout.

“You may not realise it immediately, but if one side is overlooked, you can burn out,” he notes.

For Raja Yusuf, the solution begins with self-awareness—understanding personal strengths and weaknesses and consciously improving along the way.

“The key is knowing what you are strong in and what you are weak at, and improving things as we go along.”

Lessons from the Early Career Years

Before venturing into business, Raja Yusuf began his professional journey at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as an auditor.

The experience, he says, was foundational.

“My first job was with PwC as an auditor. The good thing about being under employment is that you learn work ethics—the best way of doing things, ultimate accuracy, accountability, and results.”

These lessons came early in his career and became principles that continue to guide him today.

In hindsight, he believes that beginning within a professional organisation offered advantages that would have been difficult to replicate had he gone straight into entrepreneurship.

“If I had entered business at an early age, it might have been more difficult to learn these things,” he reflects.

Working in a structured professional environment provided something valuable: a safe space to grow.

“In employment, you learn in an environment where you still receive income regardless of whether you perform perfectly or not. The consequences of mistakes are limited.”

Those early years allowed him to observe how decisions were made, how teams operated, and how professional standards were maintained.

The Transition from Employee to Entrepreneur

Eventually, Raja Yusuf transitioned into business—a move that fundamentally changed the nature of responsibility he carried.

“In business, you have to be everything,” he says. “You are the director setting the direction, the manager managing the work, and the executive actually doing the work.”

For small businesses especially, this multitasking can become overwhelming.

If entrepreneurs lack experience or perspective, the consequences can be significant.

“You need to make decisions and execute very quickly,” he explains. “If you don’t have experience or a wider context of the consequences of your decisions, then you get overwhelmed.”

This, he says, is one of the reasons many small businesses struggle.

“When you make the wrong decision in business, it affects your shareholders, stakeholders and the livelihood of your staff.”

Unlike employment, where mistakes may have contained consequences, entrepreneurship carries heavier responsibility.

“The weight of decisions when you are in business is much heavier.”

Employment or Entrepreneurship: Which Is Better?

Rather than viewing employment and entrepreneurship as opposing choices, Raja Yusuf sees them as complementary stages of growth.

“Both are essential,” he says.

Employment provides the training ground—developing discipline, accountability and professional competence.

Entrepreneurship, meanwhile, allows individuals to take ownership of their decisions and build something of their own.

Before launching a business, Raja Yusuf believes gaining experience in employment is extremely valuable.

But that does not mean employment is merely a stepping stone.

“You can grow within employment and do many different things as well,” he adds.

Ultimately, the decision depends on what kind of pressure an individual is comfortable with.

“In employment, the stress often comes from deadlines,” he says.

In business, however, the stakes can be much higher.

“One wrong decision can affect your livelihood.”

Yet entrepreneurship offers one advantage he deeply appreciates: control over time.

“With business, you manage your own time. That is something that alleviates stress for me.”

While employment typically follows strict working hours, entrepreneurship allows greater flexibility.

“You plan your week and can make time for yourself or your family.”

For Raja Yusuf, experiencing both paths offers the most complete understanding of work and responsibility.

Golf: Patience, Discipline and Perspective

Outside the boardroom, Raja Yusuf finds relaxation and focus on the golf course.

An avid golfer, he notes that golf has traditionally been dominated by middle-aged and older players.

One major reason, he believes, is accessibility.

“Golf can be quite expensive,” he explains. “Equipment is costly and classes are expensive as well.”

Unlike casual sports that can be picked up quickly, golf requires significant time investment.

“Sometimes people take up to a year before they can actually play properly.”

In contrast, social sports like pickleball or padel allow players to immediately enjoy the game.

“Golf is not fun until you spend quite a bit on it,” he says with a smile. “Then it becomes fun.”

Because of these barriers, golf may appear less appealing to younger generations.

However, digital platforms are slowly changing perceptions.

“The emergence of YouTube golfers helps a lot,” he says.

Online creators present golf in new formats—entertaining competitions, creative challenges, and engaging storytelling—making the sport feel more approachable.

Still, Raja Yusuf believes accessibility remains the biggest challenge.

“If the barriers to entry are not managed, especially in pricing, golf will remain a sport for older generations.”

He points to countries such as Thailand and the United States, where government support has helped make golf more accessible.

Encouraging younger players, he says, could benefit both the sport and the broader community.

When it comes to favourite courses, one destination stands out.

“The **The Els Club Teluk Datai is my favourite,” he says.

The oceanfront course offers a relaxing atmosphere and beautiful scenery.

“It’s very well maintained and close to the ocean. It’s also an easy course—so even if you play poorly, you leave the course happy.”

Music: A Creative Outlet Beyond Business

Another passion that plays an important role in Raja Yusuf’s life is music.

Unlike many listeners who favour a particular genre, he enjoys a wide range of styles.

“I listen to a bit of everything—rock, R&B, hip-hop—basically anything with a nice theme.”

His appreciation for music deepened through learning instruments.

Raja Yusuf plays both the guitar and the piano, and this musical experience has shaped how he listens to songs.

“I appreciate music that has interesting chord progressions or guitar riffs.”

One band he particularly enjoys is Red Hot Chili Peppers, known for blending rock with elements of funk and hip-hop.

“Alternative rock often mixes different styles, which I enjoy.”

For him, music represents more than entertainment—it is also a creative and emotional outlet.

The Confidence and Creativity of Learning Music

Learning to play an instrument, Raja Yusuf believes, offers powerful psychological benefits.

“When you first start learning an instrument, it feels very difficult,” he explains.

Watching skilled musicians perform can make the goal seem almost impossible.

“But over time, with practice, repetition and guidance, you realise that you can actually do it.”

This gradual mastery builds confidence.

The experience is especially valuable during childhood and adolescence.

“It teaches you that things you once thought impossible can be achieved with enough practice.”

Music also develops cognitive abilities.

Playing an instrument requires reading music, coordinating hand movements and sometimes even controlling foot pedals.

“It builds multitasking skills.”

Beyond technical benefits, music also provides emotional release.

“When you learn to improvise or play pieces you enjoy, it becomes a great stress outlet.”

It also nurtures curiosity and creativity.

“Music is something everyone should be exposed to—even children,” he says.

For individuals who find it difficult to express emotions verbally, music offers another form of communication.

“Sometimes if you cannot express yourself in words, you can express it through playing an instrument.”

Managing Stress Through Practical Action

When it comes to work-life balance, Raja Yusuf approaches the topic through three perspectives: work, personal wellbeing, and social support.

The first element—work—often generates the most stress.

But he believes stress can often be managed through simple, practical actions.

For example, approaching deadlines can create anxiety if tasks remain unfinished.

“If I have work that is pending and the deadline is approaching, I will feel stressed,” he says.

Instead of allowing the pressure to build, he addresses the issue directly.

“I write down the tasks that are pending and create action points.”

These steps may involve delegating responsibilities or scheduling time to complete specific tasks.

Although the work itself may not yet be finished, having a clear plan provides immediate relief.

“Once I have addressed it by scheduling or delegating it, my stress reduces.”

For Raja Yusuf, clarity is the antidote to mental clutter.

“If you have something pending, address it as quickly as possible.”

Taking Care of the Self

The second pillar of work-life balance involves personal self-care—something he believes many people overlook.

“A lot of people forget to take care of themselves,” he says.

But maintaining personal health directly influences stress levels and emotional stability.

Raja Yusuf focuses on three key areas: sleep, nutrition and exercise.

Sleep is a non-negotiable priority.

“I make sure I get about eight hours of sleep,” he says.

Technology helps him track his habits.

“My watch monitors my stress levels and sleeping patterns.”

Diet is another critical factor.

“It is not just about calories in and calories out,” he explains.

Instead, people should understand the nutritional quality of the foods they consume—whole foods, grains, and balanced carbohydrates.

“There needs to be more awareness about what clean food actually means.”

Finally, exercise plays an important role in maintaining physical and mental health.

But Raja Yusuf cautions against extremes.

“Many people think the more intense the workout, the better,” he says.

In reality, sustainability matters more.

“If the exercise routine is too difficult, it becomes hard to maintain.”

Instead, he emphasises consistency.

“Even simple exercise done regularly is better than extreme workouts that cannot be sustained.”

When sleep, nutrition and exercise are in balance, managing stress becomes far easier.

The Importance of a Positive Support Network

The third component of wellbeing lies in the people surrounding us.

“A strong support group is essential,” Raja Yusuf says.

Family and friends form the foundation of emotional stability.

But he also stresses the importance of choosing one’s circle carefully.

“You have to be selective about who you allow into your life.”

Negative or toxic influences can drain energy and make it harder to navigate challenges.

“If someone around you is constantly negative, it will affect your ability to manage your life.”

Surrounding oneself with supportive and positive individuals, on the other hand, strengthens resilience.

Leadership Through Principles

As a young entrepreneur and leader, Raja Yusuf believes that decisions should be guided by principles rather than rules alone.

Rules provide structure—but they cannot anticipate every situation.

“There will always be circumstances that are not written in the rulebook,” he explains.

In those moments, strong principles guide the right decision.

Within business, he emphasises one principle above all: contributing to the community.

“Businesses cannot last long without the support of the community.”

Leadership, he believes, also requires transparency.

When communicating with his team, Raja Yusuf avoids simply issuing instructions.

“We must explain the rationale behind decisions,” he says.

Understanding the reasoning behind actions empowers employees.

“When people understand the cause and effect of decisions, they can take ownership.”

This approach creates stronger teams and more sustainable organisations.

Rather than centralising power, leaders should build capable people around them.

“You build yourself first, then you build the people around you.”

When individuals within a team grow in confidence and capability, the organisation becomes stronger and more resilient.

And for leaders, it also reduces unnecessary stress.

“You are no longer the centre of everything,” he says.

“That is when things become sustainable.”

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