Thursday, June 6
Crestfallen
Reached a bottleneck
With no way out of the long dark tunnel..
And I hated the job to the guts..
I was repulsive towards everyone..
Everyone.
And I wanted to stay away from civilisation.
Stay away from logic.
Thoughts mired
Words stumped.
My mind refused to accept any form of negotiations.
I was at the bottom of the large crashing wave
Perplexed and baffled
Unable to find my way up.
No help given to me
And the world went against you.
But still I had to render help everywhere.
I was disheartened..
I was tired.
Overwhelmed with exhaustion.
Then that moment came.
Spirits lifted, that invisible hand guided me.
My stocks issues got worse..
That trepidation remained.
But I felt liberated after the longest ever down period.
The aftermath of a thunderstorm..
Is it all calm and peaceful?
Or is it the beginning of another storm?
*****
Labels: musings, ramblings, stress, thoughts, work
irony @
10:58 PM
Saturday, March 24
The joy that comes with the challenges
Work has been hell..
Honestly speaking,
I've never come across such heart attacking and breathless moments in a job.
Every minute, every second..
I'm living on the edge.
Delays in the past have never been so much of an issue..
But now,
It is deemed extremely unacceptable by the target-driven Japanese.
Supplier delays aint my fault, but I have to get my facts and countermeasures right.
We are often asked to explain the situation supported with black and white.
What have we done, how has it been done, why did we do that..
Especially when revenue is concerned..
Thirty interlinked items per product family per country.
So three products, ten countries..
The permutation rolls.
Three hectic months have passed and continued..
Surprisingly,
I enjoyed most moments of it.
With the challenge comes the kick.
The tremendous stress is there, but I felt the satisfaction more than ever.
Only with such hiccups do we yearn to make things better.
There will be no change if there are no storm.
Human beings are but lazy.
*****
Labels: random, thoughts, work
irony @
1:16 PM
Wednesday, May 25
Words, thoughts never endingIt's been a month.
All right so far..
Old assumptions busted, new paradigms formed.
There was no time to surf the net..
Personal mail sites are blocked.
They gave out a list of programs that you are not allowed to install..
Practically out of touch.
Though I felt like I'm working in recluse..
I looove the $2.50 lunches..
I love being surrounded by fresh and colorful fruits..
I love the shorter travelling time.
Whenever I felt I need a break..
I like the new working environment minus the humanely inefficient work processes.
I have never seen so many Excel reports all over the place.
They really need Qlikview.
And I never knew I could feel so frustrated with messy files.
They seriously need to speak English and come out with a proper training program.
Just like the messy files, training was all over the place.
Or perhaps..
I wasnt a good student to begin with.
24 hours a day
Aint enough.
They told me I only need OT till 6 plus 7 during the last week of the month.
So damn true with that..
(Roll eyes)
Daily OTs doing reports that are not urgent for other external customers but for the manager herself -.-
Then rushing off to class..
Did my assignments on the train over 7 MRT stops..
Had dinner over a 3 minutes walk from the station to class..
Went home, trying badly to crash early..
On days that I do not have classes..
Went for late night runs..
Dinner at 10 plus..
Lesser time left for mommy and daddy..
Lesser time left for dear..
And the same cycle over and over again.
I wonder where is work life balance.*****
Labels: musings, random, thoughts, work
irony @
11:56 PM
Friday, April 8
It Spells Finally
After what seemed close to 7 years..
Since the beginning of the year..
I dragged myself to work in all the midst of headaches and cramps.
1 km walk, 5kg bag load, bloody blisters.
Saved my leave painstakingly.
Refused to take leave unless I drop dead.
It paid off.
20 days of leave.
*****
Two Thursdays ago..
Saw the big patch of grey heavy clouds lurking dangerously around the area.
An impending storm.
Thought I could beat it by half running and half walking towards office.
But it caught me in the middle of nowhere.
No other shelters..
No bus stops, no refuge point.
Stunned, slumped, stranded.
Then rain came to a drizzle and I continued my way to office.
I settled down to clear the disorientation, and soon after a phone call came.
They called me up for an interview on the following Monday.
Monday came..
Albeit filled with extreme jitters..
I was determined to nail it.
Research research research.
Stayed up till late at night, went through the questions over and over again.
Big butterflies in my stomach..
And I supposed..
Being in a stagnant job for too long..
Fear for change inevitably makes its way unto you.
Right after the interview..
They asked for my references..
Wednesday I was told I got the job..
Thursday I signed the letter and did my medical checkup.
Friday I tendered.
After a week of crash handover..
The following Friday became my last day..
I seriously have no idea how people are able to job hop like nobody's business..
Going around doing proper farewells..
At least allowing people to know who to go for outstanding issues..
It's really tiring..
No matter how much frustrations I've been through in the company..
I want to leave amicably..
On a personal note, the colleagues are nice people in fact.
Human beings only become devils when it comes to work.
*****
The unknown does leech its phobia on me..
But after serious pondering..
That unknown is far more enticing as compared to hiding within the cubicle day after months after years..
*****
Labels: musings, office, random, thoughts, work
irony @
11:11 PM
Wednesday, September 22
Just pondering
Am I very evil to keep my mouth shut and not pointing out the silly mistakes of others..?
I thought reading, listening and understanding are very important elements to good efficiency and productivity..
But they really failed tremendously..
Sighz I fear karma..
Shalt speak no more.
*****
Was still feeling shit yesterday from attending a meeting has totally no relevance to my current scope..
Marketing textbooks have been shelved to the deepest corners of who-knows-where..
A thick layer of dust has further accumulated on my jaded brain, on the old books, on my academic memory..
The 2 presenters must be thinking what on earth has a Logistics personnel got anything to do with branding..?
And I simply cannot stand attending a meeting without any knowledge of the topic to be discussed.
I just felt, useless.
That was still how I felt when I entered the second meeting of 3 presenters today..
Till this Caucasian lady made my day.
She was the managing director of the company..
In fact all 3 of them made my day =)
Caucasians usually give me an intimidating feel..
They towered over me, they don’t speak broken English, they make subtle jokes that are far too witty for us.
But somehow I was mesmerized by the way she speaks..
(The way one speaks is the first thing that attracts/turns me off)..
Slowly and steadily..
Never at once did I feel uncomfortable..
Because they wont allow that to happen..
Their level of EQ is sky high..
So one inspirer, one manager and one strategic planner..
Awesome presenters.
The team explained that they don’t go around blowing their trumpets..
The brands they revamped were given such an impressive uplift that we will never notice the driving force behind these brands.
Brands that dear and I thought they made good improvements recently were actually their clients o.0
She showed us their case studies and spoke of her clients endearingly..
No rehearsal, no scripts, no slides of lengthy words..
Her non-discriminating disposition is the main factor that puts us at ease..
She and her team looked at our name cards and commented it’s good that we (the boss, the HR and the Logistics) had actually come together from diverse positions.
In this way we could provide different perspectives to look at how the company should steer its direction.
Just like that, no airs, no judgment, no sales intention..
Something that was said so naturally that I was utterly won over..
Never had I thought I was useful in this pending project.
If resources were never an issue...
I would have gladly given anything to work with them.
Back in the Uni days
Marketing was just another subject that would determine the class of honors..
But today
She taught me the essence of the subject that I have never fully comprehended back then =)
*****
No matter how much I detest doing something I have absolutely no idea what on earth is going on..
Or something that I will have to put on a false front in front of my counterparts..
I have to admit I do learn along the way..
The young and youthful are filled with energy and life.
But most lacked experience.
Experience comes with time..
And ironically, it leaves us jaded.
So if given a choice
Would you trade wisdom for innocence..?
*****
Labels: office, thoughts, work
irony @
11:20 PM
Thursday, March 4
Been feeling out of sorts lately.
Strained.
Stressed.
Simply jaded.
The feeling of trying to be confident when I'm absolutely not, came back to haunt.
Audit is really as what Suki says picking bones in eggs..
But how to pick the bones if you are not that familiar with that scope?
The checklist is there to follow alright..
But what on earth is Audit if the person who created that checklist was the one who decides the project to be audited and simply made sure that the things mentioned in the list of cheemology are conformed?
I had a hard time picking those bones.
Now I'm not even sure if those bones are really bones or metaphorically, veins.
*****
Sometimes lines are not drawn very clearly,
Sometimes there isnt enough time to make a choice..
Sometimes sometimes sometimes..
Situations happen.
So I made a quick decision that day with 4 faces staring intently at me.
But was given a piece of mind later..
And I cant find my voice..
Havent felt so incompetent,
So lousy..
Okie I made a futile decision.
Just like a bird with chipped wings
It lost its sense of direction, becoming a lifeless object swayed by the wind, manoeuvred wherever the wind takes.
I just felt, useless.
*****
Labels: ramblings, thoughts, work
irony @
8:56 PM
Thursday, December 24
The 51st week of 2009
Saturday
Company's second bowling session.
All the big bosses were out of town.
And so the peeps were more "normal" and more fun to be around with..
Got two trophies..
Which made my dad very excited..
And also these to which my mom and I preferred unanimously..
Six people at home.
Three of them are giants who consumed more food, who used up more soaps and toothpaste etc..
NTUC Vouchers are good, damn good.
Hurhur..
*****
The noon's activities were something more laid back.
We popped over to Vivo for a movie..
While waiting..
As we walked past the National Geographic shop,
I suddenly remembered Suki once told me she was also there the very same weekend I first came across the shop..
Then a thought struck me.
"I might bump into her later.."
True enough,
We saw her and Pail the minute we stepped out of the cinema o.0
*****
Bodyguards and Assassins
Another highly anticipated show that did not disappoint a single bit.
By giving each character specific role gave the whole movie an eclectic and interesting mix of cinemotography.
The Chinese traditional way of a movie-
Immense facial expressions and more serious veteran acting.
Feelings overflowed.
Truly awesome martial arts and stunts that kept us breathless and glued to the seats throughout the show.
The Western way of a movie-
Labelling and hailing each and every character with "The Xxxxx"
Never fail to inject humor into them.
I loved how the director managed to link up all the various characters,
Never once rendering them "flower vases".
Everyone of them fought for a different cause.
The Gambler for atonement
The Rickshaw man for indebtedness
The Heir for ideals
The Diva for revenge
The Assassin for loyalty.
Such burst of themes at least what I thought..
Causes and consequences..
Simply a masterpiece.
Definitely worth every penny =)
*****
Labels: dear, movies, sports, thoughts, work
irony @
11:39 PM
Tuesday, December 22
The 51st week of 2009
Thursday and Friday
Annual stock take.
What more can I say..
Two days of stamina and labour.
Thank god Don and the youngest one came to help out as part timers.
Making the counting processes so much faster and less boring =D
Think they enjoyed it too hurhur..
But of course,
Their calories did not come cheap.
You should have seen how they ate >,<
Okie here's the full interestingly contradictory conversation coming from Mr Tall guy:
Don: I'm not full lei..
Me: Go buy some more then..
*Pats his tummy*
Don: But hor I'm getting fat liao..
Me: -.- KNS I thought you want to put on weight?
Don: Fat on the tummy lei, I dont want tummy lor..
Me: Who ask you drink beer..
Then don't buy la, still got a lot of cookies..
*Still looking at the menu*
Don: Ahhh that looks nice..
Evil Me: Aiya go buy la, got your favourite subway melt, you sure you don't want?
5 bucks enough? After work go for a run la..
Don: Wa laoz don't want lei, I want to sleep eh..
*Turns to Hanli*
Don: Hey you wanna share a six inch?
Hanli: Huh..I just took half of sis' veggie patty..
Not listening, Don disappeared to the counter.
And then came back with another six inch, already cut into half.
Passed half to Hanli who just finished a cookie, and the two of them began their second round.
*Faint*
*****
Labels: family, thoughts, work
irony @
5:13 PM
Wednesday, July 8
The morning cab whizzed in and out between the heavy traffic..
Crossed lanes like nobody's business
Squeezed into whatever space it could find on the seemingly faster lane
Incited a few annoyed horns
And thought I would feel nauseous.
But in fact the thrill kept me awake.
Perverse and wicked
I admit I adore such dangerous driving..
Cos that will mean I do not need to suffer any carsickness.
And that I could get to office in the shortest possible time.
I sensed his fidgety disposition the minute I got onto the cab.
Subconsciously felt that he was pressed for time.
Just that I did not know how rushed was his rush..
Because before I could react rationally
He dropped me off at a junction to another cab before I could reach my destination..
A wholesome 10 minutes drive away from office. >,<
Technically speaking
I took two cabs to work o.0
*****
Noon came.
Suddenly had this sadistic urge to work my legs.
So I walked a total of 30 minutes and took a 10 minutes train ride..
Just to have this for lunch.
I love Mr Bean =)
*****
Labels: ramblings, thoughts, work
irony @
9:37 AM
