Weird Office Rules

I’m pretty sure every single one of us has a ‘dream boss’ in our heart. One whom had the heart of graciousness and one who showed empathy towards you while at the same time, provide guidance and utmost patience in whatever you do. BUT, that can only exist in dreamland.


The truth is, we are always stuck with imperfect boss. There are a lot of types of bosses. Some good, some bad and some, beyond hopeless. More often than not, it is the rules or guidelines laid down by the bosses that reflect greatly on the type of boss they are or can become.

Allow me to share some of the weirdest rules laid by bosses which bound to either nod autonomously or simply just let out a sign of relief:-

 - Your boss doesn’t allow you to take MC: WTF is such rule. Obviously, the reason why one is taking MC is because he or she is sick, and you expect the poor soul to work even though he or she is sick? And what’s worse, he or she could spread the virus to everyone else including you. Definitely something a Boss shouldn’t allow!

 - Your boss doesn’t allow employees to date with anyone within the company: Frankly speaking, this is reasonable to a very small extent but then again, it’s human rights than it being violated here. We are living in a 20th century where we are FREE TO LOVE. There’s no stopping when the cupid comes knocking isn’t it. Are you telling me you are control the number of times you sneeze or yawn per day? DUH!

 - Your boss insist you not talk AT ALL during work: How is that even possible in the first place? Unless you are telling me you are working in a workplace where voice or noise will cause harm or death, if not, that is ruinously rubbish.

 - Your boss doesn’t allow you to go toilet for big or small business: So what? Am I doing to pee into your mouth or shit on your face?

- Your boss doesn’t allow the usage of mobile phone AT ALL: Yes, your boss is going to take every single responsibility should something happened at home, NOT! Crap.

 - Your boss insists you work OT very single day: Your boss must be thinking just because he has no wife means that his employees shall not be allow spending time with their loved ones too. Simi Sai!

- Your boss will only allow your to change your stationary only if it is completely spoilt (beyond usage) and completely used up: Imagine your boss ensure your ink has been used up completely before he stingily allow you to replace it with just one pen.

- No personal belonging on workdesk or anywhere visible in the office: You’re telling me to be naked in the office, isn’t it? LOL! Now every cubicle and employee will look the same.

- You have to answer your office phone within one ring: This sound like a test for policeman who needs to be trained for alert and agility. Now, even if you are shitting, you can’t shit with a peace of mind.

Somehow, I’m glad none of the above happened to me and I really do hope it will never happen to me. And for those who encountered any of the above, probably, it’s time you head for a greener pasture, because I’m pretty sure for you, the grass is definitely greener on the other side.

Working The Japan Way

I was mentioning how the end of a chapter spells another beginning back last month. Time sure flies and I'm already near 3 weeks into my job. I must say, I'm rather impressed with myself, at how fast I managed to adapt to this whole new working environment. But definitely, I wouldn't have done it without the support of my girlfriend, that's for sure. She made me realized what's 'pillar of my life'. Aside for the relentless support, if not for the fact that the culture shock this Japanese company brings, I wouldn't even dare to consider it as a huge feat.

Interestingly, I got a culture shock on my first day of work. I don't know to feel glad or sad to be honest. The fact that I got a shock made my first few days of work tough, real tough. I reckon if I would have come from a more Asian and open company prior to this, things would probably be slightly easier for me. Perhaps comparison was at fault for this shock.

Therefore, I make a survival manual as to what you could possibly expect working in a Japanese company.

Unique Working Environment

You get low partition between each other  in this huge space in a single floor. In this classroom style working environment, you get literally low or NO privacy at all. Everyone can see what you are doing at your desktop. Everyone can see when you're the first person to leave the office. Everyone can see if you doze off during your work. And when I mention everyone, I really mean EVERYONE, all 100++ of them.

Because of this unique style, my boss sits just beside me, and he's probably just half an arm away from me. Oh, did I mention the only person who has a room in this entire company in the president? Yes, you hear me right, even Vice President, General Managers and Bosses sit in such open environment, so it's a literal truth that everyone can see what you are doing, even your big big big big big boss.

'The Phone Plays Music?!' 

This is definitely something new. And possibly the only thing you'll experience only if you are in a Japanese company. Our office phone is apparently customized so that our phone will ring at 9am (which is our official working start time), 12pm (lunchtime), 1pm (end of lunchtime) and lastly 5.45pm (official working end time). They will play such nice melody for a mere 30 seconds before it stops and the phone is definitely very punctual. Unchained melody?

Cleanest Toilet Award 

Yes. You guessed it. How can I leave toilet bowl out. They see toilet as importantly as any other equipment or accessory in the office. And you won't be able to find a single squatting platform anywhere in the office. There's only toilet bowls. They are cleaner than most toilets you find in Singapore. And trust me you know you're in a Japanese company when each time you enter the toilet, the cover is closed. You open it up when you want to use it, and you close it back when you are done using it. Speaking about toilet manners. A good way to start from here definitely

Company's Greatest Asset

No doubt, when you are in a Japanese company, you get one of the most amazing mentality you could possibly see in the workforce. Thankfully, I was able to be part of this. We have seen how Japanese had the never say die attitude when they fought the war back in our grandpa days. We have seen how Japanese worked together with each other to tide over the major earthquake last year. This is the spirit within them. They instill a mindset that each and everyone has a part to play in everything they do. This is no different in this company. If I fail in what is expected of me, it means my boss has failed. This is also the reason why bosses here never gives up on you easily. Call it ego if you want, but to them, if they are the ones who hire you, it means they have to prove that they have made the right choice, else, it will reflect badly on them. That is why, employees here are always learning because their bosses is willing to teach. This way, it attributes to us employees being a great assets of the company.

Workaholic

Japan, being where they are today with such advanced technology and economy, is by no means easy feat. The reason why they climb so fast on the economics ladder is because people there worked hard, literally. When I was back in Japan few years back, 11pm and I was in the bus coach cruising by office towers by the highway, all I see inside the building are brightly lit window panes. Indeed, people are still working at those hours. Their high suicide rates is also caused by the tremendous stress from work. Japanese worked hard. The employees in my company is the same. To them, a hardworking or good employee is one who works till late. Never mind if you are not doing your work efficiently or effectively, so long as you leave the office LATE, you are a good worker. Period. Dangerous for me, who still firmly believe in work life balance. 

Manners

Manners to the Japanese is extremely important and it has to be observed in the work place. Mobile phones has to be switched off, no speaking loudly, be considerate towards colleagues and superiors alike..etc...the list goes on. The way the bosses (Japanese mainly) speak to each other already shows how much manners mean to them. To them, what manners you display shows alot about yourself. A good place for me to turn less couth I suppose.

Punctuality

Punctuality matters more than anything else. Every seconds counts here. If you're late, be prepared to be on the target list of your superior. The Japanese are VERY VERY particular about punctuality. To them, if you cannot even observe punctuality, how are you even to manage your work. To them, if you have poor time management, chances are, you are not going to be good at managing the tasks and responsibilities entrusted to you. This is definitely no joke, especially for someone like me.

I'm sure there's more to what was mentioned here but basically, the gist of it is here. And if you noticed, most of which actually attributes one to be a better person, not just a better employee. I'm sure this workplace will expose me to much more than I can learn and hopefully, I can really be a better employee and person through this valuable opportunity given to me.

Transition Period

It's been slightly more than a week since I left my company of three years. Life has been pretty much slack. It's been really months since I last updated about my life. Everything has been pretty much mundane and it's more on work that I can talk about rather than anything else happening around me.

Me and the girl celebrated our 2nd year together. It was a long way coming around and we are more certain than before to really make our future work out. You can say we are already planning for our marriage and we have already started saving for it. It could be happening as soon as late this year, that's how FAST time flies, actually. 

Dates has been rather routinal. It's either movies or simply just slacking out butts off TV shows and foods. That's how boring Singapore is as you can see, and that's the reason why we always can't wait to get out of this small boring island. The girl would definitely be the happier one to do so but because of our marriage, this will have to wait as well. But we were at least heartened with the fact that we have a short trip to Kuala Lumpur coming up and a long one in the last quarter of this year, most likely to be Korea. (Can I see my Ji-Yeon in Korean please?? =p).

Job was postponed till 19 Mar. That gave me a huge reason to let go of things a little and go wild. And look what I did to my hair. I've always wanted to tried an ash dye on my hair, and finally, I went ahead to do it, after much consideration and hesitation. It turned out fine in fact, although the bleach apparently scares off some of my ex colleagues and friends.

It has been quite a large amount of me time. Definitely making up for the loss of that largely due to the heavy workload leading up to NATAS. I'm definitely glad it has all ended now. For sure, I'm missing the fun I had with my colleagues and it will be on my agenda to visit them soon, before I start work of course. Like I've said, I've spent more time sleeping, catching up on my shows and soccer. Now I'm so free, I feel like doing something. Something productive and add on value to myself.

I've always wanted to start something on my own. Through my own ideas. Had a few here and there every now and then, but never had the time to execute it. Perhaps, it's high time I kick start it and hopefully it leads me to somewhere somehow.

Meanwhile, at the back of my head, I'm eagerly waiting for my new job to start. I'm excited of it, at the same time, feeling that little bit of worrying deep down inside my heart. I'm not sure how this new job of mine will affect my lifestyle and life as a whole, probably due to the fact that I know I might need to work late and work overseas more often than before. But it is something I'm confident would fly my career higher and I'm certainly hoping it would. Probably, it could already be the start of everything....

End of the Chapter

As I left that very door, I looked back once more, imagining the life after the very next step that I was about to take. I knew it's going to be different, and uncertain, yet it paints a positive greener pasture for me. I left that place of three years plus with a tinge of mild emotions, yet leaving behind are the awesome colleagues whom have accompanied through the toughest times of my stint there.

As I carefully craft my farewell email, memories flowed through my mind endlessly, as though reminding me how much I had gone through, alongside the fellow warriors who fought tirelessly with me. Carefully not to miss anyone important people out, I acknowledge the fact that if not for these people whom I've worked closely with and for, I wouldn't be where and who I am today, my girlfriend included.

Perhaps, it couldn't be more timely that I choose to leave this time, having done my final battle (NATAS) with my fellow colleagues. It was a huge relief, to be able to complete it after much struggle, which brings me the heart to pity whoever is taking my helm, for I know the route the next person is going to take, won't be an easy one.

But then again, blame it on the management or the superiors if one must. If not for the lack of leadership and management, probably, things would take a brighter turn. Still, on a positive note, it is this negative circumstances that forces me to learn things the hard way, allowing a deeper understanding of what I ought to know, at the same time, making me realized I'm a much stronger person than what I thought I am, and eventually, leading to my departure to seek for better prospects and opportunities.

Three years plus is not a long time, neither it's a short one. I've met countless people and worked with many out of which, I"m glad there are colleagues who turned friends and I cherish this relationship for it is them who made my stay in there an awesome one. Finally, this chapter has ended. I'm sure it is time now, to take this short period of time to reflect and appreciate, before I start on my next new chapter...

Till then...

An Ending Spells Another Beginning

Alright, it’s confirmed. I’m finally moving on. It’s such a huge relief that nothing could explain my feelings when I did two things that further affirms that – penning down my signature on that employment letter and sealing that fatal letter and finally throwing it. I remembered how everything turned and proved too much for me last September and I’ve decided to source for a greener pastures after the last NATAS. I remembered quoting the exact words ‘Time to move on’ on the status on my then, Live Messenger window. For the past 5 months, I’ve been seeing that without any avail or progress in my job hunting. And now, finally, I can change that quote, to something more meaningful, something more positive and definitely something which I know can best describe how a chapter can end beautifully to make way for another chapter of challenges. In probably less than 30 days time, I’m going to leave this place where I’m actually grew attached to during my stint here for the past three years. As much as I hated the management, the managers and some unnecessary people, I realized I’m going to bring along with me a lot more that I can ask for when I leave this place in less than 1 month time. Till then, I shall recollect myself, to piece each memory back one by one, good or bad, in the midst of preparing for NATAS and prepare myself for this milestone to come.

Time to move on, finally?

To be honest, I never thought it would be that tough. Times like this are hard to bite the grit to move on. I always thought finding a job is as easy as 1,2,3 or A,B,C. Perhaps, the reason why I developed this perception is because finding job had been an ease for me through my life. From part time job through job agency to finding my first full time job within two interviews. In another words, it was smooth sailing. And it is also because of that, I realized the hard and harsh truth of working life. In such a competitive environment like Singapore, everyone wants a piece of everything. We, Singaporeans move on faster than most people from other parts of the world. Scandals and rumors get diminished very fast, consumerism changes its trends faster than ever seen before and we Singaporeans are hungrier and greedier than before as well.

Even employers see things the way the world is viewing, but the only difference is, in a more competitive manner. In Singapore, nobody is indispensible. Even my new boss says that. The fact is, there are companies who view their employees as assets, and for some, employees are just workers, workers who are just err…workers. Sad to say, where I am from, employees are viewed and treated in a biased manner. More often than not, many of us felt under-appreciated. But, there's nothing we can do about it. It's rice bowls that we can talking about here. However, having said that, there lies a boundaries no matter what. Employers are spoilt for choice. Imagine a position with almost 20 over candidates, and frankly speaking, do you even think if you get the job, you're the real one who can fit and live up to that job perfectly?

That is why interview is so important. Same goes for resumes and the countless versions of cover letter you have to come up with for job hunting. I realized resume plays a huge role in getting yourself even a chance to be noticed. Imagine just a minor word can make your resume nothing but a worthless piece of document. And once you got that chance, interview is the next big hurdle. It's all about selling yourself. Selling yourself tactically so to speak. No one asks you to speak on how shitty or badly your company is. No one asks you to say how many flaws and bad habits you actually have. The thing is, it's all about striking a balance between boosting your strengths and experience adequately and briefly mention your flaws and how it can actually be a strength at the same time.

After going through so many interviews, I've learnt. I've learnt that job aren't easy to find and it is very important that the next job you're going to get is a good one. I'm sure no one will go looking for a job with the intention of working for just one year or so, definitely not me at least. I'm looking to stay committed, and to get the best and most out of it. Afterall, working is a learning experience, one that adds value to your own self.

Probably, that is why I'm careful with my job search. And now, I'm hit by difficult choices, or so I thought. But no matter what, I'm kind of set on what I want, come what may, I'll take it with a positive note and bent on making and improving myself as a person, adding values to myself through the exposure and experiences I'm going to face. Whatever it is, I'm glad I'm finally leaving the shit hole I'm in, because where I am now, is full of poor management, poor working environment, poor leadership. If there's anything that would make me stay, that's probably the good colleagues that I've made over my stint there.

But having said that, I'm sure whatever my choice is, my colleagues will support me, same for those who cared and shared their most honest opinion with me. I too hope if it's time for one to leave, they can garner the courage to do the same as me. I've come to learn that there is simply no point sparing any thought for a company who doesn't appreciate and acknowledge the efforts of the employees, because ultimately, no one is going to care if at the end of the day, your bowl will be filled with rice for your tummy. It's literally a fight for your own self, in this harsh reality. With that, I prayed for a good year ahead and seriously hope my life will change the moment next week arrives.

10 Ways to Identify a Dross (Bad Boss)

As per my previous post, some might be puzzled as to what does the word ‘Dross’ means? I can’t find a better word to use but the word ‘Dross’ which simply translates to ‘something regarded as worthless’. Indeed, I breathed in too much 怨气 that I seriously need to let it out. I’ve been ‘pounced on’, ‘thrown around’, ‘pushed over’ and rebuked at, umpteen times already altogether, without logical reasons.

Therefore, it explains the existence of this post and it pretty much sums up why those 怨气.

Number 1: You get a boss who doesn’t really look decent and plus the fact that there were indeed some abnormalities (it’s factual, not evil) on the facial features. One more sign is this person has no ring on its fourth finger and of course, a middle-aged tanned man.

Number 2: You have a boss who never once remembers whether the employee is on leave, MC or simply just AWOL. This would work perfect if I’m serving my NS but no, it is a disaster in this real working world. A boss doesn’t ask the employee where the absentee go, but a boss SHOULD inform all employees where the absentee goes. Come on, know what you should do and what you should not.

Number 3: You have a boss who keeps mum and so quiet during big meetings with his superior and many more superiors who is much more SUPERIOR than himself BUT once outside of that meeting room, he goes bling-blang-blung on his ideas and ranting to those poor employees.

Number 4: You get a boss who question the own service and product of the company yet doing nothing about it. Come on, you don’t say that imported apple is bad yet you still continue importing them. Worse, you questioned and laughed hysterically at those customers who actually bought those apples from us even though it’s bad. Oh man, where’s the boss seh?

Number 5: You have a boss who really looks like a boss when he first arrived, with all his boosting of his experiences, his visions for the company and his plans to execute the strategies but as time passed, his experiences, visions and plans deteriorates and vanishes like the person himself, where you can’t even see a shadow of the word ‘boss’. Probably, one might even misunderstand him as Veggie Seller in Wet Market.

Number 6: You get a boss who doesn’t engage the employees. He arrives to work without any greeting because his sulk face already says “Bad Morning’ instead of ‘Good Morning’; He goes for lunch ALONE without asking anyone (or probably no one wants to eat with him or worse, no one DARES to eat with him); He goes home as a ‘ghost’ because he does not even produce a single sound.

Number 7: You get a boss who SELECT things to do and it is only things that interest him ONLY. Those outside his ‘interest range’, of course, it will be handled forcefully by employees who were already headless about what is doing on. Best of all, if you are the lucky one selected, it’s not because you are capable but more so because you seem the ‘free-est’ to him. Period.

Number 8: You get a boss who doesn’t know the operations well enough YET still wants to manage them. It’s like you are in charge of displaying the fruits in the supermarket, yet you put those oranges in the apple crate and durian in the strawberry shelf. You do so because you don’t know strawberry is almost 10 times smaller than even the smallest ripe Durian that ever existed.

Number 9: You get a boss who sit like Johnny English in the movie ‘Johnny English Reborned’ which makes you and most others wonder were this person even born with a spinal cord with backbone or not.

Number 10: You have a boss who tell you one thing on Day 1 and ask you to do something else on Day 30, forgetting what he said on Day 1, and rejecting your work (work done based on his instruction from Day 30) on Day 40. But when you insist in telling him what he said on Day 1, he will INSIST in telling you he don’t remember what he said and worse, you took his words then on and one fine day, probably on Day 100, he’ll ask you why didn’t you follow his instruction as per Day 1.

Alright, that’s a DROSS for you people.

Boss or Dross?

Being in the working world for near 9 years accumulatively, I won’t say I’m very experienced but definitely, I know what it is like working. Looking at the intern just sitting behind me at work, as he is, being just a 19 year old boy, it wasn’t hard to feel how far I’ve come. I was taken aback when he told me being an intern in UOB Travel was the first time he actually worked. But the shock was dismissed as soon as I realize the reason behind it – he grew with a golden spoon.

Counting off hand, I have worked in at least 8 different jobs, with differing environments, I can safely say, I’ve seen most, in the aspect of how a boss/superior can behave, should behave and have behaved. I’ve definitely seen the worst (until someone else told me of their shit story back at work) and too, the best to me as well. To me, bosses are there to assist, empower his or her employees and getting involved in literally everything that is being done under his or her care. That way, respect is garnered, trust is built and naturally, the team will work in its utmost effectiveness.

Based on my experience, I would love to share some of the worst bosses I’ve ever seen, where I could really pin point their common ‘rubbish’ and of course, some of the best I’ve worked with. Based on my definition of boss, the worst one is definitely way off course to that, especially the one I am working for and under right now. All I see from this one is nothing but ‘blow cow (吹牛)’. A boss needs to give proper direction and follow it, but instead, this boss did the former but twist the latter. What’s the point of getting someone to do what you want when you are even unsure of it. Secondly, I’ve not seen a boss who behaves so pathetically. This boss of mine does and only DOES things that interest him. It’s like ‘I choose work to do as and when I want, not work choose me as and when it wants’. Oh crap. Imagine there are 10 responsibilities falling under your job scope, but because you prefer 2 out of the 10, you simply push the other 8 conveniently to your employees, who indeed feel empowered but ‘headless’ without direction. From this, I’ve seen the irresponsible side of him which utterly disgusted me. To me, a good boss praise when a job or task is done well, and correct when an error or mistake is made. It’s worse if a boss just pin point your mistakes and not praise you for your work well done, but it’s even WORSE when a boss doesn’t even bother to correct you. He even spit it right out from his mouth that he DOESN'T see or read what we did or sent him because it simply means nothing to him. Oh great! I foresee myself deteriorating under him, definitely.

To me, working is not just working. It's learning, gaining experience and exposure so as to better contribute to the company to get job satisfaction in return as well as self-grooming, bringing up your own value so as to move on with a better career prospects. But that is totally impossible if you find yourself stuck in a rut under one useless boss who, whole day does nothing but trying his luck on his 'experiments' in hope of success and there I am, one of the guinea pigs.

But then again, I always put myself in perspectives. Like many said, 做的好就留，做不好就走. I rather have myself seeking better opportunities than stuck in that rut. But on the contrary, I have been really fortunate enough to have work under good Boss.

Back in my army days, there is this superior, as much as her rank is many tiers higher than mine, she doesn't make you feel like she's your boss. Instead, she makes you feel you have to appreciate her every intention and instruction, making you feel WANT TO work harder not only for her, but myself too.

Until now, I cannot forget her motherly care as a boss, the patience she rendered while guiding me effortlessly and not forgetting her willingness to acknowledge mistakes and let me learn in my own way and my own pace.

Perhaps, it could be because she's a female boss. But in any case, our harsh and fast working society needs good boss. Bosses who really leads, guides and motivates, not for the better of the staff but more so for themselves and the company. Afterall, a sense of belonging and bond is what keeps employees and employers alike going. No one is superior in fact than another, one should act as though we can't do without anyone at all, that way, probably, working can be a wonderful joy

The Time Has Come

Now that the busy period is gone, I’ve finally put myself back to the crossroads, one where I was 5 months ago. This busy period made me learnt a lot, at the same time, it make me realize the unfeeling nature of people as well. I don’t deny the steep learning curve was tough, but I’m glad I made it, with much hindrance and difficulties. The nature of the job was demanding, it’s not the work that is tough, but more often than not, it’s the dealing with people that is tough. And just when you are trying to get your work done, you get people who doesn’t put themselves in your shoes and going around barking and interfering, which gets really annoying at times. Nevertheless, being where I am, I’ve pretty much learnt all that is required of me, afterall, NATAS is the only big thing of my current job, other than that, it’s repetitive.

The fact that the Human Resource back in the headquarters overpromising has led to the disappointment of many. To be frank, those accolades and awards given to them, are a vast difference and opposite of what are they capable (or rather incapable) of doing. The way they work, the way the function, doesn’t seems to tally with their objective, which of course, led to high turnovers, as always. Perhaps if this aspect is better, I would have give this position another positive go, but time has come for me to realize that, the clock ticks even though you’re unhappy. I have to move on, for the sake of myself and future.

Being where I am now, doesn’t equip me with sufficient skills and knowledge, especially not when I have very limited exposure. Imagine this – I’m my own manager, I’m my own employee and I’m my own middleman. How to learn this way?!??! The only time you know you’re wrong is when someone spotted the mistakes. The only time you know you’re right is when no one complains about anything (which doesn’t necessary equates to you being correct at all as well). Given this limitation, and the vast potential of the outside world, I’ve come to terms with myself to move on from here. 3 years++ in this company is not short, I’m glad to have been able to partake two roles operationally – being at the counter as a sales consultant with great colleagues and being back at the backroom doing marketing with boring and difficult people. I’m glad to have known and work with two different groups of people. Afterall, in this real world, you get to see all sorts of people. I won’t consider UOB Travel a fantastic company, but the culture here is different being outside at the frontline versus being on the backroom at the support stand.

My stint here is definitely memorable and fun-filled, despite the turmoil I’ve faced in recent weeks as well as during the beginning of it. Nevertheless, I am thankful for all the chances I get to travel and see the world (which I doubt I’ll have the chance to do so ever again), travelling to so many countries which is definitely the envy of others. Of course, not forgetting the great job satisfaction that I’ve gotten and this job here definitely helped carve out my direction as to what I want to do from now. As mentioned to many before, UOB Travel is just a stepping stone to me, and probably, I feel that it’s high time I step out of here, learn more and expose myself to more opportunities elsewhere.

The Rainbow After Nightmares

Near two months into my job, I am indeed starting to get the hang of it, though the main bulk remains a short distance away. Being a marketer in UOB Travel, NATAS is seemed as a real test. Everyone in the company said, “You go through NATAS, you can handle everything”. As such, I can actually feel the pressure as NATAS starts drawing closer. Like each and every event I’ve known, the ‘behind the scene’ behind these events were never an easy job. It’s like a ‘台上十分钟, 台下十年工’ thing. You prepare months in advance, just waiting for that 3 days to be smooth sailing and over. Needless to say, the fruit of the seed is what I’m working towards, but the planting of the seed, growing of it through sweat and ‘blood’ is what I have to go through. Given the same ‘me’ few years ago, I would dread it happening. But the ‘me’ now is entirely different, I look forward to the stuff I get to learn, look forward to meeting more people along the course of this rough road.

I like what I’m exposed to and am actually happy to know what I’m in for. Never mind those possible sleepless nights, hectic days and what-nots. Doing what I’m doing now is never what I thought I will be doing when I’m young. Yet, this pursuance of this industry I called it, made me feel that the word ‘impossible’ is really never impossible. In where I am, I encounter lots of first times. My first time doing advertising, in print, online and even on radio. More interestingly, I’m even exposed to below the line advertising such as ATMs screens, SMS, mailers etc. Just take ATMs for example, it used to be just a plain machine where I draw my cash, something I wouldn’t want to visit so often (each time I visit, money is gone). But now, after learning what a ATM can actually do, from drawing cash, offering advertising at its most customized way, through the interactive screens we always see at the top of a ATM, I found myself in a amazed state. I was amazed to what marketing can do to people through even the most unexpected ways.

What’s a better learning tool than someone who is so experienced in the field itself. Meeting different people make me feel more absorbed in my work, allowing ideas to flow endlessly. I am not supposed to have my brain stuck in a jam, instead, given the environment, I am considered the soul of the department. I like how I am not restricted to a chair, a computer and a desk and off you work. I like how I can influence and be influenced by people in the most creative ways and learn through the craziest ideas I’ve ever encounter. I like how meetings can be so bombastic and insane that at the end of it, I turned inspired.

With NATAS just weeks ago, my role this time round is an entirely different side of the coin as compared to the previous ones. I left my shell of being the top sales person with a high job satisfaction to being a totally newbie in what I’m tasked for. This event means the world to me. It’s like my baby. Imagine you single-handedly plan for this event, with absolute no assistance. From booth design, to booth layout, to advertising, to co-ordination etc. I must say I look forward to my nightmares because I know after these nightmares lies a rainbow so colourful that I’ve been waiting for. =)

My Virgin Ad

It’s amazing how doing things you like or love can make such a vast difference, even though if it’s tough or difficult. I’m comparing it against my previous job of course. Perhaps, the experience I had prior to what I’m doing now attribute to this as well. Job satisfaction arrives at a higher frequency. Typically, it’s not an easy job, to put it simply, no job out there is easy. But behind what I’m doing now, there lies a truth totally opposite of the appearance. A lot of people think marketing is such a cool job, some even say it’s glamorous. I see and understand why this is so. You get to attend functions, you get hosted, you get to meet people, you make decisions, you impress (that is if you had a job well done)..and the list goes on. Basically, the business is on you, largely on you to be specific. The mechanics of sales lies in the way you garner the necessary response, reaction and most importantly impression.

I must insist that money makes the business go round, without that, business could significantly drop. Marketing to me is rolling gold into a gold mountain. Few weeks into my job now, I wouldn’t say I’m good at it. In fact, I’m far from good. I still have much to learn (yea, like young Padawan). I thank myself for being at the very least, positive about things, followed by the support I get from a lot of people. It is still a very tough period – being all alone in the marketing department with no one to guide you, instruct you or even correct you. Literally, I’m left on a No Man’s Land. But I accepted this long and steep learning curve and I must say it has been serving me well so far. People I’ve met so far are very helpful, suppliers and colleagues alike. Most importantly, I could never do it without the support and encouragement by girl. I’m being put in a spot similar to hers few months back. Therefore, it’s much easier to self talk as well.

I’ve learnt two important things in what I’m doing now – being meticulous as well as being pro-active. Without these two essential traits, you wouldn't succeed as a marketer I realize. Creativity is one, but failing to take caution in what you do could literally bust up your own project, campaign or advertising so to speak. Being pro-active is part of being creative I realized and it take a lot for me to jump out of my previous job shadow. Frankly speaking, I’m underpaid. But I believe by compromising now, I’m taking a decisive step to step forth my future career path and plan.

Slowly and slowly, my interests and love in what I’m doing increase, along with the workload as well as stress. Come what may, I’ll take it one step at a time for nothing comes easy, it’s how you deal with it basically. Proudly, I would like to share the very first advertisement I did on Straits Times Classified, 11 May. It just feel different having your work to be seen by public. To some, it may mean peanuts, but to me, it means the world.

Uob Travel

My very first time writing about my job, well, not literally. I was mentioning to the girl on how i meet all sorts of interesting (some, VERY interesting) people throughout my course of working in UOB Travel for coming to 2 years. Jokingly, i would have this great example of a tele-conversation i had with a assumingly CHEENA lady.

ME: Hello, UOB Travel....
CHEENA LADY: Hello, can i *blur* Manjurini?
ME: Sorry?
CHEENA LADY: Manjurini...
ME: [Search around and ask my colleague who is Manjurini]
ME: [still holding the line and check through my phone book list of my company, still no Manjurini to be found]
CHEENA LADY: Hello?!?!?
ME: Hang on Madame.
CHEENA LADY: Speak MANJURINI!!!!
ME: I'm sorry Madam, but there's no one by the name of Manjurini here. I think you've called the wrong number.
CHEENA LADY: Speak MANJURINI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ME: I'm sorry????!?! [Frustrated already]
CHEENA LADY: 讲华语啦！！！
ME: [showing the 'WTH' face] 可以讲华语！
and so....the tele-conversation goes on...

This job wasn't a fantastic one, purely because it's not something i regarded very well when i first got it. At that point, it's really just a JOB. slowly, my interests in this industry increased and it got me to hang on until where i am today. At times, i had to admit the work environment turns me off, but the loads of stuff i learn over here, is definitely what i cherish and would like to share with just about anyone.

I've learnt more about destinations both possible and impossible to travel. I've learnt about destinations i've never heard before, and learnt MORE about destinations i've heard before, and i'm proud of it, because it's really so wonderful and interesting to know these facts. I start loving Travelogues, Travel magazines and alot more stuff, such as the design of aircraft, the different models of aircraft, the wonders of car hire, the amazing facts on certain places on earth. Perhaps, i'll take this chance to share...

[Maldives is made up of thousands of islands and Mauritius is just one island by itself (twice the size of Singapore)]

[Hohhot is a city in Mongolia]

[New England is located in United States of America, not Great Britain]

[Jeddah, the capital of Saudi Arabia can only be entered by Muslims]

[North Korea - only one travel agency in Singapore does it and you are not allowed to bring your mobile phone into the country and one North Korean must accompany you to everywhere except when you are sleeping, shitting or peeing (making love included)]

I decided it's too much for me to share and i'll probably spill them all out when i'm in the right mood..

Personally, i've been on trips because of my job and probably one of the best satisfaction i can get as well. It's great how i can go on trips for both job and personal purpose and ultimately share it with everyone, friends and customers included. Observations on how kiasu and ugly some customers can get as well WOW-ed me at times. Of course, aside from that, there are customers who made your day. Till now, i will never forget how there is this nice customer (yes, an auntie) made my busy day. She was a customer whom i served, booked a package with me. Satisfied by my service, she not only praised me. She hanged around the fair for a few hours after she booked the package with me, only to pop out so suddenly (while i'm still serving another customer of mine) with a cup of hot coffee. One word to describe that, heart-warming...

After being in this line for so long (ok, not very long, but long enough to make some interpretions), the hardest to deal type of customers is naturally those aunties. Surprisingly, the easiest to deal type of customers is also aunties, so i have this love-hate relationship with aunties.

One of the most memorable experience with passenger would be one which just even happened yesterday when i served a pair of handicapped couple. Husband, Dumb and Deaf, and wife, Dumb, booked a vacation. Surprisingly, my first time handling such passenger and it's a touching experience i would say.


Many lessons and experience i've learnt through my job, and one of things which i regard it as the most important aspect of travelling is the preparation for the travel, the 'what to pack and what not to pack' into your luggage that is. Something i love to share and at least, the next time i travel, i know where i can refer to again. 20kg baggage allowance is no joke. It may seem alot, almost half the weight for some, but seriously, especially for ladies out there, 20kg is just a mere figure. Some are so horrifying that they already take up near 15-18kg before the trip and coming back would be a big issue, unless they do not mind paying crazy amount for excess baggage.

My Must Bring List (enough to hit between 10-13kg already)


- Toothbrush & Toothpaste (even so the hotel provide, most would be pathetically small and could barely cover all of your teeth)

- Shampoo, shower foam & condition (same as the one previously mentioned, even if the hotel provides, you won't know what the previous user [it could be some prankers] put inside the container, all the hotel do is refill). Unless the hotel provides you with the bottle type, then you can be assured to use them.

- Swiss army knife (you never know when you need it and seriously, it's super handy, be it opening a bottle of beer, cutting stuff etc)

- Luggage tag (many luggage look damn alike, how would you even know your luggage is really yours, save yourself some trouble and embarassment, hang or attach a luggage tag on your luggage, at least when it comes out for the luggage belt, you know right away it's yours)

- Cup Noodles (to spare myself from going to bed hungry at wee hours at night, or to satisfy my in between hunger. you'll never know how expensive the room service can be and where to even get the food if you don't know the place well)

- Undergarments (disposable ones would be better. You won't want to wash those smelly during the trip and what's worse, imagine going for a long trip and when you are back home, unpacking eventually what would seem or smell so unpleasant. Err...just imagining is bad enough...)

- Medication (a must for me, flu is a common thing for me because sleeping through the air con room is too 'powerful' for me. For those who need to medication on a regular or certain basis, this is a must bring, and of course, just in case, no one can predict what can happen)

- First Aid Kit (definitely for case of emergency, accidents do occur, especially when you least expected it)

- Moisturing Cream (our skin tends to get dry and it is very essential)

- Lip balm (cracking lips is no joke, you can bleed from it. you got to apply it before your travel and not during your course of travel)

- Shaver (travelling also means you should groom yourself, so, look tidy)

- Facial foam/cream (our face is just as important as our body)

- Clothings (depending on the countries you are visiting, if it's hot weather, chances are you will bring more clothes to change)

- Mobile Phone (only if you want to stay in contact with your loved ones. Also note that certain mobiles phone are only workable in certain network at the destination you are visiting, i.e: Only 3G phone are workable in Japan) PS: Double check with local operator to check which operator should you connect to when you reach your destination in order to obtain the cheapest rates


- Passport (forget to bring this and you can forget about leaving the country, unless you think you are Mas Selamat)


- Camera (it's considerably one of the must bring when travelling in today world. I'm sure you would want those moments to be captured as perfectly so that 10 or 20 years down the road, you can at least flip back these photos and remember, how enjoyable everything once was)


- Umbrella (unless you are god who can predict no rain at all, or not scorching hot sun, or you just love soaking yourself in the rain, if not, safe than sorry always works)


- Tissues (for your mouth, butt, face, body and everywhere else you can think of)

- Travel Insurance (the ultimate 'safe than sorry'. Period)

It's a job that i hold high interests in. Every now and then, i get to see the world and i'm thankful for all that opportunities. Friends alike always feels i'm lucky but the work behind it was hidden by this partition that no one would understand unless you are in the same trade as me. It made me realise how important networking is as well as somehow, provides me with soft skills. I love travelling more than ever thanks to this job and right now, this has become my dream to travel around the world. Till then, i foresee myself still sitting and doing what i am doing, probably not for long but what i've learnt from these one year plus, is definitely what i will bring with me, throughout my entire life.