One year on...

This post goes out to the former members of the illustrious TP team. You guys know who you are.

Today, the 23rd day of July, marks my first anniversary of leaving my ex-company. Exactly one year ago on this day was my last day at work. You can't blame me for feeling nostalgic today!

I can still picture myself, usually the last of the executives to reach the office, sitting in my former cubicle with the computer in front of me, my cup steaming with green tea and the phone ringing incessantly on my left. Usually I would ignore the phone. Can't these people call later? Then I can hear Chief sitting in front of me talking on the phone (usually to Boss) and Sam taking his slow walk to the washroom/pantry, stopping by HX and Esther's cubicles to chit-chat. Esther's tinkling laughter soon resonates all around and punctures the solemn atmosphere of the mortuary office. Daniel would be stashing his keyboards on my left (about 200 words per minute) and LN on my right would be chomping on her bread as on any other morning.

The useless piece of shit Dubai-bound seatwarmer would come in late as usual and take his time to get organized. By then all the other managers are already deep in their Excel spreadsheets and Super Power Powerpoint presentations and practising their cock-sucking skills. Paul and Eric would be debating over Man Utd's Champions League win and Arsenal's loss, gloating and poking at each other until veins begin to show on their necks. The ladies in the next branch would be chit-chatting and showing off their buys from the previous evening. By now, I would have gone through my Facebook updates emails and made my list of how to slack what to achieve for the day.

No doubt I am exaggerating the above but when push comes to shove, we work hard to get the job done despite tight deadlines, non-supportive bosses high workload and impossible-to-work-with authorities.

But of course the good jolly days have to come to an end. As the industry made gear-grinding changes, one by one, the valued members of the team left to join the Dark Side. All but Daniel and myself had left. Then Daniel left too. Was I to fulfill the prophecy that I would be the last Jedi? Is the Dark Side to be where I will find my destiny?

True to my words ("Over my dead body"), I found my destiny somewhere else.

Filled with excitement over my new job and totally elated, I dropped out of the rat race and spent the next three weeks trekking in jungles and fighting currents in rivers. From the dustless, spick and span well-polished tables of the boardroom and Facebook pokes to the humid and hot jungles of West Malaysia - it sure was a huge contrasting difference. It was all in good fun and I made many new friends, though leeches and jellyfish proved to be quite tough adversaries!

Once in a while though, I still do miss my phone ringing incessantly.

And of course, not picking it up.

Past blog entry: Presentation to CEO

It was with much amusement when I recalled my first run-in with the top honcho at my ex-company. A greenhorn at that time, I was petrified and extremely nervous. I spent countless hours preparing for the presentation and when the time came, I'm glad I delivered.

Chuckle, chuckle.

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Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Presentation to CEO

I had my first presentation to CEO this morning. It kept me working late in the office since last week. I hadn't knocked off earlier than 8.30pm this week! But thankfully its over, and I can finally leave the office on time with some resemblance of daylight to spare. Thank goodness, I had the skill of the fishes and luck of the devil to get by this presentation today.

I woke up early today as I wanted to get to office early to tidy things up. So did my assistant Paul. He's a responsible chap and he helped out a great deal in this project. We went to the board room to set up the laptop and projector at about 8.30am. Suddenly I noticed a figure at the entrance (while we were busy with the gadgets). It was the CEO! She looked around, smiled and left the room.

I was amazed. After all the shit-wipes we received from the VPs since day one, the smile was a refreshing sight. It goes to show what kind of person she was. Not the grouchy, why-you-neverthink-of-it, why-you-show-me-this and get-out-right-now kind of boss. Even though she's at the top of the food chain.

The presentation went well. Mine was the first item on the agenda. I presented my case, chose every single word carefully (they warned me to be particular about what I say), had some stammers (c'mon it's my first time!) and answered her questions to the best of my ability. She was sharp and attentive. She actually remembers the figures from the previous slide, so there's no bullshitting her, not a chance. I remember her telling me at one point after multiple grillings, 'Don't worry, no need to jump to that slide. If you can answer me, just answer. If you cannot, just say you have no explanation to that. It's okay'. That sure reassured me a great deal.

What happened after that was inconsequential. I had my first experience with a real CEO and I emerged unscathed and wiser. What remained from the presentation today is to study a few more options and choose the best business case. Now we're talking about linking up with other business partners, determining the choice option and going for it.

Past blog entry: Who's complaining?

Recently, I had the luxury of time (and much boredom) to review my former blog's posts from my archives. Reading through some of them brought out a chuckle or two, and other times, much nostalgia and sadness.

I would like to re-publish some of my favourite posts onto this blog. I hope you will enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed penning them.

This following post was written while I was still working in my previous job, drawing a decent and comfortable paycheck, shuttering between cubicles squeezing numbers out on sheets of paper and basically doing worthless work.

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April 16, 2006

Who's Complaining?

Barely a week ago, I was dazzled by the success of my peers.

Seemingly effortlessly, these young men and women were making tons of money, more in a year than in ten of mine. Oh, someone's just bought a million dollar condominium in a swanky part of town, even before he hits 30. Oh, someone owns a car even if its just to drive to office and home. Oh, someone gets the chance to travel to exotic places in the US and Europe and making big bucks along the way and enjoying it. Me? Stuck in a 8 to 5 job that doesn't seem to have much career prospects in my personal development. I was even contemplating switching careers.

Today I was brought to earth soundly, with a loud THUD no less. It followed a rare outing with Mom to the market. You see, normally my parents attend church in the evenings of Saturday while I would attend mass on Sunday morning. Trivial as it is, I insist the choir is better on Sunday mornings. And today is special. Why? Because it is Easter Sunday. It is the day that Christ rises from the dead in the tomb to return to God. That makes it special.

So, following mass, I tagged Mom to the market while Dad, feeling a tsunami in the bowels, rushed home to the toilets. It's been a long while since I stepped into a market. Unlike many young Singaporeans, I'm not turned off by the smell of pork, fish, vegetables and I do not squirm over the wet floor.

Mom went to her favourite fishmonger, an auntie in her 50s. She's been here like forever, since the days we stayed at Haig Road. I've known her since I was small, and I still see her now, so it has been a long time really. This feisty little auntie has been providing the fresh fish on my family table, and I was privileged enough today to witness part of the process. Mom and her are best of friends, the relationship between them clearly the epitome of the demand-supply chain. One doesn't bargain, the other doesn't begrudge her access to the day's freshest fish and prawns; sometimes a lack of loose change is waivered, and other days more is given. How do I know? Well, Mom has been telling us their exploits in the market for as long as I know.

It was with much sadness to hear that the giant supermarket chain, Sheng Siong, is reducing the market people's incomes. Fox Books versus the little Shop by the Corner. And despite the dwindling income, this feisty auntie is keeping it going despite her being of reasonable retirement age. Her husband is no longer around, having been lost to a careless car driver years ago. Her son, a decent chap, is a hardworking fellow in a worldwide supply chain company and helps out at the stall every weekend. Her eldest daughter is married, her 2nd daughter is autistic. The brave auntie has been bringing up her family single-handedly with a meagre income. To add to that, she had to go for an operation lately to (put it simply) repair her hands, while had been damaged by years of chopping and grinding.

As I look at her, I could see a faint smile coming over her while she chopped away at the orders, piny hands no less. She only took pauses to look at my mom and exchange banter, things like 'Son's grown up, you can take it easy now' and 'there were three of them, two were bought already, the last is reserved for you' and 'poor workers have no money to buy better fish and settled for something poorer'. Life never seems to be short of anything, definitely not happiness.

Suddenly I feel contented. I feel guilty even, for receiving a decently fat paycheck without having to wake up early, work entire days and sleeping minimally. I no longer feel my job pays poorly. I have been truly humbled. A walk in the market can sure open my eyes to the simple things of the world.

Indeed, the most important thing in life is health and to stay happy.

The million dollar people can sod off to their Tatler glitz covers, Manolo Blahniks and Botox. I care not.

Because I fly

Because I fly
I laugh more than other men.
I look up and see more than they.

I know how the clouds feel,
What it's like to have the blue in my lap,
To look down on birds,
To feel freedom in a thing called 'the stick'...

Who but I
Can slice between God's billowed legs,
And feel them laugh and crash with His step?

Who else has seen the unclimbed peaks?
The rainbow's secret?
The real reason birds sing?

Because I fly,
I envy no man on Earth.