Monday, August 30, 2004

Today was a pretty busy day for me at work. In the morning, I was supposed to pass some samples and presentation in cd and vcd format to a buyer. I thought the whole exercise of "Hi! Here are your samples, profiles and introduction to XXXXXX. Contact me if you need further details. Bye-bye" would only take at most 15 minutes but I ended in the Production Planning and Control Manager's office for more than an hour.

It was already past lunch time when I got back to office and I still had to finish off the report assigned to me over the weekend. Anyway, I managed to complete it by 4pm and sent it out the everyone in my department in case they need to make amendments when I am on leave starting Wednesday for the whole week.

The worst part of my day was, I developed a sudden headache after the meeting and it lasted until late in the afternoon. I felt sick and feverish. Probably I had a late lunch today. All is well now, I hope and will be leaving for the airport tomorrow very early at 0615 to fly with Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong - the city of life.

Sunday, August 29, 2004

I finally collected the keys to my apartment yesterday. Had a quick check and everything seems to be in pretty good order so far. Will have one month's time to check out the apartment and raise for a claim on defects if any.

Just yesterday morning before I left the office at 11.30 morning, my boss instructed me to make a report on the department's achievements to be submitted for the MD's award to be given during the coming AGM. He wanted this report by 12 noon on Monday. Always last minute work. I just spent 2 hours working on the report on a Sunday afternoon and will fine tune it with more convincing figures when I get back to office tomorrow lah. I don't even care about some stupid MD award.... no! Seriously I don't give a damn!

On another note, I will leave for HK on Tuesday (31st August) and will not be back until next Sunday. Merdeka!!!!

Friday, August 27, 2004

Received below email from a friend in office today. How true! It's a long email.

Subject: FW: Why Do Talented Employees Leave Companies

Early this year, Arun, an old friend who is a senior software designer, got an offer from a prestigious international firm to work in its India operations developing specialized software. He was thrilled by the offer.

He had heard a lot about the CEO of this company, charismatic man often quoted in the business press for his visionary attitude. The salary was great. The company had all the right systems in place employee-friendly human resources (HR) policies, a spanking new office, the very best technology, even a canteen that served superb food. Twice Arun was sent abroad for training. "My learning curve is the sharpest it's ever been," he said soon after he joined. "It's a real high working with such cutting edge technology."

Last week, less than eight months after he joined, Arun walked out of the job. He as no other offer in hand but he said he couldn't take it anymore. Nor, apparently, could several other people in his department who have also quit recently.

The CEO is distressed about the high employee turnover. He's distressed about the money he's spent in training them. He's distressed because he can't figure out what happened. Why did this talented employee leave despite a top salary? Arun quit for the same reason that drives many good people away.

The answer lies in one of the largest studies undertaken by the Gallup Organization. The study surveyed over a million employees and 80,000 managers and was published in a book called First Break All The Rules.

It came up with this surprising finding: If you're losing good people, look to their immediate supervisor. More than any other single reason, he is the reason people stay and thrive in an organization. And he's the reason why they quit, taking their knowledge, experience and contacts with them. Often, straight to the competition.

"Many times people leave managers not companies," write the authors Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman. "So much money has been thrown at the challenge of keeping good people - in the form of better pay, better perks and better training - when, in the end, turnover is mostly manager issue." If you have a turnover problem, look first to your managers. Are they driving people away? Beyond a point, an employee's primary need has less to do with money, and more to do with how he's treated and how valued he feels. Much of this depends directly on the immediate manager. And yet, bad bosses seem to happen to good people everywhere.

A Fortune magazine survey some years ago found that nearly 75 per cent of employees have suffered at the hands of difficult superiors. You can leave one job to find - you guessed it, another wolf in a pin-stripe suit in the next one. Of all the workplace stressors, a bad boss is possibly the worst, directly impacting the emotional health and productivity of employees.

Here are some all-too common tales from the battlefield: Dev, an engineer, still shudders as he recalls the almost daily firings his boss subjected him to, usually in front of his subordinates. His boss emasculated him with personal, insulting remarks. In the face of such rage, Dev completely lost the courage to speak up. But when he reached home depressed, he poured himself a few drinks, and magically, became as abusive as the boss himself. Only, it would come out on his wife and children. Not only was his work life in the doldrums, his marriage began cracking up too.

Another employee Rajat recalls the Chinese torture his boss put him through after a minor disagreement. He cut him off completely. He bypassed him in any decision that needed to be taken. "He stopped sending me any papers or files," says Rajat. "It was humiliating sitting at an empty table. I knew nothing and no one told me anything." Unable to bear this corporate Siberia, he finally quit.

HR experts say that of all the abuses, employees find public humiliation the most intolerable. The first time, an employee may not leave, but a thought has been planted. The second time, that thought gets strengthened. The third time, he starts looking for another job. When people cannot retort openly in anger, they do so by passive aggression. By digging their heels in and slowing down. By doing only what they are told to do and no more. By omitting to give the boss crucial information.

Dev says: "IF YOU WORK FOR A JERK, YOU BASICALLY WANT TO GET HIM INTO TROUBLE. YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR HEART AND SOUL IN THE JOB." Different managers can stress out employees in different ways - by being too controlling, too suspicious, too pushy, too critical, too nit-picky. But they forget that WORKERS ARE NOT FIXED ASSETS, THEY ARE FREE AGENTS. When this goes on too long, an employee will quit - often over seemingly trivial issue.

It isn't the 100th blow that knocks a good man down. It's the 99 that went before. And while it's true that people leave jobs for all kinds of reasons - for better opportunities or for circumstantial reasons, many who leave would have stayed - had it not been for one man constantly telling them, as Arun's boss did: "YOU ARE DISPENSABLE. I CAN FIND DOZENS LIKE YOU." While it seems like there are plenty of
other fish especially in today's waters, consider for moment the cost of losing a talented employee. There's the cost of finding a replacement. The cost of training the replacement. The cost of not having someone to do the job in the meantime. The loss of clients and contacts the person had with the industry. The loss of morale in
co-workers.

The loss of trade secrets this person may now share with others. Plus, of course, the loss of the company's reputation. Every person who leaves a corporation then becomes its ambassador, for better or for worse. We all know of large IT companies that people would love to join and large television companies few want to go near. In both cases, former employees have left to tell their tales.

"ANY COMPANY TRYING TO COMPETE MUST FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ENGAGE THE MIND OF EVERY EMPLOYEE," Jack Welch of GE once said. Much of a company's VALUE lies "BETWEEN THE EARS OF ITS EMPLOYEES". If it's bleeding talent, it's bleeding value. Unfortunately, many senior executives busy travelling the world, signing new deals and developing a vision for the company, have little idea of what may be going on at home.

That deep within an organization that otherwise does all the right things, one man could be driving its best people away.

Wednesday, August 25, 2004

Had Japanese food for dinner with a customer from Turkey today. We went to Yoshino in Seberang Jaya. As usual the food at this restaurant was quite good. Didn't eat alot but I am full now. The customer will be in the office again tomorrow and leave tomorrow afternoon.

Today one irritating customer called and "bark" at me in hokkien with some very flowery vulgar hokkien phrase due to some delay in his goods. I call this type of customer the ah beng customer. He talk as if 2 cents can become 2 million dollars. Screw him. The more he "bark" at me the more I will not help him settle his problems!

Monday, August 23, 2004

I was driving from Penang island to the mainland this afternoon at 4.30pm. Saw a massive jam from the other direction towards the island just after the mid span of the bridge. A lorry was involved in an accident and it had completely blocked off one lane - the overtaking lane. The massive jam crawled until 400m after the tol plaza. I was thinking...SHIT... another half an hour before I 'cabut' from office to go home. At 5.15pm, I left the office and before I turned to Penang bridge the jam was already spilling into Jalan Perusahaan. Made a detour to the ferry terminal thinking that I could arrive home much earlier. I was wrong. Stucked at the ferry terminal for a good one and a half hour before I could pay for the ferry toll. Waited for another half hour before I could finally get onto the ferry. Finally got home at 8pm. Took me almost 3 hours to get home from work today.

Saturday, August 21, 2004

Good news! I received a registered letter from my apartment's developer this morning. I can collect the keys anytime now. Bad news! Gotta fork out another RM3500 or so before collecting the keys. OC not yet obtained but the developer is already starting to collect the maintenance or service fees. Mine is RM108 per month. What a cheat!

Thursday, August 19, 2004

Last week was a hectic week for me in a long time. I was at my dad's 40th Form 5A anniversary last Tuesday and Wednesday night. Former classmates from as far as Australia, UK and USA came back to Penang to re-visit the school, to reminisce back the good (and not so good) old times they had 40 years ago.... back in 1964. Some came back with caucasian wifes... one brought along her wife and 2 kwai mui daughters along. The 1st night was a buffet dinner. The 2nd night was an eight course dinner. Dignitaries like the Penang CM and a state exco member were also "adopted" by the 1964 Form 5A (who used to study in the same school) to celebrate the 40th anniversary.

Then last Friday, I went to Haadyai to give offering to monks. 1st time in Haadyai for me. Great place for all the aunties to do their shopping. Stayed in one Sakol Hotel on the 7th floor. Lift was under repair so I had to climb 7 floors! Enjoyed Thai massage at only RM24 for 2 hours. Can't believe it's so cheap for 2 hours massage.

In the office, my boss left for Zurich on Monday. That means I have to attend meetings on his behalf. Sales progress meeting coming up tomorrow at 11am and I am just going to bull my way through. Big boss is going to Japan end August and he asked me to fine tune his powerpoint presentation yesterday evening. Completed it today and he seemed ok with it. Hope I don't get any more request from him before he fly.

I will be in HK on 31st Aug. Got my itinerary cum electronic ticket on Monday. Okay... now I wanna go watch some gymnasts fall of the horizontal bars, rings... watever...just as long as somebody falls.
Last week was a hectic week for me in a long time. I was at my dad's 40th Form 5A anniversary last Tuesday and Wednesday night. Former classmates from as far as Australia, UK and USA came back to Penang to re-visit the school, to reminisce back the good (and not so good) old times they had 40 years ago.... back in 1964. Some came back with caucasian wifes... one brought along her wife and 2 kwai mui daughters along. The 1st night was a buffet dinner. The 2nd night was an eight course dinner. Dignitaries like the Penang CM and a state exco member were also "adopted" by the 1964 Form 5A (who used to study in the same school) to celebrate the 40th anniversary.

Then last Friday, I went to Haadyai to give offering to monks. 1st time in Haadyai for me. Great place for all the aunties to do their shopping. Stayed in one Sakol Hotel on the 7th floor. Lift was under repair so I had to climb 7 floors! Enjoyed Thai massage at only RM24 for 2 hours. Can't believe it's so cheap for 2 hours massage.

In the office, my boss left for Zurich on Monday. That means I have to attend meetings on his behalf. Sales progress meeting coming up tomorrow at 11am and I am just going to bull my way through. Big boss is going to Japan end August and he asked me to fine tune his powerpoint presentation yesterday evening. Completed it today and he seemed ok with it. Hope I don't get any more request from him before he fly.

I will be in HK on 31st Aug. Got my itinerary cum electronic ticket on Monday. Okay... now I wanna go watch some gymnasts fall of the horizontal bars, rings... watever...just as long as somebody falls.
Last week was a hectic week for me in a long time. I was at my dad's 40th Form 5A anniversary last Tuesday and Wednesday night. Former classmates from as far as Australia, UK and USA came back to Penang to re-visit the school, to reminisce back the good (and not so good) old times they had 40 years ago.... back in 1964. Some came back with caucasian wifes... one brought along her wife and 2 kwai mui daughters along. The 1st night was a buffet dinner. The 2nd night was an eight course dinner. Dignitaries like the Penang CM and a state exco member were also "adopted" by the 1964 Form 5A (who used to study in the same school) to celebrate the 40th anniversary.

Then last Friday, I went to Haadyai to give offering to monks. 1st time in Haadyai for me. Great place for all the aunties to do their shopping. Stayed in one Sakol Hotel on the 7th floor. Lift was under repair so I had to climb 7 floors! Enjoyed Thai massage at only RM24 for 2 hours. Can't believe it's so cheap for 2 hours massage.

In the office, my boss left for Zurich on Monday. That means I have to attend meetings on his behalf. Sales progress meeting coming up tomorrow at 11am and I am just going to bull my way through. Big boss is going to Japan end August and he asked me to fine tune his powerpoint presentation yesterday evening. Completed it today and he seemed ok with it. Hope I don't get any more request from him before he fly.

I will be in HK on 31st Aug. Got my itinerary cum electronic ticket on Monday. Okay... now I wanna go watch some gymnasts fall of the horizontal bars, rings... watever...just as long as somebody falls.

Wednesday, August 18, 2004

Here is an email I received today...

Subject: Segmentation in MY Chinese

Today, in Malaysia, there is no longer just the Chinese. Along the way, the Chinese people divided beyond dialects and religious faith. We now have denomination within the Chinese. The major three groups are Regular, Cina, and Ah Beng.

The Regular group is the minority, making up less than 20% of the Chinese people. This group has the following characteristics:

1. Speaks English as the first language.
2. Thinks the world owes them a living.
3. Uses the Internet more than the other two groups combined.
4. Loves the iPod and/or IKEA.
5. Watches one or more of the following TV series:"Sex And The City","Friends", or "Oprah"
6. Thinks that the Regular group is way larger than it is and makes fun of the other groups, particularly the Ah Beng group. Why? Because it's fun.

Recent studies have also shown that there is a growing splinter group within the Regular group known as the CPWTTANC group. (CPWTTANC is short for Chinese People Who Think They Are Not Chinese.) This growing subgroup is considered elitist by some, and are found making statements like, "I wish I was back in the U.S." or "This never happened when I was studying in Australia." They also tend to speak with an unidentifiable accent. The women may also prefer to date white men from foreign countries with the excuse that local men just "don't understand me" and have the secret desire to be taken away to the U.S. to live in a sitcom.

The second Chinese group, Cina makes up approximately 55% of the Chinese community. (Cina is derived from the Malay word Cina which means Chinese and is pronounced "chee-na". And you will have to say it in a condescending tone for effect.) This group is considered mainstream, and contribute to the numbers that reflect development in the country. They are the masses in context of the Chinese community. In other words, if you want to sell something to the masses of Chinese people, the Cina is it.

The Cina are identified by the following traits:
1. Speaks Mandarin or Cantonese as the first language.
2. Generally quiet, self-effacing, and obliging but are actually shrewd and calculative.
3. Sees Taiwan and Hong Kong as The Place to be.
4. More likely to forward chain email to people in their address book.
5. Goes to Halo Cafe or Wow Wow Cafe BY CHOICE at least three times a year.
6. Has Astro hardwired to Wah Lai Toi.
7. Calls a music video an MTV instead of music video.
8. Knows all the dim sum dishes by name.
9. Seventy percent of lighting at home generated by flourescent lights.

The last group are known as the Ah Bengs. This term was probably made up by the Regulars in the early 80s during the cultural invasion that saw the mass import of music and movies from countries like Hong Kong, Taiwan, and to some extent, Japan. This phenomenon saw the more open-minded and runaway members of the Cina group defect into Ah Bengs and its feminine equivalent, Ah Lian. They just took their Alan Tam and Anita Mui a little too seriously.

Perhaps the most made-fun-of group not only by its own Chinese people but by people of other races, the Ah Bengs are often seen as people living on the edge and have more flamboyant tastes.

One may identify the Ah Beng by these tell-tale signs:

1. Built-in visual self-defense mechanism that keeps people away from them.
2. Have enough amplifiers in their one car to power speakers for six cars.
3. Hair in bright orange or platinum blonde, and black eyebrows.
4. Volume of voice is automatically five decibels higher than everyone else.
5. Excessive use of the phrase "Kan Ni Na Bu ^*##@&^*". (Although, to be fair, some members of the Regular group have been reported to use the phrase on a daily basis as well.)
6. Once a fan of one of the following groups: Vengaboys, Dr Bombay, Aqua, or the Cheeky Girls.
7. Their Proton car does not look like a Proton car due to extensive modifications, and generally have a DOHC sticker on it although they know not of what the acronym stands for.
8. For the Ah Lians, sequined jeans with white studded belts are main wardrobe items.

Sunday, August 08, 2004

It's almost 1pm now and I am hungry. I had 2 pieces of karipap for breakfast and 3-in-1 coffee for breakfast 3 hours ago. I will have chicken rice, laksa and nescafe ice for lunch. Hmmm... no wonder I gained 2 kg in the past one month.

Saturday, August 07, 2004

It's been one week since I last blog. Well, I haven't got any interesting thing to bitch about and was too tired to blog after work.