Taking a 6 months career break is indeed a right decision.
Feel like a different me.. Previously I was too hard on myself. After this break, I realized that I cannot change the world and how people behave. I've learned to relax and be
lenient with myself.. Don't push too hard and take it easy.
Now that I'm back to work and I feel great and recharge. Just that my brain is not functioning as quickly I've to after shutting down for half a year.
New job.. not sure if it is the right choice but definitely something that I want to do and good prospect. The worrying issues are no process and politics. Hope my new boss can resolve one issue for me. Into my 3rd weeks now, I need to get use to new environment... no facebook, no gmail, no msn... it means less blogging and networking with friends.
The happy thing.. my ex-boss and ex-colleagues are connecting with me :) Love them all!
Gyu-Kaku
81A Clememceau Avenue
#01-18/19 UE Square Singapore 239918
Tel : 6733 4001 Fax : 6733 0478
A Japanese BBQ restaurant.. which also sells nice Korean foods :) Had a hearty farewell lunch with Dorea as we both craved for spicy kimchi soup.. It indeed warm our heart and tummy..
I learn something new in my current role.. You just need to be stubborn, keep to what you want/demand, refuse to in and that would get your job done.. What a lousy feeling on a rainy Friday? Sigh...
I had a meeting today with my superior.. after that meeting obviously the workload increased but was not due to my superior. I'm happy to have that meeting at least it cleared some of my doubts and get everything aligned between the stakeholder.
By the time the meeting ended, it was almost 1pm.. My superior and me went to Bakerzin for lunch.. I had a Chicken & Mushroom Sandwich.. It was delicious.. It is served on a grilled panini with cheese, chicken breast, portebella mushroom and some greens.. It makes my day though I've gone through a bit of trauma recently.. I speak with my superior about this and as usual he speaks like a boss.. explaining that individual has their own plan.. his comment was very encouraging on each of my colleague who has decide to move on.. I wish them all well and they are going to be miss by me :)
Was just complaining about my job lack of challenge... and I had my performance reviewed with my manager yesterday.. the result is a WOW effect.. I'm a "top contributor with exceptional results" *bling, bling*
I've been with my current company for 02 years 04 months.. how time flies and I still recall the day when I'm so excited getting this job offer.. I've been getting really good grade over the past 2 reviews and it had always "above average contributions and outperforms most peers".. I cannot deny that my managers have been showering lots of care and concern to me.. even my managers in USA would send me personal notes every now and then asking me on how I'm coping.. and my manager-manager's boss (haha!!) would drop me thank you note, greeting.. I don't know why I'm so lucky when it come to people relationship..
Hope my luck continue this year :)
I finally found the reason why I'm so depressed since the starting of 2010.. I think I'm lack of challenge in my job.. My work load is heavy as I can reply to 200 - 300 emails daily but it is the quantity but quality.. I feel that there is not much for me to learn in my current scope of work.. I need new level of challenge.. My colleague has says that one should be equip with the ability to learn, unlearn and relearn.. so maybe I should do that :)
Closing up on a final project (hopefully!).. 2 more working days to go.. a well deserved vacation.. and new plan for 2010..
Finally back to reality...................................
Tones of work and stuff to clear..........................
sigh......................................................
Wow.. my previous project lead is going to give me a review to my performance.. I'm so happy! I know it won't go wrong *cross finger*.. He been a very nice superior.. and during my 9 months work with him.. I was really taken care of.. I was a little sad that we have to part and now we are in different projects :(
I miss the team!
I had an urgement with a client.. I can't stand unreasonable person.. and I can't stand people who accused my team, my company or myself.. We did nothing wrong.. we are a team of good buyers who follow closely to the rule and always did our best to source for the best value items..
If the purchase is not approved, that is the client internal issue.. we don't approve what you buy.. we just help you to source.. Stop blaming us if your company is incapable to control, communicate and handle problem..
I had a meeting with the user and supplier yesterday over the requirement and cost estimation.. User will not reduce the work load and wanted every single item as planned.. Thus I've to get supplier to reduce their cost..
I managed to get supplier to reduce the cost not because I was a good negotiator.. It was out of goodwill and relationship that we have builded with this supplier over the years.. I know my supplier is willing to do it so he can get that client out of my back..
When I was in the discussion with my supplier, my manager called in and he was happy that I managed to reduce the charge to even lower than what my company is paying.. Isn't it amazing? Luckily my manager is very understanding and he agreed that the charge was reasonable and after working out on some calculation, we managed to agreed on a charge that was not so much loss to the supplier.. I'm grateful for the supplier's support.
My manager told me that it was a good work.. but I was not in mood to actually claim credit :(
What really upset me was... after we reduce the charge, the user actually says we can buy more expensive gift now.. sigh! probably just a remark.. but I thot you are suppose to be tight budget and yet when I asked for the budget for this work.. Reply was "there is no budget" :(
Isn't it ugly?
I had a very hard day with the client today.. they even wanted to talk to my manager.. go ahead.. I feel that my supplier is not charging you unreasonably as the scope of work is really alots.. When can stupid people stop comparing apple with banana..
The client know the cost for that work.. that why they dare not take up my challenage in comparing pricing with their current supplier..
They just want to push me hard.. so I can get my supplier to reduce the price.. but that is not fair to my supplier.. I pity my supplier and really hope that they will not do any future work for these people anymore..
I feel so tired to explain to unreasonable people..
Normally this period of the year, I will be very busy with RFP.. this year, as usually I'm running RFP but I'm FREE.. I'm struggling to think what can I do to add value to my work.. I even run an extra RFP this year just to make myself occupy and feel more useful..
So now I'm surfing net.. and thinking if I should be so nice to make blueberry muffins for Jie Jie this weekend.
I'm officially into this new project for 1 month 27 days.. I've got 2 appeciation notes from the management.. haha! I'm so delighted.. This weekend will be relaxing and happy :)
Hmm.. my superior make me feel like crying today..
She gave me a personal letter.. hand written.. she think so highly of me.. she was even so proud that Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test show me as "Life's natural leaders" and "Most Commanding"..
I told her that i've a presentation to do for tomorrow and that I was all ready to transit over my role back to customer.. and that I says they probably can find better way to do better analysis than me.. her immediate reply was "No.. I don't think so.. you have done the best"..
.. I'm so lucky to have such a nice superior
A personal letter from my superior..
"Congratulations on your new role with XXX. There's no doubt that your new leadership will quickly come to rely on your talent, energy and professionalism as Tom and I have. Please accept my great thanks for your many contributions and hard work on the XXX account. Please accept, too, my great good wishes for ongoing successful and satisfaction in your career. It's been a pleasure to work with you, and I surely hope our paths will cross again.. Sincerely, Harriet"
Flying off this weekend.. 9949 miles away from home..
For the 1st time, I’m quite relax for this trip.. Just need to present what I've been doing and not seriously rushing for tonnes of preparation work (e.g. meeting materials, notes, clearing work etc)..
Strange..
