A friend of mine works in the media industry, and the account she is working on, is looking for a blogger to endorse their product.
She doesnt have the habit of reading blogs, because she is one busy woman. And she has no idea who is suitable. I began giving her a lot of animated suggestions, telling her this blogger is popular but has a lot detractors, that blogger drew pretty comics but is relatively unknown compared to the former.
Let's see out of the 4 or 5 bloggers I suggested, which one actually got it. =)
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
I humbled
In other news, Mr Prettyboy no longer gives me lackadaisical replies!
I came to realise that he was being so defensive because I was the one who was trespassing on his territories. I thought my intention was cordial. But apparently not. In my eagerness to show him that I can be of assistance to him, I came across as being pushy.
So now I humbled. I listen to him patiently, and in a discussion, I'll leave it to him to make the decisions. Well, Socrates did say that nature gave us 2 ears, 2 eyes but only one tongue, that's why we should also hear and see more than we speak.
I came to realise that he was being so defensive because I was the one who was trespassing on his territories. I thought my intention was cordial. But apparently not. In my eagerness to show him that I can be of assistance to him, I came across as being pushy.
So now I humbled. I listen to him patiently, and in a discussion, I'll leave it to him to make the decisions. Well, Socrates did say that nature gave us 2 ears, 2 eyes but only one tongue, that's why we should also hear and see more than we speak.
My worth measured in dollars and cents
You know how sometimes you look at your paycheck, shakes your head, and think to yourself that you deserve MUCH more than what is written there?
I feel that all the time.
And no, don't be mistaken, I'm not walking with my head in the clouds. I say that simply because looking at how low my current pay is, there's a large gap between what I am worth and what I am being paid for to do my job.
I do not think I am mercenary, actually I do not really sit up straight at the mere mention of money. For me, it's the monthly reminder that I am getting ripped that irks me most. I want a larger paycheck because I think it is a measure of how much a company treasures an employee, and I need to see it physically that I am an asset to the company.
No, the verbal assurances and compliments from my boss no longer works for me.
For a while, it feels great to be recognised, especially in front of the rest of the colleagues, but after too many rounds of what I now deem as perfunctory talk, I think I appreciate tangible rewards better.
Unfortunately for the scenario, I need to quote a cliche - talk is cheap.
It would not cost my boss a single cent to pay me compliments, even if it came straight from his heart. Look, I dispense praises regularly too, and I am just as broke to begin with! For me to know for sure that I am highly regarded in the company, I want it to be measured in cash. Every single dollar more that my boss awards me, he is earning a dollar lesser. His willingness to part with his money will be the best indication of how much the company needs me.
Kind words are much appreciated, but I need more assurance than that. Bosses, pay your employees what they are worth! Don't wait till the day they walk out on you before you realise the folly. If initially you are willing to beat this employee's ex-salary by XX% to get him/her to join your company, obviously you already recognise his/her potential.
Then why, just months later, you allow the same enthusiatic employee to walk out of your company, into another eager company's arms?
Postnote:
Maybe you think that I am simply making an excuse for the frequent job-hoppers. But comparatively, I FEEL that a job-hopper have more marketability than someone who stays in the job, doing the same jobscope for 10,20 years.
People who are willing to give up what they have currently accomplish in one company, to start afresh in another, gets my respect. The ability to adapt to changes tells a lot.
One more Postnote:
No, I am not quitting my job. Am patiently waiting for the 1 year mark so that I can discuss my renumeration package with my boss. That is 3 months away. (I'd gotten small adjustments in my 3rd and 6th month, but none for now, which is the 9th month. This fact sparked this entry.)
I feel that all the time.
And no, don't be mistaken, I'm not walking with my head in the clouds. I say that simply because looking at how low my current pay is, there's a large gap between what I am worth and what I am being paid for to do my job.
I do not think I am mercenary, actually I do not really sit up straight at the mere mention of money. For me, it's the monthly reminder that I am getting ripped that irks me most. I want a larger paycheck because I think it is a measure of how much a company treasures an employee, and I need to see it physically that I am an asset to the company.
No, the verbal assurances and compliments from my boss no longer works for me.
For a while, it feels great to be recognised, especially in front of the rest of the colleagues, but after too many rounds of what I now deem as perfunctory talk, I think I appreciate tangible rewards better.
Unfortunately for the scenario, I need to quote a cliche - talk is cheap.
It would not cost my boss a single cent to pay me compliments, even if it came straight from his heart. Look, I dispense praises regularly too, and I am just as broke to begin with! For me to know for sure that I am highly regarded in the company, I want it to be measured in cash. Every single dollar more that my boss awards me, he is earning a dollar lesser. His willingness to part with his money will be the best indication of how much the company needs me.
Kind words are much appreciated, but I need more assurance than that. Bosses, pay your employees what they are worth! Don't wait till the day they walk out on you before you realise the folly. If initially you are willing to beat this employee's ex-salary by XX% to get him/her to join your company, obviously you already recognise his/her potential.
Then why, just months later, you allow the same enthusiatic employee to walk out of your company, into another eager company's arms?
Postnote:
Maybe you think that I am simply making an excuse for the frequent job-hoppers. But comparatively, I FEEL that a job-hopper have more marketability than someone who stays in the job, doing the same jobscope for 10,20 years.
People who are willing to give up what they have currently accomplish in one company, to start afresh in another, gets my respect. The ability to adapt to changes tells a lot.
One more Postnote:
No, I am not quitting my job. Am patiently waiting for the 1 year mark so that I can discuss my renumeration package with my boss. That is 3 months away. (I'd gotten small adjustments in my 3rd and 6th month, but none for now, which is the 9th month. This fact sparked this entry.)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Hyphen
Your result for The Which Punctuation Mark Are You Test...
hyphen
You are comfortable around others. While you don't have to go out every night, yet you take pride in being easy to get along with. This should not, however, be misconstrued as believing (as many do) that you are without subtlety. In fact, you have the power to inform the anal retentive that, indeed, they are discussing an anal-retentive issue. Who else can do that? Quotation marks intimidate you a little bit.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Grew up
Miss Confused is still struggling with her drawings, even when my discounted deadline to her is yesterday's 1800hrs.
I distinctively remembered that she started this set of drawings last wednesday, and that means she is taking one week to do what I'll take 5 hours to do.
I cant fault her for being slow, given that she is not strong with the English Language, and this is almost the first complete set of construction drawings that she had ever worked on.
But hey, back in my days, my design manager gave me 3 full days to finish 20 construction detail drawings (2 days for the first draft, 3rd day for the final revision), and I'm giving her (originally, I mean) 4 full days to copy and paste 6 details for me.
*Note: When I say C&P, of course I still mean there will be some specifications to edit, not really copy from one file and paste in another. She is not that slow laa!"
And last evening, she told me that she can print out the drawings for me to check this morning, but when I told her at 9am today, that she can pass everything to Mr Prettyboy to check, she hummed and hawed, and decided to check and revised the drawings again.
I knew it. She is playing the escapist again and wants me to vet the drawings and point out her mistakes, when she should be submitting drawings as error free as she can manage. I dont want to be so hard on her, but at the same time, I knew if I dont force her to take charge, she will be merrily doing slip-shod work for me, and she'll never improve.
On one hand she raved how I am capable (*ahem ahem* But not anymore, me still confined in the office, partially due to the off-peak session in the industry now), on the other, she is not willing to demonstrate her capability, if that exist.
Mr Boss entrusted her in my hands, hoping I can teach her. That is as good as blatantly shouting in my face that my appraisal would be partially built on her improvement, since I am her tutor for now.
Exactly why I have a mind to hold her by her shoulders and shake her awake. Hallo. Buck up. You are affecting my appraisal! Wake up, if not so already.
When Mr Prettyboy confessed that he forgot to let us know of a design decision that was made (without us), I laughed and told Miss Confused how she can go about modifying what she'd already drawn into what is actually required.
But she is not laughing.
Am I surprised? Of course not. 1 year ago when I was doing construction drawings for my design manager, I am also viciously pissed that I wrote plenty of angry blog entries when she withheld information from me, until the last possible minute (of course I know she couldn't had mean it, but anger blinds, you know?)
But of course I can laugh now, cos it is not me who is doing the drawing. But also because after doing 10 revisions of the 90,000sq ft job, I guess it unblocks a lot of stuffed brain veins.
I think I grew up le. Not totally. But I think I did. =)
I distinctively remembered that she started this set of drawings last wednesday, and that means she is taking one week to do what I'll take 5 hours to do.
I cant fault her for being slow, given that she is not strong with the English Language, and this is almost the first complete set of construction drawings that she had ever worked on.
But hey, back in my days, my design manager gave me 3 full days to finish 20 construction detail drawings (2 days for the first draft, 3rd day for the final revision), and I'm giving her (originally, I mean) 4 full days to copy and paste 6 details for me.
*Note: When I say C&P, of course I still mean there will be some specifications to edit, not really copy from one file and paste in another. She is not that slow laa!"
And last evening, she told me that she can print out the drawings for me to check this morning, but when I told her at 9am today, that she can pass everything to Mr Prettyboy to check, she hummed and hawed, and decided to check and revised the drawings again.
I knew it. She is playing the escapist again and wants me to vet the drawings and point out her mistakes, when she should be submitting drawings as error free as she can manage. I dont want to be so hard on her, but at the same time, I knew if I dont force her to take charge, she will be merrily doing slip-shod work for me, and she'll never improve.
On one hand she raved how I am capable (*ahem ahem* But not anymore, me still confined in the office, partially due to the off-peak session in the industry now), on the other, she is not willing to demonstrate her capability, if that exist.
Mr Boss entrusted her in my hands, hoping I can teach her. That is as good as blatantly shouting in my face that my appraisal would be partially built on her improvement, since I am her tutor for now.
Exactly why I have a mind to hold her by her shoulders and shake her awake. Hallo. Buck up. You are affecting my appraisal! Wake up, if not so already.
When Mr Prettyboy confessed that he forgot to let us know of a design decision that was made (without us), I laughed and told Miss Confused how she can go about modifying what she'd already drawn into what is actually required.
But she is not laughing.
Am I surprised? Of course not. 1 year ago when I was doing construction drawings for my design manager, I am also viciously pissed that I wrote plenty of angry blog entries when she withheld information from me, until the last possible minute (of course I know she couldn't had mean it, but anger blinds, you know?)
But of course I can laugh now, cos it is not me who is doing the drawing. But also because after doing 10 revisions of the 90,000sq ft job, I guess it unblocks a lot of stuffed brain veins.
I think I grew up le. Not totally. But I think I did. =)
Monday, July 21, 2008
Nothing constructive
How can it be only 5pm? I'd already been doing nothing constructive for the past 8 1/2 hours?
Can't be, can't be.
Can't be, can't be.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
One space or two
I just came to realise there is actually some sort of debate whether there should be one space after a fullstop, or 2 spaces.
I am not sure. What do you think?
I am not sure. What do you think?
I always use one. I never have a problem with that.
I always use one. I never have a problem with that.
Is it quite obvious that I'd just went mad?
Postnote:
Forget it. Blogger will autocorrect it to be one space after full stop.
I am not sure. What do you think?
I always use one. I never have a problem with that.
I always use one. I never have a problem with that.
Is it quite obvious that I'd just went mad?
Postnote:
Forget it. Blogger will autocorrect it to be one space after full stop.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Request
Remember my story a few days ago, on how I am stuck in the office churning out drawings and presentation boards, similar to working in front of a factory conveyor belt.
Yesterday we had a quick meeting, attendees being Mr Boss, Mr Derail (partner of company, whose train of thought derail every single time he speaks, and trust me, it is so funny that I run out of threads stitching my sides) and Mr Prettyboy.
I wont bore you with the contents of the meeting, but at the end of it, I finally asked Mr Boss point-blank that whether he is going to continue to constrain me within the office and never allow me to go out to meet clients ever again.
He was surprised at my staight-forwardness, then laugh and told me that he cant wait till I can go out and meet every client this company has, and then he can gleefully retire.
Actually, it is not so hard to request for something you want. It is just how badly you want it, and how are you willing to work for it.
And, thanks boss! Although there's really no reason for him to reject me from meeting clients, because that will take certain amount of workload off his hands. But I am grateful for the opportunity. If I collapse from the workload, ignore my whines and let me pick myself up. I know in time to come, when work volume increases, I will certainly go mad again. Dont be too worried about it ok. =)
Yesterday we had a quick meeting, attendees being Mr Boss, Mr Derail (partner of company, whose train of thought derail every single time he speaks, and trust me, it is so funny that I run out of threads stitching my sides) and Mr Prettyboy.
I wont bore you with the contents of the meeting, but at the end of it, I finally asked Mr Boss point-blank that whether he is going to continue to constrain me within the office and never allow me to go out to meet clients ever again.
He was surprised at my staight-forwardness, then laugh and told me that he cant wait till I can go out and meet every client this company has, and then he can gleefully retire.
Actually, it is not so hard to request for something you want. It is just how badly you want it, and how are you willing to work for it.
And, thanks boss! Although there's really no reason for him to reject me from meeting clients, because that will take certain amount of workload off his hands. But I am grateful for the opportunity. If I collapse from the workload, ignore my whines and let me pick myself up. I know in time to come, when work volume increases, I will certainly go mad again. Dont be too worried about it ok. =)
Friday, July 18, 2008
Pry
Things had gotten a little tenser still, between Mr Prettyboy a.k.a. Mr Always Right, and myself.
While I am trying my best not to flare up at him, I think he is also exerting his mightiest willpower to stop from screaming at me.
Recently Mr Boss and Mr Prettyboy are involved in this small project, and they had given Miss Confused (the girl junior in this company, the one who is always confused and mixed up when information is passed to her) the opportunity to select finishes for the space.
Having said that, Ms Confused has never done this before, and she is understandably nervous. I told her how to go about selecting materials, and the basic rules of doing ID.
(And I was doing the above task while vomiting buckets of blood. I'll transfer some of the entries on the locked blog to this one later, since I'm over the frustration and anger, and I am rationale enough to edit out some angry terms now.)
And so Ms Confused had to choose the materials, and before she completed it, Mr Boss and Mr Prettyboy informed her that they had selected the materials themselves, and all she have to do is to compile them into construction drawings and material specification board.
But given that she cant do all these, they both siam-ed the task of tutoring her, and pass her wholly to me.
Neh mind, how hard can that be? I'm quite free these days, so it doesn't hurt me to stay back to teach her.
By this time, Mr Boss had also entrusted the account to Mr Prettyboy, and left him to co-ordinate with Ms Confused and myself.
So I became the bridge between the two of them, while wondering why is that they cannot communicate with each other directly, and have to hassle me? And things began to go wrong when Mr Prettyboy tell me some information, I immediately pass it on, Ms Confused work on it, then 3 days later when all drawings are completed, Mr Prettyboy highlighted that certain areas are wrong.
And those are the exact few areas that I had took time to re-confirm because their initial instructions were too vague! Apparently the client had a change in mind, and Mr Prettyboy expected me to sense it via ESP.
Great, now Ms Confused have to redo a huge proportion of the drawing, and she is looking at me as though I am the one who caused her this plight.
Hallo, *points accusing finger at Mr Prettyboy* it's him ok. Don't malign me.
And such things keep repeating. I know our main problem is that we no longer communicate easily, and he no longer voluntarily share information with me and I have to pry him open. When I am tired of prying (weird how he never tired of defending) I'll just let things slip from their positions, and watch them smash to bits.
Lovely.
While I am trying my best not to flare up at him, I think he is also exerting his mightiest willpower to stop from screaming at me.
Recently Mr Boss and Mr Prettyboy are involved in this small project, and they had given Miss Confused (the girl junior in this company, the one who is always confused and mixed up when information is passed to her) the opportunity to select finishes for the space.
Having said that, Ms Confused has never done this before, and she is understandably nervous. I told her how to go about selecting materials, and the basic rules of doing ID.
(And I was doing the above task while vomiting buckets of blood. I'll transfer some of the entries on the locked blog to this one later, since I'm over the frustration and anger, and I am rationale enough to edit out some angry terms now.)
And so Ms Confused had to choose the materials, and before she completed it, Mr Boss and Mr Prettyboy informed her that they had selected the materials themselves, and all she have to do is to compile them into construction drawings and material specification board.
But given that she cant do all these, they both siam-ed the task of tutoring her, and pass her wholly to me.
Neh mind, how hard can that be? I'm quite free these days, so it doesn't hurt me to stay back to teach her.
By this time, Mr Boss had also entrusted the account to Mr Prettyboy, and left him to co-ordinate with Ms Confused and myself.
So I became the bridge between the two of them, while wondering why is that they cannot communicate with each other directly, and have to hassle me? And things began to go wrong when Mr Prettyboy tell me some information, I immediately pass it on, Ms Confused work on it, then 3 days later when all drawings are completed, Mr Prettyboy highlighted that certain areas are wrong.
And those are the exact few areas that I had took time to re-confirm because their initial instructions were too vague! Apparently the client had a change in mind, and Mr Prettyboy expected me to sense it via ESP.
Great, now Ms Confused have to redo a huge proportion of the drawing, and she is looking at me as though I am the one who caused her this plight.
Hallo, *points accusing finger at Mr Prettyboy* it's him ok. Don't malign me.
And such things keep repeating. I know our main problem is that we no longer communicate easily, and he no longer voluntarily share information with me and I have to pry him open. When I am tired of prying (weird how he never tired of defending) I'll just let things slip from their positions, and watch them smash to bits.
Lovely.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Inflation
I am forever worried about inflation, and how $100 of today can only be good enough for 2 cans of maling luncheon meat 20 years from now.
Maybe that seems like an exaggeration, but maling used to cost $1.70 last year, and is costing $2.80 this year, and that is a 65% increase!
I am seriously worried about my money. I can put in in a fixed deposit for 1.2% interest, but inflation is coming at 4.5% - 5.5% for last year, and the forecast is that this will proceed.
I tried investments, and so far it has been a loss, due to the fact of the uncertainty in the stock markets, no thanks to the crazy oil prices.
Then what do I do now? Withdraw all 5k I have, spend them while they still have value, and live as a pauper after that? At least I wont see my monetary value disintegrate into thin air.
Maybe that seems like an exaggeration, but maling used to cost $1.70 last year, and is costing $2.80 this year, and that is a 65% increase!
I am seriously worried about my money. I can put in in a fixed deposit for 1.2% interest, but inflation is coming at 4.5% - 5.5% for last year, and the forecast is that this will proceed.
I tried investments, and so far it has been a loss, due to the fact of the uncertainty in the stock markets, no thanks to the crazy oil prices.
Then what do I do now? Withdraw all 5k I have, spend them while they still have value, and live as a pauper after that? At least I wont see my monetary value disintegrate into thin air.
Of emails
Since I am so out of sync with all the projects that is going on in this office, I may not understand the need of CC-ing me in emails that is exchanged between Mr Boss and Client/Mr Prettyboy and Client/Mr Boss + Mr Prettyboy and client.
I cock my head to one side as I try to make sense of the emails that is threatening to explode my inbox by its sheer amount, but attempt as I might, I cannot establish coherency between what was said and what was requested for.
So I give all these emails a customary 3 seconds glance, then push it out of my mind.
Someone remind me, why am I here?
I cock my head to one side as I try to make sense of the emails that is threatening to explode my inbox by its sheer amount, but attempt as I might, I cannot establish coherency between what was said and what was requested for.
So I give all these emails a customary 3 seconds glance, then push it out of my mind.
Someone remind me, why am I here?
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tumbling
I'm officially with this company for 8 months and some days. The first 6 months were great, now things are tumbling downhill.
For these last few months, I had been confined to this office, as Mr Boss and Mr Prettyboy had taken over the role of meeting every single client, and I am banished to this 800 sq ft little space, churning out drawings after drawings, presentation boards after presentation boards.
I am one of those few who hates desk bound job, and that is precisely the reason why I chose to study ID in the first place. If I want to be chained to my desk, then I would jolly well stay in my high-paying bank job.
Mr Boss and Mr Prettyboy takes on the role of meeting the client, then return to tell me what the clients want, and I implement their wishlist. From space planning to design to presentation format, everything had already been decided, and I am no more than a glorified draftsperson, although Mr Boss and Mr Prettyboy like to acknowledge me as the chief designer-to-be.
Yah right.
I am merely taking instructions, sometimes so vague I think I can put a hand through the mist, and dutifully carrying it out. It doesnt take a designer to do that. At least not a non-junior designer. One can understand if the designer is fresh to the company, close supervision might be required, in case he/she burn down the building.
But I was never one of those dimwitted employees who needs boss nearby to save the day every single day. True, I screwed up before, but I always salvage situations and I take that as a learning experience.
That is why in all my previous jobs, my bosses are extremely comfortable leaving me alone with the project, minimum instructions, and plenty of space. Hours before deadline is up, work is always completed, properly printed and labeled, with sensible colour coding and explanatory notes.
But over here, I feel like I am THE dimwitted employee, and it is the result of Mr Boss's request to show him every single thing that I do, before I show it to the client (that little faith in me?!?!), and also the result of Mr Prettyboy enjoyment of overwriting my decisions.
I am always the aggressive and ambitious individual in a company, and am not afraid to show that I want more. I am easily bored, and need new challenges to give me an adrenaline rush. Long way back, since my interview with Mr Boss, I already told him the same thing. I leave one job after another, because I can no longer find goals in the job.
I need competitions and I need it fast.
He assure me that there will be plenty for me to learn, and I shall never feel bored.
Ha Ha Ha. Very Funny.
I cannot comprehend why must I strictly follow the path he mete out for me. Sure, this path was suitable for Mr Prettyboy to tread on, but I am not his replica, so why is Mr Boss giving me a duplicate path?
If he have my best interest in mind, shouldnt he be providing me a route that is made-to-measure? I distinctively remembered telling him that I don't really need someone to point me to the light, as I prefer to stumble and crawl my way to the destination, thank you very much, but since he insist, I oblige.
Yet, wouldn't it make more sense to ensure this path will work for me, since he is the one who insisted oncloning creating this? I guess no. I am to extend both arms and hug whatever he bestow upon me.
And how blasphemous!, to refuse his generous offer.
Sigh. Can't he tell that I am best left alone? I dont need enlightenment. At least, all I need is a single light bulb, not 10 sets of soccer field flood lights? Don't try to blind me please.
Postnote:
I spoke to The Mother, and she thought, then ask me one single question.
"Do you think your boss never needed a designer to begin with?"
And she is right. Mr Boss and Mr Prettyboy separately told me before, that I was hired when they were under pressure to meet deadlines. They were desperate to take just about anybody, but they are pleasantly surprised to find out I was more capable than they assumed.
So the point is, as much as close to perfect as an employee one can be, given that I fulfill all the items on most's checklist, for I am enthusiastic, software-skillful, bilingual, young, intelligent, patient, cheerful, etc....
...I am not the perfect candidate they are looking for.
You have no idea how sad that sounds.
For these last few months, I had been confined to this office, as Mr Boss and Mr Prettyboy had taken over the role of meeting every single client, and I am banished to this 800 sq ft little space, churning out drawings after drawings, presentation boards after presentation boards.
I am one of those few who hates desk bound job, and that is precisely the reason why I chose to study ID in the first place. If I want to be chained to my desk, then I would jolly well stay in my high-paying bank job.
Mr Boss and Mr Prettyboy takes on the role of meeting the client, then return to tell me what the clients want, and I implement their wishlist. From space planning to design to presentation format, everything had already been decided, and I am no more than a glorified draftsperson, although Mr Boss and Mr Prettyboy like to acknowledge me as the chief designer-to-be.
Yah right.
I am merely taking instructions, sometimes so vague I think I can put a hand through the mist, and dutifully carrying it out. It doesnt take a designer to do that. At least not a non-junior designer. One can understand if the designer is fresh to the company, close supervision might be required, in case he/she burn down the building.
But I was never one of those dimwitted employees who needs boss nearby to save the day every single day. True, I screwed up before, but I always salvage situations and I take that as a learning experience.
That is why in all my previous jobs, my bosses are extremely comfortable leaving me alone with the project, minimum instructions, and plenty of space. Hours before deadline is up, work is always completed, properly printed and labeled, with sensible colour coding and explanatory notes.
But over here, I feel like I am THE dimwitted employee, and it is the result of Mr Boss's request to show him every single thing that I do, before I show it to the client (that little faith in me?!?!), and also the result of Mr Prettyboy enjoyment of overwriting my decisions.
I am always the aggressive and ambitious individual in a company, and am not afraid to show that I want more. I am easily bored, and need new challenges to give me an adrenaline rush. Long way back, since my interview with Mr Boss, I already told him the same thing. I leave one job after another, because I can no longer find goals in the job.
I need competitions and I need it fast.
He assure me that there will be plenty for me to learn, and I shall never feel bored.
Ha Ha Ha. Very Funny.
I cannot comprehend why must I strictly follow the path he mete out for me. Sure, this path was suitable for Mr Prettyboy to tread on, but I am not his replica, so why is Mr Boss giving me a duplicate path?
If he have my best interest in mind, shouldnt he be providing me a route that is made-to-measure? I distinctively remembered telling him that I don't really need someone to point me to the light, as I prefer to stumble and crawl my way to the destination, thank you very much, but since he insist, I oblige.
Yet, wouldn't it make more sense to ensure this path will work for me, since he is the one who insisted on
And how blasphemous!, to refuse his generous offer.
Sigh. Can't he tell that I am best left alone? I dont need enlightenment. At least, all I need is a single light bulb, not 10 sets of soccer field flood lights? Don't try to blind me please.
Postnote:
I spoke to The Mother, and she thought, then ask me one single question.
"Do you think your boss never needed a designer to begin with?"
And she is right. Mr Boss and Mr Prettyboy separately told me before, that I was hired when they were under pressure to meet deadlines. They were desperate to take just about anybody, but they are pleasantly surprised to find out I was more capable than they assumed.
So the point is, as much as close to perfect as an employee one can be, given that I fulfill all the items on most's checklist, for I am enthusiastic, software-skillful, bilingual, young, intelligent, patient, cheerful, etc....
...I am not the perfect candidate they are looking for.
You have no idea how sad that sounds.
Monday, July 14, 2008
The desire to make things work for you
The Mother still has this habit of asking me about adobe illustrator, a software that she uses regularly at work. To her, since I know adobe photoshop, then I must know how to operate illustrator.
Which is a strange concept.
I think I blogged about this before, how it is ridiculous to associate two softwares based on the fact that they are released by the same company. I mean, I shouldn't necessary know excel if I know powerpoint, even if they are both products of microsoft.
And so today, I have the luxury to leave work pretty much on time, and reached home early enough to do a little dance of joy. And immediately she have to bombard me with her queries, as though I am helpdesk itself.
I told her since I dont know this software, she should instead find someone who is well-versed enough to answers her questions, and direct all questions there!
She say the only person she knows who can manipulate this software with no trouble is a vendor, who is often busy, and possibly cant answer her questions in time.
"Bribe." I told her.
Treat this person more meals, treat this person with more kopi breaks. When you call this person on the phone, make sure you ask if he is free enough to answer one question, and dont push your luck. If he is free enough to answer, ensure your query is structured simply and precisely.
She whine and said mutter that it is easy for me to say, since I know photoshop. I told her that even if we dont use this skill as a guideline, there's hundred of other skills that I had zero information to begin with, but I found ways to make things work for me.
For example, when I first joined ID, I know nuts about mechanical and electrical specifications. I had to make sure my m&e colleagues like me enough to not go crazy whenever I raise a question. When I am on site, I will greet them before they greet me, which to them is surprising because designers are well-known for being arrogant.
And if my other designers colleagues refused to take their calls, or delay sending out drawings to them while asking them to accede to impossible deadlines, they will call me and I'll retrieve the drawings for them, mark out information carefully by colour coding, and emailing it to them immediately.
It took me lots of time on my side, when I have to do all these on top of the mad workload I have.
But well it helped me, didnt it?
So all it takes is the desire to make things work for you. Dont expect to gain if you are not willing to contribute. But why doesnt The Mother understand that?
Which is a strange concept.
I think I blogged about this before, how it is ridiculous to associate two softwares based on the fact that they are released by the same company. I mean, I shouldn't necessary know excel if I know powerpoint, even if they are both products of microsoft.
And so today, I have the luxury to leave work pretty much on time, and reached home early enough to do a little dance of joy. And immediately she have to bombard me with her queries, as though I am helpdesk itself.
I told her since I dont know this software, she should instead find someone who is well-versed enough to answers her questions, and direct all questions there!
She say the only person she knows who can manipulate this software with no trouble is a vendor, who is often busy, and possibly cant answer her questions in time.
"Bribe." I told her.
Treat this person more meals, treat this person with more kopi breaks. When you call this person on the phone, make sure you ask if he is free enough to answer one question, and dont push your luck. If he is free enough to answer, ensure your query is structured simply and precisely.
She whine and said mutter that it is easy for me to say, since I know photoshop. I told her that even if we dont use this skill as a guideline, there's hundred of other skills that I had zero information to begin with, but I found ways to make things work for me.
For example, when I first joined ID, I know nuts about mechanical and electrical specifications. I had to make sure my m&e colleagues like me enough to not go crazy whenever I raise a question. When I am on site, I will greet them before they greet me, which to them is surprising because designers are well-known for being arrogant.
And if my other designers colleagues refused to take their calls, or delay sending out drawings to them while asking them to accede to impossible deadlines, they will call me and I'll retrieve the drawings for them, mark out information carefully by colour coding, and emailing it to them immediately.
It took me lots of time on my side, when I have to do all these on top of the mad workload I have.
But well it helped me, didnt it?
So all it takes is the desire to make things work for you. Dont expect to gain if you are not willing to contribute. But why doesnt The Mother understand that?
Whaaat
Mr Prettyboy once told me that irregardless of my stress level, I should take it in stride, and learn to compose a smile so that I don't affect the team. My retort was, it is easier said than done, hmmph, since the crap is dumped on me, not him, and I am the poor soul who is expected to finish sweeping it, in record time, no less.
In my defense, I also must state that everyone has a temper, and yet I am already trying my best to suppress it. But when the focus is on the completion of projects, and bosses' expectation that things gets completed with a nonchalant swing of a magic wand, I cant help it that my smile is no longer stapled to my face, and a determined frown took over instead.
These days, Mr Prettyboy's default expression for me is an impatient scowl, completed with a tsk, or a "Whaaat". Notice the lack of question mark in the "what"? That is exactly his tone, droning the single syllabus, with no interest whatsoever to answer my question.
Which is fine with me. Go ahead, don't answer! I'll read tea leaves in my cup and I'm sure I'll have a solution in no time.
So when I am stressed I'm expected to swallow the pain whole, and chase it with plenty of cigarette breaks (which now replace the bottles of vile of their positions in my life). When he is stressed, he has all the right to take it out on me. Our relationship between one and other in this office, is slowly spiraling out of control. Mr Prettyboy used to be my Hercules at work, where I can safely depend on him when things goes wrong.
Now? I'm extremely blessed if he would express a notch of interest in the shit pit I am treading in. But no luck. Actually I should be glad he is not spitting into this pit. What more can I ask for?
In my defense, I also must state that everyone has a temper, and yet I am already trying my best to suppress it. But when the focus is on the completion of projects, and bosses' expectation that things gets completed with a nonchalant swing of a magic wand, I cant help it that my smile is no longer stapled to my face, and a determined frown took over instead.
These days, Mr Prettyboy's default expression for me is an impatient scowl, completed with a tsk, or a "Whaaat". Notice the lack of question mark in the "what"? That is exactly his tone, droning the single syllabus, with no interest whatsoever to answer my question.
Which is fine with me. Go ahead, don't answer! I'll read tea leaves in my cup and I'm sure I'll have a solution in no time.
So when I am stressed I'm expected to swallow the pain whole, and chase it with plenty of cigarette breaks (which now replace the bottles of vile of their positions in my life). When he is stressed, he has all the right to take it out on me. Our relationship between one and other in this office, is slowly spiraling out of control. Mr Prettyboy used to be my Hercules at work, where I can safely depend on him when things goes wrong.
Now? I'm extremely blessed if he would express a notch of interest in the shit pit I am treading in. But no luck. Actually I should be glad he is not spitting into this pit. What more can I ask for?
Sunday, July 13, 2008
New background
After using the butterfly template on this blog for 20 months, since March 05, I decided that enough is enough and went ahead to revamp the page.
I dunno if the text is still readable, but at least it is, on my comp. If you cant read it, let me know, and I'll take evil pleasure in ignoring you.
Haha. Of course I wont do that, cant afford to lose the 2 audience I have. :P
Also, I know I have been blogging less these days. Work has been torturous, and there's nothing much other stuff that I can still blog about. But of course I should be. It's so much fun to read back to dated entries and laugh at my anger that I vented on this blog.
I dunno if the text is still readable, but at least it is, on my comp. If you cant read it, let me know, and I'll take evil pleasure in ignoring you.
Haha. Of course I wont do that, cant afford to lose the 2 audience I have. :P
Also, I know I have been blogging less these days. Work has been torturous, and there's nothing much other stuff that I can still blog about. But of course I should be. It's so much fun to read back to dated entries and laugh at my anger that I vented on this blog.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Rant about taxis
I want to rant about taxis!
I mentioned before, how I am taking cabs very regularly to work these days, no thanks to the fact that I have to be up by 6am if I want to be on time, and this timing does not agree with me.
Yes, I can wake up at 6am, but I end up moving in slow motion because I am too tired. You wouldnt want me to repeat my tale of how I reach home late after OT everyday, and after me-time (in the form of youtube and tudou, newspapers and blog surfing), and shower, I sleep like 5 hours a night.
But I cannot function with 5 hours sleep! I catch up on sleep over the weekends, but it is not helpful.
Anyway, I digress, I took a cab to work and the stupid taxi driver was driving at an average of 50km/h. I AM NOT EXAGGERATING! The speed can go down to like 30km/h, and while the traffic was busy, there was no jam. He happily took the longest lane, and refused to cut to the 4th lane even though we are going straight.
And obviously it took me longer than usually, and cost me more. I told the taxi driver when I alighted, that he ought to drive faster because the journey cost me easily 3 bucks more than it usually should.
I know 3 bucks is not a lot, but hallow, I take cab because I want to shorten the travel time, and the last I want is to vomit blood in a crawling cab.
Aww shit, I really need to stop taking cabs in the morning. It drains my bank account efficiently!
I mentioned before, how I am taking cabs very regularly to work these days, no thanks to the fact that I have to be up by 6am if I want to be on time, and this timing does not agree with me.
Yes, I can wake up at 6am, but I end up moving in slow motion because I am too tired. You wouldnt want me to repeat my tale of how I reach home late after OT everyday, and after me-time (in the form of youtube and tudou, newspapers and blog surfing), and shower, I sleep like 5 hours a night.
But I cannot function with 5 hours sleep! I catch up on sleep over the weekends, but it is not helpful.
Anyway, I digress, I took a cab to work and the stupid taxi driver was driving at an average of 50km/h. I AM NOT EXAGGERATING! The speed can go down to like 30km/h, and while the traffic was busy, there was no jam. He happily took the longest lane, and refused to cut to the 4th lane even though we are going straight.
And obviously it took me longer than usually, and cost me more. I told the taxi driver when I alighted, that he ought to drive faster because the journey cost me easily 3 bucks more than it usually should.
I know 3 bucks is not a lot, but hallow, I take cab because I want to shorten the travel time, and the last I want is to vomit blood in a crawling cab.
Aww shit, I really need to stop taking cabs in the morning. It drains my bank account efficiently!
Saturday, July 05, 2008
40 Points
Gosh, I only got 40 points! That means I am only primary school level! My chinese sucks. Thanks a lot. Hahahahahahaha.
Take the test if you are interested, you must answer 100 questions in 2000 seconds, and all the questions are related to Jay Chou's and Fang Wen Shan's very chim lyrics.
One can only take the test once a day, so I cant even go in and steal a question for you to judge how painfully difficult it is.
Aiyah, I sure can lah.. Just tweak something and I can do it. See the 2 sample questions below. Imagine 100 of them, and the pressure to understand and answer them in 2000 seconds, which equates to 33minutes. Or 20 seconds for each question.
(I took 1982 seconds to finish the test.)
Tudou: The Seventh Day
As of 05 July - Not started on this series
As of 21 July - Completed Episode 13
As of 27 July - Completed
Friday, July 04, 2008
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
$16.40's counseling cost
I took a cab to work today, partly because I worked at home till 1am yesterday, and partly because I took bloody ages to get ready in the morning.
The trip cost $16.40, 10 times of what I would had paid if I had taken the bus.
But I had a good chat with the driver uncle. We chatted, very generally, about my job, and I hadnt even air my grievances (something I do to every unsuspecting listening ear I come by these days) when he immediately told me that he can tell I am getting very frustrated with work.
I stopped and listened to myself, and realise that I without even talking specifically about work, I sounded exactly as pathetic as I hate it. My voice was nearing a whine, and I was punctuating my sentences with one sigh in the front, one down the middle, and one to close the statement.
Driver uncle told me that as long as it doesnt affect me adversely, whatever I am trying to do extra for the company, regardless I did it to prove my worth, or did it to spite someone, or whatever, should be cut down to the minimum. After I completed the range of work that I am expected to, I just need to stop.
If I can go on, great. If not, forget it.
Sounds like great advice. Now all I have to think about, is exactly where does my range of work starts, and do I even see its end.
Or am I missing the point altogether?
The trip cost $16.40, 10 times of what I would had paid if I had taken the bus.
But I had a good chat with the driver uncle. We chatted, very generally, about my job, and I hadnt even air my grievances (something I do to every unsuspecting listening ear I come by these days) when he immediately told me that he can tell I am getting very frustrated with work.
I stopped and listened to myself, and realise that I without even talking specifically about work, I sounded exactly as pathetic as I hate it. My voice was nearing a whine, and I was punctuating my sentences with one sigh in the front, one down the middle, and one to close the statement.
Driver uncle told me that as long as it doesnt affect me adversely, whatever I am trying to do extra for the company, regardless I did it to prove my worth, or did it to spite someone, or whatever, should be cut down to the minimum. After I completed the range of work that I am expected to, I just need to stop.
If I can go on, great. If not, forget it.
Sounds like great advice. Now all I have to think about, is exactly where does my range of work starts, and do I even see its end.
Or am I missing the point altogether?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
