I lost. Emails.

It’s time to swallow my pride and admit how lazy I am to manage ever-increasing number of files and folders on my working laptop. Even lazier is to manage emails.

Hence, I’ve decided to heed my manager’s advice to install Google Desktop, an application that will perform indexing of documents and files, including Outlook emails.

Read Full Post »

Teaming with Passion

Last Wednesday and Thursday, I attended a company sponsored training called “Teaming with Passion”. It was a course aimed at our front-liners, who deal with interesting customers everyday. Being a pre-sales technical consultant, I too attended the course and here I’d like to write a brief summary of what I had learnt.

Up until very recently, I had been chiding the concept of positive attitude, power words, inner strength etc. I thought I did not need them, and all of them are common sense, and discoverable upon needs. How wrong I was !

The exact reason I did not need any emotional help or encouragement before was because I did not push myself enough that time. Now with bigger responsibility, with performance being measured in sales figure, I am getting more and more serious at work. Stress level is high, and I cant sleep easily.

What I found most helpful from the course was about positive thinking. Heck, positive thinking is so obvious that I feel ashamed that I care about it too much here. But, during the course, we had to keep shouting “I am mental warrior”, “You are your energy”, “Today is a grrreat day” and so on. We (the front-liners) also sang unity-themed songs together, keep shouting the support each other, look at the eyes of our learning partner while talking to him/her. I suppose this kind of training system is what Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is all about, although I know too little about it to write here factually.

People cried tears of joy. Connections renewed among colleagues, and created among strangers.

When the course started, I mumbled to myself, “Am I going to be brainwashed here?” I’ve been to quite a number of sales-themed training/seminar, although being more technically inclined by profession and interest. LOL, my worry was unwarranted. I am now “brainwashed” and see nothing wrong with that.

Well, too busy to continue blogging, but if you were also like me before, dismissing self-help, motivation and encouragement as common sense or unimportant, you may want to check whether you have pushed yourself enough.

Read Full Post »

Soft threat

I could not tell whether he was serious or just joking. My manager today said to me that, if I ever lose track of documents or emails again, he’s gonna have me install Google Desktop in my laptop.

No.

There must be a better way, possibly by means of good habit. I need to restructure and categorize my files properly. I don’t want to have my computer cluttered with documents, even if I’d still be able to retrieve anything fast due to Google indexing power.

But then I agreed to his suggestion. If I fail to find documents and emails again, I will install Google Desktop. Uh .. ! I just have to make a commitment to better self-organization habit.

Read Full Post »

A little update about my current activities

Efficient.

There is no way I can afford to be less than that. I need to submit two assignments on global issue, the first about China’s rise as superpower, and the second about effectiveness of G8. After submitting the two assignments, I will only have a month left to finish my Project 2 : Securing Internet Voting System with Trusted Computing Technology. That’s actually not my project title, I’ve forgotten the actual title after a month of not touching project. I’ve been touching something else.

Funnily, I still procrastinate and write this blog post. 🙂

Regarding Go, I completed the second league but the result is not yet published on MWA website. Also, from 23rd September to 30th September, I will probably be representing Malaysia in Nanning, China for Nanning International Weiqi Tournament. I will also probably be representing Malaysia in Korea Prime Minister Cup in Jeonju, Korea from 22th October to 27th October. Both “probablies” were there because I am not sure whether my employer will grant me unrecorded leave or not. They suddenly make fuss about the invitation letters not having letterhead.

I might as well fit in a little update about my work here. I have finally completed the VBA Excel programming to track our team performance although from time to time, there will be new feature request from my superior which requires me to continually do the development. Honestly, I feel like a real programmer now 🙂 , although in reality I really should be doing sales consultancy and familiarise myself with various telecommunication products.

Okay, time to start writing about China rise to superpower. The superpower term is wide-ranging, and may cover economic, political, military and technological prowess. Anyone who has any idea that they want to share regarding this is most welcome.

Read Full Post »

Yes, I dont have work to do, that is why I write programs

For the past few days, I have been working on Activity Log system for our Sales Consultancy department. Under the request of my AGM, I reformatted, restructured and added formulas to our Excel activity log so that metrics such as conversion rate, engagement (prospecting), and revenue movement can be calculated automatically.

It started as a horrible task as the past logging system did not validate input, hence there were text when figure or date was expected. But by now everything is cleaned up and actual programming is already being carried out. At the moment, quick and dirty solution is ready and the performance metrics mentioned above are already available.

Scary ! Pretending to work or be busy will not help anymore as our performance is spelt out as number and can be compared against others.

For conversion rate, we calculate the ratio of closed deal against total number of quotation, proposal, tender, RFP and RFQ being given out. It’s horrible, because so many of our customers like to ask for quotation for fun 😦

For engagement, we total the project values being prospected, which may indicate our aggressiveness in sales.

Whereas movement metrics will show the result of our effort in monetary terms. This will encourage sales to chase after higher value deals.

Needless to say, there’s a lot of objections within our department to these performance indicators especially conversion rate. We do give a lot of quotations upon customers’ requests eventhough without any chance to actually make any deal. Even worse, the threshold is set at 40% conversion rate. I dont think even Zig Ziglar can do it (actually I dont even know who he is).

It’s regrettable that my passion to work on automated activity logging system has been mistaken by some as taking opportunity to escape my core tasks. I hate updating logs, I hate administrative work but I thoroughly enjoy building programs and computerised systems. Anyway, I’ve already got at least one person telling around that I dont have work to do (probably with some hints that s/he is the only one busy bringing profits to the company).

Yawnsy …

Read Full Post »

My first time lecturing.

I really should be sleeping now, but I’m saving the best for last. What’s not so best right now is, guess what, blogging. It’s seeming more pointless day by day, Except of course, I can easily evaluate my activities and life as a story line.

I took 2-day leave from office starting yesterday, to take up a guest lecturing job offered by a local university. My friend actually referred me, thanks Hafiz. The target audience was a group of 12 military officer who were to learn more about software development and information security in a one-year diploma executive programme (or equivalent).

Well the pay rate was RM100/hour, so I quickly took the offer. Now in hindsight, I realise the payrate was effectively much less, considering the amount of time and effort I had to spend to update my knowledge and to prepare the materials i.e. powerpoint slides, lab exercise, quiz. I was tasked to teach Cryptography, to my luck, because it was my favourite subject.

My audience were older than me, probably in their 30’s. Some late 30’s. It was funny that I could not really teach according to the slides, as most of the time I had to answer or explain to their questions, relentlessly bombarded at me especially on the first day. I was also asked about Internet, and broadband, and why Streamyx is slow. Haizzz why everyone asks me that?

On the second day which was today morning, I gave them lab work and mostly spent the time helping individual person getting things done. Like using Command Prompt, navigating between directories, doing binary arithmetic, along with using hashing and encryption software. I guess they enjoyed it. At least they insisted on finishing the lab and missed coffee break for that.

Part-time guest lecturing like this is certainly something I would want to do again. Not just for extra income, but for self-development and enhancing my resume. And of course, to give back to education 🙂 I however prefer to take weekend jobs as taking leave from main job for a part time job does not sound right. And would work against me in the office as well.

Another (unrelated) development is that I finally got my cheque book! So I got everything related to banking done now, after opening saving account and subscribing to Internet banking. Well, thanks to the Public Mutual fund lady who kept urging me to do all those to start investing.

Read Full Post »

Finally, new workplace :)

Finally, I am at the new workplace. The environment is good, full of young people unlike previously. And to my suprise, the one sitting next to me here is Azharina, my senior at KMYS last time. So I didn’t start as a total stranger, luckily.

Anyway, the department is called Solutioning and Programme Management. I must say, HR did know better when they decided to send me here. Just now I connected to the department server, and was really excited to see the training materials and documents hosted there. Network designs, video lectures, telecommunication related Powerpoint presentation slides etc.

Probably, I have found a workplace where I can give my all. Anyway, I must give my all because everyone here is very experienced and knowledgeable despite being young. Yea.. yea.. I am competitive.

Equally troubling is the fact that people expect a lot from me. One of the new colleagues even told me that I can be quite intimidating with my academic qualifications. Pressure !

Honestly, in engineering and IT industries, I dont think qualifications give any indication of your expertise at all. For research-based companies such as MIMOS, IBM, Qualcomm etc, qualifications can be a relevant metric of expertise. But for operational and technology adopter telcos, I’ve seen too many non-academically-qualified technician outexpert those supposedly smart people.

To Go playing friends who have been wondering why I have been so inactive lately, it’s because of the new job, exams this weekend and multitude of unfinished assignments. Once I get my life back in order, I’ll kill you all hahahahaahhaahah.. 🙂

Read Full Post »

Cloudy times

It’s nearly 10 a.m. now, and I am at San Francisco Coffee surfing Internet. As of now, I’m officeless … more grandly known as ‘floating’.

I had previously cancelled my plan to join R&D, and decided to stay in the corporate mainstream. The Human Resource Department (HR) then sent me to Solution Integration Unit (SIU), to fill a Solution Consultant position. Well, I went there, only to find out the position was not even vacant. So, SIU is now telling me to wait, while they are sorting out matters with HR. And, I always prefer waiting with a large cup of Cappucino, in a cafe, with a Wi-Fi connected laptop. I have another job interview this week, so at the moment, my career could have been any of two radically different stories.

Over the past few weeks, I had plenty of career advices, from colleagues (ex- and not) and friends. If fact, interviewers as well. Some said I should join a department filled with seniors, so that I could rise easily replacing them after they’re gone. Others said I should join a young team instead, to build network and have more fun at work.

Well, I guess, both advices have pros and cons. The first advice is only relevant if I plan to stay at one particular job, and patiently wait (without cappucino and Wi-Fi) to succeed my seniors. For the second advice, there is possibility that network and fun might amount to nothing. Competition will also be high, and also, I am not the best networker in town.

Anyway, the conclusion is, first advice is better if I plan to stay long at one particular job, the second one better if I want to jump around between jobs quickly.

Actually I couldn’t care less about job, career etc. The problem is, that’s what people first ask me about whenever they see me. Family wants to know how my work goes. Old friends will ask, “where do you work now?“. Old colleagues, ex-schoolmates, etc etc. I suppose that will be the first thing asked of me, if I attend a blind date as well.

I want a more meaningful thing to do, not simply living for the society and to gain respect. Not even simply for my own survival. Something which has the flavour of “meaning of existence”. Something that shows me why I am what I am, something that takes me beyond my maximum potential.

Something worth dying for ..

Am I at the top of Maslow’s pyramid, or I just take everything for granted?

Read Full Post »

Career Related Angry-ness.

---

Solution Integration Unit
vs.
Research and Development.

---

Apparently I did well in recent interview. The Solution Integration Unit (SIU) within Retail department wanted me, and HR was in the process of issuing formal letter for my new appointment.

But just now, I walked into HR office and told them that I wanted to move to Research and Development (R&D) to join Core IP/ Next Generation Network (NGN) team. I wanted them to cancel the issuance of letter of appointment to SIU. It was a hard decision to make, because so many people were saying that I should go to SIU.

Going to SIU means I will stay in the business mainstream, and stay within the corporate radar. Over time, the corporate higher echelon might notice me, and put me somewhere up there as well. I will have better networking with other important people. That’s the scenario many people painted to me.

Nobody imagines that far when it comes to R&D. They only ask, “So .. you just gonna do research?”. Like it’s a dead end. Like my career advancement is sealed there. Like no greatness awaits me once I choose to go to R&D. Like I had not think through. Like I’m a total loser.

If this is Go, it’s like I choose to defy proverbs and joseki because I thought I saw something after reading 10 moves ahead.

Heh, here are 10 reasons I’d choose R&D over SIU:

1. The notion of hoping someone of higher echelon to notice me does not intrigue me at all.
2. Technology is at its exciting time with transition to IPv6 and transition to Next Generation Network (NGN). To be among first truly experts of new technology in Malaysia sounds attractive.
3. I can bring up my programming skill to higher level and will be more ready to go freelance one day.
4. Part-time teaching for extra income will be easier with all the theoretical and academic knowledge.
5. Cute geek-ish girls will make my days, better than those confidence-radiating high-heeled ladies.
6. With theoretical knowledge, I can write books one day.
7. I read technology and computing books in my extra time. Now it will be my job, so I can use my free time for more fun stuff.
8. My energy and stamina for studying is tremendously plenty at the moment, somehow. Better make use of it fast, before it dies down.
9. I suppose, with research experience, it’ll be easier to get scholarship for Ph.D studies later.
10. Attitude will play lesser importance, skills and delivery more. It’s a more comfortable domain for me.
11. Easier to go into consultancy later, with the knowledge.
12. Job rotation is emphasised. It’s better that I go into R&D now than later, if I have to go there anyway.

This is an angry post, although one that retains rationality. I am angry because, I am full of doubt over my decision as well. ARGH ! (Anger apparently made me confuse between 10 and 12)

I am thankful to my cousin who’s in HR, who gave me the best advice. He said, “just go there and regret.” Haha .. What am I so worried about? I have plenty of regrets already, adding another one or two won’t matter. 🙂

Cut first, think later.

Read Full Post »

Job Interview

I never intended the previous post to be the main post for so long, yet a week it has been. I have been quite busy lately.

Regarding work, it is now confirmed that I have to leave Regulatory department. I have sent my Career Profile to HR, not sure what they have done with it, but now I have got my first interview.

Guess with who?

SALES ! I remember clearly saying that I’d jump off window from Sales Department if they ever send me there. Exact words are :

It seems that I will have to start searching for a new post within this big corporation. Or I might just leave it all to HR. Big gamble ! If they put me in sales, I just hope the department has a window for me to jump off the tower.

Haizzz.. Seriously, how does recruitment and staffing work around here? Cant they see that if they put me in a technical division, they’ll have the most passionate staff who will work to near-death exhaustion? Or do they really know better, and I should just go with the flow?

Perhaps, I should not worry too much. I am certainly not Sales material. Look at the parts of the job scope :-

1. To tap into group resources and capabilities to compete against competitors in the market.

   Is that something I can do?

2. Perform solution development and also solution delivery functions.

   Is that me?

3. To manage with marketing innovations and business strategy in sales groups accounts through a single point of contact for customers’ needs and demands hence increasing sales revenue.

Why did they even consider me to do this? I have ZERO experience in sales, self-centric too much to be customer-centric.

Hmm.. I’ll just attend the interview (without tie and sleeve up though!) , and correct any misconceptions they have about me.

Wanna see my Career Profile? I was quite upset that the corporate template for Career Profile provided no room for non-career achievements. There was no place for my Go achievements!

Strength and Extraordinary Characteristic

1. Strong analytical skill, highly focused and enduring mental stamina.
   Being a competitive board game (chess and go) player, I have been in continuous training to withstand mental pressure derived from challenge from adversaries, and time constraints. It also trains me to maintain focus for long hours.
2. Adopt both work hard and work smart attitude.
   I always seek to simplify work execution through preplanning. Where applicable, I often exercise my programming skill to automate repetitive processes. This is most visible from my regulatory work with NNDB project where I wrote SQL script and Excel VBA programs for error checking which previously were done by eyes. This cut down reliance on Geomatic department and improved error-detection to 100%
3. Strong dedication to self-improvement and skill growth.
   I consistently equip myself with knowledge through reading, particularly of technological, management and political areas. Also with my spare time, I study for Master in Information Security, learn intermediate Mandarin Chinese and Japanese chess (shogi).
4. Positive, passionate and self-motivated worker.
   In my commitment to self-improvement, I find motivation for daily working and learning. Even for dull tasks such as writing minutes and filing, I entertain myself by making them a practice of XML, XML-FO technology.

Yes, I must mention Go !

Personal Aspirations

I aspire to be a part of a world class team of experts, competing with other teams and emerge as winner. I want to be a world class expert, a high-impact, high-performance individual that could do next-to-impossible things.

/* Ok, for this section, I must admit I was very influenced by the book I had just read, The Race for A New Game Machine. */

Limitations

Job scope may limit the areas in which I could gain experience.

Development Needs

Challenging problems to be solved, trainings, involvement and participation in high-impact projects.

Regulatory, Sales … my career has a weird fuseki.

Read Full Post »