Andrew: Inside & Insights

Received a pleasant surprise!

Though last week I knew of my confirmation as a full-time staff during my appraisal, but it was upon receiving the letter of my confirmation that I learnt I was given a slight adjustment to my salary. Yeah! =P

I really didn’t expect that, but since it was given, I gladly receive lar… Ha ha…

Thank you God!

In retrospect, He had used my previous 2 years at HWA and 6 months at Asiagem to prepare me adequately for the demands and expectations thrown at me here at SMa.

My 6-month journey with SMa has been nothing short but remarkable as I have seen and experienced God’s leading and blessing throughout (and still am). It is a job where I can truly say it is “connected to the dots” of God’s plans for my life!

But in spite of my job satisfaction with SMa, I am eagerly awaiting for the my next dot to connect =)

God, here I am, mould me and use me!

Today ‘heng heng’ (lucky blessed) I got a free ticket to attend an Executive Lunch Talk with Philip Kotler. He is supposedly the world’s No.1 Marketing guru, and believe or not he is now 76 years of age.

And believe or not again… the tickets were priced at $800 per person!? My colleagues and me really ‘tan dio’ (profited) sia…

Personally, I would never spend that kind of ’scandalous’ amount just to listen and rub shoulders with a who’s who status person. And frankly, listening to Mr Kotler was more like sitting in a lecture class except of cos, this was in a hotel.

Mr Kotler presented most of his points in an academic-like fashion or text-book style. And surprisely, almost half of the strategies and case studies he shared were taken from a book- Blue Ocean which was not authored by him. That was puzzling.

However, I did brought home some useful knowledge like this one- Factors that build a company’s reputation:

1. Quality of products or services
2. Innovative-ness
3. Financial soundness
4. Quality of Management
5. Social responsibility

These factors in building a company’s reputation can be similiarly used for one’s personal life.

(1) Quality of products or services refers to our character- am I trustworthy and be relied on by others? 

(2) Innovative-ness refers to how my life is continually adding value to others- If Google or Apple were to close down, would they be missed by people? if I were to die, would I be sorely missed?

(3) Financial soundness is equally critical in an individual’s life, in exhibiting stability in order to gain credibility.

(4) Quality of Management is self-explanatory. If you can’t manage you life, don’t expect others to allow you to manage them.

(5) Social responsibility is the need to be accountable to those around you and contribute to the betterment of your community. No man is an island. 

Therefore, I believe if we bear these factors in mind with our personal lives, we can build a attractive personal repution for Christ with those around us too. And in any case, building a reputable company begins with us (our personal lives) first as CEOs or bosses.

Over a couple of lunches with my colleagues, I realised that staff relations wasn’t strong and close-knitted at my workplace. I figured that there was a need for a platform for us staff to interact, share and play. Thus, the birth of SMa STOMP!

I decided to kickstart this initiative for my colleagues so that we could know each other better through our ramblings at work. Cos since we were located on different floor levels and cubicles, this site would ‘flatten’ the ground for us to “gossip”(or update)… hee hee…

But really, thru this I realised this ‘trend’ in me that’s motivated to bring people together and to help them connect with one another.  That was the same basis of the HWA staff newsletter- HWA Connect that I had put together then when I was working at HWA. And now a staff website- SMa STOMP… Yay

I believe this ‘trend’ has been extended from me being part of and in His Church; it is bringing His Church into the marketplace (my workplace). But whether or not this initiative goes well, that is another thing lar… =p

Thank God for showing me ways how I can minister at work by fostering better work relations within SMa. 

I did my first real emcee-ing for the passed two days- yesterday and today!

This was an annual 2-day conference with speakers from around the globe attracting delegates who wanted to keep updated on the progress of Radio Frequencey Identification (RFID) technology in other parts of the world.

This to me was my first huge corporate event that I ever emcee-ed. My past gigs were for parties, weddings and work or church events. So I can thank God for all the training he had provided me with the opportunities when I had served others =)

The most embarassing part was attempting to roll out this Thai presenter’s name- Mr Panitarn Pavarolavidya.

You try it… Ha ha

Actually this EPCglobal which champions RFID global standards within world trade and industry is a very interesting and controversial topic. Using RFID you can know exact whereabouts (real-time) of your goods and information can be stored in the chip such as expiry date, source, manufactured date and etc…

For example: Wal-mart uses it with great effect to its global supply chain. 

With globalisation, this will definitely be very much part of our lives and thus fulfilling what many Christians have pointed as a prophesy in the book of Revelation. Whether this is true or not, this is another story.

But here’s one such claim to read>>>

Phew… can blow out a short breath of relief for this moment. Finally got work under control.

The passed few days has been tough sia… Everyday there seems to be an insurmountable ‘mountain’ to face. Thank goodness now the ground has been ‘flattened’! But of cos not for long lar… =p

Besides the work load and demands, what was stretched was my dealings with people around me in regards with work. I guess people will tend to impose on you or makan you as their food (scape-goat) in order to survive in this marketplace jungle.

One crucial part that I gained much from this phase has been defining my role and boundaries in terms of work relations as a Christian in my workplace. I strongly believe this is important cos then you will know when to say “No” or “Please wait, I will get back to you”, even if it’s to your boss.

The likelihood if one does not know his/her role and boundaries, is where they will be taken advantaged and bullied into doing work for others and bearing the brunt when their primary work is affected. And once we are deem incompetent professionally, our effectiveness as His salt and light is also affected.

Jesus taught us, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Matt 10:15

In marketplace evangelism, just as we need to carry the love and truth of Christ, it is equally important that we are equipped professionally in our field of expertise in order to stand on common ground with them. Once on that ground, we can effectively translate God’s love and truth through our profession to win their hearts and minds for Jesus.

Now I truly concede that guys cannot multi-task and can only do one thing at a time.

Due to being a freshie at work and not taught the ropes proper by any of my predecessors, I have not been able to anticipate the load/demands. Now I am hitting loads of works from different sides in full force sia…

I feel like my Nokia N73 mobile. Any attempt to open multiple applications at the same time would cause the mobile to hang. CMI… =p

But seriously, instead of me hanging, I kena splitting headaches. Damn jialat…

I just need to pass through this week and things will be better cos this time around I will be better prepared for the loads.

Later in the morning we got a big event and must wake up by 6:00am.

Jia you!  

My first day at SMa went pretty well as I started the morning with great anticipation!

I never could wake up so early before for work at 7am, but today I did. Its not just because it is the first day but also from the ‘training’ from God working previously at the Handicaps Welfare Association (HWA) for 2 over years. There, I was pretty much not-so-on-time at most times =p

That’s me (picture above) at my space or work desk which was in a mess before I tidied it up. Just like any first day, it was just an orientation day so quite relax. Enjoy it while it last which is pretty much soon as my direct boss is leaving soon. Ho ho ho… Jia lat liao…

I was also oriented on my job scope, one of which was one important criteria which I prayed for which is being involved in publications like the corporate magazines, newsletters and etc…

Why?

One of my life-time dreams or goals is to be able to be editor of my own publication for His Church in order to serve as His voice to educate and impact lives. Hence the experience and learning the ropes are what I essentially prayed and hope to acquire.

God is good!

Took the plunge today. I tendered from my current job.

Though I have yet to get another job, I know this is an all-important step God wants me to take in order to get back on His track towards His will for me.

Over the last month, it had become clearer that what I was doing wasn’t fitting in God’s plans for me and I was digressing. Hence I needed to be swift and objective, even if it was somewhat a tough decision since my employer is a friend.  

Thank God after discussing with him, he understood where I was coming from and supported my decison.  

Anyway, I know I can trust in God as He has always been true to His word and leading to me. He is my Jehovah-Jireh.

Now will just await and see what He has in store ahead. Amen.