Angmoh food, on the other hand, is a different story.  Whether you buy a Fillet O’ Fish from the McDonald’s at Bedok or the one at Jurong, the burger tastes the same. 

Which I think is why some angmohs & probably some MNCs fail to appreciate the uniqueness of a local dish & the value the cook brings to the table.

This is how customers are lost.

Many people have asked where I’ll be moving on to but I’ve not told anyone except for immediate family & a few close friends.  I was asked by my new boss, henceforth known as Microsoft, to keep it quiet to avoid any tension that may arise in my soon to be ex-company as quite a number of people have jumped ship (for different reasons).

There have been many guesses as to where I’m going.  Some colleagues thought that I’ll be joining Upsize at another multinational broker.  Some guessed (correctly) that I’ll be going to this specialist brokering house.  The PRI & Structured Trade underwriters think I’m joining one of them.  Whenever anyone asked me if their guess was correct, I have refused to confirm or deny.  I maintained that if you’re confident that you know where I’m going, then so be it.  Why do you have to ask me?  If you’re not sure, then just wait for my new company to announce my appointment. 

A rather funny thing happened today.  An ex-colleague of mine, who’s currently working in the company that I’m about to join, called Bigmac (who joined my new company ahead of me) to ask if I’ll be joining soon.  As Bigmac knows that I don’t wish to spread the news, he replied saying he wasn’t sure – to which the ex-colleague replied, “her name is in the telephone directory”.

Bigmac was totally caught off guard.  He glanced at the telephone directory & indeed my name was on it.  Nonetheless, he denied knowledge of when I’m starting work & clarified that I wouldn’t be reporting to him in any case.

When Bigmac called to tell me what happened, I couldn’t stop laughing.  I told him that my new company is really too efficient for their own good.  Kind of odd if you ask me – I mean, what if I don’t turn up for work in the end?  After all, I have been approached by another broker as well as an underwriter.  So until I step into the office to start work, there’s no knowing what may happen right? 

Anyway, I’ve got to admit I still feel rather sentimental towards my soon to be ex-company.  It has been a good 5.5 years, of which I really enjoyed my time there the last 2 years.  I was happy with the clients I had, the processes in place, the colleagues I have (most of them anyway) & the progress I achieved.  The 1 big push factor that drove me away was The Empire but that’s another story for another day.

I’m looking forward to my USA trip next week.  I really hope I’ll get to see snow (not too much – just a bit will do!) but the chances are quite low.  Can’t wait to wear my new boots.  Heehee.

Here’s to new boots, new gloves & a new job!

Enjoying my 3-week break before starting work at my new company. Had dinner with my new colleagues last week. I think it’ll be good. It’s a lean team but everyone is technically strong so i believe this team will rock the market.

Two underwriters told me that they’re glad the 3 of us left my old company… Cos we dominated the market and could pressure the underwriters. They said it was good to “spread the talent pool around”. But the way i see it, my new company will be even stronger than my previous one… Except our focus is in Structured Trade & PRI.

I’m looking forward to my upcoming holiday in NY & to start work at the new company. The Empire needs to be taught a lesson.

Having said that, i have to admit that the luxury to mull over these qualitative factors was anchored on the fact that i was going to get a decent pay increment at my new company. Although the HOD position would have paid more, if the pay at my new company was not to my expectations, it would have been unlikely that i would want to make the switch.

If you think about it, it’s very similar to how we spend money to buy things right? Why do people fork out top dollar for a BMW? A Kia would also take you to from point A to B isn’t it?

What i’m trying to say is that there’s no free lunch. You want something good, you gotta pay for it. Although choosing to serve the nation requires one to have the passion (similar choosing your career), remuneration, while not everything, is still an important factor.

I read that a politician from an opposition party said that the new politician is not money motivated. Really? I think the old guards are not money motivated. Fighting for independence from British rule is driven by an idealism & belief that we should have the right to govern our own nation. Politicians these days? Would top brass from the private sector join politics if their remuneration was pegged to the bottom 20% of wage earners? Come on man. Get real please.

I have lodged a complaint against some people in my company who made derogatory remarks against me.  Seeing regional HR on this matter on Fri.

I feel sad that I will not get to work with some colleagues, at least not for the foreseeable future.

I will need to get used to a new work environment, new boss, new colleagues.

Although I feel bad for Mr Minutes, I can’t help him much as I have to stay out of the politics in my soon to be ex-company.

Sigh.

To me, a good boss is someone who’s capable and who rewards his/ her staff fairly. I believe the best way to move up the corporate ladder is to help your boss move up. A fair boss will recognise your efforts and pull you up along with him/ her. Having a capable boss is thus important because if you report to a fool, that person will never get promoted and your chances of getting promoted will be as good as nil. Along the same vein, the more capable your boss is, the faster he/ she will rise and the more opportunities you will have.

Some people may think that the best way to move up is to replace (i.e. overtake) your boss. I think this is despicable and naive. Despicable because it implies that you will purposely try to make your boss look bad – sounds unethical to me. Naive because bosses will more often than not have the upper hand. An incompetent boss will hinder all opportunities in which his/ her subordinate might shine. In addition, if management does not like the incompetent boss, chances are, the entire department will suffer together with the boss. A capable but cunning boss will get rid of you once he/ she senses dissent. Therefore, thinking that you can supercede your boss is really not a sensible thing at all.

How do you find your boss? Do you take into account the personality and chemistry you have with a potential boss during interview? What sort of boss do you think you’ll be?

Why do people sit cross legged on chairs in foodcourt?

Why do people slurp when they eat?

Why can’t guys tell there’s gravy/ food all over their mouths/ chins?

Why do girls with elephant legs wear miniskirts?

Why do people walk on the road instead of the pavement?

Why do some drivers not signal?

Why do people drive without their headlights in heavy downpour?