Work...work...work...
What is your profession? I'm a professional, also in a service line now, and I have to deal with all sorts of clients with all sorts of attitude. I teach as a part time basis, and I have to deal with my students' different attitude in order to be able to teach effectively.
My friend, Diego just said that he's working like hell in the office.. and he's looking for a job elsewhere. Soo is struggling to collect his payments. Jason too, is eyeing for another job, because he hates the office politics.. and the list goes on...and on...
I have been working in different companies too in the previous years. I have seen all kinds of things, but there's nothing that could stop me from working effectively and happily.
In Elba Group, I was chasing after my boss to make progress and pushed him to make some decisions to bring up his brand to a higher level. As the result, there was over 30% increase of overall sales in less than 5 months of the most quiet and down low season of the year! That was 10years ago when I was only a fresh grad.
I was with Puteh Enterprise when I stood up and argue with the boss who was messy and unorganised, and that have made all the workers feel sufffocated in the working environment. All the workers actually raised and clapped their hands when I'm done with my sound speech that have made the boss speechless.
When I was with British India Co., I was chasing after my superior and the boss to give me more and more work.
I have also been working with Kookai, M-Phosis, and also some other small boutiques. But I resigned from all these jobs and companies with only 1 reason.. that is bacause I wanted to do more.. and never because of anything else. Office politics couldn't stop me.. difficult and messy bosses wouldn't stop me.. sexual harrasment in the office couldn't stop me.. jealous colleagues wouldn't stop me.. even hot headed explosive tempered superior couldn't stop me.. Nothing can stop me from doing my job, deliver..and see a clear positive result!
Wonder how the hell I have been doing my job? For me, it's very simple. I am a working person.. never leave my job undone.. always promise myself to make progress.. always be observant and ever learning.. evolve fast and effectively.. always be a helpful team-mate to push up a strong team work.. hmm... What else? Sounds complicated? Let me make it more simple for you.. 'POSITIVE THINKING' Yes! That's all I need.
I am a person without any luck. All sorts of experiences have made me what I am today. Believe me. Let me share with you a little experience.. something that happens to flash back into my memory just a while ago..
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It was when I was with British India Co., back in 2004. It's quite a big and established company. I was working in the Merchandising department. One of the senior of that department then was such a pain in the a**. Anyone working there would have agree the same. But that was nothing to me. It was the head of the Drafting and Production department next door.. who was so much worse than a devil..and that was according to everybody there.
What is so special about this particular lady? Well, she is someone too much of a perfectionist..never satisfied with anybody. A great job only deserve a little nod of her hot tempered head.. never smile. And when she was so often not satisfied, almost the whole floor could hear her screaming. And then.. we can see her 'little soldiers' working with shaking hands and ever fast walking but trembling feet. Some were even teary in the eyes. At times I can see one or two of them crying while continue working. Such a pity..
I was then still a new staff, less than a month..and I have already start admiring this lady. "Amazing!" I would say, "..how she could flare her temper and attitude. She didn't even realise how ugly she look in all other's eyes! Isn't that amazing?" (lol..!!)
One fine day.. I just couldn't stand her voice piercing into my ear with that buzzing sound anymore.. every day. It was only during my lunch hour.. and I have already finished all my work for the day..as like any other day. Then, I decided to spend some time doing a little thinking while sketching and checking e.mails. I said to myself, with a wide smile,"Hmm...here's something I got to do tomorrow. Oo...This got to be so exciting!"
The next day came.. After lunch, I have done all my work.. and I was waiting... Waiting for what? Waiting for that amazing lady to amazingly flare her temper again! Yes! That was exactly what I was doing!
In less than an hour right after lunch, there she was.. the super active volcano explode again! I was then..took a deep breath..and walked next door to the Drafting and Production department...
"Ms. Lim! What's happening?! You've just sent me a shock with your voice so loud!" I said to her, smiling and half giggling, giving her a little bit of an innocent look in the face.
All the girls there were looking at me in disbelieve.. almost shocked. There were girls from other departments came peeping, wanted to know what's going on.
"What are you trying to do here, little girl? This is not your department." she said to me, trying to sound calm while still feeling hot with her temper in her head.
"I'm here to help. I have finished all my work back there. Why is it so messy in here? Too much of work and too little help..I guess?" I added.
"No. This is none of your business..and you're LayBee's girl. I have no right to give you work." she said, "Go back to your place."
"Oh, it's ok. LayBee is not in for the day. I have finish my stuff and I am so boring..got nothing to do. You're holding the highest position here, and nobody will dare to say anything. Anything occur, I can answer to LayBee. Don't worry. It's nothing bad I'm doing. And I know all your work here. I can easily do it. Come on. Just shoot. Anything!"
She was thinking for a while before saying,"Ok. Come. Do this for me..."
...and so it have started...
She was explaining to me.. quite fast in her speech..and I said,
"Ms. Lim. Can you please talk slower ah?"
And right at that moment, she raised her voice again,"You listen carefully la! You wanna do the work or not?!"
Then I answer to her in a friendly tone, smiling,
"Sure I want! But aiyo..you don't have to raise your voice ma..I'm just right beside you. I can hear clearly. Don't scold la.. You could grow old faster le.."..and I'm still giving her a smile.
Then she explained again with a lower tone, and this time a bit slower.
Hm...that seems to work..
At that moment, I can see that all the girls were hiding their face, burst out laughing. Kim Peng, her assistant, ran and hide at the back of the shelve and laughed..till even Ms. Lim herself could hear her. Right there..at that moment.. I was clenching my teeth..hard..trying not to even smile. This is not a joke that I was tring to play..not al all.
It was when I was doing the work given..and suddenly..
"Hey! Not like this! I told you..and u never listen carefully! Like that.....!" Oh..my..There she is again..raising her voice.
Then I answered,
"Okay! Right away! But Ms. Lim, I'm trying to do it in a more effective way. Be patient la..Don't look at me and scream right from the back of my neck... Scare the hell out of me..then you got my hands shaking..and my feet trembling.. How am I gonna do my work and deliver?"
Then she smiled...step away.. and get back to her seat. I did gave her the result that she wants. When that day was done, there were all smiles. I have done something that nobody have ever dare to do before..and I have made a huge difference.
From that particular day onwards, things changed..the whole Drafting and Production department have changed..and the working environment of the whole floor have changed.
*
What I want to share with you is... Do you dare to make that step for a change? How badly do you want a change? How positive could you ever be? And when you have done your thinking...just make that move!
I have always remember the words from my Pa,"The Art Of Speaking." When he first said it, I was thinking..what did he possibly means? As time goes by, I have observe and learn...and still learning... How about you?
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