When we were younger, our ambitions were simple. Some of us wanted to be police officers, astronauts, accountants, and lawyers.
Today's titles are more illusive - Solutions Architects (who have nothing to do with buildings), Account Managers (who have nothing to do with book-keeping), or Analysts.
I'm a big fan of The Sims, mainly because of the clear career tracks available in the game.
You start off as a medical test subject and after a while, you become a paramedic. Keep those hours and spend some of your free time picking up a skill or two, and you move into a higher-paying job with better hours. After a while, you focus less on your technical skills (like "logic") and poof! You're management. At this stage, you have to focus on 1) making friends and 2) charisma (not so far off from the truth eh?).
I've been talking to a lot of people, young and old about how to plan my career. Some place money as a top priority - it doesn't matter what they do, they just want to get paid.
I guess I can understand why some people take this path. Life choices force one to prioritise money - over-extend a credit line or two and your base salary requirements become etched in stone.
But is it all about the money? Would you want to get paid 10,000 a month and be someone's punching bag and kuli batak twenty-four seven?
What ever happened to personal pride and the respect of your peers? What ever happened to learning opportunities and a chance to develop yourself? What happened to jumping out of bed every morning eager to start the day because you feel like you're moving the world?
The lesson that the likes of William Hung has taught us is that a good attitude gets us everywhere. Look at him - he turned what could've been the most humiliating moment of his life into a cash cow (not to mention the company of some very attractive cheerleaders!).
I was once given a piece of advice by a more senior colleague way back when I first started work. He said:
"It's not what you do that matters, it's what you put into the work that makes you excellent. Even if you're assigned to put paperclips on documents, but if you take pride in what you do and add value to your given task, the world will be your oyster.And you don't need to scream and shout - you do good, the 'right' people will take notice and give you the opportunities you deserve."
Oh God.
I just feel like standing up and applauding. I've been feeling so down and jaded and cynical this past two weeks. That's exactly what I wanted to hear. Humble beginnings teaches us everything, I think. And attitude is so important, there is no point going through life shmoozing with all the right people, bribing, kissing ass and being THA MAN and still at the end of your life when the time comes to evaluate everything, you have nothing SUBSTANTIAL to show for it.
Hear, hear.
Posted by: meesh at 2004年03月12日 13:46Naj, I guess it all boils down to an "ambition" still. Your friends is right, the most important thing when you do work is personal pride and professinalism. Those qualities will shine through even in the simplest of tasks.
If that is the mindset, then the $10,000 per month salary or the lack of it will become unnecessary or just a number.
Life will then be simple, as it should be.
ok lah, I say something...
when you makan gaji the best thing is to prepare yourself to accept blame even if the fault wasn't yours.
In an office problem situation once a scapegoat have been identify and willingly accept the blame then only we move on to the next stage that is problem solving, which is the easiet part.
so when there is no one else willing to be blame why not we volunteer in order to save time and move forward. Anyway the worse thing to happend is you get fired! Why worry ?
It's hard to take pride in our work, when it ends up being trod over anyway. No, money isn't everything. But in this age of tangible returns, sometimes it's the only way to gauge our progress.
Maybe you should come down to where I work someday. They can put a whole new meaning to the word "thankless".
Posted by: Ash.ox at 2004年03月12日 16:21Is it still prevalent at an average workplace where the best employee is not the best performer? Ash comments is very familiar. Get out man it's not worth it. Cik Najah, I'm in the sim industry - it's fun making them.
Posted by: rhomer at 2004年03月13日 00:56yay a sims freak - you shld try the PS2 version 'Bustin Out'. Its so funny! Yr mother will be in an eternal green face mask but when she takes her bath robe off, she'll be the sexiest thang! *L*
When you call for the repairman, he comes, he fixes then switches yr TV on to watch until someone turns it off (remember, ya paying him by the hour).
You get to ride a moped to visit mom after you move out, change it for a sports car once you get married, and upgrade it into a limo with a hot tub at the back, once yr a Movie Moghul. Your only familiar family is the Goths, Bella and Mortimer sans the evil lil kid. You'll even exorcise ghosts with Bella and incubate venus fly traps with Mortimer. Join Pixel Axess and beware cause its a nudie camp. All blurred out, with PG in mind.
There is just so much more character social interaction options like: pull my finger, burp in face, do the moonwalk (which will score plus signs), hypnotize, dll.
Sorry for the shallow talk. Just a touch of fun. Have a great weekend! La na na!!
It's interesting to read this post as I end a very stressful and difficult week at work. It all boils down to some trust-related issues within a group, which led to someone being let go. One lesson that I'd like to share from this unpleasant experience is to take pride in what you do, and do it with honesty.
Posted by: magixcarpet at 2004年03月14日 13:10no... you've got to be patient, cause the wireless PS3 is coming out. heheh.
Posted by: Marilyn at 2004年03月14日 14:46"And you don't need to scream and shout - you do good, the 'right' people will take notice and give you the opportunities you deserve."
I used to believe what was stated above, after 3 years in the professional arena, I found out that its only half true.
Of course the right people will notice you but its not as simple as that? In the real world, it would be naive not to factored in "office politics". No, its nothing like the coming elections.
In some cases, the "right people" reside in the top echelon of the organisation. Not many employee have the opportunity in dealing with this so call "right people". So your only channel is your direct superior. Should your superior has fallen out of favour or played his/her politic wrongly with the "right people" you will indirectly suffer too. Furthermore, in such situation they (your superior) would play it safe and protect their own position.
On the positive side, take what you have learned and move on. If you feel unappreciated, get the relevant experience, network etc and move to another place. I read once in a studies done around the world, almost 70% of the reason why good ppl leave their employer lies in the immediate supervisor. Hey, if your not happy, MOVE ON! You know what you're worth.
I guess it boils down to what value that you want out of your career. Money, security, fame, challenges, career development..these are some of the values that we have to weigh in order to choose which road to take in the next few days.
Sighhh....why must we have all these crossroads? Why can't it just be a highway?
Posted by: hunny at 2004年03月15日 11:44If a career path is a highway all along, then there are no 'thrills' to life. juz like life, your career path is indeed, a bumpy ride. For it tests yr ability to cope with the challenges, fears, and to strive through and through to make it to the top.
That's life ppl.
u've gotta have it even if it sucks...
As usual you have a such a talent to bring out something ordinary and shine them with your beautiful words.
Only this time I'm kind of disappointed when you used the word "kuli batak" as a comparison to people who slave themselves because of money.
I know you have no intention to use the word as degatory remark, but believe it or not, some of us roll racist remarks on our tongues without we realize it. I heard many times terms like "jirat China mampus" as refer to Chinese burial ground, "Hindu mati laki" as refer to dishevel person or "kafir laknat" to non-Muslim (this term is usually used during religous discussion).
Reading you previous entries I know you are far from those people. But using the term, "kuli batak" is still unacceptable.
Dear AnaSalwa,
Point taken, although I use the phrase "kuli batak" in reference to those who are 'enslaved' period, not just those who slave over money.
In terms of the other phrases you mentioned, I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with them, thank you for enlightening me.
Perhaps the phrase "kuli-kutive" would've been more PC. In fact, if we want to be more PC, the term kuli or the original "coolie" may not even be appropriate altogether.
But then again, my point to this post was to convey a message, and sometimes un-sanitised language makes a point better, but that should be up to the the best judgment and discretion of the author.
Apologies if my post didn't measure up to your expectations.
Posted by: Najah at 2004年03月15日 15:08