Monday

I am sure any working people hates Mondays. It sure is a little bit more difficult to wake up on a Monday. I, for one, so hate Mondays too. I have to wake up 1 hour earlier as I need to travel back to Penang. And then I won't be seeing Sunshine for the rest of the week til Friday, if I don't work on Saturday.

Time at work seem to pass so fast. I've been working 9 am - 8 pm almost every other day. What to do? Commission is not so attractive and OT is the only extra income I can make. Even if I finish at 6 pm, I'll still be in office til late.

Today, I felt a little bit more energetic in the afternoon. I cleaned my cube. I threw away a lot of my 'harta karun' collected since day 1 of my life here. I even found PC Fair orders dated 2004. I threw everything into the confidential trash bin. My cube looks so good now. I also compiled a file for the new hire who will be coming in next week. I'm trying to standardize some stuff here. It feels like there is no guideline to work properly. Since I am a coach now, and I have the say to what is to be done, I'll make it right. No more flying papers around.

Time at work seems to be faster than I know. Before I realise it, it is already time to log out. And then the week will just pass by just like that. Work is all I do. Makes me think... is that all there is to life? I'm sure there is more than just work. No, my life is not screwed. I love my job!

Penang Public Holiday

Because it was some big shot's birthday, I get to earn RM 300 today. Because of that too, there was no jam on the bridge and no jam throughout coastal highway. I guess most people are sleeping comfortably at home cos it rained. It rained so bad that the roads was flooded. Flooded as in the waters were 8 - 10 inches high (I think). I was quite worried that my car was gonna get stuck in the middle of the road in the flood. It must have rained throughout the night in Penang to cause that flood. For awhile, I wished I was at home all cuddled up on my bed. But the inspiration to come to work was the triple pay I am getting for sacrificing that beauty sleep. And not forgetting the extra OT for working 9am to 8pm and lunch in. Today has covered my expenses for my rent, petrol and toll for the month.

Yesterday was a totally different weather. It was scorching hot in Taiping. The temperature must have been 60 degrees outside, or maybe 75 degrees. It was so humid, I had my shower without the water heater (can't remember when was the last time I did that). I spent the rest of my day in the air con room.

Oh, I dragged myself out of bed at 4 am to watch the closing of the 2006 World Cup in Berlin. I so wanted France to win. I just didn't like the Italians. I totally disagreed when Zidane was thrown the red card. That Italian started it. Winning with penalties does not really show how great the team is. It's more of a fluck shot to me. I so hated the Italians to win. Final score after the penalties, France 4, Italy 6. Ptui!

The best answer yet

This job requires me to do some hiring. I am ashamed with our future generation, and they call themselves fresh grads. So, the first step before the interview is the screening process. Next I will call them, just to talk to them, to listen to how they talk over the phone. I think I've done this for 50 or 60 candidates. Then there was this one candidate I had to call last week.

Me: Good afternoon, can I speak to Ken please.

Ken: Yes, this is Ken.

Me: Hello Ken. I am Sunny, calling from [Company X]. I got your resume and I understand that you are looking for a job as an ISR.

Ken: Yes.

Me: Okay, so why don't we start off by you telling me a little bit about yourself?

Ken: Er... isn't it all stated in my resume already?

Me: (Surprised to get that for an answer) Very well, if that is the case, I will call you again if you are selected. Thank you and have a nice day.

No update?

This job is really taking all my energy and time. 9 - 6 just breezes through, feels like there is not enough time to do anything. I must say that it is a challenge, a really big one. I've learnt alot in the past one and half month in the job. Managing people isn't an easy task. Nevertheless, I grow from there, more responsibilities and decisions to make. I love this new job!

Sarah

The latest edition to the Ong family. Bryan has a baby sister to play with now. She is so small and has Bryan's features.

100 days

How fast time flies? 25th May 2006 was papa's 100th day anniversary. Raymond, Ivan and I went back to Taiping to offer prayers for papa. May his soul rest in peace. I am still saddened with the fact that papa has passed on and still am trying to accept the reality that I won't be able to see him and talk to him anymore. I pray that he has gone to a better place. I pray that he is reunited once again with mummy.

I understand fully that I have to move on. But many times I caught a tear flowing from my eyes when I think of papa. Maybe it's because the family situation is so screwed up that it is very painful when there are many things that are left unclear.

Another three hundred dollars day

Yeap... all hyped up to come to work today. Slept at 10.30 last night, don't know why, I was just so sleepy and dozed off while watching that new Korean series on ntv7. Since I was promoted, I think I am sleeping better. Previously, I did see a doctor for insomnia and was given some prescription. The reason for my sleepless nights was work pressure. Not to say that I hated my job, it pays well. But it was hard work. It's all about the numbers. Now, it's over. Now, I have to coach the new hires to produce the numbers for me.

Feels like its a working Saturday today. Only half the team are working because it is Wesak. Top 15 reps get to work. Today, my first assignment was to check the promo bundles and cross sell for next week. Then, had an interview. Finally, someone who could speak proper English. I was so relieved. He didn't sound very aggresive, but he was very creative in overcoming objection. We did a role play, he practically passed. He's hired.

Other than that, I got myself a few hundreds of vouchers to go shopping. If only they gave cash. So, I will be going to Ipoh this weekend. I'm going to see Bryan. I so miss him, he is the cutest boy in the world. I love him... Hmm... I can buy him some stuffs too, since I have so much vouchers.

Moving on

It is a totally different role. I am busy hiring people to join in this team. But, I am met with disappointment most of the time. What is wrong with the new generation of fresh grads? The resumes looked so good, but when they came in for a face to face interview, they could hardly utter a proper sentence in English.

Let me give you some examples here, while screening phone interview:

Me: When will be the earliest date you can report for work?

Candidate 1: I not think I can make it on 15 May, maybe on the June can.

Me: When will be the earliest date you can report for work?

Candidate 2: Erm... Cannot so soon, all my transportation in KL, must arrange first.

I am not sure if I am supposed to be frustrated or laugh my head off with those replies.

One productive Sunday

I woke up at 6.45am yesterday. I am so proud of myself for making RM 200 on a Sunday. Yea... we had some kind of a training at work. It was scheduled on a Sunday as that is the only day available for all departments.

I was in Taiping, so Sunshine drove me back to work. The training was conducted in another site. It is pretty boring. The only thing that kept me going was the money. Heheh... being in sales, it's always about the money.

The training was a backup plan. As the company loses alot of money in case an emergency happens in the main plant. So, they took us to the second plant to continue our work. I'm not sure what I learnt from the training, I don't care. All I know is my notebook is working fine and I manged to get a few test calls successfully.

But hey, I made RM 200. Did I mention anywhere in my blog that I so love this job? I do!

Sleeping beauty

I wasted yesterday. I practically slept the whole day. Woke up around 9am, went for breakfast with Sunshine and his family. It was a lazy day. After breakfast, we went to check out the new Naza Sutera. Don't really fancy it. We went home and I went back to sleep. Tried as I might to wake up at 3.30pm. Had lunch, it was all prepared. Took my medication and went back to sleep. When I opened my eyes again, it was 7.30pm. I announce myself, Sleeping Beauty!

Hence, as much as I hated it, I dragged myself to work today. It's Labour day, it's triple pay day. If I stayed home, I will continue my sleep. If I stayed home today, I will end up in a very bad traffic jam on Penang bridge coming back from Taiping tomorrow morning. So, I came to work. And I am so proud of myself for my achievement to wake up at 6.45 this morning.

If I didn't work today, I would be shopping. I've got heaps of shopping vouchers to spend. The expiry is nearing. But because of the RM 300 that I am making today, I had to skip that. So, I gave Sunshine my vouchers and he is taking his parents shopping in Penang today.