NEW JOB

The long wait is finally over.

I am going to start a new job at a new company at a new place. Everything will be new.

In two days time, I will officially step my foot on their well driven path. And I am pretty excited.

IT'S ABOUT MINDSET

"If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall in the ditch."

 - Jesus Christ -

This month has been a roller coaster ride for the production department of the company. Not really an exciting ride but more of a gruesome domino effect destroying the momentum of the production, or better yet destroying the morale of the workers?

I don't see it that way, neither the few employees who know the real deal of the situation nor the few laborers who are in the right mind to understand what is really happening in the moment.

So what was the quake that hit and shaken the department?

Usually, March kicks off the start of the lean season for our product. This is also the time when the Finished Goods (FG) Warehouse is trying to recover their stocks in order to stabilize the goods that is resulted from the peak season's demand. Unexpectedly, the peak season's demand is stable until this month which is a good indication of stable market and higher sales. Good for the company and hopefully good for the employees!

As it turns out, the FG has a low buffer stocks which resulted to a hand and mouth process of delivering goods. Worst that it gets, incomplete and delayed delivery has been observed. So profit loss is expected but for sure it's just minimal.

What were the contributory events that lead to this?

ANOTHER BUDGET MEETING

Last Friday was supposed to be the Budget Meeting of the company for the year 2011 (although, it should have been scheduled before the end of 2010). Managers were discussing about the Sales Forecast so as to project the annual Production Schedule and as per the needs arise adjustment in terms of labor and machinery can be prioritized in the budget.

Much of my dismay was the aggravating disappointment expressed by the President. He expected a more elaborate and deeper discussion of data and proposals. After two hours of running into circle of instructions and expectations, the meeting was called to adjourn. Meeting rescheduled. 

I may not be in the right place to discuss or to express my ideas in that management meeting but I can't help but to take notes on how things were done on the upper level of the company. I am negatively amused on how they assessed things and issues right through.

• They talked about EFFICIENCY. Efficiency in terms of production and delivery lines is something to be stringently dissected. It will serve as the determinants for a more productive activities of the company. Purchasing of a new machinery with a pre-determined quality and addition of labor force can be few of the possibles aftermath if efficiency is determined correctly. But in the case of that meeting, everyone is talking about 100% Efficiency! Is it possible to have a 100% efficient delivery or 100% efficient production? Unfortunately, no one will argue and take stand that his/her process is 100% efficient due to the fact the anything discovered or invented has rooms for improvement to reach a nearly perfect efficiency.

• Misleading BASIS and FORMULA. The first presentation on the meeting concerned Finished Goods Warehousing and Delivery. The manager talked about the capacity of his warehouses and delivery trucks but one thing he kept on insisting is his 100% efficiency. As part of the audience, I was skeptical to accept the data he provided. I didn't even got the chance to ask him on how he came up with such figures. But thanks to our President, he gave it a blow. He asked questions after another. He highlighted few tools to use. With that scenario, clearly the manager did not know what he is talking about yet he was so persistent on clarifying the figures just to make it believable.

• Intellectual interpretation of data. This was my major disappointment to the said management communication. Sitting on the left of the President was our Comptroller. After the first manager presented his data, the President asked the Comptroller on how he will interpret the figures. I don't know if he really understood or he really took time to study the data but his answer was so lame, such an elementary interpretation. Right through his face, the President told him to have a more elaborate and deeper interpretation due to the fact that he holds such high position. Indeed, it was such a strong blow to the Comptroller's ability that on the most possible way will have a negative impact on his capacity. As far as my insights were concerned, he should have been more proactive and opinionated. He should have done his assignment.

In my perspective, the management holds the power in the company. They have the ability to move people in a better direction.  They have the position to nurture the company and help the President to think strategies that will have a bearing in  achieving its full potential.

Well as for the small people like us, we are hoping that they are in the right state of mind to lead the company towards a greater success. They have their ideas and we also have ours.

THE VISITOR

He was an unexpected visitor in that very good afternoon.

I was busy doing my job. Finding what could really inspired me to continue to this organization. And then I found the answer in that very good afternoon.

I was hanging by a thread. I already made up my mind that once an opportunity knocks on my career door then it is a major career move. But in that very good afternoon, something came up unexpected. I just wanted to see more of the big plan. I wanted to be part of it. I wanted to stay to witness a drastic change for development.

The visitor shared a piece of his vision. A vision that dictates a new realization that there is a huge box of expectations waiting to be opened in two years time. It was a relieve. I was wrong to be too judgmental. Nevertheless, that very good afternoon was rewarding.

I was overwhelmed when I learned that the visitor and I shared something in common.  We wanted a technology-based production that can surpass the quality standards that we want to implement.  We were in agreement to a certain issue of the organization in terms departmental and unit reconstruction. I connected to a certain level of rational thinking with the visitor in that very good afternoon.

In that very good afternoon, I was visited by the President.

WHAT A YEAR!

I felt that this year has been unproductive. Though I landed my first job that almost consumes my entire year, I felt empty in terms of career development.

January - April
I was very busy for job seeking.

May
I got my first job.

May - October
Probationary Period.

• A laboratory room was established.
• Initial acquisition of necessary laboratory tools and equipment.
• Initial study on new products.
• Compiled necessary Test Methods.
• PCO Assistance

November - present
Regularization

• New formulation for an existing product.
• New formulation for new type of the same product.
• Further study on other products.
• Working on Quality Assurance Development Plan.

So few accomplishments.  Most projects are on-going status. These give me frustrations.

But before the year ends, something worthwhile happened. I hope this will push through. I am keeping my fingers cross.

HARDWORKING ASSHOLE

After two weeks of thinking whether to tackle or not this issue, I just moved by the sudden change of situation in the company.  So here it is.

* * * *

I always believe that for an organization to reach its goals at an optimum ability and phasing, choosing the right person with the right and exact qualifications and experiences is a major consideration that has to be scrutinized and given priority especially when this person has to hold a vital position in the organization. People is a machinery that boosts the productivity of the organization.

But what happens when people are little bit off to their ability to take major responsibility yet still clinging to that edge of desperation to impress the organization? A MAJOR DISASTER.

Here are the few signs that a high profile person in the organization is barely inexperienced yet trying hard to take the challenge.

(1) He/she holds a technical position that requires in depth knowledge on process and troubleshooting yet he/she is an accountant. (No offense to our best accountants that do their job well in the context of their ability and knowledge)

(2) He/she serves as a bridge over troubled technical know how between his/her subordinates and the management yet he/she can not justify the means.

(3) He/she tries his/her best to digest technical information including but not limited to chemical reactions, rejection data, quality standardization and material testing yet for sure he/she is very troubled.

(4) He/she always agrees with his/her subordinates trying to look that he/she knows the details of the topics yet he/she looks an asshole when having that kind of scenario.

(5) And the worst of all, he/she takes the credits of a well done job performed by his/her subordinates.  A MAJOR ASSHOLE!

For sure, some people will tell that this person is just exploring his/her other skills which is an acceptable reason.  He/she is trying to expand his/her unparalleled horizon of hardworking.  Yes! He/she is hardworking but please be a SMART WORKER.

LOADS ARE GETTING HEAVY

These past few days, my loads are getting heavy.  About 80% of those are work-related and the rests are personal matters.

My shoulders are tired.  I just need some rest, longer hours of sleep and good company.

PREDICAMENTS

I wonder how many people dream to have successful and growing careers. I wonder how many of them want to be remarkable in their workplace. I wonder how many of them commit to have legacy at their own right that can be always remembered. I wonder how many of them dream big as much as I dream exaggerations. I wonder how many of them express their discontentment on their impressive achievements. I wonder how many of them want to initiate change. I always wonder...

When I enter an organization, I always bring high hopes, dynamic drive, spontaneous passion and commitment in me and expect to share the same spirit with others. I am optimistic that every hour is worthy of staying and learning. I am a contributor that wants to take every step to a higher level of growth and precision. I am a revolutionary. There is a part of me that jostles against inappropriate culture and norms. Inappropriate culture that hinders development, and norms that deprive the rule of new beneficial expectations and actions.  

Unconventional. That is the idea. 

Now that I am part of an organization, where do I stand?

At this moment, I stand at the edge. I want to question their rule and expectations. I want to question their ability to cope with a drastic change of technical development. I want to see their ability to accept change. I want to scrutinize their plans on how they will invest not only in the future of the organization but also in the machinery that boosts the production of their valuable goods. I want to know the basis of accepting qualified people. I need to comprehend how they value people. I need to know the answers to the puzzling questions that can trigger a sudden turn down of events that may affect the organization in a blitz.  

But for now, I can do my observations. Examine the prevailing atmosphere. Do my job at best. Invest in my own development. Do my part.

Afterwards, if things are still the same, radical change may crawl without signs.

CAREER. POLITICS. RELIGION

Career is a race.  Race of endless learning.  Race of timeless experience.  Race of progress through life.  Race of self-competitiveness.

Politics is a collective effort.  An effort to make things in order.  An effort to withdraw non-conformance.  An effort to withstand power.

Bad politics is a riot.  A riot of effort to grab some ass*s of superiors.  A riot of crawling self-interest.  A riot of grudges to make other people unproductive.  A riot of provocation.

Religion is a belief.  A belief of origin.  A belief of organized worshiping.  A belief of submitting oneself to the Creator.  A belief of giving back the blessings of life.  A belief of concern.

Mislead religion is a disgrace. A disgrace of insanity that clings to quantitative value.  A disgrace of egoistic claim.  A disgrace of self-proclaimed savior.  A disgrace of gathering people towards the idea of salvation and of which the sole provider is the mislead belief.

Is it possible to see these elements working hand-in-hand in a workplace?

Absolutely YES!  Try to ponder this example.
     
       John was a new technical employee at Company A.  He had good credentials upon application: good grades, strong leadership background, remarkable achievements, and excellent communication skills.  Though a stranger in his new job, he adjusted quickly which can be validated by his successful projects and on-going technical proposals.
       With these results, his superior was impressed and proud.  Proud of himself that he was the one who discovered that potential in John.  Proud of himself that he got an eye for a glistening gold.  One thing unusual about them was John and his superior were of completely different field of expertise.  John was a technical person while his superior was a not-so technical.  So, how the heck did they understand each other?
        Every time John proposed a project, it was his superior who presented it to the management.  John did not have any idea how things were presented if it was convincing and worthy of approval.  Feedbacks that were always given by his superior, "it is for further study", "it is under consideration" and the worst, no feedback at all.
         John was always blinded on the progress he wanted to.       

So how are the three working?

D I F F E R E N C E S

Differences is the key for bad politics and mislead religion to oppress a dynamic career.  You may not totally agree with me but where in the world could you see that career, politics and religion work harmoniously to reach an ultimate goal of development?  Even church and state have its separation and whenever one is trying to influence the other, for sure it is a riot.

On the contrary, differences can be settled upon compromising. Meet halfway.  But the sad part, compromising can not be reached in a workplace where greediness for power, inflicting self-interests and cultural stagnation are prevailing.

So what will happen to poor John?

He has his choices.