Office Politics at the Higher Food Chain

I view myself as an instrument of the Company to create wealth, fortune and continuity in business in return for my livelihood. I have never an issue pertaining this statement and it held true when I was hired and for all the future I see as long I am involved in the business of prospering.

If all indications point out to you that you are a power-tool and a swiss-knife by your bosses, your colleagues, peers, suppliers and clients - there must be some kind of truth in what they say. The perception of my boss's boss is that I am a blunt saw, a chipped axe and a crooked nail.

It's all depicted very nicely here in this chart.

My chairman is "The boss". My immediate boss is the "Right Hand Manager". Me as the GM is the "Left Hand Manager". Both my boss and me have a sideline report to the CEO, "The Outsider" as shown. The Chairman usually have Visions every single night and his variety of visions come to him every single night without fail. He tries to implement them but fails miserably as his visions does not transpire easily and he has bad credence historically amongst his staff and industry people. He's rude, obnoxious and an angry man whose balls are hung up everytime he meets his wife, the CEO for a results review. My boss, the MD came into the picture as my respected father figure boss retired a couple of month back. My deal with him was this - he handles the Chairman and I'll get rest of the planet in line for reconstructing the business. He did not keep to his bargain. A few months back, he announced that his immediate boss is his "COO" thereby relegating me to head 2 business units. I accepted this decision but threw in a single condition. Autonomous region like Tibet - no one mess with me on the decision I make, I am answerable to no one except to him (coz i know the Chairman will micro-manage). Promised but not delivered. He has allowed the chairman to become the COO, providing me intructions I cannot follow (I can't because he's outright wrong for the past 20+ years and will continue to be wrong).

I do not know how to thrive in this political game. I am a professional manager who manages commercial issues, I lack the will and the ability for office politics.

Last week, I gave my ultimatum to my boss. I wanted out. I wanted to be transferred to some other company to at least have autonomy on the business decisions I make. He said no and assured me he will make ammends. I won't let him go off the hook so easily now.

New Phase of My Humble Abode?

After a long wait of 2 years I finally got a mail from Petaling Garden Bhd inviting me for the launch of their last phase of houses in Sri Petaling next weekend. The houses cost from RM470,000 for their 2 storey 22 x 80 link terrace. It was a far cry of RM350,000 per expected on it's selling price.

Nevertheless, still excited and went with the girls and Kelly to take a closer look at the opened gates - it was not completed but almost. I would say the handing over will be a few months from now.

I was not impressed by the designs at all. The facade looks 90's and the roads are tad narrow - would be impressed by a 40' width road tho' aha! On the inside, the quality of the built left so much to be desired. Would expect to throw in another RM200,000 for renovations (at the current building material prices). The layout is atrociously unpractical. Rooms facing each other, narrow staircases. Oh, BTW, I'm commenting on the 2-storey and the 2.5 storey link houses which I saw and photographed. No green lungs - sigh! Compared to my current abode, it hardly have any greens - or perhaps the landscaping will come by at a later stage.
The 2-storey link is definitely out as it faces 340degrees NNW or 160 degrees SSE (facing the Ipoh Chix Rice) - limited count as well 30 units.

The 2.5-storey link is bad for fengshui and I don't want to climb those stairs when I am or my missus is on wheelchair. The thing I like is the 3rd storey - big living area which i can turn into my workspace after work. RM520,000 and above however does not convince me to buy though.

Granted the building material cost have swelled and the inflation is inevitable but for that kind of money, I might as well find some place I really like and get a semi-detached house instead.
I have went to the MAPEX at Mid-Valley last weekend too just to scout at the prices, went through the claassifieds and went through some web-based real estate agency sites - it has left me a message - BUY QUICKLY THOSE HIDDEN GEMS TO HEDGE AGAINST INFLATION!

Me and my missus will be active in house auctions and the real estate again!