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!

Business Planning - is there such thing?

You set budgets every year for the umpteenth time now. True, it makes sense to be heading a direction. There would be times tweaking the direction will be required in the middle of the year when you choose to be proactive and make things happen now instead of waiting for the year end to complete itself.

Now come a business which is so fluid, say online travel business. How does one stick to his pants and not chance his mind? This is despite throwing in devils to questions his plans for 2 months? Well, sadly, there is always a new devil born everyday, just like him - a sucker, me. External environment changes and the forces are so great that it rewards those who can change fast. Those that refuse to budge dies in a freak accident when they see no revenue. Those that die a slow death are those that wants to change, but they do at a snail's pace. This is even more excruciating that those that refuse to budge. But who are we to say those that refuse to budge is wrong? But perhaps the timing was all but wrong.

If you ask me, not all business plans are fluke. Sure you can be a doofus* and yet make millions. But planning is key, so is the timing. These helps fool like me who had failed and keep on failing to have a better precision on when to do what, and not to do what. It must be a concious decision.

* Doofus defined as omeone arse that hasn't got a clue! They live in blissful ignorance of the world, fashion, personal hygiene and social skills.

Do not be vocal in Management Meetings!

Even if you feel strongly about an issue. Don't supercharge yourself as if you are fighting for your own right to live.

You often feel that you have fallen out of favour and your peers may not like what they see in you. ie. Don't farking rock the boat until someone falls out. Certain issues are dealt with outside the boardroom.

I remember once I have actually made it to the top of an organisation hierarchy. The foodchain above did not like what I was doing, vocal as usual and make a scene. I was ousted within a month.

I do not like to repeat history. I've got my bacon to bring home. I'm not a fool this time around.

How will GPS help me?

I can drive without asking for directions. A very macho trait of men in which I can live up to now.

It will help locate my house. It shows the many alternatives route back home. Make sense doesn't it? If it doesn't, ask my wife because she might be lost in translation somewhere.

It helps me to bring me and gang to the many Ho Chiak! places that we are dying to try. Sometimes, the urge of having a good curry fish head just strikes you and you know you have to have it. And somehow, does not know many places that you can try.

It truly shines when I just get and address from a pal without the directions to head to his place for a pot-luck, cool eh? They will be asking, "Wah, you know my place well hor?"

It sticks out onto the windscreen. When someother car noticed I have that gadget and when I slow down vehemently, they tend to follow suit. Not that it has a laser detector but it have all the known laser POIs! Yeah man, u follow me.

No necessity to pay summons or bribe the white horse idiot.

It tells me my lattitude and longitute. Feng Shui anyone?

I know now there are many ATM and facilities around my house, including where to park.

I have a Dansk and Hokkien translator helping me if I am lost within the verbal proximity.

Worth every penny if you ask me.

Blog = Trouble?

Blog is trouble. Days of writing diaries are all gone. People share information via MSN, websites, PHP forums and worse poking each other using Facebook. Then again, when are diaries' inner most secrets are shared at all? You obviously write them as you would want to remember something. Call it history. Just like a song that reminds you of an incident. This blog comes with vivid details and video streaming now. I hope my kids sees this and know how much of a spoilt brat there are and what kind of hurt they have cause their mom and I.

Then you have your bosses, colleagues and business partners that bear witness on what you wrote. Unless they do not have computers, else there would come a time they read your sartorial and you unpolished comments about how they act or look stupid. You'd rather be choking yourself dead in the toilet when they choose to bring this up for a happy hour discussion.

Since I have to get started, why not do it in a big bang. Invite the whole-jing gang and have an orgy of comments heading my way. Hah! Till h3ll freezes over please!