Fidget Widgets

Just a few days ago, my boss and his bosses were on the dinner table talking about the latest mobile phones and how we are to keep abreast with new technology. My boss knows well that I have always kept an eye on his TYTNII a.k.a TITAN a.k.a the Kaiser super duper PDA/Smartphone the first day he bought it. He suggested to the CEO that she should sell her mobile to me. She brushed it aside and said although it was not user friendly (she have the same phone), she must have the discipline to keep it for 2 years to ensure that the money paid for has served her purpose (whatever that means!).

While surfing my calender in my office this morning, my boss strolled in and gave me his HTC S730. Okay it's no TITAN but it's looks all brand new. Boy, was it a surprise! He showed me the reason, it was the Samsung OMNIA in his pocket! Dang.

Well, I told him if he wants the 2nd hand value back (and I was prepared to dig my slim wallet out), he said, "No need". Dang! What does that mean? Was it a gift? Is this a sign that he was trying to engage me and buy loyalty? Currently, I am working with my ex-boss (he's part time now doing some projects for my CEO) and he knows how involved I get with him. He also knows that now my CEO want direct feedback now from me instead of waiting for his sluggish actions.

I'm being too childish. My boss is not that kind of person that buys people over (but he is) or engage a person so that he favours him (saw him doing that before though) or induce someone to change his mind (which he does so convincingly sometimes witout you even noticing it). I have a simpler reason, he need me as his colonel. A colonel that works like a dog for such a measly pay, kick asses and leave his with the praises for the gangly regiment, a colonel that wades through thick mud and booby traps all over the boardroom. Honestly, I willingly and readily do his dirty job without much contention. Damn, I do not only deserve my monthly pay packet but this as a bonus too.

Oh and by the way the Dopod C730 which have served me well for 9 months was from him too! Hahah! It is a good phone and I am considering to give it back to him. In any case, I did exchange my Plam Treo for this C730 - should i give him back or sell it? The last time I check, the Dopod was fetching Rm350 on eBay. To me, it is worth a fair bit more like RM500. This I must consider over a few weeks (until then it becomes a feeble matter and I will forget about it altogether).

Ha! Notice the plural on the title? Yes!

It a white-boxed UK version of the Garmin 610 with Bluetooth capability. A discontinued model since launch in 2007 but I got it for a song! GBP110 including VAT. Bought it over the cyberspace and have it shipped to Bender's abode in Brimingham. Later it was hand-delivered to Ahpek's BIL house. Sent me to just before Hari Raya in time for my Sitiawan trip / holiday / my BIL wedding.

I have actually used Bender's unit before when I was travelling to SIN. Works fantastic and it is very accurate. To make it even more sweeter, Bender bought his unit at GBP150 (saving me 50 quid), I've also asked that Bender to buy me a pouch at 10 quids and a XD 4MB card at RM75. With that 4MB card, I'll squeeze in about 1,000 songs or 5 movies in MP3 format, can I?

So far the white-boxed unit worked fine despite Ahpek's feeble attempt to scare me of the worthlesness of the unit in Malaysia, his stunt roller coaster ride with loose pants containing the unit and his lack of response to my sms pertaining to my delivery of this unit. Ahpek, much obliged. Mucho obrigato amigo!

Thanks also to my bradder (who chooses to remain annonymous for fear of retribution by MALSINMAP)who was kind enough to put me through all the shit-load of guenea-pigging in purchasing, paying and getting it delivered. In anycase, if he had done any good, it was loading the GPS up with MAL SIN maps. Thanks bro!

Now that I am a confirmed widget nerd, I am now empowered to talk crap and shit down on you when it come to widgety gadgets.

Now if I can just configure my calender thingy and by the way, where the heck is the XD card slot har?

Hands to Work And Hearts to God

Getting up the corporate ladder is not difficult at all. It's your continued consistency in behaviour and ability to stay on top that counts. That's performance I guess.

I have mulled over a couple of months now if I should go back to deputise my ex-boss in a subsidiary. Factors that prompted me to go back are as follows.

1. I do not wish to be part of the senior management team that do not think anymore. The culture is so bad that my current boss was almost sucked into it without him knowing it at all. Thinking is so much more an integral part of planning and a process that time and effort should be based on. As a result of "no think through" on the processes, the management loses focus, direction and the way forward. I cannot subscribe to this mentality and will not subject myself to be a yes-man. I believe that we must focus our efforts on the opportunities available but not ALL opportunities. Spreading resources thin, making too many staff multi-task on matters of feeble in nature, divesting in venture and forgoing where the bread and butter come from is too much for me to take and sink in.

2. I have fought the war with loonies for almost 5 years now. I need to seek greener pastures and more room to develop myself. Dealing with internal warlords is much much more difficult than dealing with an external client. I have given sufficient time for my boss to deal with his boss but he almost threw in the towel. It is not that I could not face the reality but heck it has been a lousy 5-year and I have been subdued from delivering my best.

3. Then there is Henry. My ex-boss whom was left in the lurch when it comes to finding his successor. I'd admit that I have learnt a lot from him as a taskmaster and he would continue to surprise me with his antics and his senility (Shhh! He does not take these words too kindly.) But I am sure that he is all so happy to receive me with open arms as he has no one to leave his legacy to. And he's a bloody tough act to follow in exceeding his profit target by 53% last financial year!

4. I guess I am going back to my inner nerd or becoming a "brick & motarian" instead of this online business. While I do admit the future of travel is online but I do get my own autonomous region to manage albeit a much smaller scope of currently what I am handling. (Talk about another warlord in his fiefdom!) But this would allow me to focus and go down on my hands and knees to tighten up screws with a motley crew of 70. I have worked with many of them before and there is also a gang which is young, bright, exciting and have the tenacity to run the extra mile or two.

The downside provided me some reservations not to move.

1. I would be labelled as "the guy who made it all the way to the top and fell all the way down". I am at the top of my game and yet I choose to dirty it all over again. The cyclical downfall is too drastic - making all the way up the corporate food chain and to reach down the limbo stick. The fact that I now occupy prime office space of 400sf and moving down to another half the size does creep in.

2. But most importantly, I feel sad that the company for not being able to utilise me to the best of my capability despite my capability and willingness to climb those peak and dive into the Bermuda Triangle. I feel that the company can actually do much better if realise their mistake earlier and made the positive changes at a quicker pace.

Or perhaps it is my mistake?

Perhaps I have failed to fathom the qualities of being a corporate raider and speak aloud when I was supposedly to be quiet. Perhaps I was too naive to voice out my intention to shift - I should have put up with it and stay in that ladder as long as my fingers can cling onto. Perhaps I should have sunk myself into the mentality of my bosses.

My rise was truly meteoric (yes?) 13 years and all the way there to the corporate office. Perhaps I should have stayed more sober and quietly presenting results which are favourable. Perhaps I was engaged by the retiring forces in the company that put me in a different perspective to view life after retirement and what the company has done for me and what now (after retirement) it will do for me. Too many suppositions, I suppose.

I have made the decision to move. Hands to work and hearts to God. I shall leave it as that for the time being.

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.