I was, as usual, reading the New Yorker - yes, my tombstone will probably say 'one of the many who reads the New Yorker religiously'. There was this article about naming the decade we just all said goodbye to and where I learned the words Naught and Aught. Of course it was a political / current affairs article, but the words seem unseemly appropriate in describing my life - nothing and anything.
Last year marked the end of the first decade of my work life. Naught - I am still in the same organization, going to work in the same office location, working in the same category of projects with more or less the same people. Oh, how I have come full circle!! I found myself experiencing the same frustration and pondering the same 'what do I want to do' question. Aught - it was indeed a long ride having left and came back to the same organization. I have worked with people I admired as well as those I despised, I have gained as well as lost friends, I have worked on creating something that no longer exist today, and I have been both extremely hard working as well as unbelievably lazy.
What kept me going these days is my project with Mom. As with all businesses, it is more likely that we fail rather than succeed. But, to have the chance to create something with your mother, I guess it is something beyond naught or aught that I can look forward to, right?
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Celebrating 20 years of HONG KONG BOOK FAIR
Against my better judgment, I went to the Book Fair. I did not last long, I was out of there within two hours with a large chunk of time wasted stepping on others as well as being stepped on. I gave up going to it every single year although I know quite a few people who are trying to keep up with this annual ritual. It had become so obvious that I am falling further and further outside the target audience.
I remember the first time I went to the Book Fair. It was with Mom and my baby sister after a morning practice at Wanchai swimming pool. I wonder if it was the every first one in 1989. It was probably the most pleasant memory I had going out with the two of them -- there was no crowd (probably because we were the early birds), you have the entire day to shop from an whole exhibition hall. Normally, it was extremely difficult to get my mother to buy us stuff. However, she has this weakness with books and paper products. It was only in the bookshops that I will be allowed to buy something of my choice. So, it was the sense of freedom and indulgence that I remember.
Working at the Book Fair was almost as memorable, but in a bad way. To be honest, I was curious about how the other side works and was somewhat looking forward to it. Granted, it was early days working for the wonderful I-don't-read-I-only-need-to-know-numbers editor. The bubble was quickly bursted, it was before the doors were even opened. We were sent to the exhibition hall on the set up date - wasted about 2 hours for the set up to be done (which was a copy from the previous year), another 2 hours for the boxes of books to arrive, another 2 hours to try to organize ourselves and did not put books out on display (with absolutely no logical categorization) until 10pm. As I was dragging myself home at night knowing that I need to be back at the same spot staring into space like a zombie, I was questioning why I was doing a teenager summer job as I was nearing 30 and well into my career. Things continue to go down hill from there, I remember screaming and crying from our small working group. I developed for the first and only time hatred for people I see daily. I escape from the job before the next Book Fair comes around but the damage has been done, I will never look at the event the same as before.
As I was squeezing my way around the Book Fair the other day, I did not forget to stop by and see some of colleagues who are still putting up with the craze. Except for the titles, nothing much has changed - same color theme, same set up, same poster layout, same chaos. I guess you must be willing to be a little brainless and lazy to stay in the business for teenagers, right?
I remember the first time I went to the Book Fair. It was with Mom and my baby sister after a morning practice at Wanchai swimming pool. I wonder if it was the every first one in 1989. It was probably the most pleasant memory I had going out with the two of them -- there was no crowd (probably because we were the early birds), you have the entire day to shop from an whole exhibition hall. Normally, it was extremely difficult to get my mother to buy us stuff. However, she has this weakness with books and paper products. It was only in the bookshops that I will be allowed to buy something of my choice. So, it was the sense of freedom and indulgence that I remember.
Working at the Book Fair was almost as memorable, but in a bad way. To be honest, I was curious about how the other side works and was somewhat looking forward to it. Granted, it was early days working for the wonderful I-don't-read-I-only-need-to-know-numbers editor. The bubble was quickly bursted, it was before the doors were even opened. We were sent to the exhibition hall on the set up date - wasted about 2 hours for the set up to be done (which was a copy from the previous year), another 2 hours for the boxes of books to arrive, another 2 hours to try to organize ourselves and did not put books out on display (with absolutely no logical categorization) until 10pm. As I was dragging myself home at night knowing that I need to be back at the same spot staring into space like a zombie, I was questioning why I was doing a teenager summer job as I was nearing 30 and well into my career. Things continue to go down hill from there, I remember screaming and crying from our small working group. I developed for the first and only time hatred for people I see daily. I escape from the job before the next Book Fair comes around but the damage has been done, I will never look at the event the same as before.
As I was squeezing my way around the Book Fair the other day, I did not forget to stop by and see some of colleagues who are still putting up with the craze. Except for the titles, nothing much has changed - same color theme, same set up, same poster layout, same chaos. I guess you must be willing to be a little brainless and lazy to stay in the business for teenagers, right?
Friday, July 24, 2009
Still in Square 1?
I was reminded, more than once actually. 2009 marks the 10th year anniversary of my entering the work force. OMG!!! And I have spend close to 8 of those in one company.
This used to be my worst nightmare - that I am an integral part of an ancient machine which my dad seems to understand better, that I become one of those who seems to be completely out of touch with the rest of the normal world, that I am stuck without the ability to change and move around. Yet here I am, still going to the same building day in day out 10 years from the day I first set foot in it.
To my surprise, it is not as bad as my pessimistic mind imagines. There are consolation prizes - these reminders were made by friends I have met in the office 10 years ago. And we share a delicious hobby of bitching about our system which outsiders are incapable of comprehending. Having paid the price of doing the '3 steps forward, 2 steps back' dances, I have in my pocket enough network and knowledge of how this weird place works to actually be in a position to get some things done. In addition, once you are familiar with the dance, you can be extremely lazy. Which fits me perfectly. I was also pleasantly surprised when some of my colleagues did not realize I actually fall into the category of Old Fossil.
I guess it is fair to say I gained perspective over the last decade and I was indeed luckier than some others.
BUT, it is still my worst fear to find myself working on the same projects for the umpteenth time 5 years from now. Which is by no means an odd sight in our company. I just heard a presentation today which I have sat through at least 3 times before. We managed to create work for our people by just having the visuals within the ppt changed. Talk about spinning without actually moving!!! Can you imagine being 40 and still doing the same projects when you were 25? Scary!!!
I pray that this year also marks the beginning of a successful project. I don't know how Savvy TOTS will turn out but I hope all the spinning that I have done has taught something useful.
This used to be my worst nightmare - that I am an integral part of an ancient machine which my dad seems to understand better, that I become one of those who seems to be completely out of touch with the rest of the normal world, that I am stuck without the ability to change and move around. Yet here I am, still going to the same building day in day out 10 years from the day I first set foot in it.
To my surprise, it is not as bad as my pessimistic mind imagines. There are consolation prizes - these reminders were made by friends I have met in the office 10 years ago. And we share a delicious hobby of bitching about our system which outsiders are incapable of comprehending. Having paid the price of doing the '3 steps forward, 2 steps back' dances, I have in my pocket enough network and knowledge of how this weird place works to actually be in a position to get some things done. In addition, once you are familiar with the dance, you can be extremely lazy. Which fits me perfectly. I was also pleasantly surprised when some of my colleagues did not realize I actually fall into the category of Old Fossil.
I guess it is fair to say I gained perspective over the last decade and I was indeed luckier than some others.
BUT, it is still my worst fear to find myself working on the same projects for the umpteenth time 5 years from now. Which is by no means an odd sight in our company. I just heard a presentation today which I have sat through at least 3 times before. We managed to create work for our people by just having the visuals within the ppt changed. Talk about spinning without actually moving!!! Can you imagine being 40 and still doing the same projects when you were 25? Scary!!!
I pray that this year also marks the beginning of a successful project. I don't know how Savvy TOTS will turn out but I hope all the spinning that I have done has taught something useful.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
What Goes Around Comes Around
For being a child yesterday, I was treated as an infant today. All IM tools and social networking websites were blocked from the company server. While I definite don't belong to the techno-savvy generation, something definitely is amiss.
Easier Said Than Done
We were all taught that fairness is important when we were young. Especially when we were fighting with our siblings or class mates. Yet, somewhere along the path to adulthood, you realise the world does not quite work that way. Some more time passed, you begin to accept it as a fact in life. Otherwise, I will be so bitter for not being the daughter of Li Ka Shing!!
Then why do we, grown and civilised working professionals, still use fairness as an argument? I was dealing with this customer complain at work - this guy came in second in a game (organised by the Club) by a narrow margin. Guess what the complain was about? Apparently, the unfairness has caused him a night of beauty sleep; not the fact that he lost out on a pair of air tickets to New Zealand. Of course, it was not unfair to the others when he was on the receiving end of favors done by us all year long. And amnesia inevitably sets in when we try to remind him of them.
It was magical how a series of phone calls can turned me into a child again. Asking whether it was fair for me to have to deal with this. It wasn't until I was banished by my colleagues for whining too much and left speaking to myself alone in the bathroom that I was once again safely returned to the adult world.
Then why do we, grown and civilised working professionals, still use fairness as an argument? I was dealing with this customer complain at work - this guy came in second in a game (organised by the Club) by a narrow margin. Guess what the complain was about? Apparently, the unfairness has caused him a night of beauty sleep; not the fact that he lost out on a pair of air tickets to New Zealand. Of course, it was not unfair to the others when he was on the receiving end of favors done by us all year long. And amnesia inevitably sets in when we try to remind him of them.
It was magical how a series of phone calls can turned me into a child again. Asking whether it was fair for me to have to deal with this. It wasn't until I was banished by my colleagues for whining too much and left speaking to myself alone in the bathroom that I was once again safely returned to the adult world.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The Things We Worried About
One of my colleagues passed away yesterday, one of those whom I lunch with and whom I bump into day in day out. One of us, not those ancient fossil at the office, how can it be?
I am still slightly in shock. A buzzing sound was turned on inside my head. It is like a PDA reminder from the-power-above reminding me to focus on the big picture. The problems I was so worried about faded away the moment I heard the news. Neither the family financial mystery nor the jello-like stage at work seem to matter as much anymore.
It is part of growing up, learning to deal is part of the deal. Summer no longer means as much these days, I don't remember when I stopped resenting the fact that I need to get up and work during July and August. There are things that I could not control and can't even be bothered, things don't happen simply because I set my mind to it. Cliche are cliche because they turn out to be true, right?
So, I am now going to seize the day and watch some TV.
I am still slightly in shock. A buzzing sound was turned on inside my head. It is like a PDA reminder from the-power-above reminding me to focus on the big picture. The problems I was so worried about faded away the moment I heard the news. Neither the family financial mystery nor the jello-like stage at work seem to matter as much anymore.
It is part of growing up, learning to deal is part of the deal. Summer no longer means as much these days, I don't remember when I stopped resenting the fact that I need to get up and work during July and August. There are things that I could not control and can't even be bothered, things don't happen simply because I set my mind to it. Cliche are cliche because they turn out to be true, right?
So, I am now going to seize the day and watch some TV.
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