Showing posts with label Office. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Office. Show all posts

Friday, September 11, 2015

A-Not-So Blogging Comeback

I stumbled upon Ceiboh’s recent blog entry and made me realize the same point he delivered, a comeback in blogging.

I don’t know. It’s been like 5 or 6 years from the time I blogged. The ultimate aim was just really to share stories, experiences and to document anything I feel like putting out here. As I try to relive those days where I write random stuff about love and other noteworthy ventures, I wonder what inspired me, to be honest. While I know my aim, I can’t help but get motivation from the engagement and interactions I get from blogging. It was fun and people were generally appreciative.

Most of the bloggers I know are into Twitter. Micro-blogging may have killed the blogging hobby, but I still think that blogging is completely separate from expressing mental farts, to scientific discoveries, arts, video blogging and all other platforms where you express, rant or just plainly show-off.

A lot of things have changed and mostly have infused themselves as how technology moves. Just observe how Apple technology changed the game with how we produce output at work, arts, gaming and all other things you can imagine. It’s just that crazy.

Just like snail mail, I think personal blogging should not be deterred by how we use technology in expressing and documenting our lives. Where everything now is a free-flow, the more I think that we must explain ourselves and put more color to our thoughts and feelings. We have all the technology to engage and share, what we need right now, is the passion to really connect and tell our stories with a little bit of play of words and not just turn everything visual and one-liners. Because at the end of the day, I still believe that we should elicit exchange of significant thoughts than to invite miscommunication and misinterpretation.

Do I have the time to go back to this piece of junk? Well, hell yeah. My life might have been a bore for the last three years, I am still thankful that I’m still learning a few and I’d like to share some of these things in my blog. Things changed and I know it’s a cliché. I still never outgrown my desire to really write, share and inspire others, especially those who have known me through this blog and those that I made friends with.

Just few updates about me. I’m happy with my current partner right now. We’re currently on our 16th months and things are looking brighter for both of us. Work is tough, and is getting tougher. I work in a BPO but I’m now more than a year in the morning shift. I got a small team, but I get the fulfillment with how strong, independent and competent my team is. Family is great. Sister has already stayed in New Zealand for more than a year. We have plans of visiting her next year. I put on hold my plan of working in NZ, but I’m not closing doors and I still would want to migrate if given the chance. I started to go out again and meeting new friends has given me a new perspective in life. I lagged behind badminton, but I’m starting to pick-up on this activity since last week. I’m now staying in a new house in San Jose Del Monte Bulacan, and Bamba (my Nissan Navara pickup) is still my best companion in travels, most recent long-drive of which is Baguio. I have plans of doing video-blogs again! But I might postpone until next year, as I migrate to a new country. *fingers-crossed*


Oh life. It goes on. At my age where people think I got it all together, I think I’m in a perpetual stage of planning and really just living each day at a time. I’ve no regrets. And to my span of influence, may we all find our happiness in our journeys. 

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Performance Management


If you work in a people business, you can sure relate to this entry. If you have plans of immersing yourself in this type of industry, I hope that this will help you understand and comprehend the eclectic facets of the field. However, some knowledge points can widely be incorporated to any type of situation but more so to the type of personality that aims to acquire or achieve. For those otherwise, I hope in a way, this can give you a different type of perspective.

Performance management as defined by Dr. Aubrey Daniels in 1970, “..is a technology for managing both behavior and results, two critical elements of what is known as performance.” The definition conspicuously uses technology brought about by science applied through skills. It aims to reduce defects, maximize potential or just simply, succeed.

For anything you do in life, you manage your performance. If you are student, you aim to have higher grades and your end goal, to pass or exceed expectations. If you are a member of the workforce, you aim to hit targets, complete projects, sell, analyze and implement. Your end goal is to ensure these are all met so that you can keep your job and bring food to the table. If you are an entrepreneur, you look into your operating costs, study the market and your customers, and invest intelligently your money and talent. Your end goal is to ensure you have steady growth in profit and assets. If you are in showbiz, you battle out in gaining projects, series of shows whether in TV or theatre and aim to get endorsements. To keep your job, it’s a must to be popular. Your fame is nothing but primordial. The same line of thinking goes for the government and other types of industry.

Achieving goals and sustaining it, needs performance management. I can think of two intertwined results of performance management and those are – expected influx in income and motivation.

To manage performance, we need something to propel behavior. A sense of commitment should take place so we can draw specific job requirements’ output. Managing performance therefore starts from ensuring we know the major or foremost goal for a certain individual. Influence and leadership to oneself or the team, is perfect ingredient in determining or bringing out commitment. Motivation on the other hand should juxtapose commitment. Without motivation, performance management is next to impossible.

It is a known fact that motivation determines a person’s capacity to sustain desired action or behavior. Therefore, it is imperative for any organization leaders to ignite motivation in its truest sense. There are so many forms of motivating the staff. I can name a few: recognition, rewards and discipline. To motivate oneself on the other hand varies from person to person. It is subjective. But it doesn’t hurt to motivate yourself through recognizing your own strengths, rewarding yourself for a job well done and putting discipline in line with your personal goals in life.

Performance management is necessary in life as it is necessary to learn a skill or hone a talent. This skill or technology is a must for change and development to take place. It is you who can tell which structure will best work for you, just understand and learn to be open to your approach. Because at the end of the day, we all aspire to be successful and if failure  is inevitable after you have given all – that’s called excellence. 

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Self-Help Bookfest


In a span of three days, I’ve been consumed in closing out pages from my old self-help books. Some of them I have not finished reading particularly those I’ve started almost a month ago. I just left few chapters of it, as I get caught up with some professional stuff I need to put a start with, say, interviews and Six Sigma review.

I’m really a fan of self-help books. This type of books actually serves as a mentoring device for yours truly. Experiences and insights of the authors truly make them effective as a personal mentor. Stories about failures, successes and breakthroughs are really inspiring and empowering which makes you want to start living them. In other words, it triggers hope and faith that you can achieve whatever you want to be.

For some, self-help books are rather but useless in the real life. I admit that I have the same propensity in the outset. But series of events lead me to seeking wisdom from well-known authors. If pragmatism is of the issue here, I think it really depends on the receiver. Bottomline is we should think that we are cherry-pickers. Meaning, we could choose to learn from the different generous tenets of it and apply it on our personal lives, or we could choose to dampen them with doubt and pessimism – or simply walk away.

Thank You Power
-Deborah Norville

We all know Deborah from the show Inside Edition. The author narrates different stories (her own and other people) and proved that practicing this very positive gesture of appreciation and gratitude can really help. Only last month, I started a gratitude entries in this blog which made me appreciate my current life beyond rejections and failure. It was a very painful chapter in my life and believe me; my mind was really clouded with despair until I bumped into this book. You see, the problem with yours truly is that I’m a person who seldom asks help from others, I realized that. This book didn’t help me in that aspect but it did help me in one aspect of life – expressing gratitude. Yes, it’s indeed true that when you see things in different light and putting it in a pedestal where you can see the bigger picture, your life starts to make sense. It gives you purpose and makes you want to go on.

Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do!
-Robert H. Schuller

This book took me eight months to finish. By stroke of some sloth or laziness, I never get to finish at least two chapters in one sitting. The problem back then is that I was so tied up with work and things were going smoothly. Until some unfortunate events happened. I think destiny really would want me to experience failure until I get to appreciate Mr. Schuller here.

The book was really a straightforward guide to coping up with stressful events. Like any other self-help book authors, Mr. Schuller did an amazing job narrating anecdotes and breakthrough stories of ordinary and extraordinary human. I was really compelled to reading this book after the disastrous event in my career life. However, I believe Mr. Schuller will not agree to naming it disastrous but just some pivotal ingredient in my life. Whatever we go through right now is just a phase preparing us for better things ahead. I was given a very workable approach in handling problems and road-blocks in life.  Then I’m really geared up, refreshed and ready to take on the next challenges of my life after reading this.



How to Conquer Your Goliaths
-Bo Sanchez

Humor is part and parcel to Bo Sanchez’ writing. Early 2010, I’ve attended one of his seminars, “How to be Truly Rich” and that was during the time I bought this book. He really can inject humor, and oh boy, how I enjoy and learn from it. I can’t help but smile and occasionally laugh on how he presented ideas and concepts in this book. My take away from this book is discernment and having the courage to fulfill dreams in God’s guidance. Hence, it is easy to surmise that through that concept we go back to where we should start from the beginning of all things, and that is love.

The Gift of Leadership
-John C. Maxwell

I’ve always been a Maxwell fan and have read three books he authored including this. This book talks about different steps for self-improvement and handling changes in organization. If you want to reinvigorate your career life and motivate yourself whether you’re in leadership position or not, I suggest you read this.

***
I still have some books to finish, but I intend to finish them before the year ends. Majority of it were gifts and some I bought years ago.

The Heart of a Leader
-Ken Blanchard

The Way of the Sheperd
-Dr. Kevin Leman and William Pentak

How to Delegate, A Guide to Getting Things Done
-Herbert M. Engel

Good Advice for a Bad Economy
-John Ventura and Mary Reed

The Complete Job-Search Handbook
-Howard Figler

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Getting to Know Leomer

Here's a partial list of some things you may want to know about me: 


FOOD:
1. I love to eat; except that I don't eat native chicken and goat
2. I was trained to eat whatever that comes up in the table; except those mentioned in #1
3. I love sardines and hotdog; I call them comfort food
4. 2 cups of rice for me please
5. Green-leafy vegetables are just awesome
6. I love condiments especially patis (fish sauce)
7. I most of the time crave for okra/talong dipped in bagoong (alamang/isda)
8. I prefer fish over pork, but it seldom happens
9. When it comes to desserts, I love vanilla ice cream or yogurt
10. I'm a coffee drinker
11. I eat pork isaw. Like 10 sticks in one session
12. I seldom drink beer, I prefer tequila, brandy, Tanduay Ice or red wine
13. I'm currently craving for tokwa't baboy
14. I love Karate Kid, Chef d' Angelo, Napoli's and Jolibee
15. I can't forget Planta Hotel's Asian Pork 
16. I've tasted dog meat
17. Weirdest thing I ate was adobong frog
18. Popcorn
19. Seafood pesto makes me happy
20. Meiji black chocolate lifts me up


LOVE and ROMANCE
1. I'm currently on a strong and long-term relationship
2. I consider to having serious relationships since 2005 only
3. Before 2005, I've been to numerous relationships
4. I had my first boyfriend in 2001. We lasted for a year and 6 months
5. I'm a sucker for romance
6. I had 3 serious relationship from 2005-2006; on these three, I'm the one in charge, and I'm the one who called it off. 
7. I only had one boyfriend older than me, refer to #4
8. I prefer younger guys back then
9. Nimmy and I lived together for 1 year and 8 months
10. I still have crushes, but I get to be turned-off easily
11. I still think of Mark Herras
12. Moreno is a plus
13. Bad-breath is hell
14. I don't like overly intellectual conversation, it gives me nosebleed and earbleed
15. I hope to get married soon with Nimmy


EDUCATION
1. I used to dream of becoming a lawyer. I took up Political Science major in Public Administration in PUP Sta. Mesa. 
2. I was a President's Lister for 2 years. 
3. My GPA for the entire course is 1.63
4. I was a badminton varsity player of PUP for 4 semesters
5. I'm the 2nd Grandmaster of our college debate frat. I've joined two national debate contests
6. I joined rallies and the most memorable one was EDSA 2. 
7. I graduated Salutatorian in High School
8. I'm not a natural smart person; I'm just studious
9. I can't study on loud music
10. I think I'm better in speaking than writing
11. I'm a grade conscious person
12. I love libraries and the smell of old books
13. I hate math subjects
14. I almost failed the subject, Logic because of the movie Titanic. You know, cutting classes.
15. I've never figured out the significance of 4 semesters in ROTC.


ATTITUDE
1. I'm an optimist most of the time
2. If you don't like me, I don't like you too
3. I'm a forgiving person
4. I'm honest and transparent person
5. I get easily frustrated if I don't get to achieve small goals
6. I seldom shout on heated arguments
7. I walk out to clear my mind
8. I have small tolerance to arrogance
9. I'm an impulsive buyer
10. Leadership by example
11. I don't choose friends
12. I seldom lend money
13. Perky to some people
14. I can sense if someone is upset
15. I'm a combined type A&B person a.k.a. bipolar


OFFICE
1. I always have my game face on in the office; pretending to be busy
2. Stupid bosses deserves a flying kick
3. I seldom do overtime
4. I prefer an American boss than a Filipino
5. I genuinely love developing subordinates; I love seeing them promoted
6. For a time, I prefer salary over loyalty in the company
7. My best mentors were Barbie, Leah and Lavi
8. I have few closest friends in the office - Joanne, Joey, Debbie, Rose
9. My best supervisor was Jong
10. I miss my Bacolod QA team
11. My last two bosses were unforgettable
12. I enjoy deploying a project and transitions
13. I love excel, powerpoint and visio
14. On team buildings, no one sits beside me. They always want me to be alone, I think
15. I enjoy doodling while on a meeting

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Reunion of Strength and Faith

I'd like you all to meet my friend, Bob. 

We met October of 2007 in one of the largest and newest call centers that time in Quezon City. It was when original teams get to be dispersed to new groups in lieu of schedule bids of agents. I was handling a team of technical support reps, and our team was called VOL 41. Bob became my new senior agent. 

My impression of him was that he's funny, smart and active. I know him to participate in almost all company-wide activities, i.e., sports fest, outreach, tree-planting and so on. 

I have vivid memories of Bob during team meetings. He would normally crack jokes, comment on new processes, ask questions and share best practices. He has this charisma to his new colleagues which makes him a perfect candidate for a mentor role. 

In few months time, Bob and I have to part ways. Him, moving to a new team and me handling a new group of agents. 

Fast forward, I moved to support group, got promoted and finally left Operations. 

With those changes in my career life, Bob also carved his own road to success. He became part of the Marketing and Communications department and was very instrumental in the important events of the company. 

Few years later, I have to leave the company for greener pasture and just like everybody else, Bob also moved out from the same company. 

Bob and I were never really close during our career life in the same company. We never hang-out but whenever we see each other in the office, we get to say our hi's and hello's. He still calls me TL (which I realized everyone does), albeit I relinquished the post several years ago. Bob was really a very polite person. Bob and I have a lot of things in common. We're both PLUs and we have long-standing relationships. Unlike me however, Bob got separated recently with his four years relationship with the same office mate as ours. 

Through fate, Bob and I have recently become Twitter buddies. We renewed ties through our humorous tweets.  We laughed, we talked and we inspired each other. 



Inspiration is something we derive from friends. We never get to see each other often, but we knew deep inside that we're just there, a text or a tweet away. During low-times, Bob cheers me up through text and through funny tweets. 

Until I found out something. 

All the while, I never thought Bob is stricken by a disease. Happy & healthy person, that's Bob for me. 

A confession made me realize that Bob needs me not only for those exchanges of funny tweets, but also for his emotional and morale boost.

Bob was diagnosed Positive with HIV. 


Bob, I'm not sure if you remember this notebook with a red ribbon and bell on. 

This was your gift to me for Christmas of 2007. 

I've kept this gift all along, not that I don't know what to do with it, but I really cherish gifts that has something to do with writing. I really do appreciate it.

I know that you also love the song Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield, having seen this several times in your status updates in Facebook. 

I'd like to remind you that a huge part of our lives are still unwritten, and we all have a very long way to go.

You've inspired me in so many ways especially on how you handle things at this moment. Your happy disposition really helps you a lot to cope up with the disease. 

Bob, I'd like to thank you for the friendship. But above all, I thank you for your prayers. Trust that you are always in my prayers too. Thanks for reminding me of my faith and how it renews my strength to move on and face challenges like you do. 

You're a blessing Bob, always remember that. 

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

The Much Needed Clarity Walk


"Friend, when are we meeting up?"

"I'm free today, let's meet! You have work today?" I asked.  "Yeah, after my shift or later during my break?" 

"Let's go for after the shift!" I replied enthusiastically. 

Joanne was my previous officemate. Pioneer managers of our program, we didn't hit off as instant buddies. She has her own LOB (line of business), mine was different from the usual Voice process of the BPO. However, we both occupy an elevated pedestal, overlooking the Operations floor on our front while overlooking the pristine beauty of Mckinley, the Fort at our back. We both didn't like the instant fame our seating arrangement has given us, but being on each other side, we get to know each other more. Few short conversations turned out to be serious talks about our work, our relationships and other craziness. 

I decided to meet her tonight although there were some reluctance on my part. I don't like driving in C5, and I was afraid that I may not contain myself in front of her. Not that I have huge issues in my life, but recently, I was on a turmoil despite the happy facade people see in my Twitter and FB. My ever loving husband had convinced me easily and reminded me, that it was me who needed help and some sort of advice. 

Of all my friends, Joanne is someone I consider as mentor. As peers, I look up to her for her indomitable experiences.  She never sugar coat, obvious straightforward, but knows how to cure the heart and the spirit. 

Back then, when office is steaming hot with pressure from deliverables, we back-off by means of taking Clarity Walks. We plainly walk outside, buy something to drink like coffee, soda or water and just vent out. It helps clear our mind. It cleanses it of whatever pollution as it been contaminated. 

My friend Joanne is someone I know who's just like everyone may have been challenged by life and thrown out to different obstacles. She turned out to be a fighter and stayed to be optimistic in life. We both clicked on this aspect. Not that we rationalize things around us, but we both have the strong faith that whatever bad the comes along, it'll just surely disperse on its natural course of time. 

Joanne, thanks for the undying support and love for your dear friend, me. 

You showered me with true hope
Believed in me, when I doubted myself
Make me realize what's true
Uplift my spirit endlessly


It was great driving with you and conquering Ayala and Buendia. It was sweet to see MacYummie texting you while we drove and laughed at me beating the red light.  It was awesome seeing your condo and the majestic view from your balcony. Apart from that, thanks for the time and listening to my stories. 

See you soon! 

Follow my friend's blog: Walk With Faith

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Working in My Sick Bed



So officially, this is my day 1 WAH (work-at-home). My rules:


#1 - I dictate my hours of work. 
#2 - Phone calls are limited to 2 minutes
#3 - Conference call me at your own risk. Unless you want clients to hear our neighbor's dog
#4 - Don't pressure me on deliverables. I am currently on Medical Leave, coercing me to finish a task is considered maltreatment and is punishable under the Penal Code (yeah, just making this up)
#5 - This is not free. I am reimbursing my internet fee and electric consumption of this laptop


Honestly, this is one of the days where technology is not running towards your favor. 


I'm sick, with freaking blemishes all over my body and face (shet, kala mo naman kagandahan). No need to explain further. 


Urgggghhh.... 


I want to be a billionaire. 


So FREAKINGGGG BAAAADDD!!!

Sunday, September 26, 2010

In Bacolod the Next Three Weeks

Part of my job is to manage and to have face to face with my folks in Bacolod. Few things I'm looking forward to... Seeing my staff and give feedback, align processes and set expectations. The usual stuff.


On the other hand... Hehe, this is the fun part.... LAKWATSA.


The last time I was there, I didn't have that chance to really wander the city that was Bacolod. Well this time, we have clients coming from Belleville, Canada and part of our job is to be their tourist guide. What the heck. I think they can count me in as tourist too. Anyway, this time, I'll make sure to view more sceneries, eat more seafood and bring home more lechon! :) I've tried Calea's cake - but it's a pain in the ass bringing that cake home. But believe me, Calea's cake is the shit!!! LOL. Someone told me too that we'll have more itineraries this time so I better be ready.


One thing though that I'll surely miss while I'm in Bacolod is Nimmy. I'll not be home for three weeks but good thing to know that my sister Melissa and him will follow me on the 7th but they got to go home on the 10th and I'll be back on the 16th. At least, I still get the chance to see my Nimmy!!! eeeee.


I hope the trip will be safe and I'll be productive there. I want to get things done - both the work and the lakwatsa.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Few Days to Go...

I only got few days left here in the current organization I'm with. However, I don't feel sad by the fact that this has become my home for nearly 10 months. Yes you heard that right. I've been here only for a few months compared to the previous where I managed to stay for nearly 5 years. Reminiscing my previous years of existence in the corporate world, I realized I've been working for nearly 10 years and all of my responsibilities involved service industry. From banking to call center, it shaped my character and my being. 


Cheers to the 10 months! I'll be missing a few - Joanne, my ally and my partner. We were the pioneer managers for the account we are handling and it was indeed a pleasure working with her. Debbie - my best friend in the office. We talk almost about everything! From work, to love life and aspirations, I'll surely miss our Starbucks moments!


And to those other officemates I'll be leaving behind... Bahala kayo sa mga buhay ninyo! Thanks for everything! Mga leche kayo... mas mataas na sweldo ko sa inyo bwahahaha... I learned team work from you all. 


As they say, no goodbyes, only 'till next time... (whatever)





Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Sleepy Head

Contrary to the title, I have no right of being one. Few days from now, exciting things will unravel and Anteros Dominion and I will have something in common. This will bring about things on my plate which will entail me stressing out myself juggling from one task to another. I hope my new "home" will be as welcoming and as jovial as expected. 




And contrary to what people are reading from my Mahal's blog, we're ok. It's nothing but normal to have few misunderstandings, but we are one strong couple.  

Monday, July 19, 2010

Star of the Night

It's not the first-time I won an award like this. I won the same back to back "Dashing Debonair Award" from JS Proms during high school.


13 years (or so) after, I got the crown back through one of our recent corporate event. Not that I despise the idea of me being recognized as "gwapo" yuck talaga, I just feel uneasy that people cheers and yells your name so you can get the loudest and resonating vote. Normally, I'm a very simple guy. My get-up is not the fashionista type. I go for comfort and fashion is on the 2nd rank.


I'd like to thank those who have voted for me in this very prestigious award. You guys are crazy. LOL.
with Debbie, my bestfriend in the office

Thursday, July 15, 2010

and I REALIZED it...

With all humility, I just needed to share this happy moment in my life.

I just drove my car from home to my office! BWAHAHA. Funny, but I just find this one proud moment in my life. I know we (including Nimmy) wrote about Dominador (name of my car), but I just got student license back then. Now, I'm fully licensed to drive - and I realized my dream of going to work with my own ride. 

Shet, ang babaw no? 

Pero the feeling is just exhilarating. Thank you Lord for this blessing! 

I love this day. I love you all! :) :) :)

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Pre-Monthly Business Review

So we're supposed to have a dry-run midnight, Manila time. Due to unforeseen circumstances and lack of better planning and management - it was moved to 2am. Pero hindi pa rin, nag-start ng 2:30am. These are the instances where I can sense that it's really getting ugly here. Define time management please.

I was the first to present my numbers and read out my team's opportunities and action plans. Applause. There are few minor revisions and adding more of details to the story for last month. Kaboom lang. It appears pa rin naman that I've prepared. Kahit hindi to be honest.

Now my co-managers have to present their numbers, and everyone should give out feedback. By the way, we are five managers all in all with the Director inside the board room.

My turn to give feedback. "I got nothing to add, I just don't felt the significance of the report. It's a new project and I've felt there's no hype involved." Napatigil ako panumandali. Geese. I think I've said something that made my co-manager sit on hot water. Director made a comment to the group,"That's the most sensible point I've heard so far."

Award si lolo mo. Ang galing ko talaga. (yuck) Yun nga lang, at the expense of my co-manager. Pero sabi nga, you need to learn to give honest feedback. You owe it to your team mates. Good thing it was accepted maturely.

Di naman sa nagyayabang, but it really feels good when you are APPRECIATED.

Ikaw, when was the last time you appreciated your co-workers?

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Happy Happy!

Like what Soltero commented on my previous post, "Pakita mo lang na masaya ka..." So true. Ang saya saya ko and folks around me are wondering.

Power dressing pa ako ng lagay na yan. Parang aatend ng binyag elegante lang.

Well...Sabi nga nila, ang taong hitik sa bunga, binabato.

Sabi ko na lang, kung puno ako, isa akong Narra.Connect? Wala lang. Gusto ko na lang ng ganito, hirap mag-isip eh.

I'll just use my precious brain cells to analyze the performance of my sups and develop them in becoming like me. Pero wait. Do they want to be like me?

Siguro, kung kanilang susunduan ang aking yapak, dapat, graduate silang Salutatorian nung HS, Cum Laude nung college, Badminton fanatic, crazy mag-isip, subtly nerd, malakas tumawa sa corny na jokes, strict, kilala si Maxwell, jologs kapag dress-down days, matakaw at higit sa lahat, masaya ang love-life.

San ka pa.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Blog-hopping Day

After reading a lot of blogs today, I realized that I'm just killing time and being bored is so underrated. I've enjoyed one blog and I'm beginning to be a fan. He's so funny and when he writes, it's as if he's just doing a plain conversation to his friend. Very candid and humorous.



There's another blog which tested my profound thinking. Another one caught my carnal instincts.


Albeit my being work unproductive, I feel that my cyberslacking is teaching me the patience of reading and learning from other people's experiences.


Thanks bloggers for keeping me company.

My Pre-4th of July Shift

I got home at around 11am yesterday morning. My first day on a very graveyard shift was a bit tiring. Tiring kasi nakakaantok at tiring dahil wala akong ginawang may significance sa aking trabaho. Nagmistula akong counselor sa isang QA specialist, taga-decide sa mali-maling schedule ng Work Force, and of course - nag-cyber slacking ako all day round.

When I got home, pinatakbo ko muna si Dominador. My neighbor advised me to at least turn on my car's engine if I'm not gonna use it. Masisira daw kapag di pinapaandar. My dad second the motion. Nagpractice ako mag-parking. In my driving career, parking is the most challenging talaga. Sobrang bilib tuloy ako sa mga driver na nakakapag-parallel parking. Paano kaya nila ginagawa un? Balak ko na kumuha ng license sa Friday kahit di pa rin flawless ang aking parking.

Few more minutes after spending time with my car, naligo ako at natulog. Wala pa si Nimmy nung nakatulog ako. Few hours more, nagising na lang ako sa yakap ni mahal. Haay. Our yapusan moments are really priceless. Swerte ko sa napaka-malambing kong asawa.

At natulog ako maghapon hanggang gabi.

Then I decided, papasok na ako. Sunday dito at di ko alam kung may PUJ pa. Buti na lang meron. Ngayon ko namiss si Dominador. Dapat nadadala ko na siya sa office. But I still can't because I still don't have my non-pro license.

Napasakay ako ng cab dahil wala na akong masakyan ulit. Mind you, four rides ang ginagawa ko araw araw. Pero keber lang. Si manong driver medyo friendly. Probably gusto ng tip. Well, wag na siya umasa sa akin. Ang kulit niya and he asked me kung ano spelling ng Essensa. Natawa na lang ako at pinatulan ang tanong niya. "Ahhhh... un pala un," sabi niya.

Pagdating ko ng office, walang masyadong event. Pero ok na rin na ganito. I feel so relaxed. Now I know kung bakit ako dapat matuwa sa schedule ko.

Keri na. :)

Sunday, July 4, 2010

I'm on a 1am (Manila) Shit, errr, Shift.

Just when you thought the worst is over.

My crazy boss and his imbecile boss placed me on a shity schedule. Graveyard to the highest level. Not only that - a Friday and a Saturday off. How pathetic is that. He's really pissing me off and he's not even talking to me face to face. Insecure sa ganda ko?

To be honest, they've ran out of things to do to demotivate me. They can't just put me down. And this is what Nimmy was angry about in his previous post.

It's really tiring. It feels like you're just going to work to get money. I'm not happy anymore in this hell workplace despite of few good friends I've had. Hirap maging mabait.

Well, on a second thought. I got no boss on this particular time. I'm the only manager on this shift so I might as well enjoy, aye?

I know this will be over soon, so I'm kissing this work pain goodbye. (buntong hininga...)

Kairita lang kasi.

Ang ganda pala ng Eclipse. I've seen it with my super cool office mates before going to work. Team Jacob ako!!!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

48 Laws of Power

This brings back memories when I was still a supervisor.  



The 48 Laws of Power

by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers
Law 1
Never Outshine the Master
Always make those above you feel comfortably superior.  In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite – inspire fear and insecurity.  Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.
Law 2
Never put too Much Trust in Friends, Learn how to use Enemies
Be wary of friends-they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy.  They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove.  In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies.  If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.
 Law 3
Conceal your Intentions
Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions.  If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense.  Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelope them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.
 Law 4
Always Say Less than Necessary
When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control.  Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike.  Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less.  The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.
 Law 5
So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard it with your Life
Reputation is the cornerstone of power.  Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides.  Make your reputation unassailable.  Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen.  Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations.  Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.
 Law 6
Court Attention at all Cost
Everything is judged by its appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing.  Never let yourself get lost in the crowd, then, or buried in oblivion.  Stand out.  Be conspicuous, at all cost.  Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, more mysterious, than the bland and timid masses.
  Law 7
Get others to do the Work for you, but Always Take the Credit
Use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause.  Not only will such assistance save you valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed. In the end your helpers will be forgotten and you will be remembered.  Never do yourself what others can do for you.
 Law 8
Make other People come to you – use Bait if Necessary
When you force the other person to act, you are the one in control.  It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning his own plans in the process.  Lure him with fabulous gains – then attack.  You hold the cards.
 Law 9
Win through your Actions, Never through Argument
Any momentary triumph you think gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory:  The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion.  It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word.  Demonstrate, do not explicate.
 Law 10
Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky
You can die from someone else’s misery – emotional states are as infectious as disease.  You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster.  The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you.  Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.
Law 11
Learn to Keep People Dependent on You
To maintain your independence you must always be needed and wanted.  The more you are relied on, the more freedom you have.  Make people depend on you for their happiness and prosperity and you have nothing to fear.  Never teach them enough so that they can do without you.
 Law 12
Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm your Victim
One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones.  Open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people.  Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive and manipulate them at will.  A timely gift – a Trojan horse – will serve the same purpose.
 Law 13
When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest,
Never to their Mercy or Gratitude
If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not bother to remind him of your past assistance and good deeds.  He will find a way to ignore you.  Instead, uncover something in your request, or in your alliance with him, that will benefit him, and emphasize it out of all proportion.  He will respond enthusiastically when he sees something to be gained for himself.
 Law 14
Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy
Knowing about your rival is critical.  Use spies to gather valuable information that will keep you a step ahead.  Better still: Play the spy yourself.  In polite social encounters, learn to probe.  Ask indirect questions to get people to reveal their weaknesses and intentions.  There is no occasion that is not an opportunity for artful spying.
 Law 15
Crush your Enemy Totally
All great leaders since Moses have known that a feared enemy must be crushed completely.  (Sometimes they have learned this the hard way.)  If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will eventually break out.  More is lost through stopping halfway than through total annihilation:  The enemy will recover, and will seek revenge.  Crush him, not only in body but in spirit.
 Law 16
Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor
Too much circulation makes the price go down:  The more you are seen and heard from, the more common you appear.  If you are already established in a group, temporary withdrawal from it will make you more talked about, even more admired.  You must learn when to leave.  Create value through scarcity.
 Law 17
Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability
Humans are creatures of habit with an insatiable need to see familiarity in other people’s actions.  Your predictability gives them a sense of control.  Turn the tables: Be deliberately unpredictable.  Behavior that seems to have no consistency or purpose will keep them off-balance, and they will wear themselves out trying to explain your moves.  Taken to an extreme, this strategy can intimidate and terrorize.
 Law 18
Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself – Isolation is Dangerous
The world is dangerous and enemies are everywhere – everyone has to protect themselves.  A fortress seems the safest. But isolation exposes you to more dangers than it protects you from – it cuts you off from valuable information, it makes you conspicuous and an easy target.  Better to circulate among people find allies, mingle.  You are shielded from your enemies by the crowd.
 Law 19
Know Who You’re Dealing with – Do Not Offend the Wrong Person
There are many different kinds of people in the world, and you can never assume that everyone will react to your strategies in the same way.  Deceive or outmaneuver some people and they will spend the rest of their lives seeking revenge.  They are wolves in lambs’ clothing.  Choose your victims and opponents carefully, then – never offend or deceive the wrong person.
 Law 20
Do Not Commit to Anyone
It is the fool who always rushes to take sides.  Do not commit to any side or cause but yourself.  By maintaining your independence, you become the master of others – playing people against one another, making them pursue you.
 Law 21
Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker – Seem Dumber than your Mark
No one likes feeling stupider than the next persons.  The trick, is to make your victims feel smart – and not just smart, but smarter than you are.  Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you may have ulterior motives.
 Law 22
Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power
When you are weaker, never fight for honor’s sake; choose surrender instead.  Surrender gives you time to recover, time to torment and irritate your conqueror, time to wait for his power to wane.  Do not give him the satisfaction of fighting and defeating you – surrender first.  By turning the other check you infuriate and unsettle him.  Make surrender a tool of power.
 Law 23
Concentrate Your Forces
Conserve your forces and energies by keeping them concentrated at their strongest point.  You gain more by finding a rich mine and mining it deeper, than by flitting from one shallow mine to another – intensity defeats extensity every time.  When looking for sources of power to elevate you, find the one key patron, the fat cow who will give you milk for a long time to come.
 Law 24
Play the Perfect Courtier
The perfect courtier thrives in a world where everything revolves around power and political dexterity.  He has mastered the art of indirection; he flatters, yields to superiors, and asserts power over others in the mot oblique and graceful manner.  Learn and apply the laws of courtiership and there will be no limit to how far you can rise in the court.
 Law 25
Re-Create Yourself
Do not accept the roles that society foists on you.  Re-create yourself by forging a new identity, one that commands attention and never bores the audience.  Be the master of your own image rather than letting others define if for you.  Incorporate dramatic devices into your public gestures and actions – your power will be enhanced and your character will seem larger than life.
 Law 26
Keep Your Hands Clean
You must seem a paragon of civility and efficiency: Your hands are never soiled by mistakes and nasty deeds.  Maintain such a spotless appearance by using others as scapegoats and cat’s-paws to disguise your involvement.
Law 27
Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following
People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something.  Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow.  Keep your words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking.  Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf.  In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power.
 Law 28
Enter Action with Boldness
If you are unsure of a course of action, do not attempt it.  Your doubts and hesitations will infect your execution.  Timidity is dangerous:  Better to enter with boldness.  Any mistakes you commit through audacity are easily corrected with more audacity.  Everyone admires the bold; no one honors the timid.
 Law 29
Plan All the Way to the End
The ending is everything.  Plan all the way to it, taking into account all the possible consequences, obstacles, and twists of fortune that might reverse your hard work and give the glory to others.  By planning to the end you will not be overwhelmed by circumstances and you will know when to stop.  Gently guide fortune and help determine the future by thinking far ahead.
 Law 30
Make your Accomplishments Seem Effortless
Your actions must seem natural and executed with ease.  All the toil and practice that go into them, and also all the clever tricks, must be concealed.  When you act, act effortlessly, as if you could do much more.  Avoid the temptation of revealing how hard you work – it only raises questions.  Teach no one your tricks or they will be used against you.
 Law 31
Control the Options: Get Others to Play with the Cards you Deal
The best deceptions are the ones that seem to give the other person a choice:  Your victims feel they are in control, but are actually your puppets.  Give people options that come out in your favor whichever one they choose.  Force them to make choices between the lesser of two evils, both of which serve your purpose.  Put them on the horns of a dilemma:  They are gored wherever they turn.
 Law 32
Play to People’s Fantasies
The truth is often avoided because it is ugly and unpleasant.  Never appeal to truth and reality unless you are prepared for the anger that comes for disenchantment.  Life is so harsh and distressing that people who can manufacture romance or conjure up fantasy are like oases in the desert:  Everyone flocks to them. There is great power in tapping into the fantasies of the masses.
 Law 33
Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew
Everyone has a weakness, a gap in the castle wall.  That weakness is usual y an insecurity, an uncontrollable emotion or need; it can also be a small secret pleasure.  Either way, once found, it is a thumbscrew you can turn to your advantage.
  Law 34
Be Royal in your Own Fashion:  Act like a King to be treated like one
The way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated; In the long run, appearing vulgar or common will make people disrespect you.  For a king respects himself and inspires the same sentiment in others.  By acting regally and confident of your powers, you make yourself seem destined to wear a crown.
 Law 35
Master the Art of Timing
Never seem to be in a hurry – hurrying betrays a lack of control over yourself, and over time.  Always seem patient, as if you know that everything will come to you eventually.  Become a detective of the right moment; sniff out the spirit of the times, the trends that will carry you to power.  Learn to stand back when the time is not yet ripe, and to strike fiercely when it has reached fruition.
 Law 36
Disdain Things you cannot have:  Ignoring them is the best Revenge
By acknowledging a petty problem you give it existence and credibility.  The more attention you pay an enemy, the stronger you make him; and a small mistake is often made worse and more visible when you try to fix it.  It is sometimes best to leave things alone.  If there is something you want but cannot have, show contempt for it.  The less interest you reveal, the more superior you seem. 
Law 37
Create Compelling Spectacles
Striking imagery and grand symbolic gestures create the aura of power – everyone responds to them.  Stage spectacles for those around you, then full of arresting visuals and radiant symbols that heighten your presence.  Dazzled by appearances, no one will notice what you are really doing.
Law 38
Think as you like but Behave like others
If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them.  They will find a way to punish you for making them feel inferior.  It is far safer to blend in and nurture the common touch. Share your originality only with tolerant friends and those who are sure to appreciate your uniqueness.
Law 39
Stir up Waters to Catch Fish
Anger and emotion are strategically counterproductive.  You must always stay calm and objective.  But if you can make your enemies angry while staying calm yourself, you gain a decided advantage.  Put your enemies off-balance: Find the chink in their vanity through which you can rattle them and you hold the strings.
Law 40
Despise the Free Lunch
What is offered for free is dangerous – it usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation.  What has worth is worth paying for.  By paying your own way you stay clear of gratitude, guilt, and deceit.  It is also often wise to pay the full price – there is no cutting corners with excellence.  Be lavish with your money and keep it circulating, for generosity is a sign and a magnet for power.
Law 41
Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes
What happens first always appears better and more original than what comes after.  If you succeed a great man or have a famous parent, you will have to accomplish double their achievements to outshine them.  Do not get lost in their shadow, or stuck in a past not of your own making:  Establish your own name and identity by changing course.  Slay the overbearing father, disparage his legacy, and gain power by shining in your own way.
Law 42
Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep will Scatter
Trouble can often be traced to a single strong individual – the stirrer, the arrogant underling, the poisoned of goodwill.  If you allow such people room to operate, others will succumb to their influence.  Do not wait for the troubles they cause to multiply, do not try to negotiate with them – they are irredeemable.  Neutralize their influence by isolating or banishing them.  Strike at the source of the trouble and the sheep will scatter.
Law 43
Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others
Coercion creates a reaction that will eventually work against you.  You must seduce others into wanting to move in your direction.  A person you have seduced becomes your loyal pawn.  And the way to seduce others is to operate on their individual psychologies and weaknesses.  Soften up the resistant by working on their emotions, playing on what they hold dear and what they fear.  Ignore the hearts and minds of others and they will grow to hate you.
Law 44
Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect
The mirror reflects reality, but it is also the perfect tool for deception: When you mirror your enemies, doing exactly as they do, they cannot figure out your strategy.  The Mirror Effect mocks and humiliates them, making them overreact.  By holding up a mirror to their psyches, you seduce them with the illusion that you share their values; by holding up a mirror to their actions, you teach them a lesson.  Few can resist the power of Mirror Effect.
Law 45
Preach the Need for Change, but Never Reform too much at Once
Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level people are creatures of habit.  Too much innovation is traumatic, and will lead to revolt.  If you are new to a position of power, or an outsider trying to build a power base, make a show of respecting the old way of doing things.  If change is necessary, make it feel like a gentle improvement on the past.
Law 46
Never appear too Perfect
Appearing better than others is always dangerous, but most dangerous of all is to appear to have no faults or weaknesses.  Envy creates silent enemies.  It is smart to occasionally display defects, and admit to harmless vices, in order to deflect envy and appear more human and approachable.  Only gods and the dead can seem perfect with impunity.
Law 47
Do not go Past the Mark you Aimed for; In Victory, Learn when to Stop
The moment of victory is often the moment of greatest peril.  In the heat of victory, arrogance and overconfidence can push you past the goal you had aimed for, and by going too far, you make more enemies than you defeat.  Do not allow success to go to your head.  There is no substitute for strategy and careful planning.  Set a goal, and when you reach it, stop.
Law 48
Assume Formlessness
By taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack.  Instead of taking a form for your enemy to grasp, keep yourself adaptable and on the move.  Accept the fact that nothing is certain and no law is fixed.  The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as water; never bet on stability or lasting order.  Everything changes.