We usually fall into a trap of having dichotomous beliefs when in actual fact, the absence of something does not really mean the non-existence of another.
When most view worldly measures of success, there's always an inherent comparison of quantity. "He's earning more than me and just not as capable," someone might grouse. When faced with a temporary setback in life they fret and end up worrying about this and that.
What I have learned through my recent failures are lessons that are essential for life. I know that I'm neither stupid or lazy but things just didn't work out as great as I had envisioned. That was because my initial reasons for pursuing the path were wrong. Along the way, I picked up humility, faith and trust in something greater than humans. I know that this chapter is ending soon and I will move on to my true path, whatever that may be.
Also I learned about management or rather the detriments of having a bad management. Longer hours does not predicate success, neither does a stick. Improper motivation will lead to more unhappiness. Productivity is not a measure of work done but quality of output. Awards for 'best' is usually taken as putting on a show. Random events build teams without proper scientific backing usually leads to nothing.
What is required is an environment where people are driven by an innate desire to pursue the best interests of organisation before self. Everyone works in a congenial environment, willing to help each other out and be creative in their tasks. How does one then build a team like that? How does one encourage team members? Questions that management got to constantly think about and not occupy themselves with fighting fires.
Recently my entrepreneurial spirit has been stoked, plenty of ideas popping in my head but I know most are just distractions that are not well thought out. Also, I recognise the need for proper frameworks, ones that are not overtly inflexible yet encourage productivity. You don't want to waste time reinventing the wheel for each project but work off a goo framework.
Enough thoughts for a rainy morning. Time to move on to a temporary drudgery. Very soon I will be delivered and be excited over new developments all over again!
Friday, April 26
Thursday, April 11
How Not To Give A Pep Talk
So in the span of two weeks, another 2 guys left. They worked the morning shift with me and it was actually long-coming that they moved out. Although I had an inkling change would come soon, I did not expect it to be this fast. A reduced head count and management keeping mum seems to indicate more contentious times ahead.
The trainer approached me yesterday and asked me how I felt with the current exodus. I looked at him and said, it's inevitable I felt crappy about it, even more so when the guys who left were the ones I talked to the most. He said he noticed my current demotivated spirit and tried to give me a pep talk. He began with how despite all his twenty-odd years of experience, he has seen many of his peers who started on the floor with him succeed on this path. When he first started, he too was raking in quite a fair bit until he hit a funk and proceeded to lose his entire stake plus his wife's savings. Then he shared about how his school friends looked up to him in his younger days. Now at this age, he has been reduced to nothing; taking a miserable pay and no qualifications while his peers are planning for retirement and his friends had steadily climbed up to higher management roles in their respective fields.
It seemed more like a cautionary tale. Obviously I thought about these things before and truly, I don't want to end up in a situation like this. While I first embarked on this expedition, I thought I was motivated by my passion for the intricacies of the market but the actual underlying force was one of greed and vanity. That was my biggest mistake but a lesson that I have learnt in a relatively short span of time.
As always, it's time to abandon a flawed policy and make adjustments to my own expectations about what living is all about. I have an answer for that, drop me a message and I will let you know.
The trainer approached me yesterday and asked me how I felt with the current exodus. I looked at him and said, it's inevitable I felt crappy about it, even more so when the guys who left were the ones I talked to the most. He said he noticed my current demotivated spirit and tried to give me a pep talk. He began with how despite all his twenty-odd years of experience, he has seen many of his peers who started on the floor with him succeed on this path. When he first started, he too was raking in quite a fair bit until he hit a funk and proceeded to lose his entire stake plus his wife's savings. Then he shared about how his school friends looked up to him in his younger days. Now at this age, he has been reduced to nothing; taking a miserable pay and no qualifications while his peers are planning for retirement and his friends had steadily climbed up to higher management roles in their respective fields.
It seemed more like a cautionary tale. Obviously I thought about these things before and truly, I don't want to end up in a situation like this. While I first embarked on this expedition, I thought I was motivated by my passion for the intricacies of the market but the actual underlying force was one of greed and vanity. That was my biggest mistake but a lesson that I have learnt in a relatively short span of time.
As always, it's time to abandon a flawed policy and make adjustments to my own expectations about what living is all about. I have an answer for that, drop me a message and I will let you know.
Monday, April 1
Management (And Motivation)
Got a rude shock today when I heard that a senior got suspended (euphemism for receiving the boot) after he told the management that he received an opportunity to work at a competitor. While poaching is not new in this industry, the process that followed was unprofessional and simply driven with emotions more than reason. A clear sign that things are exactly well-lubricated on this boat.
So I was called into an unplanned meeting when we discussed some important aspects of developing the business further. I have been working on some parts of this on my for the past two months but there has not been exactly a clear direction from the management. Or in other words, they think they are managing but in actual fact, it is more on par with Pointy Head's style in Dilbert.
The point of this is not so much a complaint but more of a warning indicator. For months I could feel, breathe and see the contentious air in the office daily. Not one month passes without someone leaving. Even with the new hires last quarter, the exodus is obvious. Some are searching for new pastures, others fearful but feel stuck (non-transferable skills).
When I asked the senior, why did you leave? He replied after much hesitation because he thinks he can learn more at the other place.
A laissez faire management style can only work if the workers are all motivated by a singular goal and see us before self. Whereas the entire structure was built upon a franchise-model, it is nearly impossible to overhaul the system without injuring some egos and creating discordance. From my point of view, I think deep-seeded issues will worsen, morale will decrease further and the company will limp forward without any development.
I tried to give advice, I did my dutiful part as an employee, I contributed beyond the requirements but ultimately, a great sense of dissatisfaction has dawned upon me, especially in the last two-three months. Good bye and good riddance.
May my new door open soon.
So I was called into an unplanned meeting when we discussed some important aspects of developing the business further. I have been working on some parts of this on my for the past two months but there has not been exactly a clear direction from the management. Or in other words, they think they are managing but in actual fact, it is more on par with Pointy Head's style in Dilbert.
The point of this is not so much a complaint but more of a warning indicator. For months I could feel, breathe and see the contentious air in the office daily. Not one month passes without someone leaving. Even with the new hires last quarter, the exodus is obvious. Some are searching for new pastures, others fearful but feel stuck (non-transferable skills).
When I asked the senior, why did you leave? He replied after much hesitation because he thinks he can learn more at the other place.
A laissez faire management style can only work if the workers are all motivated by a singular goal and see us before self. Whereas the entire structure was built upon a franchise-model, it is nearly impossible to overhaul the system without injuring some egos and creating discordance. From my point of view, I think deep-seeded issues will worsen, morale will decrease further and the company will limp forward without any development.
I tried to give advice, I did my dutiful part as an employee, I contributed beyond the requirements but ultimately, a great sense of dissatisfaction has dawned upon me, especially in the last two-three months. Good bye and good riddance.
May my new door open soon.
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