Tag: Writing

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Take One Day At A Time To Rebuild A Career

2020, my first month of the year was busy and productive. What about you?

Friday, the 31st of January, the last time I set foot in this place that had been the centre of my corporate life in the past 4 years. I packed up all personal belongings (not that I had a lot), said goodbye to my colleagues, and left my swipe card for good. I took one last look before heading down to the lifts. This is it. The door is closed. I’ve moved on, no hasta la vista baby. I won’t be back.

In the wake of my departure, last night, I wrote a long post on Facebook saying that I’ve been made redundant. Since then, I’ve received an outpouring of support from friends and colleagues. It’s made me realize that I’m not alone in this journey, now and in the future.
My original idea was to wait until I’ve landed a job, and then I can start bragging about it. But I changed the plan. Unexpectedly, the responses have been overwhelming (in a pleasant way).

That’s the thing. We live in a result-oriented, outcome-driven society. Often what makes the cut, what makes the cover story is a gloss finish we see. In between, we don’t get to see the by-products or the unsexy side of the process that comes along with it. Perhaps we all have been conditioned to believe that only a happy ending is Facebook-worthy, others aren’t.

I’m glad I broke the theory, the stigma around the bad, and the ugly. I don’t need to over-state the good and the beautiful. We’ve seen enough of it on social media already. What should be trending now is: People can feel free to talk about their vulnerability and be completely OK with it. It’s your platform, play hard, but most of all, play real.

I don’t wish to dwell on the redundancy that’s now truly behind me. It’s a history. Right now, it’s all about my next move. But before I can make a move, I’ll need to recharge my batteries.

It’s important to note that it’s only the job that was taken away from me. The ability to rebuild my career has not, conversely, neither the ability to sabotage myself.

You can be your best ally. You can also be your own worst enemy. Since no one can hold two thoughts at the same time, it’s a choice you need to make. Both are hungry wolves. One will power you up, and the other will eat you up. If you believe what I’ve just said makes sense, then you’d agree that before you can bounce back, you’ll have to acknowledge the ball is in your court.

Well into February, the new year seems already like a distant memory. Day one, I’m making no plan A, let alone Plan B. I won’t say I’m unemployed. I’ll say I’m between jobs. See the difference? Living in the moment is an art and truly a lifelong subject. I’m happy to just do simple things in life – playing it by ear, doing some writing, enjoying this little haven of mine, and it’s OK not to know what the next avenue is…

Till next time, keep exploring and watch this space…

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Bye Bye My Job

So, it’s over. We’re through. This is it. I’ve been made redundant. My last day with the company was the 31st of January 2020.

Two days before that, I had a photo taken in the office. It was me sitting on my chair smiling. What was I smiling about? Money? Maybe not.

That’s the thing. What I’ve learned about life is: You either laugh or cry. You can’t do both at the same time. At least you can’t do it without switching from one emotion to another.

So, the question of to laugh or to cry? I chose to smile.

Being made redundant is never easy, but trust me it does get easier. How do I know for sure? Because this is my bloody 3rd time! I won’t be surprised if it isn’t my last. No hard feelings. I’m not putting on a brave face. Don’t believe me? Let’s do a reality check.

None of us has a career trajectory that is a smooth straight line like an airport runway. Well, we don’t call it a trajectory if it’s completely flat, do we? Everyone is bound to have some ups and downs in their career path – it may be a winding road leading you to somewhere flourishing, it may lead you to no where – a dead end. It’s an uncomfortable truth when our career takes an unexpected turn – a downturn. But trail and error – it’s only a normal process.

Job job job. It’s not always fun and games. Here we are. We have this free market promising opportunities for profit making. Unless you run a charity, every company will want to have a piece of the pie. Of course, not all end up making money. Some will win, some will lose. The winner takes it all. And the loser? Bears it all!

When a company is going through a process of restructuring due to profit loss, inevitably, staff cutting (along with cost cutting) is often on the card. Assuming it’s done ethically and legally, anyone who’s got laid off, should receive an amount of payout based on their years of service and unused annual leave etc.

Since it’s written in a contract and agreed by both parties, they (an employer) have the same right as you (an employee) to terminate the employment under some prescribed circumstances. It’s the same in my case, no point of getting too upset or too uptight about being made redundant. Think about it, there’s no such a thing as life term employment anymore.

Laugh or cry, after all is said and done, where do I go from here? Wouldn’t it be nice to have another job lining up somewhere and know exactly where I’ll be heading? Not quit! This time, I’m going to embrace uncertainty and be totally OK with it.

My reason for waking up in the morning before and after the redundancy hasn’t changed, except, I’ll take more time to feel what I feel, take it slow, look after my health, get some decent sleep going forward.

You can see it’s important to stop and smell the roses, but that’s not all for me. I want to remind myself, don’t forget to be grateful for: Those before you who planted the roses…

There’s a 3 week gap between this post and the last on my blog. It’s the biggest gap by far. During this period, I’ve mainly focused on doing my last job (it sounds weird to say my last job) and the handover stuff as well as job hunting. It’s taken the bulk of my time and energy, leaving me with no spare moment to sit down and write.

I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to a small number of readers. I’m glad you’ve kept coming back to check my latest blog post. I don’t know who you are but your loyalty hasn’t gone unnoticed. Well, since I’m going to have so much time on my hands now, I’ll have no excuse but start to write more regularly.

Lastly, as I said to my colleagues in the farewell message: Till our paths cross again, watch this space! Good luck and all the best…

Keep smiling!

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My Take On Job Hunting

I get it. Looking for a job is never an easy process, it’s a treadmill or it wouldn’t be called a work.

I’ve written a few posts in the past about job hunting, so what exactly makes this one different? The quick answer is: Nothing. The reason why I’m writing about this topic again is because I need to make sure I’m always prepared.

To all job hunters including myself, what can I say? The only certainty is uncertainty. It may sound like a cold comfort but knowing what you’re up against – the unknown, can put your mind at ease. It’s very important to set this record straight. So you know uncertainty is part of baggage we all have to carry sometimes.

I cannot stress this enough. Job hunting starts with the mindset. The skillset comes second. Before you put yourself out there, you mind is already playing a trick on you: Do these self-talks sound familiar to you?

  • No, I can’t.
  • No, I don’t think I qualify to do that.
  • No, I don’t have enough experience.
  • No, I don’t think I have right skills

No this No that. Your brain is hacking you with all sorts of impossibilities. By the time you sit down and begin your first application, you are already exhausted from a series of negative thoughts and self-sabotage.

Here’s the fact: No one matches 100%, point by point, word by word, exactly what the recruiters ask for in the ad. It’s up to you to convince the recruiters why you’re the best candidate among the rest.

We know the competition in the job market is fierce. It’s tough, no doubt about it. Companies like Google or LinkedIn often attract hundreds of applicants. The success rate is less than 1%. For every job opening, there can only be one winner, a gold medalist. No sliver, no bronze. It that cruel? You bet!

But don’t despair too quickly. Of course, let’s not play it down – that shitty feeling – Sure, it sucks. It’s a disappointment that you don’t get what you wanted. But… every time you send an application, get short listed, it’s an achievement. It is, think about it. Congratulate yourself. Seriously, it’s only a matter of days, weeks or months before you’ll be the one standing on the podium cheering.

Here’s my take on job hunting:

  • Give full attention to your targeted jobs. Write a compelling, authentic application that recruiters can’t put it down.
  • If you’ve sent the same type of resume and cover letters on 10 occasions but don’t even get one response back. You need to review and rewrite.
  • Give yourself a good head start. Don’t wait till the job market starts to pick up. If not now, then when? Remember, someone out there wants the same job as much as you do. What do hungry wolves do? They go out and hunt their prey.
  • Every time you lodge an application to a potential employer. It’s another step closer! If it’s going to take 100 applications to get there, now only 99 left.
  • None of my ex colleagues became unemployed and stayed jobless forever. All of them landed a job at the end. So, unless you give yourself up, there’ll be opportunities, there’ll be opening doors.

For me, starting December, I’ve submitted 6 applications so far. And? I’ve already got one telephone interview. Since I also include this website on my resume, there could be some recruiters reading this. Given my blog is all about building life skills and becoming a stronger person, I hope they can see what I’m made of and what I’m capable of.

Finally, job hunting is a like an investment. No secrets. It’s sensible not to put all eggs in one basket. Obviously, recruiters don’t just interview one candidate, right? You shouldn’t put your life on hold for one company, either. If you get a bit sick and tired of the whole thing. It’s OK. Go and have a mini break, recharge your batteries. Come back and knock their socks off!

Good luck! As always, watch this space…

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Ted’s Quote 31

When to speak up for yourself? When you are not ready!

You do it when your voice is trembling, your legs are shaking, your palms are sweating and your heart is racing. Everything but readiness… Ted Tsai

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Jamie’s Poetry 4

Not everyone can forgive but we all can give.

Not everyone can give money but we all can give help, knowledge and things.

Funny everyone likes to take but not everyone takes time to give…

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Ted’s Quote 30

The answer is: Yes and No.

If you’re a Yes person, don’t be afraid to say No.

When you say No to something, inadvertently you’re saying Yes to something else… Ted Tsai

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What Is Your Word Of The Year 2019?

If you could use one word to sum up your whole year 2019, what would it be?

Let the story unfold…

Our office Christmas party 2019 was held on the 13th of December. On that day just one hour before we headed to the venue, all the staff got together in the office to listen to a pep talk given by our CEO. In this pre-party speech, presenting in his usual open and candid style, he described 2019 as a year of bitch. Soon after he’d said that, I heard a few laughs around the room. Well, he wasn’t exaggerating. We all shared his sentiment, 2019 has been a tough year for our business.

Given we are in the agribusiness industry, our financial performance is dependent on and directly affected by the crops. In saying that, we’re at the mercy of mother nature – weather. The record drought situation in Australia has taken a big toll on many growers and businesses relied on the harvest. Well, the rain just doesn’t want to come no matter what, what can you do?

So, bitch is the word of the year 2019 for our CEO. But regardless the bad news, a downturn in the business and a loss of revenue, we still aimed at finishing the year on a good note – Party time! You work hard, you play hard, right?

For me personally, this is a perfect time to reflect on many areas in my life last year – things that went well and things that went poorly. Here’s a line to draw – Those that are within my control, such as sleep hygiene and mental health, I need to find better ways of improvement, those that are beyond my control, such as human nature and people’s behaviours, I need to learn better ways of managing own expectations and letting go. I’ve got the next 12 months to work on this project.

So, what is my word of the year 2019? Mine is Try. Yes, try, that’s it. Try hard, try soft, try big, try small, try this, try that, try try try… What a year of non-stop trying times!

What are the top 5 things I tried to do last year? Here they are:

  • I tried to write as many posts as possible on my blog
  • I tried to be a good daddy/carer to my dog
  • I tried to step out of my comfort zone and face my fears
  • I tried to confront the health scare and do those check-ups my doctor asked me to do
  • I tried to stop worrying too much about what others think of me

Let’s face it, shit happens, but if we stop trying and do nothing, shit will continue to happen twofold, threefold, fourfold etc. All I can say is: Fair enough, life isn’t a piece of cake but it doesn’t need to be a piece of shit either. I think you get my point.

Now, over to you, back to my opening question in the beginning, what is your word of the year 2019 and why? Shhh… Keep it to yourself if you wish.

Till next time. As always, watch this space!

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New Year Is Here, What To Celebrate?

Where were you in 1977? Perhaps you weren’t even born yet.

Around four years ago, I was fortunate enough to talk to two strangers – a healthy elderly Chinese couple – husband 89, wife 80 at Woolloomooloo (if you’re new to Sydney Australia, I’d recommend come to Woolloomooloo for half of a day to enjoy what it has to offer day and night – beautiful harbour views, the city skyline, trendy bars and restaurants along the wharf and more).

I was chatting with them in my broken Cantonese mixed with some simple English. Even with a little language barrier, I learnt beyond words about their secret of happiness, and longevity. I felt ultra humble in front of them. The smiles on their faces were infectious. They were just like everyone’s grandpa and grandma.

What was so big deal about 1977? Well, that was the year they set foot on Australian soil for the first time – the taste of freedom. Before that, they’d lived a life of displaced people in other foreign lands – Thailand and Vietnam for a number of years since fleeing their home country China.

2020 is here, another new year, a beginning of a new decade, to most people is about setting new goals and making new year’s resolutions. But before we get too excited about starting off everything new and fresh, it’s important to look back at the past years to see how far we’ve come.

Whether we failed or succeeded at the end, every turn of new year is like a second chance given to us for free. In saying that, I assume you and I live in a free country, that means we have a free will to make decisions, to try and try again, to give as many shots as possible till we hit the target.

Today, the first day of 2020. What to celebrate?

Freedom! Let’s celebrate freedom! The freedom to learn, to unlearn, to marry, to divorce, to make mistakes, to make amends, to succeed, to fail, to write, to re-write, to speak, to not speak and so on. All these entitlements are just a way of life we’ve taken for granted.

Here’s to my readers, happy 2020! Thanks for being part of the journey. Remember, time always stands still when you have a story to tell. Watch this space!

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What To Write When You Think You Have Nothing To Write About

You feel you’re stuck or you think you are. I get it. I had those days. Plenty of them.

Perhaps you’ve been waiting for that lightbulb moment to come but it’s playing hide and seek with you. The more you try, the harder it gets. How frustrating!

It’s funny, we live in the world of contradictions: Less is more. More is less. It doesn’t make sense but it does.

If you desperately want a lightbulb moment to happen to you, perhaps it’s best to do the opposite – switch off the light and get some sleep. Then wake up and let it come to you naturally.

So, what to write when you think you have nothing to write about?

Think again!

Let’s explore the possibilities:

One. Write about your thoughts: Each of us has thousands of thoughts every day according to the experts. That’s enough to write about!

Two. Write about what makes you angry, what makes you cranky or what makes you stressed out: Your emotions can tell you a lot about your attitude towards the world around you. You may not know it till you write about it: You have a choice, a better choice.

Three. Write about your vulnerability: Expressing your vulnerability openly is a strength in itself. You may realise, after all, vulnerability is one of your “abilities” or “secret weapons”. It’s not a weakness as such.

Four. Write about the best or the worst customer service you’ve ever experienced: Did it tell you something about that individual or the company as a whole? If you also run a business, what can you learn from that experience?

Five. Write about your current situation: Are you looking for a job at the moment? Are you saving money to buy something special? Are you in the process of changing a bad habit? Even something petty or tiny can make a big difference over time.

Six. Write about one of the memorable travel experiences: Has it got something to do with the people, the food, the culture or the scenery? Tell the world why the world is your oyster.

Seven. Write about your struggles: Are you battling with some anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions? What’s your coping mechanism? Share your recovery journey and let us know you are not alone and we are not alone!

Eight. Write about money: Any good saving tips that have helped you buy your first home, clear the credit card debts or reach your financial goals?

Nine. Write about your pet(s): What have you learned from them? Unconditional love, loyalty, playfulness, forgiveness, letting go or not giving a fuck?

Ten. Write about now: Perhaps you’re still scratching your head about what to write. Then write that experience. You’re sitting down, nothing comes to you… You’ll find many readers out there can relate to that.

Well, that’s all I could come up with. If I can think of anything more later, I’ll let you know. Now it’s your turn, go and spread the word!