I Rise

GOD is in my career journey – Trainee Division Manager.

Thank you GOD, Praise to the Lord, Bless you GOD :)

Back in April this year, I told Juan Carlos to postpone my promotion until next year. I want Juan Carlos to evaluate how I have been performing in the whole of 2011, judge me on the results that I have generated and on my leadership skills & strategic business thinking capability. The remaining months in 2011 will be my probation period where Juan Carlos will observe and review me first hand. Anything else, we will talk again in 2012. I refuse the promotion in the first place is because…firstly, I am not ready and secondly…I want my peers to feel that I deserve this promotion is because I deserve it based on my own hard work, based on merit & my business acumen…and not for other reasons. Then, on last Thursday, Juan Carlos gave me a surprise…Juan Carlos gave me an Offer Letter; stating that I am now officially is a Trainee Division Manager. It was a shocker to me…and also to the rest of my peers. Some were genuinely happy for me…some I can feel their jealousy…some feel that I don’t deserve it…it’s not always easy to find colleagues with little politics…well; this low-profile underdog have suddenly rise from nowhere :) Seriously, I really keep a low-profile at work…only letting my actions, attitudes & behavior do the talking. I always believe that being humble and proving one's own ability is the key. Then everything else will follows. Nonetheless, looking back at my past job performance record from January till May…I truly think that I deserve to get the promotion :) as the results speak for itself. However, this month is another tough month and the sales graph has also shown a drop.

Because the Offer Letter has already been issued out…I have to take it. I’m damned if I do…and I’m damned if I don’t :) I didn't expect Juan Carlos to be this creative. And I can’t even begin on how grateful I am to be blessed with such wonderful, hard working, committed, selfless team of suppliers & store people who have helped me so much along the way. Their continue support for me is much treasured. They have taught me so much since my time in D33.

Moving forward…there are many obstacles to come…the biggest hurdles that I will have to tackle and execute correctly is the Furniture Fair from 1st July – 14th July…the Dreamland Mattress Fair…the new furniture collection sales results…2011 contract negotiation…Hari Raya…and the major Concept Display. Since I took over this position from Patrick in October 2010, the whole 'rollercoaster' effect of living this life hasn't stopped at all. The list of to-do's on my working task list seems to be constantly expanding, and every time I tick 'complete' on one task, another three seem to be miraculously appear at the bottom.

And here I am today…I look back on my career journey and wonder how I landed where I am now. I am unabashedly spiritual these days, and it is partially because of GOD's clear presence in guiding my career choices so far. I won't ever forget that day, five years back, in May 2007…when M13 was bought over by the English…I have no job in hand, I didn’t even have a good & reliable car where I can travel down to Mutiara Damansara (at that time, i was only driving a very old Subaru van that cannot takes me very far), my pay was only at RM2000…not even enough for me to pay for the additional petrol & toll expenses…I think I did said a prayer asking GOD to help me to get a new job with a very good pay and GOD answered me by having Haakon brought me over to SAM25. The job there sucks where I feel that I am not learning anything which will cause my career to stall…but this was the place where I manage to earn & save enough money to buy my first car. For that, I am always grateful to Haakon & Fredrik. As I got sick of the job (quite frankly it was a very disastrous experience)…I asked GOD to give me new job offers…oh boy, GOD really took his sweet time…I waited for 8 months before I got a serious job interview with the English, but I guess GOD have other plans for me as I rejected Atticus’s offer and I found a job nearer to home in a SME company in 2008. There…the job kept me busy…but after a while…I felt quite unchallenged, the job gets a bit monotonous…there appears to be a certain predictable formula to managing retail merchandizing in a small entity. All of a sudden, I found myself working with the French. A job with real challenges, with actual meaning, a chance to really learn the nitty & gritty part of the business, to network and to develop myself personally. I don’t think I prayed for this…GOD just somehow gifted it to me. But this job with the French has given me many demanding challenges which (thank you GOD) that I manage to overcome. It brought me laughter & tears. In the middle of last year, I wanted to quit so badly. I prayed to GOD and he gave me 6 new job offers. Again, I rejected Atticus & Co, because Snow Petrol have promoted me as a Senior Category Manager. And lo-and-behold, I landed myself HERE. Hah. Nonetheless, I am still remain clueless and unclear whether I will be here next year or not :) Thus, I will leave it to GOD to show me the way.

I'm not denying that, but I'm not discounting the possibility of one day in the future, taking a more laid-back position, potentially working out in a more flexible hour working arrangement or going wholly independent as a consultant. I do agree that at this point in my life, I am very lucky to have two very supportive and willing parents & friends as they have encouraged me to pursue my career while you're still young.

Don't get me wrong. I'm really happy that I've been given this opportunity. It's the toughest job that I've ever had though, and sometimes I really feel like I'm sinking. I have been this person in my life at different times, as many of you all have…putting our eggs into the wrong basket, looking and focusing on the wrong things. I have been down the wrong road before and have valued the wrong things. And I have experienced life happening to me and have had it spin me around to the point where there was nothing left except for what was real. I feel that I just need to brave myself and take the first step into the unknown. I’m not saying that it is easy but it is definitely worth that step. No one will fault me for trying right :)

But I will always remember, that there's nothing too hard in life that I can't handle, because GOD has proven that he is very capable of pushing me to the brink and challenge me in life. And will always ensure that I will survive his entire test and emerge a stronger person. So anyway, what more can I say. Thank You GOD, yes; I feel you loud and near. Just don't let me fall yah! God always answers prayers, not always in the way I like it, but yes, GOD will always answer prayers. GOD will not answer your prayers if what you pray for is not good for yourself.