Arna Gymnas, Bergen

Now, I am very sure that both Samuel & Mr. Horton's Secretary talk behind my back. I have never talk about...job-related wise...about Samuel to Mr. Horton's Secretary or talk about Mr. Horton's Secretary to Samuel.

But that day, this piece of conversation take place...both Samuel and I talked about Mr. Horton's Secretary...now...all of our team members are coordinators...skill set is at half past 6...both Samuel & Mr. Horton's Secretary are the next level of senior decision makers...I cannot do it all by myself...I need to delegate...I am unable to cope...then, Samuel pointed up that Mr. Horton's Secretary is not that initiative in stepping up...and I say...yes, Mr. Horton's Secretary is just being Mr. Horton's Secretary...I don't want to use any un-wise words...I also shared that even Aidan notices it too...Mr. Horton's Secretary is just being Mr. Horton's Secretary...hahaha...Samuel said must push Mr. Horton's Secretary then...hahaha...   

Academy of Commerce - Bergen, Bergen

Hmm...Miss Chew is always in the office around 10-ish...but lately, before 9am...Miss Chew is already in...I wonder if it is related to the other day incident...hahaha...

What happen was...The Chief is looking for the both of us...it was around 8-ish...The Chief wants to see us at 9am...I was already in the office but Miss Chew was not...so, I went to see The Chief first...then Miss Chew only came in...Miss Chew ask me to see The Chief together...I replied back that The Chief already catch me to see The Chief half an hour ago...

Later on...I saw Miss Chew was still at Miss Chew's workstation...apparently The Chief have another meeting...and I am not sure thereafter, whether Miss Chew got meet-up with The Chief or not...and I was wondering...if Miss Chew did not meet up with The Chief...is that why Miss Chew now starts to come earlier to the office? Hahaha...yes, naughty me...instead, I should be humble and thank God...  

Åsnes videregående skole, Åsnes

THANK YOU GOD, PRAISE TO THE LORD, BLESS YOU GOD!

Some affirmation from God:

Totally Agree >> what happen was, I was having a conversation with Samuel. Samuel is very expose to many print & digital contents...and I encourage Samuel to share it over to the Digital Millennials; to stir their creative thinking...Thomas who was walking past us...heard us...and say - yes, Totally Agree With J___. Thomas finds us we lack creative sparks...hahaha...

Comfortable >> that is the word that Thomas use to describe our working relationship - I am very comfortable working with you...aww...

Let J___ manage it >> this was a surprise...for one of our USJ store...need to put up the Banner...and Lizzie make this comment in the meeting in front of everyone...I will let J___ manage it. Nonetheless, there was many hiccups...challenges...until Mary ask me to come down to the store immediately (even though I was working from home that day), and of course...one of Miss Chew's loyal supporters Nancy...I think also from behind have also been stabbing me...hahaha....nonetheless, all settle with God's protection and grace. Amen.   

Øvrebyen videregående skole, Kongsvinger

So, in the coming days...it was announce that the Marketing Team will be park under Thomas; one of the new owner's son-in-law...Thomas will be supervising us and another department. 

Thomas is also very observant...first and foremost, Thomas also knew about Miss Chew & my story...so; Thomas also notice that the both us of were having a meeting in one of the meeting rooms...I only update Thomas that the issue have already been iron out...there was just some dis-connectivity...but to my shock...Thomas was not that happy with Miss Chew...apparently; Miss Chew went and saw the 3 new owners; Mary, Lizzie & The Chief. Instead of going to talk to Thomas first; being the immediate superior...Thomas do not like that and describe it; as keeping Miss Chew will be like throwing stones at Thomas's feet...oh dear...didn't know that things will get so complicated...

In return...Thomas ask me what Thomas should do with Miss Chew...and can I manage Miss Chew...hahaha...if I manage Miss Chew...I will have mental stress...and Thomas said...yes, Thomas have heard about Miss Chew emotional problems too...and anyway, Miss Chew's salary is way higher than me...as pointed out by both Uncle Andy and Samuel...

Thomas is decent, hands-on...but, now we are park back directly to The Chief...   

Våler videregående skole, Våler

So, with God's courage & grace...I invited Miss Chew to the meeting room to have a conversation...after Aidan have officially left the office building...and I also have not shared this piece of conversation with anyone else...I told Miss Chew...that this is a very hard conversation and we must have it...in response; Miss Chew said that Miss Chew was glad that we have this conversation...we practically track down the chronology of events...nonetheless...I took everything that Miss Chew have said with a pinch of salt...

A week before the acquisition, Miss Chew did call Mayor...Mayor advise Miss Chew not to come back...ok; tally with Mayor's statement that Mayor will advise Miss Chew not to come back...by then Miss Chew was already pissed off with Mayor...because when Miss Chew wants to resign last year...Mayor stop Miss Chew and advise Miss Chew to take sabbatical leave instead...and now Mayor advise Miss Chew not to come back...so, in the first place, might as well let Miss Chew leave...hmm, on Mayor's aide; for whatever the reason that Mayor might have...that was a selfish call to me...

Miss Chew mention that Miss Chew comes back this time is to explore a different role, Miss Chew did not want the Marketing Head role...this one, I don't really buy...if indeed it is true...why Miss Chew don't just gave an outright truthful answer in the first place when we meet up with the HR Director and the new owners...I can only thank God for He have been guarding over me from the very beginning...because I suspect when Miss Chew begin to see the light of defeat...Miss Chew makes a detour on Miss Chew's actions & statement... 

Miss Chew mention that I am the right person to lead the team...as the new owners are very trade-oriented...I believe the both of us are both winners & losers at the same time...Miss Chew lose the position but Miss Chew won; as in Miss Chew will not have to make any difficult decisions on behalf of the team...I won where I get to learn new things but I lost because I have to take the accountability & responsibility of the team now.

During Miss Chew's sabbatical...Miss Chew did not pursue any job opportunities; instead it was a time of self-reflection...I am not sure how much Miss Chew have change...old habits die hard...hahaha...

We both agree that The Mayor did not manage this well...putting everyone in an emotional turmoil...but looking back, I guess The Mayor already did...the announcement to the team, the handover deck...it is only whether Mayor got inform Miss Chew or not...the new owners & the HR Director's announcement...both the new owners & the HR Director just let things unfold...I guess...its the 3 parties that should have shared the message across to Miss Chew. And the effort was just not enough...    

Anyway, during this transition period...political play for sure will be there...if I am the recognized one...then why; when Aidan sent out the email to everyone (and why it is not The Mayor who sent?)...Aidan is being apprehend by the HR Director...I could only think of, they (both the HR Director & The Mayor) knew that Miss Chew is insisting on coming back (even though they have advised Miss Chew not to)...perhaps they both are afraid that Miss Chew can or will take any legal actions against them...

Miss Chew also shared that Miss Chew have another conversation with the new owners; also say the same message...that Miss Chew want to explore another new role...

Nonetheless...let's play by ear...I can only seek God, pray to God to guide me in stewarding all of this in the days ahead... 

Trysil videregående skole, Trysil

To put things in context...

I am doing Trade...I report to Mayor...and Miss Chew as a dotted line...Miss Chew don't really bother the Trade part that much...now, Miss Chew is very competent, capable but have a temper or anger management problem...Miss Chew screams, yells, shouts, micro-manage, some articulation problems, be-little people, have trust issues, insecure...when a staff make an error, Miss Chew doesn't apprehend the staff behind close doors but in public instead. Colleagues have left and also have shed tears...and one of them complain to the HR Department on a basis of racial discrimination...it did open a can of worms...given the rest of the colleagues the opportunity to express themselves...but we are unsure whether the HR Department undertook any actions or not...

Then, Miss Chew went on a sabbatical leave...Mayor appointed Aidan from Hong Kong to lead us...Aidan merge both the Trade and A&P Team and rename us as Promo Communication, Aidan change the way we work and communicate...

Then the acquisition happens on 23rd February...not knowing whether Miss Chew will come back or not...and Miss Chew appear on 1st March...with meetings with the HR Department and the new owners turning into a stalemate and I really felt like a political tussle...so the current arrangement is that I am a pair of Safe Hands for the interim period and Miss Chew will lead CRM.

Storsteigen videregående skole, Alvdal

So, Miss Chew is being task to head the CRM...so that is good...Miss Chew have a job...Miss Chew is also pretty tough...for the past couple of weeks; Miss Chew can just sit at the workstation and doing nothing...doesn't seem to bore Miss Chew at all...maybe Miss Chew really needs this job...

I admit I am also selfish...if Miss Chew is Marcus...I would have gave way already...it is challenging to cope with the work, and I also admit that my pride is there in refusing to ask Miss Chew for any assistance or help...but it have been a very conducive learning environment...imagine, if it were like last time...with Miss Chew's temper...in such a tension environment...I think I will also have a breakdown...but Samuel...I think Samuel is secretly a Miss Chew supporter...thinks that Miss Chew's management style is very suitable in this Cina Man company...haiz... 

And I think it is because of this...maybe both Mayor & Aidan pick me instead...scared that if everything were to go back to previously; under Miss Chew...all of our colleagues will be very unhappy and may want to leave...I don't think that they will want to leave but they will just shallow it up and cope by themselves...if I do lead this...it will just buy everyone time to transfer out or get a new job...I think they won't get a new job...due to the age factor, high salary threshold and also the flexibility of working from home and can come in late to the office a little bit...hahaha...   

Storhamar videregående skole, Hamar

Days after meeting the new owners...also nothing is out...they only announce their new LT structure and that was it...I guess they are busy...G13 business is not easy to manage and please do not underestimate the complexity of G13...hahaha....there are layers, upon layers, upon layers...and we also have the shared services part which G13 took years to merge both entities and now want a divorce...

During the meeting with the new owners...they dislike how G13 was run...also dish out negative comments...and they want to trim headcount...first time meeting...and already ask me how many headcount can reduce...gulp...typical Cina Man...they also make quite an observation on us though...we work like we are in the Government offices...we are only order-takers...coordinators...want to revive back our brain...we are very in our comfort zone...hahaha...  

Stange videregående skole, Stange

Days after seeing the HR Director...also nothing come out of it...instead, only having colleagues that is asking...so, what is Miss Chew doing now? Ohh...why Miss Chew no more doing Marketing? Who lead Marketing now? Questions after questions that is just so awkward...I also don't want to say too much...New owners also no mention a single thing at all...I also don't know how to introduce myself...nonetheless, it's also true...better to lead without a title... 

Solør videregående skole, Åsnes

Actually, I am also very worried...a lot of fear in me...I can only draw Strength, Peace & Wisdom from God...that is the only option...

I actually don't know where to start, how to start...half of the times I also don't know what I am doing...I did share to both Samuel & Mr. Horton's Secretary...even to the A&P colleague, the Digital Millennial colleagues as well...I am not sure how they view my vulnerability & honesty...probably I have shared too much...and maybe got them worried whether I am fit to lead them or not...hahaha...and the Digital Millennial colleagues sure will betray me; being close friends with Miss Chew...Miss Chew for sure will have a good laugh...

Anyway...I pray to God that He will continue to steer me...my background is from Trade...the way I am seeing this situation...is that I thank God for putting this thought into me...that this is the opportunity to upskill myself on the job...everyday I am learning new things...everyday is like National Geographic Discovery Channel...I am learning what is POSM, Agency, Media Buy, Activation, Design, People, TikTok, Contract etc...this will equip me for my new job role out there...Amen...  

Skarnes videregående skole, Sør-Odal

I am observing both Miss Chew & Mayor's movement very closely....hahaha....in case, like a scenario from our Malaysian politics...unexpected turns & twists...hahaha...seems all quiet at the moment...noted that Mayor wants to play the good guy role...but will Mayor do anything special for Miss Chew? I also pity Miss Chew...do so many work for Mayor...please Mayor...I am also sure that Miss Chew have sacrifice a lot for Mayor as well...but in the end...look at the handover deck...if Miss Chew knew about it...it will be a slap to Miss Chew...sure very disappointed with Mayor's actions... 

Sentrum videregående skole, Kongsvinger

It is a bag of mixed emotions...

Worried because; even though Aidan have helped me greatly in drafting up the email and sent it across to everyone...but I just felt that my position; even though as a pair of Safe Hands is not secured...felt like I can be overthrown at any point of time by Miss Chew because the new owners have not come up with an official structure or announcement of any kind...what if the new management choose Miss Chew? My this short-term reign is nothing but an embarrassment... 

Furthermore, I also felt guilty and bad towards Miss Chew...like I have snatch Miss Chew's place...it seems like I am the evil one; the opportunist...that I have sneak behind and stab Miss Chew's in the back in securing this Safe Hands position. 

I also felt pity for Miss Chew...but Samuel have console me...if Miss Chew have been a good leader...everyone would have want Miss Chew back (including myself)...a lot of the times...is Miss Chew's own doing...this is like a political tussle...hahaha...will I survive?