New Department Award

I am fairly new in the department. I have completed 6 months last August 22 and within that period of time, I have already been given an award for completing a project outstandingly.

The big boss even joked before he gave my award to me that I was barely warmed my seat and there I was, being rewarded already for a job well-done.

I am very thankful and appreciative of my new managers' support in all my endeavors that I strive harder to make my family and the department proud. I think my moment has come to shine. This is it! I can only hope and pray that this will just be one of the many more awards I will reap in the future. Praying!

Gifts For Bosses

I am not one to buy fancy gifts for my bosses because they are earning ten times my salary and they have every fancy thing a person can have. However, there are bosses who I really like because they are nice and they certainly deserve a great gift.

I searched the internet for fancy gifts to give top executives in the office. I have one boss who loves to smoke so I thought, the best gift to give that person is something related to his or her passion - smoking! Since my budget is really tight, I want to know where to buy cheap cigars so it does not break my piggy bank. That person can use the cigar or keep it for collection or as a decoration on his or her curio but I want it to be appreciated.

There are few cigar stores here in Dubai. Most of them carry very expensive cigars and I cannot afford that. I will check if they sell by pieces so I can just buy few. It's the thought the counts anyway.

Types of Managers

Each managers will have their own ways of dealing with their staff. That is the reason why we have so many various kinds of managers. There are the control-freaks, slave-drivers, credit-grabbers, over-zealous, critical and the boss-from-hell. However, not all honchos are bad. There are a handful out there who are still genuinely caring and compassionate who will lead and fight your cause. There are great managers who will push you to your capacity because they believe in you. Some managers will even take you along to ensure that you get the exposure you need. The latter kind comes far in between though.

So, if you have a manager who cares for you and can be over-bearing at times because of his or her good intentions, I think that is great and appreciate that. I have never felt how it is to be well-appreciated by someone in authority yet. It is my earnest dream to find a great boss who will back me up and believe in my capabilities before I leave the workforce. I want to feel good and recognized not just because I can complete a task but I can complete a task outstandingly.

Same Old Stuff, Different Day

Ah, the saga of the corporate bondage continues and this time under a different dictatorship. I really don't understand how big guys up there decide on things in the office. Sometimes it leaves me so baffled that my mind gets numb. Oftentimes, I am left reeling, palpitating and praying that I discover another portal to transport myself to a corporate utopia.

The office is very lucky to have me as a staff. And this I tell you without any sign of modesty because I know what kind of person I am. I am self-motivated despite the lack of support and boost of morale from the higher echelon. Unfortunately, my dedication is never noticed. I am not sure if they actually do not see what I do inspite of the numerous emails I forward them regarding the projects I have accomplished or they simply want to turn the cheek and look on the opposite direction. Hmmmmm... What kind of game are they really playing there?

I have been given numerous tasks with deadlines happening on the same time. Same time! Same time! Same time! Whew, I thought if I tell myself that over and over again, I might come into a realization that everything is just a nightmare and I would wake up from this mess. So far, reality bites so hard that no matter how much I deny myself about the deadlines, they are going to happen and I have to commit and deliver. How? Don't ask me because I have no idea.

Oh man, it is just the same old stuff and different kind-of-thing day for me in the office. I just wish 2013 rolls in as fast as the lightning. I just want to get out. So help me God...

The Corporate Ladder - Is it Worth the Climb?

I have been working for nearly 2 decades now. I am beginning to feel the wear and tear of working donkey years in the corporate scene. These past few days have been enlightening and thought-provoking for me as I begin to unravel the realities of my career advancement. Why did I say that? Well, no matter what I do now, I can never seem to please the authorities around me. And why did I say that again? Just hear me out...

I just had an unpleasant performance review recently. I honestly thought that I had improved well in the gray areas highlighted to me by my supervisor during the last performance review. I was confident that this review would merit me a better rating. Imagine my shock when I saw my review. It was completely the opposite of my expectation. Talk about having false hopes! I will no longer go through the nitty-gritty details of the review but to cut the chase, it was not what I wanted to see if I plan to apply for a promotion or career advancement. Simply put, my chances for growth has been stumped.

So, let me get back to my question at hand, is it really worthy to climb the corporate ladder? I know many of you will surely say yes if you are driven by ambition, money, power and motivated by your bosses or for any other personal reasons. However, this is my conclusion on my view as a career woman-mom-wife who has been tied in a bondage for the last 18 years of her life in the cut-throat world we call the Office. NO. Let me say that again, NO, it is not worth the climb for me.

I just realized how blessed I am for having a stress-free life after office hours, a family and a house I can come home to, a daughter who keeps me up on my toes and a husband who still has the time to hear my woes and glee. NO, it is not worth climbing when my drive for success compromises the quality time I spend with my family. NO, it is not worth the climb when my relationship with the people who TRULY matters is affected by the demands of the work force. NO, it is not worth every money I will get if I come home to a daughter who I don't have time to nurture and guide, a husband I will be too tired to take care of, a house I can never clean because of weariness, friends I cannot see and call, activities I have to cancel and life I have to turn my back to. NO, if it means I will spend lesser quality time with the people I love and more time in a place where every dealing is superficial. NO. It is not worth it at all. So, I rescind my dream of any promotion, career growth or a shot at a managerial post because what matters to me is the quality of life I will live when I leave the corporate world. Surely, no amount of money nor company accolades can top that.

I do know that I have far exceeded my Lord's expectation by giving the very best in what I do with the sincerity of my heart. I may not get the promotion I deserve here but in HIS eyes, I am a winner.

Getting a Franchise

Running a business by getting a franchise seems to be a good idea when you still want to earn regular income without the hassle of serving again as an employee. This time, you get to be your own boss.

I have been thinking of going towards that direction when I retire in few years time. I do not wish to continue working as a corporate slave for donkey years. I plan to leave the workforce while I am young and able. I am researching about possible means of getting extra income while enjoying my time at home. I certainly don't like to manage people nor be an employee again. So buying a franchise will be a good option.

The Difference Between You and Your Boss

I cannot help but nod and smile as I read my friend's forwarded email about the difference between you and your boss. For those who are working like me, probably, you may be able to relate with this but if not, just enjoy and snicker. I am posting this forwarded email just for kicks! Employees out there.... do you agree? LOL! And to those in management, don't be a spoil-sport ;)

"ME and MY BOSS

When I take a long time to finish,
I am slow,
When my boss takes a long time,
he is thorough

When I don't do it,
I am lazy,
When my boss does not do it,
he is busy,

When I do something without being told,
I am trying to be smart,
When my boss does the same,
he takes the initiative,

When I please my boss,
I am apple polishing,
When my boss pleases his boss,
He is cooperating,

When I make a mistake,
I am an idiot.
When my boss makes a mistake,
He's only human.

When I am out of the office,
I am wondering around.
When my boss is out of the office,
He's on business.

When I am on a day off sick,
I am always sick.
When my boss is a day off sick,
He must be very ill.

When I apply for leave,
I must be going for an interview .
When my boss applies for leave,
it's because he's overworked

When I do good,
my boss never remembers,
When I do wrong,
he never forgets

what to do????????????? "

Who ever wrote this, "I feel for you!"