Category: Work

Today was fun!

Tomorrow is boss’s birthday. Since boss in on leave tomorrow and another colleague is on half-day leave today, we decided to celebrate boss’s birthday today during lunch.

Our plan was to surprise him with the cake we bought at 12 sharp.

Guess what happened? At 12 sharp, some of us were still on the line with customers and before we knew it, boss walked away from his desk. None of us knew he was going out for lunch early today.

We panicked because my colleague who’s on half day leave can’t wait till boss is back and we wanted to celebrate it together so badly. All in a team.

“Call him back!”

A colleague quickly get him through his mobile but there was no network coverage. Dah lah masuk lif.

Called a few more times. Still couldn’t get.

I suggested he try to use his own mobile to call boss’s mobile, at least it would look more important than a “Private number” appearing on the screen.

Finally, boss answered the call.

This colleague of mine didn’t know what to say to get him to come back. Know what he said?

“There is an emergency. Something is wrong with Gracie. You have to come back now.”

“What happened to her?”

“I don’t know.”

My mouth dropped. Why me?

Anyway, colleague told us he’s coming back.

So one colleague quickly went to get the cake from the fridge. Before I knew it, my boss was standing next to me as I turned to look at him. Nobody said anything, the colleague who told him I had an emergency, just pointed to me when he saw my boss.

I was like., “Huh?”

I really didn’t know what to say you know? Like dumb-struck. Lightning struck.

I told my head to spin faster because it’s starting to get a bit awkward already.

“Happy Birthday! We’ve got a cake for you!”

Oh man, I didn’t say it with excitement because I was still shocked mah. But I tried lor.

“Aiyah, next time don’t lah say it’s emergency. I thought what happened to you!”

I tell you. My boss was really panicked. He looked really worried which made me even more dumb-struck. But good also lah, at least I know my boss really cares about me. *laughs*

I felt a little bad even though it wasn’t me who thought about the prank. But, I’m also touched.
He finally recovered from his shock and we presented him 7 different flavours of cake slices. Each slice for everyone. Boss got to choose which one he would like first. Then, we gave him a cake too.

“You guys are the best!” he exclaimed.

Then, colleague who started the prank said, “Come, let’s sing a birthday song.”

“No no, please don’t embarass me.” Boss laughed.

There were so many people in the office, that’s why.

Anyway, we sang silently.

Then, boss left again for lunch this time. Peacefully.

A colleague started laughing cheekily, “Hehehe, so funny lah. So funny lah.”

After that the war started, “Why did you say it’s emergency, say Gracie’s name some more!”

I kept quiet only, still thinking of what just happened. My colleague who is going on half day leave felt bad because maybe she thought if she’s not going on half day leave then we wouldn’t need to call back in such a hurry. She wrote boss an email to apologise any heart attack caused. She’s cute lah.

But you know what? I think it’s going to be memorable birthday for him since he’s leaving the company soon and we won’t get to celebrate together next year.

In the afternoon, I received a call from a colleague in ShenZhen. She is somehow like a friend already because when she called me the first time, she asked if she could talk to me again if she’s got any problem with cargo from ShenZhen to Port Klang. I said can.

She was speaking in English then later asked me if I could speak Mandarin. I said yes. She was so happy.

Then, another colleague from Busan, Korea called. I absolutely loved the way she pronounced “zero” because it sounded like “jiro”. I helped her immediately. I like to help cute people.
I’ve got cases to solve which is why I’m quite happy today.

I’m back to answering calls today and I felt bored.

It’s because of the sudden change from super-busy to relax mode. I still like the stress from Round 1,2 and 3. It made me want to go to work. Today I didn’t feel like going to work. All work and no play makes Grace a dull girl. But,little work and not that much play makes Grace a duller girl.
Calls were little as compared to usual. We managed to answer all incoming calls except for one. So, our performance was good. But it didn’t really excite me because the satisfaction that I felt is higher during Round 1,2 and 3. I’m just going to put Round 1, 2 and 3 behind. *sob sob*

The only thing I enjoyed today was I get to leave the office right on time. Went to the gym after not going for two weeks, since I’ve been staying late at work.

Today’s class was superb. I kicked, jumped, punched until I felt like stomach is going to come out. Really really nice.

…is not too bad.

Became a teacher for 20 minutes or so when boss wanted me to teach the two new staff on how to use the system.

One of them graduated with a degree in Computer Science and I shall ask her the next time, why she’s here. Just now no time to talk lor, have to teach.

I worked till 8 today and I’m very tired. Guess I’ll just retire early today.

There might be a possible Round 4 tomorrow. I shall see.

This is gonna be very long.

…is not as fun as Round 1. It is more challenging than Round 1.

Morning was still fine. In fact, the things that I took half a day to do a week ago now only took an hour to be completed.

I felt important too because I’m the one who has to make sure everything is okay. Let’s say if I was in charge of answering the calls only and that I’m not in, someone else can take over my place without much hassle. But what I’m doing now is not the case. I must make sure I’m there. I must make sure I don’t fall sick. Sometimes I wonder how my colleague does it alone. I mean a girl alone handling all inbound shipment for a particular port. Not like it’s a small one, in fact the busiest.

I’m driving to the office earlier because there is just motivation to be there to get things done. It’s like I have to be there to save the world. I leave later than usual too because I want to make sure everything is okay and then I jot down what to do the next day. It’s a combination of planning and spontaneous action each and everytime a new request comes in. Whereas, if I were to answer calls, it’s everything spontaneous, you cannot plan. So, each has got its challenges.

Lunch time was fun. I have been eating with new people, people that I don’t normally eat with. How? By just filling up the empty seat. I don’t know why but there has always been one left empty for the past few days.

There was this salesperson who was talking non-stop. He talks nonsense that makes sense. He is funny and he shares the same surname as me. As usual, people complain about their work and it’s understandable.

“I tell you lar, it’s like shit! Really like shit!”

I laughed.

“But one thing good about working here is you always get to learn something everyday. There is always something new. I know there will be problems coming. Sure one. But don’t know for which customer only.”

“The problem you solved here becomes your value. Let’s say next time when you leave the company for another job, people will ask you what problems you have managed to solve or challenges that you’ve overcomed, I can tell them what I’ve done. Imagine working in a place with no problems at all and when someone ask you the same question, you answer, “I’ve got no problem to solve, everything has been very smooth.” Different, right?”

I agree.

At times, be glad that you are in some shit. You don’t know what good the shit will bring. It may not be visible from where you stand in the shit now but who knows right? The shit is there for a reason.
“In my previous company, we are trained to be positive. Some people when given a problem, they will start complaining even before doing anything about it. They will questioned whether it can be solved when they have not even try. I mean even if you complain, it will not solve the problem. We must always think positive, think of only the good things and try to solve the problems. You must be daring to take up the challenge. You must learn.”

Then, came the last part which I couldn’t help but laughed out loud.

“You know, this company only take in smart people. You must pass the test first. You think they simply employ people. There are stupid guys out there but not here. They only take in smart people and people with a heart. You know why they take me in? Because I’m positive and I’m agressive.”

He was saying it jokingly and a matter-of-factly. That’s why he is in Sales. He sells himself well.

In the afternoon, things started to get crazy.

I’ve got numerous requests that are coming in at the same time.

Picture this:-

1. You are reading an email and thinking of how to solve the problem.

2. A colleague next to you transfers a call to you. You talk to the customer and you are given a new request that you need to deal with immediately.

3. Someone walks over and tell you some history that someone has started but I’m being put into the picture with no understanding of the story at all and I’ve got to figure it out on my own and solve it.

4. Someone else comes over and tell you to go to the counter because a customer is waiting for someone else who is on leave today. Grace, can you help?

5. As I stood up to walk to the counter, more calls being transferred to me as apparently this guy was damn desparate that he’s been calling for so many times to check for one thing. He said thank you for so many times too. Know why? Cos it’s a Friday.
6. You see an email coming in telling you to reply urgently because the dateline is Sunday 9pm, which means dateline for me to reply is today by 5pm. I’ve only got less than 2 hours to vomit out something.

7. Grace, can you help create this code?

All happening at the same time and I was not given any break. I couldn’t even afford a break. I felt so suffocated and I cannot sit still. There were too much to handle at a time.

All I managed somehow except for item #6. I needed some info from another party but no one replied to my email and it was approaching 5pm. I can risk without replying it but then I know I can’t leave it just like that. But I am also not sure of the answer. What I did? I just replied. I rather get myself into problem myself than leave everything unattended. I hope everything is okay. I just felt uneasy after replying to that email and I drove back home still thinking about it.

I hope I’ll survive Round 3 next Monday.

I took charge today.

I was all on my own.

I was scared.

I was also brave.

I worked hard today.

I worked for a long time.

There were still people walking over for help. Customers calling being passed to me because the department was down with two staff today. Boss wasn’t in for half a day. So, yeah, there was a lot to do.

I could only work in peace after 6pm, when the calls stop coming in and I’m only one left in the call centre. The air-con stopped blowing after that which I really like.

A colleague seated behind me was still there and he played his mp3. Music to the ears, that’s what it really was since music was not allowed during office hours.

He was so nice. He borrowed me his thumbdrive when I asked him whether he’s listening to the radio or CD. There was one song in his playlist that I liked, that’s why I asked. Now I’m repeating the song like mad at home.

I only left the office at 8pm. I could have left later but I made myself leave at 8pm. I don’t know why but I’m happy today. Even though I had to stay back.

Completed Round 1 today. Round 2 tomorrow.

I received a call today and I thought it was a customer because I remember talking to someone from that company before last year when I was in my previous team.

It turned out to be someone who asked me if I would be interested to work with them.

I was stunned for a while. Firstly, because he called my direct line and I have no idea how he got it. Secondly, it’s the first time someone is actually offering me something I’ve never asked or applied.

I’m happy that he called. Really. To me, that is something even though it might be something I didn’t want in the first place.

The position is still going to be customer service, in the same industry, but dealing with logistics. To imagine what the job is like, I just have to imagine what it’s like for my customers.

I don’t know whether to give it a try or go according to my plan, to go back to what I’ve studied.

For I’m curious to know what’s like to be on the other side, the customer’s side but then I will still have the “what if-s” that have not been answered yet.

The only thing I like now is that I know if I manage to answer the “what if-s”, I will have two options or more. I can continue to do what I like if I happen to find one or come back to do this if I realised that this is my thing.

I think you also don’t know what I’m talking right because I’m talking to myself. That’s how my brain talks when it’s thinking.

You know you’re bored when you have to do this for about 200 times.

Click left button of mouse, Control- C, Click left button of mouse, Key in 9 digits, Hit F1, Type R, Click left button of mouse, Click Paste, Hit F9.

That was what I did today at work and I can’t believe that’s what I was doing.

Tomorrow is the last day to learn everything that I can before I’ll be entirely alone for three days.

God bless.

Okay, I’m supposed to go cook rice for lunch in the office tomorrow and bathe but then I just feel like writing. So here goes my second entry of the day.

I feel a little bored at work in the morning because I’m not doing my job because I enjoy doing it but because I know it’s my responsibility to get it done. Even though I may not enjoy it but each time I turn on the computer and start reading the mails, I get stuck. I’m rooted. Full concentration.

I’m happy that the things that I’ve been struggling to do the previous week seemed easier now. So, practice does make it almost perfect. But I’m not being complacent yet because there is still a lot to learn and I’m starting to worry the three days in which I’ll need to cover for another colleague who’s going on leave. She’s the only one who knows what to do with that portion of work which I’m learning from her. So, when she is away and if I’m faced with difficulties, of which I know I would since that’s the nature of the work and industry, I need to be very brave and very smart. Everyday is problem solving day.

The feeling that has been visiting me from time to time is back again. The desire to move on to something different. Something new. I’ve always tell myself that “It’s not the time yet.” But really, I don’t know when the time would be right or is there such a thing as a right time?

For all I know, the time would never be right for me because I’m capable of holding on the silliest thought to make myself stay. I’ve always been telling myself to hang on there. I did though sometimes I ended up in tears. I’ve been telling myself to persevere for a year. I managed to go through that. I guess I’ll always feel this way when you feel like there’s still something in life that I’ve not done, have not tried. There will always be a “what if” and I want to answer that.

And even if moving on to that something new isn’t going to be my piece of cake, I think that would answer myself. I’m not going to write what it is that I would like to do for my next job because there is a possibility that it might not come true once I say it out. See? I’m capable of very silly thoughts.

But I’ll tell you when I reach there.

I have been telling people that I’m looking for a new job but I’ve never really been very serious at applying for one. I will flip through the newspaper, discover some that I think is interesting and that’s just it. I will browse job sites and save them and never bother applying for any.

Yesterday was different though. I took action.

Good luck, Gracie!