Out of your comfort zone

Many people do not like being out of their own comfort zone. Afterall, it subjects them to uncertainty, uneasiness and unpleasantness. I choose to think otherwise and it has brought me good tidings. As I venture out of my comfort zone, I have (a) learnt new things and skills, (b) exposed myself to a wider perspective in viewing issues, (c) opened new doors, and (d) discovered more about myself.

Recently, I chose to step out of my own comfort zone and here are the results:
(i) I received 2 job offers,
(ii) I am embarking on a higher-paying job,
(ii) I conducted a workshop in a secondary school,
(iii) I conducted 3 training sessions in my work premises, and
(iv) I won the Best Project Evaluator at an external Toastmasters event.

I know more will await me as I take more of such steps into the unknown. I just need to make fear as my friend.

Learning to let go

Today, I re-experienced the feeling of learning to let go. My mentor once told me that the hardest task is not to find nor create new opportunities. Anyone can do that. What is tough is the capability to let go of what you currently have so that your hands are free to hold on to something different.

Being the intellectual self that I was, I prodded further - "What if you did not manage to hold on to anything at all?" His answer was simple - "At least that is better than not letting go and not being able to experience it."

As I learnt to gradually let go, I found that the process this time round is easier than before. That was 2 years ago when I first experienced it in 2008. As I had these passing thoughts earlier in the day, I realised several reasons why it is easier than before.

1. This is my 2nd time changing my job. Experience does count.
2. I was in my 1st company for a longer period of time and that created more attachments as compared to now.
3. There are 'push' factors in my new Operations portfolio that has made me detested the way the organisation is being run.
4. It's not a total career switch and I am still contributing my expertise within the industry.

Though I seemed to have learnt, it is difficult to let go. Afterall, I have grown to love and hate this current company of mine. I guess I just have to tell myself - the faster I drum in this thought, the freer my hands will be when the candy comes to me.

Losing 'it'

I am leaving my current company. The approval from the management has been given. As I came to terms with my resignation, I experienced a mix of feelings as I prepare for my transition. Today was yet another set of feelings.

GC asked me to carry out 2 tasks today - (i) Submission of a feasibility study, (ii) Reconcilliation of the manning figures. As I sit down and try to focus on the 2 tasks ahead of me, I realise that it was getting harder to carry out the duties at work.

The 'it' refers to the willingness to work. I know it wasn't just today. The 'it' has been manifesting by itself over the past week. The first tell-tale sign was dragging myself out of the house in recent mornings. Thereafter, I realised that I have forgotten how to read e-mails. I also discovered that there are many imperfections at the workplace which I have suddenly chose to accept.

At the end of today, I completed both tasks, with imperfections and barely on time. As I prepare to exit this company, I know I should leave on a positive note. But being professional is not an easy job, as I have lost the element of passion.

But I know I didn't suffer the biggest loss. The company did. They lost a positive, professional and passionate man.

Science & Energy

I was tired & sleepy. In addition, I was trying to shake off the headache that is killing me. So, I decided to spend more than half of my Saturday in bed.

As I sat down to blog about my Saturday, I was figuring out whether it was a wasted day or otherwise. It must have been the latter. Afterall, I was probably recuperating from the exhausting week that I had undergone. The past 2 weeks had been physically and mentally draining for me -  work was the cause of it all. I know that I have ended the week by finally pulling myself away from work, but the effects of giving it all at work is having a toll on my body and my mind.

I learnt from the Principle of Conversation of Energy that the total energy in this world is constant. I must have used most of my energy during the past 2 weeks such that I have none of it now. Science does have its truth afterall.

The Power of the Grapevine

Everyone starts talking about it. It was supposed to be kept low-key, and I thought it would be. Afterall, I only told one person my 'secret'.

By the end of today, it seems ike everyone has access to my 'secret', ranging from other departmental managers, to my fellow colleagues to the rank-and-file. At least 10 people came forward and verified the validity of my 'secret'. The others just gave me the look in the eye to hint that they knew about it.

I should have seen it coming. Afterall, what this place lacks is proper communication. Bosses don't care about garnering feedback, middle management don't give a heck, so everyone just talks behind each other's back. This isn't a one-off incident, it has evolved into a company culture.

Today, I learnt that I can't stop how the grapevine will evolve. But I can strive to ensure that the thorns of the vines will not prick me.

Our Outlook in Life

When I was young, I used to believe in fate - that fate has a hand in creating my destiny. I must have thought that our lives have already been pre-determined prior to our existence.

I grew up, only to learn that I was wrong. I can control my future, by grasping onto the opportunities that I find. Opportunities came my way and I held on to them; if they are worth pursuing, I would make efforts to explore those advantageous circumstances.

 

My current job is a positive example of an opportunity that I have seized. Fate did not land me this job; I found an advert in the newspapers before deciding that it was worth a try to make a career switch. 

As I progress in life, I found that there are better means than being on the lookout for opportunities. I try to make them instead. I have 2 personal examples to share: (i) I volunteered for the position of the President. Looking back on what my progress over the past 8 months, I saw the difference in me as I could speak with more confidence and inspiration over each progressive chapter meetings, and (ii) I volunteered to be in-house trainer to conduct workshops at my workplace. On both occasions, I created these opportunities, rather than wait for such possibilities.

Today, I like to urge all of you to use toastnasters as a platform to curb your fears of public speaking so that you can be a better and more confident person. I like to end by sharing this quote by Sir Francis Bacon - "a wise man will make more opportunities than he find."