A movie on LOSERS

I watched the movie - LOSERS some time ago. I used to blog at every movie I have watched. I reckoned I should keep up this habit. Afterall, it is an interesting yet insightful habit that I have.

'Losers' was a movie that my fiancee and I watched out of desperation. We headed for the cinemas, but all seats for Ip Man 2 was sold out. We could have not watched any movie. We could have chose to hang out at a coffee joint. But we made that blind decision to watch what was available. Losers was the name, losers was the film and losers become my name.

I thought that the movie was poorly constructed. It had a thin storyline, which the producer tried to stretch it with too many special effects. There were gaps in the movie which I couldn't comprehend. The good prevailed, as per usual; there wasn't much of a twist.

I figured that I became a LOSER for once by watching this movie. 10 dollars were spent for this lesson. For that, I learnt that one should always plan not 1 step ahead, but 2 steps ahead. Never venture into the unknown. Even it takes time to think through more facts, one should still do that. For once time/money/efforts are spent, there are often non-recoverable.

Shrek Forever After

This was yet another popular movie. People has recommended this movie. I did a online booking for this movie 6 hours before the show. And alas, I found a pair of good cinema seats still available in Marina Square. The timing of the movie release couldn't have been more perfect. A long weekend due to Vesak Day and the start of the school holidays made the theatres filled with both adults and children.

Whilst I could understand why a DreamWorks Animation show was well received by children, I have to watch the movie to comprehend why adults would love it too. Shrek Forever After 'sells' Shrek leading a normal man's family life - a wife, 3 children and the normal routine activities that has come to bore him. Eventually, he decides to offer a day of his childhood in exchange for feeling like a real ogre again. The plot then takes us to see how he quickly regrets that decision and try to make right of what is left.

That plot couldn't have better reflected how life actually is - we seldom treasure what we often have, lamenting the current situation. And when we decide to make a switch, only then we realise what we have lost. I liked that this movie has assisted to reinforce my life's principles - to treasure the existence of each day and to appreciate the little thoughts due to each love.

Seriously, my life couldn't have been more perfect.

My new job - Is it a right move?

I started work on my company 4 weeks ago. Today. as I sit down to blog, I decide that it is only timely to look back and review how this new chapter in my life has been. Changing job has never been easy; it's like breaking off from a relationship and moving on as fast as possible to another relatioship. Maybe it's worse than that when the relationship with your job hasn't been on the rocks. I asked myself - in this major turn of life's events, what did I gain and what did I lose?

ADVANTAGES of my new job

1. I have a higher starting pay.

2. I have a better job designation, that of a manager.

3. Work stress is much more manageable.

4. I am in an intellectual position that trains me to put on my thinking cap.

5. I have a understanding boss that appreciates 360 degrees communication.

6. I have a buddy who coaches me.

7. I am in a great company who has the vision to double her size in a decade

8. I do not have to stay back till 9pm almost everyday.

9. I do not have to be submerged in a negative culture.

10. I do not need to experience this fear of speaking up, only to be brought down.

11. I am in an environment that entrusts that each has his/her integrity to complete his/her task diligiently

12. I am with a pool of talents that allowsme to harness the advantages of 'many'.

DISADVANTAGES of leaving my previous job

1. I lose the company of my friends.

2. I lose my 2 months of bonus, which was due to be issued in July.
3. I lose my free travel benefits.
4. I lose my free dental benefits.
5. I lose my spacious working area, which is the space of a 5-room flat.

It's not the experience that counts

Today, the 4 of us, new employees of the cluster, have a casual conversation with our cluster head. He initiated the meeting and called the HR manager along. It was a first of its kind. Afterall, there has been an influx of newbies, like us, over the past 2 years.

     It was meant to be a short sharing session. Afterall, I expected a 'generation' gap and a disconnect in terms of our thought process. But it lasted an entire 90 minutes. It was only when DS mentioned that he had to leave for the next appt/meeting that our cluster head realised he had spent so much time sharing with us.

After today's conversation with him, did I realise that I do have a cluster head who believes in nurturing talent. With him as the leader setting the culture, it is no wonder that my superiors also believe in his working style - insights from the sharing, excellence from the thinking, progressing from the coaching.

Today, he repeated one of his principles. The 1st time I heard it was when I asked him that during my job interview by him. It was a bit blunt to me then. He said to me with a straight face, 'It's not the experience that counts'. At that point in time, I could start hearing my heartbeats. Afterall, my 'selling point' to the company was my industry knowledge as I have experience in the operational aspects of the airfreight industry. I felt belittled. He then continued, 'What I look out for is the clarity of thoughts'.

That interview with him was a memorable one. We sparred on the topic of 'me', as he questioned my thought process and rationale for joining his team. I still remembered that I had to e-mail him personally thereafter to re-affirm my answers to his difficult questions.

     Today, I am on his team and together with him. Today, I know that it's not my experience that matters most. Today, I asked myself again - how clear am I in my thought process?

Ip Man 2 (叶问2:宗师传奇)

I do not usually hear raving reviews about a movie, but this movie was a kind of its own. At least 5 friends recommended it. I tried to catch it last weekend, but was surprised that I was left with the 1st 2 rows of seats, ever when I tried to buy it 6 hours before the movie time. I finally managed to show the movie.

     Many people are not able to describe why a movie is good. It baffled me when they are not substantiate the goodness of the movie. It was until I watched the movie. Good movie it was, but I was lost for words. I could not describe why it was good.

I figured that I ought to figure out this mystery.

Ip Man's rival, Hung, decided to fight against the boxing champion, Twister. The British had earlier played him out; they refused to pay him & his clan for the hard work that they have carried out in ensuring the logistics for the boxing competition. Twister further angered the audience when his arrogant & rowdy behaviour resulted in several injuries. Hung fought for his men. He refused to give up even when he was out of stamina. He wasn't his pride that kept him going. It wasn't just for his men, but a fight for the Chinese race. Twister wasn't a man who fought with dignity. He didn't hold back and killed Hung in the boxing ring.

Ip Man decided to take up the challenge when Twister offered another chance to the Chinese for another boxing match. It was another boxing scene. This time round, despite the unfair rules, he won.

Other action-packed movies would merely simulate a bit of adrenalin. This action-packed movie touched all of us. Each punch isn't just a swinging action, but a movement for race equality, freedom of speech, justice, human equality, friendship and respect for Chinese martial arts.

     Not only did he touch the hearts of movie-goers with the above values, he portrayed himself as a leader with inspiration and integrity. I figured that I loved the movie because in Ip Man, I found a humble Superman who sacrificed himself for so many noble causes. I aspire to be like him, but can I?
(Earlier reference: My Jan 09 post on Ip Man)