End of Another Cycle

It's a tiring job. Another cycle is over. Thank god. I feel a bit relieved now. The last three months has been a demanding one. Late nights are common but 2 nights in particular, I had been working all through from 7 am to 7 am the next day (i.e 23-24 and 28-29 August 2008). I hope whatever the outcome of the team's hardwork is worthwhile and appreciated by colleagues and especially, the public. The next couple of days, my schedule is tight with line-ups of briefings to the private sector, universities and NGOs. It's fasting month but I hope to transmit rightfully whatever we have planned to those groups of people.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all, especially the B-team, officers in the division who completed the ER, officers and colleagues from other divisions, ministries, agencies and private sector organisations who contributed directly or indirectly in completing both Budget and ER successfully. Of course, its not 100% perfect and aimed at solving all problems faced by the people and nation. It's only a one year budget with specific targets and objectives to achieve.

Now, its time for capacity building in the division. It's fasting month, most of the officers are a bit relaxed. As such, I have planned to organise training in writing skills, modelling and presentations. Sincerely, hope all officers will participate and give full support. Happy Merdeka holidays.

Note: Learning never ends.

Managing Man

Hi guys, quite sometimes I didn't write anything. I have been busy with office work. My colleagues in the office surely will know why. The busiest time of the year. 29 august 2008 will be the D-day, not like the army term D-day but more of a celebration day after months of hard work. I know this blog is read by most my office colleagues and as such, I would to extend my sincere appreciation for the hardwork and cooperation they have shown. I know i have been hard on them at times. People say I'm a tough guy, scolding officers and pushing them to the edge. Some even had complained to others. Even the top bosses say, I'm a bit harsh on the junior officers. I didn't mean to hurt or embrass anyone. Every thing I do is in the best interest of the division and the ministry. I always appreciate those who have given their best in any undertakings.

Sometimes, I had to scold or tell them whatever things they didnt do rightly. However, may be the approach I use is not appropriate or its not the best way how things should be handled. I would like to state here that I have no grudge against anyone. If I am unhappy of things, I will just tell them directly. I don't talk behind people (gossip sikit2 adalah). I would like to be direct and be frank. Of course, some can't accept things being told direct in their face. But i thought this are how things should be done.

On the other hand, may be I need to be more tactful and handle things one to one, rather than telling them openly during meetings or infront of others. My intention was clear that others should learn from one's mistake and try not to repeat the same mistake. But again, if people can't accept things than I have to change my management style.

Having attended the Harvard senior management course, I learned lots of new things including how to handle subordinates. I promise I will try to improve myself and appreciate whatever others do. Of course, if there are things done wrongly, I had to tell them but from now on, on a one to one basis. In the meetings, I will just illustrate mistakes done, in a general manner without quoting who had done those mistakes. I need feedback from all of you reading my blog on this issue. Thanks. Happy Merdeka Day and wish all Muslims - have a fantastic fasting month.

Note: It's easy to manage a hundred cows rather than managing a dozen men.

Life is like a drama series.....

In my previous entries, I wrote a number of times about life. In this entry, I wish to discuss about life again. After all, we are going through some form of experiences in our daily life. Our life can be divided into stages i.e. from infant or toddler (which we usually dont remember anything) to early childhood, then to young kid, teenager and adulthood. But this topic of mine is more pertinent to the adulthood period, when we have already started working, say at the of age 25 and above.

The whole life can be filmed into a drama series. Each year in life can be an episode of that drama series. There are episodes of happiness, sorrow, love, hate and etc. Your happy moment will be, when something good happens to you, such as successful in interviews, going to work the first day, getting married, having your first kid, you get promoted and so on. The sorrow part will be, when you lost someone you loved, your girl/boy friend left you, you failed in interview, not successful in getting a job and so on.

Whatever happens to you either happiness or sorrow, as time passes by, you will get wiser and more matured. You learn how to handle things and not panic during demanding situations. Of course, not everything in life goes as what you have planned. You can't play God. Anyway, I dont believe when people say that they in control of life. May be what they meant is that they can manage and handle situations, rather than totally controlling their life and get whatever they wanted.

Coming back to life and drama, so what's the ending or climax of the drama. Everybody knows the ending is death. Does death means sorrow and sadness? Nobody laughs or are happy when people die. However, when you about to die will you be happy or sad? You can answer this when you are about to die. Do people know the answer way earlier before they die. I personally think one should roughly know they are happy or not at that moment. Those who have achieved their dreams and most of the things they wanted in life, i guess will die peacefully. On the contrary, the one who suffers and had hardtimes will be sad but again they may be happy to leave this world rather than keep on suffering. How about those cunning, merciless, notorious and unworthy guys? We not only can classify individuals into good or bad category but also groups of people and even a particular country. So which countries are bad and which are good. I have deviated far from my topic, better pull myself to the issue we are discussing.

Moments in your life are so beautiful and what occurs at that particular time, may not ever repeat again. Especially, your younger days, love life and watching your kids growing-up. Spend more time and cherrish every moment of your life.

Note: This blog introduced to me by Christine depicts some moments in my life. How about your life drama?

Dedicated to Work

Dedicated means devoted or committed to a particular purpose. In relation to this, how many of us are really dedicated to our work. Does the income we earn, commensurate the amount of work we do each day? There are officers who comes to work just in time to punch the card, say at 8.30 am and leaves the office exactly at 5.00 pm. On the other hand, we have officers who stay late in the office doing nothing. Do we call these people as dedicated officers? Dedicated officers mean they are committed to work and will give the outmost in completing the task given to them with quality output. We seldom find this kind of execellent officers.

Where is the mistake? The officers themselves, the recruiting department, the training center or the education system. Each and every factor mentioned above has a part to play in contributing the whole issue. The officers themselves must be able to comprehend the task give to them. If they dont understand, they must read and do research. The recruiting department must choose the right person to be placed in the right position. Sending officers with little knowledge and interest in a particular job creates more problem rather than solving the problem. The training institution they were sent before they go to their department, must instill dedication and understanding on how they should perform their job rather than providing and instigating with all kind of unnecessary trainings. Finally and more importantly is the education system. The entire education needs to be ravamped, starting from the syllabus, extracurricular activities, the style of teaching and exams. Our education system is so exam oriented. Starting from the primary schools up to the tertiary institutions, emphasis is given to the results of exams. As such, students will try to memorize and produce the best of what they have memorized. Our education system is more like a factory producing robots! This will block their mental capability from being creative in thinking.

How to be a dedicated officer? Any task given to us by our boss, we should accept it. Never say no, I cannot do it. This shows you are either trying to avoid the job or you are not good for your organization. Whatever task given to you, just accept it. In the first place, your boss is not so ridiculous. He wont ask you to design a space craft, if you are an accountant. Of course, your boss will ask you to do something related to your job description and may be you are new and with little experience, you will feel reluctant to do the job. Anway, you must accept whatever job given to you. First if you dont understand, you can ask your colleagues and your immediate superior. Morever, in this age of information, everything is available in the internet. You can do your own research.

The other important aspect, most officers, like I said are similar to robots. If the boss ask to solve a case with option A , they will only do option A and not more than that. They wont take an extra step to do options A, B and C. They wont do research and sometimes come up with a better option than that was suggested by the boss. It is not challenging the boss. Providng the best option in the interest of the organization or even in the interest of the nation depending on what kind of organization you are working for, will make the boss appreciate your efforts.

I hope those who are reading this blog are dedicated officers. If you are not, then you will change yourselves from just a mediocre to an excellent officer.

Note: Me, always dedicated to my work. Any comments, especially from the young officers out there.

Family or Work

In any one year, there will be times when you are so busy. On the contrary, sometimes you will be so empty with less work to do. My busiest time for this year is August. Everybody in the office is busy.. officers attending meetings.. committees formed to go through chapter draftings. Last night, I went back home at 11.30pm, reached home almost 12.00 am and everybody in at home has gone to bed. My son came back from Gadjahmada on leave last monday, I could not even pick him up at the at the airport. I bought 2 tickets to watch the Chelsea game, but was not able to watch the game with him. Early morning today, I left 50 bucks for him, he said he's going to cinema. I really dont have time to sit down and talk with him. I hope this coming sunday, can spend more time with him instead of having to come to office. He will be leaving back to Jogja on 10 August 2008. I hope I can send him to the airport. I guess he wont be dissapointed with me.

I still remember when he was growing-up, I always come back home quite late in the evening. He always says Government servants dont work late. He was comparing me with other fathers who come home early and take their kids out. (Anyway, for godsake, dont ever compare me with others. I didnt tell him this but I'm telling you readers of this blog. You need to be dedicated officers. Work sincerely and give the best in return for what you earn). Coming back to my son, he will be asking lots of questions, such as what work u do, u always come home late and you always say you attend meetings, so your work is to attend meetings. I didnt answer many of his questions but I always tell him work comes first, then only family.

Most of my friends and even officers tend to disagree with me. They always say that family matters first, then only office work. They say family is the closest thing in this world. If you are sick the family takes care of you and not your office or your colleagues. Some even say you need to spend more time with your family. I told them I'm a dedicated officer and need to spend more time in the office. They say whatever nice time you miss with your family, you will not get it back. Time just moves on.

I tend to ponder alot on this matter. I tend to agree with my colleagues to a certain extent. Time is short. You live only a short moment in this world. The time when your first kid is born and started to grow-up slowly, is actually so precious. You take the kid to shops, to the parks and watch each and every behavior. Sometimes kids are so clever and you tend to learn lots of things from them, cos kids are the most innocent human creatures. The period when your kid is born, then going to school until they go to college is the crucial moment. During this period, is the time for you to pour your love and more importantly, nurture them into good and worthy human beings. Once they are in the college, they won't have time for you.

Apart from your kids, other family members are important too. They care for you and you too must care for them. I didnt spend much time with my mum. I seldom visit her in Ipoh ( only twice a year). Like i told you in my earlier entry, even when she passed away in April, I could not attend her funeral, cos I was in Harvard, Boston. I do regret sometimes and always ask for her forgiveness. But what is gone is gone, life has to go on. The longer you live, the more you learn about life and how to react. Even reading this entry may change you or make you think.

But having said that family is important, that doesnt mean work is less important. Work is equally important, especially working for Government. Your work contributes to the happiness and well-being of millions of people in the country compared to only five or six members of your family. You need to be dedicated and provide the best out of you for anything you are asked to do. Do reaserch, read alot and particiapte actively in all work you are tasked. Every good work you do, helps the nation to prosper ( sounds like a politician).

Note: I still believe for any hard work you do, the satisfaction you get is invaluable. You judge for yourselves family or work. Any comments?

Hatred

In simple, hatred or hate describes intense feelings of dislike. The dislike or hostility feelings is directed towards individuals, organisations, things or even situations. You may often hear phrases such as, "I hate you", "I hate chocolate", "I hate horror movies" or "I hate Microsoft or IBM" and so on.

The focus of this entry is more on hatred between individuals. Why do you hate or why the hatred feelings boils inside you. Between indiviuals. he or she must have done something bad that makes you dislike them. They may have lied about you or lied to you, create gossips about you, always create problems for you and so on. You will either try to find ways to mitigate the problem or just try to avoid this individual as possible as you can. Sometimes, the more you hate the person, the more you love the person. This is true, in case, you really like the person. You will hate the person, but inside you love him/her.

There are people who often irritates you. Everytime you are with friends or colleagues, these individuals will make sarcastic remarks and annoys others. They don't know what to say when. They are not in line with the thinking of the ordinary people.

In my daily life, I encounter this kind of characters. There is guy, he who knows everything. He will crush others ideas. Criticise others. Often suspicious of anything you say. He often uses vulgar words. Nobody likes him.

Another character, who doesnt know when to make jokes. For him everything is a joke. When people are doing serious work, he will create unnecessary remarks.

Then there is this guy, who doesnt know whether people like him to be around or not. He is not sensitive. He will enter your room and starts talking, he coudnt be bothered whether your are listening to him or not. He will continue speaking to you, even if you say you are going to the toilet and he will follow you in to the toilet.

I know hating people, especially your office colleagues is not good but you can't help it. The most you can do is to just accept them for what they are. So long they don't bring harm to you.

Note: Have you gone through similar experiences..

Are you trapped.....

Have you ever feel that you are trapped in a situation and can't really get out of it. Most people do! For some it takes only a few moments, hours or even days and months, but they can solve it. But for some they cannot solve it and they will dream about it, have sleepless nights and eventually, solve it or situation changes and the problem disappears. But there are a few who cannot solve it entirely, so they either tend to ignore it or just treat the problem as part of their lifes. But there is also this one or two, who really cannot take it and they resort to negative solutions. Hope you are not one of them!!

Why i'm bringing-up this topic at this point of time? In this fast changing world, people are moving at a faster pace in their everyday life. Some traps are created by themselves and some may be due to others or even situational. They encounter all kind of problems. People with psychological problems are on the rise these days. The problem ranges from tiny to huge ones, such as debts, marriage failures, animorsity, addiction to drugs or alcohol, crime, jealousy, political rivarly, broken family, one-sided love and thousands of other issues.

The most important achievement in one's life is how he or she manage to break-away from the trap they are in. You will feel so relieved. All the agony and stress you have been carrying are gone. The more traps you break-away in life, the more mature you become.

How to overcome traps in life. The first thing most people do is to analyse the situation and the seriousness of the shit you are in. If you have options, list them down and take the options with the least negative outcomes. If you can't solve yourself, you can seek your close friends or family members advice. Always make sure, you decide what option to take so that later you don't blame others, if something goes wrong. Always blame yourself for whatever happens. Always remember for all problems in the world, there is a solution.

Note: No trap is unbreakable