"Take the job". That was about the last thing that I conveyed at the end of last week. Boy! Last week was hectic. With this new $20K ruling from CFP Board, lots of investors are rushing to invest. Volume was high but I must admit that we did pretty well. There are some "issues" that we faced and some still need resolution. However, it went pretty alright in these circumstances. We basically did not collapse. On top of that, I was doing the yearly performance appraisal. I planned an hour for each staff but turns out that I do need at the very least 1.5hr. Usually it was about 2 hours and for some, it was 3 or maybe more!
It was a good time to listen and to re-direct, on top of reviewing 2007. Somehow, maybe the fact of having a performance review makes such discussion different from the numerous I have along the way.
One thing that was re-inforced in me was: whatever might happen, will happen, at the worst time! And, I am even more convinced that documentation, planning and process re-engineering are perhaps some of the core activities for an operations department. Doing things effectively and efficiently is important. Low-volume period is a good time to practice or try new things and this becomes handy during high-volume period. Additionally, whatever can be done, should be done as soon as possible. Sometimes, we have are lulled into believing that we have time (in low-volume period) and when a high-volume period hits us, everything piles up!
Anyway, about the last thing at the end of the week was to have a chat with a candidate that we have offered a position. She was offered but have not yet decided. So, I had a 1 hour chat with her to let her know her specific role in the department should she join us. Also tried to allay her fears and concerns. And obviously, shared with her the various possible routes she can take within the company. I think the odds were increased but at best, it's probably 50-50.
Can't blame any candidates for telling interviewers how much they want the job, how must they want to switch fields (from say engineering to finance), how they believe that operations is a good place to start in a new field, how they will not flinch when you tell them how hard it can be, that the possible long hours can "kill", that there might be screw up and that problems exist.... and when they are offered, they kind of "think again". Can't blame them to think about positions, money, learning possibilities, title etc. It has probably always been difficult to recruit good people in operations, and keep them!
So, I'm hoping that she'll join us. If she joins us, I know she's joining us for the right reason and has the right expectation; the good and the bad and the prospect.
Oh, actually the last thing I did for the week was to finalise my own self-appraisal and emailed it.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Correlation vs Causality
I ain't gonna write a thesis on that matter. There should be enough articles off the web. Check out http://stats.org/faq_vs.htm for an article on that matter or http://256.com/gray/thoughts/2004/20040511.html for another. Check out http://cr.yp.to/postpropter.html for a list of potentially wrong "causal relationship" conclusions.
Anyway, to the subject. We came back late at around 9:00pm. Well, 'late' in terms of "probability to get a parking lot on the first floor of our multi storey carpark. In general, at this time on a Sunday night, we'd probably get a free lot on the seco nd or third storey. Optimitic as I am (well, the driver might have something else to say about that, especially after driving for hours. And I am not "yet" the driver), I suggested to just drive one round on the first storey.
As we were turning on the left (tis kind of a one-way drive), we noticed a car leaving on the extreme right and we also noticed a car coming in after us. My wife suddenly turned into Alan Prost (somehow I like that guy's name) and smurf (our van!) burst forward. We were kind of musing what to do if that car behind us were to drive the other way round (kind of against traffic). To our relief, it seems the car did no such thing. In fact, the car went up on the next storey probably thinking that whatever empty lot left will be taken by us. In any case, there were more than 1 empty lots left.
Ok, where am I going with this? Well, there were interestingly 3 empty slots (2 were just vacated). We were kind of esctatic cos it's always cool to get a lot on the first storey. We kind of exagerate our esctasy but well, that's our daily game! My wife half jokingly mentioned that Manchester United would win against Liverpool by 3-0. She has the habit of make such "predictions" just prior to the match. I remember she "predicted" a 4-0 against dunno what team. You know what? No prize for the right guess. SHE WAS RIGHT.
Manchester United demolised Liverpool 3-0. Well, it could have been more. Liverpool were hard done by a sent off but the red-carded dude has only himself to blame. You don't go and talk back to the referee.
Anyway, back again.. back again... THREE-NIL. That was fantastic and obviously my wife was jokingly remonstrating me for not betting!!!!
So, here's the theory:
a. The number of empty parking lots on the first floor causes something to happen such that Manchester United would win by such a margin.
And to play scientists, we'd add that the constraints are:
a. If smurf did a burst
b. If there is a car behind
c. If the driver believes that the car will try to steal an empty slot
d. If the driver noticed that a car just left the parking lot
e. If we reach the car park at 9pm
f. If Manchester United were playing at 9:30pm
g. ceteris paribus (keep other things constant)
No wonder I ain't a scientist and I ain't an economist (would you believe I specialised in Applied economics!!)
Anyway. I'm happy Man U won. Hopefully Arsenal and Chesea draw (and it is still draw at half time). Can't sleep cos I slept a bit in the afternoon. But must still try.
Anyway, to the subject. We came back late at around 9:00pm. Well, 'late' in terms of "probability to get a parking lot on the first floor of our multi storey carpark. In general, at this time on a Sunday night, we'd probably get a free lot on the seco nd or third storey. Optimitic as I am (well, the driver might have something else to say about that, especially after driving for hours. And I am not "yet" the driver), I suggested to just drive one round on the first storey.
As we were turning on the left (tis kind of a one-way drive), we noticed a car leaving on the extreme right and we also noticed a car coming in after us. My wife suddenly turned into Alan Prost (somehow I like that guy's name) and smurf (our van!) burst forward. We were kind of musing what to do if that car behind us were to drive the other way round (kind of against traffic). To our relief, it seems the car did no such thing. In fact, the car went up on the next storey probably thinking that whatever empty lot left will be taken by us. In any case, there were more than 1 empty lots left.
Ok, where am I going with this? Well, there were interestingly 3 empty slots (2 were just vacated). We were kind of esctatic cos it's always cool to get a lot on the first storey. We kind of exagerate our esctasy but well, that's our daily game! My wife half jokingly mentioned that Manchester United would win against Liverpool by 3-0. She has the habit of make such "predictions" just prior to the match. I remember she "predicted" a 4-0 against dunno what team. You know what? No prize for the right guess. SHE WAS RIGHT.
Manchester United demolised Liverpool 3-0. Well, it could have been more. Liverpool were hard done by a sent off but the red-carded dude has only himself to blame. You don't go and talk back to the referee.
Anyway, back again.. back again... THREE-NIL. That was fantastic and obviously my wife was jokingly remonstrating me for not betting!!!!
So, here's the theory:
a. The number of empty parking lots on the first floor causes something to happen such that Manchester United would win by such a margin.
And to play scientists, we'd add that the constraints are:
a. If smurf did a burst
b. If there is a car behind
c. If the driver believes that the car will try to steal an empty slot
d. If the driver noticed that a car just left the parking lot
e. If we reach the car park at 9pm
f. If Manchester United were playing at 9:30pm
g. ceteris paribus (keep other things constant)
No wonder I ain't a scientist and I ain't an economist (would you believe I specialised in Applied economics!!)
Anyway. I'm happy Man U won. Hopefully Arsenal and Chesea draw (and it is still draw at half time). Can't sleep cos I slept a bit in the afternoon. But must still try.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Split personality
I can't be alone! You are hard driven at work, make decisions, be on the go the whole day and simply never have time to pee! At home, you just want to relax. You like to see the world goes by and let others decide. You are the easy-going dude who kind of loathe to make any decision.
Well, I kind am like that. Which sometimes drives my wife nuts. On Thursday, she got some "free" entrace to the bird park. Well, I kind of initiated the idea of bringing my parents to the bird park since well, they kind of visited almost every shopping malls and shops in Singapore. Seriously, I thought that it'd be nice even though they've been there. So, my wife got all excited and managed to book those free passes (4 in all). Turns out that I did not really put a concrete plan and by Thursday night, there's still no plan. I was like ".. take it easy.. maybe the plan will just happen". Anyway, turns out that my parents do not want to go as they've been there before. Oh well....
So, we're planning to go to the bird park and have a picnic! We've prepared our tuna mayo, with lots of freshly groud pepper and we'll be on our way tomorrow morning. The first show starts at 10:30am. We might head there by 11am, walk around and find a nice spot to eat our sarnie. Probably leave by 2 or 3. And I'd probably try to sit down at a coffee joint, sip my coffee and read the papers (it's really an activity that I truly like as I watch the world goes by). We will then go and watch a church play.
Anyhow. Today's was quite a sleepy day. We were so tired yesterday night after the night saffari. Tis was really too bad, cos we really did not visit the whole zoo. I hope that our Japanese guests do not have a bad impression cos we really did not get to vist the zoo and gawk at all the creatures there, in almost their natural habitat (they did a good job actually).
Woke up around 10am and had lunch with my parents at this erm, dunno what place in East coast. Then went to my sister's place where my parents will be bunking till around Sunday. Left there around 3pm and headed to our nice cozy Rail Mall (well, now that we don't stay at Hume, it's kind of not to near). Had kopi-o and spent 1 hour or so talking and reading the papers. That's when I thought of maybe doing a business in education?! And also concluded that I need to come up with some company-wide initiative as one of my goals for the next 1-2 years... kind of leaving a legacy and accomplish something, other than, erm, solving the daily problems. Also thinking of putting part of our savings into my company's Money Market Funds... well, at least the return, though not guaranteed, is better than the meagre interest on savings account. Maybe tis time to start buying USD too!
Borrowed a movie. Headed home and rested. Then we cooked one of our favourite dishes and one of the simplest... well, some pasta and tomatoes. Watched the movie and here we are now! I'm writing this blog and my wife is sleeping... Tis 1am. So I better go.
Well, I kind am like that. Which sometimes drives my wife nuts. On Thursday, she got some "free" entrace to the bird park. Well, I kind of initiated the idea of bringing my parents to the bird park since well, they kind of visited almost every shopping malls and shops in Singapore. Seriously, I thought that it'd be nice even though they've been there. So, my wife got all excited and managed to book those free passes (4 in all). Turns out that I did not really put a concrete plan and by Thursday night, there's still no plan. I was like ".. take it easy.. maybe the plan will just happen". Anyway, turns out that my parents do not want to go as they've been there before. Oh well....
So, we're planning to go to the bird park and have a picnic! We've prepared our tuna mayo, with lots of freshly groud pepper and we'll be on our way tomorrow morning. The first show starts at 10:30am. We might head there by 11am, walk around and find a nice spot to eat our sarnie. Probably leave by 2 or 3. And I'd probably try to sit down at a coffee joint, sip my coffee and read the papers (it's really an activity that I truly like as I watch the world goes by). We will then go and watch a church play.
Anyhow. Today's was quite a sleepy day. We were so tired yesterday night after the night saffari. Tis was really too bad, cos we really did not visit the whole zoo. I hope that our Japanese guests do not have a bad impression cos we really did not get to vist the zoo and gawk at all the creatures there, in almost their natural habitat (they did a good job actually).
Woke up around 10am and had lunch with my parents at this erm, dunno what place in East coast. Then went to my sister's place where my parents will be bunking till around Sunday. Left there around 3pm and headed to our nice cozy Rail Mall (well, now that we don't stay at Hume, it's kind of not to near). Had kopi-o and spent 1 hour or so talking and reading the papers. That's when I thought of maybe doing a business in education?! And also concluded that I need to come up with some company-wide initiative as one of my goals for the next 1-2 years... kind of leaving a legacy and accomplish something, other than, erm, solving the daily problems. Also thinking of putting part of our savings into my company's Money Market Funds... well, at least the return, though not guaranteed, is better than the meagre interest on savings account. Maybe tis time to start buying USD too!
Borrowed a movie. Headed home and rested. Then we cooked one of our favourite dishes and one of the simplest... well, some pasta and tomatoes. Watched the movie and here we are now! I'm writing this blog and my wife is sleeping... Tis 1am. So I better go.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Moshi moshi
Ok, go ahead... kill me. That's probably the only Japanese that I know how to write cos I have a colleague who always uses these words. Hold on... do they exist?
We received 3 Japanese guests on Wednesday night. We went to fetch them at the airport at around 12:00, and that's am. Well, it was past 3am when I finally slept. Three ladies (mom+2 daughters), friends of my mother-in-law friend or something like that. Friendly people thought they do not speak much of English. But hey, they speak Japanese! You know, there was a period in time, around the time I was in Uni, that the Japanese language was really in vogue. Every studends seem to be taking it as elective. I think that nowadays, it might not be so much. Maybe I'm wrong.
The last 2 nights were tiring. We just came back from the Night Safari...well, not just cos it's 1:30am now! We were probabaly all too tired because though we spent nearly 3 hours there, we barely visited half of the attractions. That's a pity. We spent around 45min waiting... waiting to watch the "show" and waiting to go on the tram etc. We spent only 15 minutes walking. Was so hungry that I opened a can of sardines, spread them over crackers and ate at least.. well, at almost a whole packet. So now, I'm kind of full and not prepared to sleep. My missus is sleeping soundly.
Work over the past 2 days was hectic. Hah, sounds like broken record. Had another complaint to handle and took some time drafting a letter. Finally let our front office to handle the client. One of the thing to be aware is that for cooperation to be effective, there must be alignment of interests, especially in a same-level work relationship.
The last few days, and the last few "issues" really re-inforce Murphy's law; that whatever "bad" you think will happen, will happen, and at the worst possible time!
There are always ways to improve and to prevent the root cause or root problem. The key is really execution. And the key to execution is people and process. You don't have the right people, you don't anything done. You have the right people, you must have the right process for them to follow and to flourish and ensure that there is accountability. Else, the whole thing is not sustainable and will crumble like a playing card palace.
We received 3 Japanese guests on Wednesday night. We went to fetch them at the airport at around 12:00, and that's am. Well, it was past 3am when I finally slept. Three ladies (mom+2 daughters), friends of my mother-in-law friend or something like that. Friendly people thought they do not speak much of English. But hey, they speak Japanese! You know, there was a period in time, around the time I was in Uni, that the Japanese language was really in vogue. Every studends seem to be taking it as elective. I think that nowadays, it might not be so much. Maybe I'm wrong.
The last 2 nights were tiring. We just came back from the Night Safari...well, not just cos it's 1:30am now! We were probabaly all too tired because though we spent nearly 3 hours there, we barely visited half of the attractions. That's a pity. We spent around 45min waiting... waiting to watch the "show" and waiting to go on the tram etc. We spent only 15 minutes walking. Was so hungry that I opened a can of sardines, spread them over crackers and ate at least.. well, at almost a whole packet. So now, I'm kind of full and not prepared to sleep. My missus is sleeping soundly.
Work over the past 2 days was hectic. Hah, sounds like broken record. Had another complaint to handle and took some time drafting a letter. Finally let our front office to handle the client. One of the thing to be aware is that for cooperation to be effective, there must be alignment of interests, especially in a same-level work relationship.
The last few days, and the last few "issues" really re-inforce Murphy's law; that whatever "bad" you think will happen, will happen, and at the worst possible time!
There are always ways to improve and to prevent the root cause or root problem. The key is really execution. And the key to execution is people and process. You don't have the right people, you don't anything done. You have the right people, you must have the right process for them to follow and to flourish and ensure that there is accountability. Else, the whole thing is not sustainable and will crumble like a playing card palace.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Americanz Idol
Alright folks, it's American's idol's time here in Singapore. Smashing start by this "jackizee"? Quite cool. As usually, Simon is such a COWell. He's actually surprised that he agreed with the other 2 folks.
We have guests today. My sis and her friend from Italy. She's getting married on Friday, my sis that is, and she's bunking with us for the next 2 nights. We got 2 single-size mattresses and got some bed sheets and covers from my in-laws.
Work was ok today. No big fires to fight. Had a 1-2hr talk with a staff, selling a vision that I hope she and the rest will buy and discussing on some projects and KPIs. It's a matter of providing the right environment for all these guys to work to their potential. Matter of finding what motivates them. Not an easy feat cos it's so easy to say "I can do it better". The fact of the matter is that one people can only do so much; think what a team can do! Think what a motivated team can do!! Like they say, the whole is better than the sum of the individuals. Anyway, still deciding on filling the 1-2 headcount we have. Have good candidates. Still deciding but probably will decide by tomorrow. And our performance review is due soon. That's another exciting but difficult exercise.
Had lunch with the IT guys from Synergy. 4 of us tucked in some "vegetarian" food. It's quite amazing that they can "re-create" the taste of chicken using some dunno what glutinous flour? Anyway, tis alright. Had a good lunch.
Was raining the whole day though. That was a bummer. A few people getting sick of late. Must be the weather. Ended at around 7:20pm as we were to give my sis a ride from the bridal shop (with all the barang barang). Turns out that the dress requires some touching up and they were running late. So we left first. Wifie ate a MacSpicy as she was hungry. I ate at home, some roast beef with mayo on toasted bread, some salads, and some dunno what gravy-type-soup-beans??
Well, now going to do my daily stuff :)
A.A
We have guests today. My sis and her friend from Italy. She's getting married on Friday, my sis that is, and she's bunking with us for the next 2 nights. We got 2 single-size mattresses and got some bed sheets and covers from my in-laws.
Work was ok today. No big fires to fight. Had a 1-2hr talk with a staff, selling a vision that I hope she and the rest will buy and discussing on some projects and KPIs. It's a matter of providing the right environment for all these guys to work to their potential. Matter of finding what motivates them. Not an easy feat cos it's so easy to say "I can do it better". The fact of the matter is that one people can only do so much; think what a team can do! Think what a motivated team can do!! Like they say, the whole is better than the sum of the individuals. Anyway, still deciding on filling the 1-2 headcount we have. Have good candidates. Still deciding but probably will decide by tomorrow. And our performance review is due soon. That's another exciting but difficult exercise.
Had lunch with the IT guys from Synergy. 4 of us tucked in some "vegetarian" food. It's quite amazing that they can "re-create" the taste of chicken using some dunno what glutinous flour? Anyway, tis alright. Had a good lunch.
Was raining the whole day though. That was a bummer. A few people getting sick of late. Must be the weather. Ended at around 7:20pm as we were to give my sis a ride from the bridal shop (with all the barang barang). Turns out that the dress requires some touching up and they were running late. So we left first. Wifie ate a MacSpicy as she was hungry. I ate at home, some roast beef with mayo on toasted bread, some salads, and some dunno what gravy-type-soup-beans??
Well, now going to do my daily stuff :)
A.A
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
A start
This is my first entry. Oh well, it's near midnight and I'm kind of waiting to watch Jaimie's Program. Just finised watching some DVDs "Oliver Twist". I kind of like to watch the little simple things that he cooks. I might even write/transcribe one of his recipe ya?
My beautiful wife is sleeping on the couch. Reminds me that I'll tuck her to bed straight away after the programme ends. Thankfully we've been sleeping earlier of late but still not early enough. Gearing ourselves to the time when she has lectures at 8am!
Today's hectic at work. Has been hectic for the past week. Oh well, has been hectic forever but at least I'm knocking off at around 7:30-8pm. Reminding myself that I should aim to get out by 7pm ya, especially since my parents are aound. Mom's staying for 1 month while dad's extending to 3 months, primarily to attend my sister's wedding (getting married this Friday).
Life in back office operations is challenging and while not requiring a degree in rocket science type, it does demand a certain degree of, erm, resilience and patience. Lots of things to improve and lots of ideas. Execution is key and is the challenge. And having good people and keeping them motivated is the challenge. Plus you have management breathing down your neck and keep pushing you, erm, setting "stretch" goals ya?
Well, had a 2-3 hr meeting to discuss on some customer complaint case. Can't blame those customers since I am one too, and I can be nasty one too. Oh well, just need to deal with them and ensure that both the customers and the 'authorities' are happy. A bummer that come 1st April, some new CPF rules kick in. Now working doubly hard to come up with new process flows and IT specifications to deal with those rules. Darn industry. Too many papers. Too many parties. Not a single 'leader' to bring about changes. Maybe the Govt has to play daddy and step in. Oh well, that's why I enjoy it. You make money where there is imperfect information. Ditto for an industry with lot of potential for process improvement.
Ciao... looks like I dun really like this episode of Jaimie's. Better have an early rest, wake up early, try to get some breakie for my wifie, and get the day started well.
My beautiful wife is sleeping on the couch. Reminds me that I'll tuck her to bed straight away after the programme ends. Thankfully we've been sleeping earlier of late but still not early enough. Gearing ourselves to the time when she has lectures at 8am!
Today's hectic at work. Has been hectic for the past week. Oh well, has been hectic forever but at least I'm knocking off at around 7:30-8pm. Reminding myself that I should aim to get out by 7pm ya, especially since my parents are aound. Mom's staying for 1 month while dad's extending to 3 months, primarily to attend my sister's wedding (getting married this Friday).
Life in back office operations is challenging and while not requiring a degree in rocket science type, it does demand a certain degree of, erm, resilience and patience. Lots of things to improve and lots of ideas. Execution is key and is the challenge. And having good people and keeping them motivated is the challenge. Plus you have management breathing down your neck and keep pushing you, erm, setting "stretch" goals ya?
Well, had a 2-3 hr meeting to discuss on some customer complaint case. Can't blame those customers since I am one too, and I can be nasty one too. Oh well, just need to deal with them and ensure that both the customers and the 'authorities' are happy. A bummer that come 1st April, some new CPF rules kick in. Now working doubly hard to come up with new process flows and IT specifications to deal with those rules. Darn industry. Too many papers. Too many parties. Not a single 'leader' to bring about changes. Maybe the Govt has to play daddy and step in. Oh well, that's why I enjoy it. You make money where there is imperfect information. Ditto for an industry with lot of potential for process improvement.
Ciao... looks like I dun really like this episode of Jaimie's. Better have an early rest, wake up early, try to get some breakie for my wifie, and get the day started well.
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