Chronicle 104 - Paradigm shifts

I know I have not been updating for the past 2 months, but it was to allow the number of chronicles to match exactly the one-post-a-month rule since I had started this blog.

Having stopped video-gaming for close quite a while, it did seem weird picking it up again at first. However, I was quickly reminded as to the therapeutic effects of gaming, especially after a hard day’s work. It might just be one of the few things that keeps me sane.

A certain headhunter called me and asked if I wanted to join a competitor. Coincidentally, MC had interviewed at the same competitor a few days back and would eventually get the job – although she turned them down at the last minute. Her current superior managed to keep her by promising a personal mentorship programme. For me, I turned it down simply because I do not know what I want, and it didn’t make sense to jump to a competitor at that point.

I went to the Philippines with my boss for a business trip and it was just so taxing. Travelling with the boss means you have to be on the ball all the time. I actually forgot to pack my business shoes to the Philippines! Thankfully, I managed to but a pair from the mall nearby the hotel before the meeting. The hotel was very good but I couldn’t enjoy the king-sized bed much as I was busy working on another pitch that my boss will be presenting in Brunei a couple of days after we get back to Singapore. Effectively, I got back to Singapore from the Philippines, rushed down to the office, worked on the presentation till 3.30am, printed and bound 7 copies, went home and slept for 2 hours, woke up and rushed to the airport to deliver and run though the presentations to my boss. Honestly, I really don’t know how long I can keep doing this. The week before I was in Philippines, I was also working simultaneously on two crises as well as a new pitch to SGX. Those were incredibly demanding as well.

In between the plane rides and dinners with my boss in the Philippines, I spoke to her about quite a bit of stuff. It seems that she still has some lingering regret in allowing MC, LAB, LT, and AS to leave, and not being able to have an attractive enough business then to get them to stay. Honestly though, I feel that if the girls had never left (and expressed their dissatisfaction during exit interviews), she might not have the motivation or ammunition to push for change. She also expressed concern that the current Executives are not developing as quickly as she hoped. In a way, I suppose, it reflects the level of exposure they have and I guess I am no longer as vested in their development as I was with the other girls. I just don’t think it is worth it anymore…

A TV series which I had been following, Sense8 has been cancelled. This is incredibly annoying as I had rather enjoyed the series. It seems there were plenty of angry online protests as well. The producers eventually relented and agreed to film a 2 hour finale special to give the fans some closure. I guess that is as good as it is going to get.

I met quite a few people these couple of months for catch-up. There was K and P who are now parents to a son. Sometimes it just feels rather strange as I still remember the interactions we had back when we were kids, and we would never have imagined them to be the responsible and mature couple they have turned out to be. I wonder if people mature with age or with responsibilities, or both? Either way, it doesn’t change the fact that I have quite a bit of catching up to do in the game of life.

I met PL for dinner sometime after my return from China. I am really not sure what to make of us hanging out for dinner occasionally. Does this constitute as leading people on? I mean… I do enjoy her company and... ok fine, I don’t know.

I also met Piya for dinner as a form of delayed payment for her advice to me previously when I was at a crossroads between leaving or staying at my current job. It was a good catch-up and was interesting to know the direction in which she is steering her business. It was also good to see Louis as well, although I was not used to him being all serious-like and in work mode. Piya also asked me if I would be interested in working for them in the near future. My answer was diplomatic as always; I told her that any answer now is speculative and meaningless without the context.

I attended JZ's wedding this month and on the surface it seemed to go rather well. However, I heard from a bridesmaid that she had one of her tantrums in the early morning which threatened to derail the entire wedding. Just a classic "JZ moment". She is indeed lucky to have found someone patient enough to deal with her. As her dad said during the celebratory toast: "这一天我等了三十多年了！". LOL!

At the wedding, I met with the boss of the competitor which I was headhunted for. I could tell that he was subtly testing me and trying to gauge my interest. I believe I deflected his questions rather well and even managed to leave a good impression. Hopefully that will help after all the doors I have closed previously.

Me and FA went for a business trip to Malaysia two weeks ago and on the way back, we somehow managed to have misread the departure time by a good 20 minutes. We had to pay a penalty fee in order to switch our flight to the next timing but it also involved plenty of queue cutting in order to get on that plane. I guess we'll be paying the penalty fee out of our own pocket.

WK and I have started/resumed running every Saturday and so far, we have been pretty disciplined. Of course, given our track record, I shall not comment on the longevity of such an arrangement.

A series of developments at LT's workplace have made her very upset which culminated in her wanting to leave her job and switch to a competitor, which conveniently was where AS is working at the moment. I am really doubtful that she has thought this through and my worry is that she is jumping simply because of someone's advice. I really want that poor girl to do well but at the same time, I do not approve of her disregarding everything simply because there appears to be an easy way out. Anyway, her wedding is confirmed for early next year and there is also a high chance that she might relocate to Switzerland next year. In light of all these, I'm really not sure what she is thinking.

As for AS, she has been promoted which is very well-deserved. She has been pretty stressed out at work recently and have cried a few times in my presence. This promotion seems to have added on an additional layer of stress but I know that she is someone with direction and therefore will have the conviction to move past this. Her wedding is also confirmed for mid next year. Looks like next year will not be kind to my wallet.

I had dinner with LAB and AS last week and it was really good for us to meet up again. I just realised that even though I thought LAB to be doing the best out of all of us, she is also undergoing some issues on her own. This has really shaped my perception on many things including relationships, career, and ambition. At this point, everything seems to be fleeting and insignificant. Hopefully, my own experience might prove me wrong.

[Quotes]

"If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair." - CS Lewis

"We draw our strength from the very despair in which we have been forced to live. We shall endure." - Cesar Chavez