I had been receiving the same question again and again but I do see the logic behind this question. Being away from home for a long period, it makes sense for friends back home to ask this.
People, I am here in Hong Kong not entirely for leisure, that is for sure. Hong Kong is not a country like Thailand where you can survive with minimal spending. The pace and living standard in Hong Kong is high, it is only logical for you to earn and spend here. So i will update a bit on what I am doing, why I made this move and when all this will be over.
Thanks to my years of networking in the cyberworld, be it blogging, facebooking, twittering, etc, I was requested by a company here in Hong Kong to assist on their website revamping. This is an international company with networks across 18 cities around the world. Unfortunately, their business had grown rapidly that they ignored entirely the importance of web marketing.
So I was given a task to do a total makeover on their website and at the same time advice them on activities to run online. For the past 2 weeks, I had meetings with the owner of the business and was requested to understand fully on their business before they award me the whole project. So in a way, I am sort like a web marketing consultant if you need to give a position to it.
In terms of knowledge on internet, I would say Malaysians are doing better than the people here in Hong Kong. The people here are more practical and more revenue centric kind of thinking and to invest a substantial money onto web, I need to have a certain level of convincing power towards my client. The few days I had checked in their office and I was given a work desk by them. Though in terms of knowledge we Malaysians have the human resource in this area but unfortunately in Malaysia we are enjoying crap internet connection. The infrastructure here is amazing, in terms of bandwidth that makes surfing a pleasure here not to mention downloading & uploading files.
Client's office is in the Hong Kong International Airport (I will talk about in depth of their businesses in another day). I was given a chance to tour the whole airport both Terminal 1 & 2 and Arrival Hall. This airport is massively huge and a lot of walking around, a simple tour can last about 3 hours per session. I had done 3 tours so far and now is in the final stage of getting all the collective data and findings for my analysis to client.
I am supported by designers in Malaysia and dear if you are reading this, thanks for the great support, we can do great things together and my apology for pushing and giving you info on the very last minute each and every time. As for me, I will be doing the copy writing for them. So I am sort like a medium to coordinate and communicate client's needs and requirements to my designers.
In terms of my own revenue, I would say the amount is not what many would assume it is, in short, OK lah, if not I wouldn't have travel so far for this. That amount was pretty similar to what I made during my employment days in XX company.
Then why do I make this move? Firstly, it is the exposure. Not many would have a chance to work and experience how is it like working in Hong Kong. I had a chance to join the sales & marketing meeting recently and I got to say it is totally a fresh experience for me even though I had been working with Koreans for about 8 years. Secondly, this short project of mine if successfully implemented will do good for my resume definitely. And really, it does make an impact. People with overseas experiences most of the time will have its plus points compare to those with local experiences.
So friends out there, you guys know what I had been doing. And of course, during these period here, I do try my best to meet up friends who make their visit here in Hong Kong. With AirAsia, more and more Malaysians will frequent Hong Kong. Next week will be meeting ex-colleagues who will be here for a launching and I will be attending it. The week after, another 3 female friends will be coming for a shopping trip and the following week 2 other friends are coming. So I manage to squeeze my time to juggle between work and leisure here.
My mom and my youngest brother had just gone home today. So it's home alone most of the time for me here and yes I do miss friends back home. I do not miss Malaysia to be frank but I miss my friends who are able to listen to me, to cheer me up when I need to, I miss them a lot! And I do hope I can conclude my project here and meet up with them for a short time in December, fingers crossed! Brothers, pray for me ya!
And for the next year's plan, I will share when the time is right. At the moment, I just want to focus on this project and I cannot afford to flop at this point of time. Ending this long winded post with a photo taken in Elements in Kowloon.
Until then, work aside, I will update more about my life here soon! Love you!
Sorry dude, I know I had neglected yet again this site. There are a lot to share and I do not know where to start.
Let's talk a bit of what's happening at work of late. Few senior managers spoke to me (I mentioned SENIOR MANAGERS) came up to me and gave me a piece of advice "be humble". I nodded and did a bit of thinking about this.
Being my vocal self and always seem to be a fighter in the company, I evaluated those words conveyed to me, "HUMBLE". Let me share a bit of my working style here before I indulge deeper on the word "HUMBLE". I am a fighter, I always stand in my customer point of view, I always debate on my justification over a decision I made. To me, any decision made in business, business sense MUST prevail!
Early last year when I took up the role of business development, practically I headed the department with one of my junior who I had no issue with and we worked closely and get things done and secured. Things changed until early this year when the organization decided to place a Senior Manager whom I need to report to. This had not been an issue and I had tried my best to work with him as much as I can. Being myself, I had numerous occasions where I had constructive arguments with various departments in the company but my intention was good, everyone knows that, blame it on the respective KPIs that everyone got to meet. So therefore certain business decisions I made, I had no choice but to overlap a lot of people in the company and went straight to MD who most of the time sees the logic behind my justification (thanks MD!)
This had in fact angered many parties whom in the end of the day I did went to each and everyone to apologize and hope that they understand that whatever we argued was for work and nothing personal. Outside, I am seem to be a nice person, I can mix well with people in & out of the company. I am glad that some people really understand and accept that Michael Song is what he is and it really take a very tough manager with strong personality to mold me as a future leader. I learned the hard way, during the SEE days, I learned a lot from the top management there and still keeping in touch with some of them.
So back to "HUMBLE", my upbringing and to friends who know me personally, I do have qualities of being a humble person. My clients can prove it. Then come to think about it, is it that some of the Senior Managers want me to be a "Yes Man" or in another word, a "HAMBA" instead of "HUMBLE".
Just as I count my days down in my current company, here by are some really nice testimonials given by my clients.
"He is a fighter. He always at his best to fight for us and very unfortunate that he is taking up bigger role & challenge elsewhere" - Citibank
"He is a very prompt person, very helpful at most occasions and he even came to ground to do installation" - Ireka Land
"Michael is the most friendliest supplier under my list. He had been helpful and supportive in the call to promote Korea tourism. From a relationship of a supplier-client, we are now friends!" - Korea Tourism Organization
"Very helpful and informative, committed even though our delivery dateline to him was tight" - Super Coffeemix
"The only person that I can rely to when I need information and support, great job done in assisting my prize giving ceremony, certainly a good experience working with him even though for a short one" - Berjaya Sports Toto
My blog has been in a very sorry state of late. It had been ignored for a bit and finally I have found time for it at least for now. Yes, resigned... DONE... so many would ask why you still serious about your job? I would like to let go totally but it would be nightmare for my clients, it is just not me to just to leave it to someone who totally has no idea what or how to manage the corporate clients.
For my clients who had been following my blog, rest assured, I will be at my best to service you all until my last day of employment. I will be serving my notice until early September. To be frank, I have not accept any offer put on the table. It does not mean I am being arrogant or ignorant about the whole economical situation. To me, the next move I would have make will be critical for my life, so therefore I am seeking a bigger role, bigger responsibility and of course a bigger pay.
Not too bad after all, I had 2 offers and now I believe your experiences sell. And your name sells as well. One from an automobile company and another is pharmaceutical company. Got a call today from Singapore for a role in a European MNC and another in Thailand (this is my choice perhaps).
And I just need to be a bit more patient with my current situation while serving my notice as I had come to encountering Tai Chi Masters internally. I believe in karma though and I guess I had made the best choice and decision in my almost a decade of employment. Time to move on and with offers pouring in, I believe I can excel and put my strength to bigger test in life.
So, health is also another reason I quit my current job. Friends & family knowing me, I spent quite a substantial amount of time in my work. Blood pressures and BMI numbers not being good to me, it's time to do something for myself. Something money can't buy, and that's my health. So, there will be badminton every Thursday now for me. Mountain biking on the weekend. And perhaps pick up my golfing real soon.
And travelling!!!! Yeap, back from back to back Indonesia & Thailand trips. I might be heading either Thailand or Hong Kong in September or October if there aren't any offer that can catch my attention. Before any readers having wrong assumptions of me heading to Thailand so often, well I am seeking for opportunities there, it is a country I would call it home if possible given the cost of living and the people in consideration. Some real sorry stories here had influenced my opinion of my born country. Teoh Beng Hock's case, ISA, etc... it just goes on and on...
And well... who knows I am in the road of finding my soul partner. I just felt all good things will follow suit soon. Just that this good feeling and I trust my feeling.
To my family and best buddies who had been concerned about my future, I am more worried than you all, with all the commitments I am having now. As a human, always aim higher and never stay in your comfort zone, that's me! That's Michael Song!
Signing off for now... shall be back with full strength ;)
I had done it. And the results are so obvious, the moment I took the decisive step, I felt a sense of relief in me. It's my second time in the same company, and I guess a man got to do what he needs to do, now I have time to do more things for myself
Exercise and shed some weight and look good again
Travel, end July to Thailand and with Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines & Krabi in the pipeline of my traveling itinerary
Look for new challenge in my career - perhaps regional basis
Go and find my fate & love perhaps ;)
People asked will I regret making such decision? Hell no! I felt a sense of relief. Guess perhaps there will better candidate to fit the position. And secondly, I had done at my best, cross fingers, if all the deals that I secured come in this year, it will be a history making for my current company in terms of dollars & cents, volume and value too. And if ever there is a counter offer, what will I do? We shall see, we shall see...
For the time being, it's yippee yay yay time for me!!!! No Monday blues!
I am having this crisis, a crossroad in life where I need to make a certain decision. It is always not an easy decision to make but I do wish I can find the answer soon.
I am losing focus in what I am doing. 3 major projects secured now and so what's next? So what is the meaning of securing some multi-million sales and yet losing inspiration and focus at work?
Where is the passion?
Where is the inspiration?
Where is the pride?
Where is the challenge?
And where is the love?
At times, when I worked till late, while driving back home, I think hard. Think hard of what I had achieved all these years. Think hard of my career path. Think hard of what industry I will best excel in.
To the extent I am losing inspiration to write, to blog. The best time I had and I truly enjoyed would be my traveling period. I had just back from Thailand, had great food and met great people.
I look at my peer and I look at myself. Perhaps I did well in many's eyes but the fact is I am not. People said when you are in your early 30s, you will be in a crossroad, a crisis called middle age crisis. I guess that's what I am having now.
In 2 days time, I am leaving for Bali. Hope to get out of hell as much as I can. Bali here I come and perhaps for a Monday's blues, this song suits me best now.
Unless you are helping on family business, everyone got to go through this thing called "employment"
I still remember during the younger days when I first graduated, I always tell myself about experience. I thought with a certain level of experience, your value in the market will increase and it's easier to demand more from the employer later.
Years passed, yes it is indeed true. You get the reasonable pay in comparable to your age then the next thing you see now is career path, growth and potentiality. Come to my age, sometimes a lot of thing is not about the pay. It is more like a package.
I feel that happiness & motivation play a role. That two factors are the key to ignite one's passion in his/her job I feel.
I am currently lack of this. To many, I might be securing multi-million projects and yet the level of motivation I am having now is so low. I need motivation badly. Nowadays a simple pat on my shoulder will really make my day.
Someone called and asked what happened to me. Sorry I had been in MIA mode due to stressful month of May, June & upcoming July. Here's a short update.
May & June, I had been busy with this...
and this...
and more of this...
Been busy on LG blog, been having endless contest and good to see fruitful traffic flocking that site. At the current moment there are about 20 pairs of exclusive Transformers tickets to be won. Head on to LG Blog to know more.
On top of that, I had been so occupied with my project & B2B portfolios. Lots of ad hoc meetings with big clients, paperworks internally & hundreds of mails to be entertained.
And I am attending 2-days off-site comprehensive Digital Media training, in which I believe when I get back to office tomorrow, the works will be piling again :(
I do wish I have some good assistance internally but the fact is that I am handling it all by myself. At times I felt like exploding. Someone kill me please!
And next week I will out of the country for a quick weekend breakaway before I come back and head to Bali, Indonesia again for a conference with few of my customers.
Ma Semaine is french word meaning my week. Many things happened this week and I will share as much as I can remember;
Work results been satisfying - 2 mega projects secured, another few potentials coming along but ain't really happy with the unreasonable and messy reportings that I need to do. Shall set sight on opportunities available.
Confirm my Bali trip early July. A few more trips yet to be confirmed - Chiangmai in September & Hong Kong in November.
I fell in love with someone, that someone showing no interest, the end, full-stop. Time to look forward!
Met my sister & her new bf. Nice guy and plenty to learn from him.
Met up with my cousin and got to know a new banker friend, Suzanne.
Watched the stage show BreakOut, my rating: 11/10. Also watched Terminator Salvation, nice movie, nice camera skill.
House hunting - settle down with Kelana Mahkota for the time being, doing all the necessary now, agent, booking, loan, etc, blah blah blah.
Another girl telling me her breakup story. I always think I am a good listener, 3 girls told me their breakup stories this year alone.
Met up with my best buddy who is residing in Japan. Congrats on your new job bro! Ate a lot this week with him, drank the most expensive red wine with him accompanied with Bak Zhang (chinese meat dumpling). Had great time catching the old days. If AirAsia flies there, I will be there next year!
Officially hooked with Facebook whenever I have the freetime, this is not a good sign.
Tired, lazy & sleepy, my apology for the simple update.
I realized the entries on my blog had lesser picture these days. The other blog that I am handling had been more colorful.
Thanks for all the concern I had over FB & SMS-es I received over the last entry. I guess the feeling will fade soon. Some of my few friends commented that I should give it a try, it is not that I do not have the guts to but I do not want to lose a friend as I am expecting a not so favorable answer.
Well... let's put that aside. I can see good things coming along. So I had an expensive but successful launch for LG Blog 2 weeks ago. Good to work with bunch of diligent peeps to make it possible. Glad that Nuffnang did a great job too, the bloggers were awesome, it had enlightened many of the LG staff & my MD who always in monkey suits working in the office not knowing what actually the blogosphere is like. Hell of a party!!!
Then last Tuesday, I was at KLIA to send my brother off. He will be away to the States for 5 months. It took him a lot of thinking, considering the swine flu outbreak that hit the America pretty badly. But I told him, whatever will happen, it will happen, just get out and enjoy!
Had 2 friends who broke up last week. I had been through that and I know that lousy feelings and if you are reading this, I will always be a good pair of ears for you.
My sis is coming back again, this will be more like a surprise trip back. What's the surprise? I am not sure myself.
I am expecting a busy week again. There will be a BreakOut Dance Show which my company is the main sponsor, for my readers who interested to get the free tickets, drop at LG Blog to find out more. I will also be attending the premiere movie of Monsters vs Aliens 3D with the rest of the invited Nuffnangers this coming Wednesday. Then guess what, I am already an uncle, I will be going back to Malacca next weekend to see my nephew for the very first time.
I hardly post anything related to my work in my blog here. Very rarely indeed. But the attitude of some in the office really ticks me off. At my position as the Business Development Manager, I met corporate people from various industries and I do care of what I communicated to these people.
What triggered me to write this is the anger in me, the thought of some young cikus working attitude nowadays. When you blardy promised me something, you better make sure you do it by hook or by crook, no excuse & fast execution. I cannot afford to sit in the office for some people who is wasting my blardy time and blardy ignoring my instruction. If you think you fit to be on certain position in the company then you blardy lift up to the corporate expectation.
The moment we lag behind on certain decision making process, we will lose out to others in this competitive world. Please understand the word "URGENCY" for god sake.
I do hope these blardy young birds learn before it's too late.
For those who got things done for me today, thanks and I appreciate it. My day would be beautiful if not because of one person. Because of you, my project is delayed. Because of you, I am stressed for nothing.
