Fun times...! Yup!

We, People learn from the experience, don't you think?  See, at work, I should be applying the lessons that I learned from the past internships but I realize I really have not been.  I guess just a small part of my heart still wanted to believe that work setting doesn't really have to be that 'cold', but the harsh truth proved me wrong. 

1.  What I learned from Wyeth - It's ALL about saving your ass.  Yup.  That's it.  Making sure how I responded, completed, documented are all kept and trackable, so that in case something goes wrong, people blame you, you have all the evidence that you did the right thing.  It was the other person who didn't do their part.  It's ALL about saving your ass.  That's why you ALWAYS email rather than phone call so that you have a trackable records and you ALWAYS copy yourself on ALL email so that you can keep yourself accountable.  I learned it from my first internship and it's really about time for me to apply once AGAIN.

2.  What I learned from Dell - There is no such thing called 'win-win' situation or a team working toward a 'common' goal.  Why?  Because at the end of the day, each person is measured on his/her performance and you know what?  One will be better than the other.  You WILL be ranked and yes, it partially will be based on your performance and partically based on your boss's opinion.  At the end of the day, your co-workers are NOT co-workers.  They are your competitors. 

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singles' retreat.   what an interesting title?  it sounds exclusive yet if you really think about it, it's almost sad.  anyhow, we all went and had a great time.   

FIND ME A JOB IN SHANGHAI!

Memories

About a year ago, I remember going over to Ed's place after shopping at Joann fabric.  My idea was to create a shirt for each other reciting what happened in 2005 and looking forward to the better 2006 thinking things will improve.. things will get better.    Ed being so nice and crazy just like I am, we just started drawing, gluing, sewing, cutting, ironning (any many more) the shirts.  I had a great fun though I must agree we can't really wear what we made for each other, it was a good memorable activity. 

Well, that was a year ago.  It was already a year ago that I thought things cannot be worse than it was.  I was in so much crap internally and I was at nowhere I should have been.  Things had to get better and I told myself to manage myself more logically, independently and strongly.  Those of you who know me and my year 2006 must be laughing.    I am!  My lessons learned of 2006.  Life is not easy...!  dah~  Things will not get much better.  I am lucky if things don't get worse.  But that's ok.  Coz God prepares me through many things and many mistakes so that I am more equipped to face more challenging time to come.  Yup.  Isn't life so much fun?  I am so weak and little.  I can't predict or foresee a second ahead of me.  It is a miraculous God's plan and direction that I am heading toward where I am going and you know what?  He will break you and adjust you accordingly.  Ain't I glad?  He loves me so much.  He opens the right doors, also closes the right doors for me.  More I think about it, more amazed I am.

For the first time, I am feeling something called 'regret'.  As much as I hate to admit, I really do.  For so many things that I have done already.  It is too late to go back and redo - plus it will never be the same - and the best I can do is to engrave the things I learned and ensure not to repeat the same mitake again.  Most of all, pray.  This year really has taught me how powerful the prayer is.  Probably, I prayed this year more that I have for my whole entire year.  When I laid everything down to Him, and completely relied on Him, He answered my prayers.  Why did I make decisions, why did I do what I had done?  None of this would have happened if I really prayed. 

This upcoming year, I pray that I won't hurt myself too much by missing the loved ones.  I pray that I won't hurt myself too much by reminding myself with all the awful mistakes that I have done.  I also pray that my heart will be secure and settled, and be overflowing with holy spirit.    It will be great!  2007!  It will be awesome~!

Go-Live

Today at 6am, our project pilot has launched.    It was such a satisfying feeling when I was leaving the office at 11pm after finishing up the final testing.  Many nights of long long hours of work without weekends, brutal arguments and discussions, endless testing process and modification, unimaginable amount of documentation, etc.  Though it was difficult, however, no one would know such a feeling of accomplishment and pride.  Since I joined BP, working in this gigantic project costing $250MM, I met so many people from all around the world, had opportunities to visit places that I cannot afford, started dating SAP mySRM (at least that's what my friends have been telling me) and gained experience and exposure to the business that others don't.  I am just really thankful.  All the things that I have gone through upto this point, professionally and personally, whether it was positive or negative, I am going to take lessons learned so that I can prepare myself as I take another step forward.    

As I was growing up, because my dad is such an active, outdoor, adventurous person, we always went camping, hiking every chance we had.  It was so much fun.  Until this day, my dream vacation would be hiking Mt. Kilomanzaro, 6-day hiking at Macchu Picchu, 7-day white water rafting in Colorado river, etc.  However, as I was growing up, I guess I complained the fact that "I haven't been anywhere outside of Korea.  Not even Jejudo...!" until I was 16 years old.  I never have been in a plane till I was 16.  Whenever I complained, my dad always said "You have so many years ahead of you.  You will have a ton of opportunities to go around the world later on to meet different people, learn different culture, experience different work, and do many work.  You have to know your country first.  Even in this small country, there are so many places where you can go, visit, learn.  It all will come to you."

I know many people who have been to so many places and experienced a lot.  I also know, as a 26-year old, I have been to quite many places just like my dad said.  I have met many many many people from even countries that I have never even heard of before.  I have been to places where I didn't think I was able to.  For free...!  I have learned how to appreciate all the different cultures and diversity within people.  I also learned how to keep my individuality among the mix of people.  More importantly, I know there is whole lot more to come, I will always be excited for the ambiguity or uncertainty of what life has to offer.  It is all God's amazing plan according to His schedule. 

Along this maginificant process, what is really imperative is the few number of people that you ride together.  I know God has a plan for me.  I know He is preparing me for that person and I am sure God is doing the same thing for that the other as well. 

Golfball, Pebbles, Sand and Coffee

One of my good friends in Egypt forwarded me this story and it was one of the most touching(?) story that I have read in a long time.  I guess it came close to my heart because that is what I believe in, that is how I make my decisions and that's how my dad raise me.  I would love to share this story with you.

When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the

entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favourite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out

to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Please share this with everyone you care about.