Thursday 19 May 2016

Work Progression & Promotion

Hi everyone!!!
I cant believe it's been months since i last blogged, to be honest it felt really recent.
But i've received quite a few "reminders" from some of you through email, comments on my postings whether
i could do a post on my personal life, promotion and my work as a whole and
OF COURSE i could this is like what my life has been revolving around the entire year!

Thinking back i have really grown so much as a person and accomplished quite a lot, pretty sure it's evident through my occasional instagram postings.
I never thought it was possible to be promoted in a year to the Assistant Vice President, and some have told me that i could potentially be the youngest
in the entire industry!
and some of you have been asking how much i've been drawing for my pay and I don't see a reason to hide, neither do i think it's the cap of what my career would bring me
but it's been averaging at $8,000/month for now.
Bonuses will keep stacking and i look forward to getting my future EC goal in 3 years!!


Most of you know i've been a piano teacher and considering the whole university path 2 years back. "WHY would you step out of it?" was a question i got countless of times.
I really wanted to venture out of teaching music was because i wanted to progress WAYYYYY further in a career rather than doing the same old things weekly for the rest of my life.
I know and many have told me how much my music career could earn me but it's not all about the money.
Reasons why i didn't go to the conservatory in Cardiff / go to NUS or whatsoever was simple.
I didn't see a need to spend so much money just for a certificate (cause that's all i see it for).
I feel that certificates are important up to a certain extent but this is a personal opinion of course.


I know most people do their degree cause their parents feel it's the ultimate safety net and just because all their peers are doing so too (and will in turn lose out without going for it too)
Yet, let me pop this question.
How many of you who are studying on marketing, accounting, econs&finance and business management actually know why they're getting this degree for?
If you aspire to become a banker so you choose to do this course, do you know their job scope, their daily routine day in day out?
Or what goes through your head is just them in a suit sitting behind a counter?
If you are taking a business degree, is it just so as to open a business? Do you know how to start one, which includes government grants given etc
Or is it just because people around you say that it's better to own a generalized degree?
Deep down, i know countless of people who just want that form of recognition by having a degree and after which get a job title that sounds pleasant to their ears.
But what comes after that, do you truly know?


Here's some food for thought. Is it common understanding if i said that we are only employed by companies to solve their problems?
Being a problem in a company is a no-go, if not why would they choose to pay us?
Salary range is determined by the difficulty of these problems we are capable of solving.
The level of ability to handle these big problems, determines what our ranks should be.
Still, all of us in this present society still think that having a degree should render our $4,000/month. How funny is that?


Most fresh grads (who aren't studying for passion) these days have a very narrow minded mentality towards this whole "i go to school get my degree come out find a stable job earn 4K and my pay keeps increasing my job is secured i am an educated individual".
This would probably have worked out in Singapore 10 years back, but not now evidently.
Statistically and based on many graduates i've met, this is no longer true.
My word of advice would be to work and study at the same time if not you'll be losing out to your peers and nowadays,
job experience and knowledge CAN actually outweigh your grades.

I truly respect how quite a few people in our unit are actually studying AND working at the same time.
I think it's a really smart move? Cause they're building up their resume as well.

To put a rough overview on what i do, i deal with many things which includes portfolio management, writing reports
and providing access to different platforms for investments catering average earners to high net worth individuals.

I chose this career cause i knew, without stepping out of familiar grounds, i would never achieve the lifestyle i want to attain.
I know, all those fears of uncertainty, demoralization, disappointment and fear of failure. Of course it did run through my mind.
But with the mentality constantly kept in my head to face my setbacks, "if the rest can do it, i don't see why i can't".
Not doing a degree to have a head start over my peers, was it all worth the hard work?
Damn right it was, looking back, i never regretted my choice and it was never a waste of time and efforts.
Everything i did was only bringing me a new learning experience to get even better and stronger in this career.
But sure, you can say it was a risk, but i dont see any reason why anyone shouldn't go all out to fight for a career and future 
so long as they don't have their additional baggage of having to feed their children at home etc at the start.
With time, this career only gets more stable than any other jobs out there.


I am lucky to have Joshua as my mentor who guided me through everything at the beginning so i had a solid foundation to start off my career.
And surely i have to give credit to the rest of his unit as we have always practiced sharing of our experiences with each other.
it's really such a good thing not having to watch my back on politics and all of that nonsense! Thank goodness for them :)

Months have gone by since that day and putting aside all the awards that has been given to me (cause that's not everything in life),
i just kept on improving, till techniques of my own started to be formed, and it was all tested and proven to show results through personal experience.
I can't possibly explain how much i've learned and changed as a person since the day i started off till now.
With everything that i have been through, i don't believe i am unable to impart my knowledge and techniques to people in my own personal unit (and expanding).


Some photos of awards posted over the past year in Joshua's unit
September

Back in October!



November



December's top case count in the organization for the entire 4th quarter (director's challenge!)


Can't remember when this was taken hahaha but the guy in the photo is Andrew, one of Joshua's managers


Think this was January?


During end Jan i actually organized a team outing/photoshoot with a group of photographers i worked with before
Booked an entire cafe for 4 hrs just for this purpose!


Jake and Joel










Think this is the best unit shot we have taken from the photoshoot that day!
Most of them were having their first ever shoot but it appears they were quite natural in posing, we had so much fun with the shoot!
We are actually contemplating to make this a semiannual event cause there are so many new people joining us :')

Can't wait for the next one already


Don't really take many photos in the office but here's some work-moments!
Eugene



Anicia and Sylvia


Jake


And a crazy night for all of us to distress! Awaiting more moments with you guysss


And anyways most of you have been asking me for more details on my job, if you want to ask the specifics, feel free to email me via my personal email!
It's meloided@hotmail.com 

To end of this post, i honestly feel that the slow paced career progression and pay of the typical corporate 8am to 5pm daily isn't the way to go especially
if you're still below the age of 30, when you're trading all of that away for a 2 year promotion window and double the pay you're meant to attain for what
you think is "stable" just because you haven't gone through retrenchment before.
How do i know that? Because i've met people in their early thirties and i've heard their stories.
Do you really want to keep hopping from a company to another?
Especially after hearing all about the politics and the kind of people you meet in the office are things out of your span of control.
Can you choose not to work with them or face their attitude?

There are only a handful of jobs that offer you hardwork vs returns with proper guidance from an experienced team.
If you wish to apply for me / us to put into consideration, feel free to send your resume on the same email stated above.
The requirements would be: Willing to learn and put in all efforts + public diploma/private degree equivalent & age 21 and above
I wouldn't want anyone who isn't willing to fight for their own future.

Will try to update this space more often, till next time~

Tuesday 5 January 2016

TAIPEI DIARY (Day 4) > Jiu Fen, PingXi Railway (release of lanterns), Keelung Miao Kou Night Market

Hey guys!
So i've been receiving a few comments and emails asking whether i'll be continuing the blog post for my Taipei trip
And since i'm sick and didn't go to work i might as well finish it off (hardly have time for this nowadays)
If you want to find the link between this post and the previous Day 3 post for Taipei click here! (I went to Taipei zoo and MaoKong)
I think i need to make my Taiwan visits a yearly affair, i seriously can't explain how much i miss the place.
Woke up really early on day 4 just to get to Jiu Fen before heading to Ping Xi Railway to release paper lanterns.
I was thinking of the really famous movie "you're the apple of my eye" and i recalled them going on a date which looked like a lot of fun
So i searched it up and decided that i wanted to explore Ping Xi?
We ended off the day with the highly raved Miao Kou Ye Shi @ Keelung!!



Directions:
I was staying at XiMen during my trip, so i took a train (only 1 stop) to Taipei Main Station.
Tap out at Taipei Main Station as you'll have to transfer to the TRA line (huo che) towards
RuiFang.
This would cost you about 50NTD ($2) and takes about 45minutes.

I would recommend for those taking the TRA to check their departure hours online before you fit it in your itinerary
cause the waiting time between trains could be more than an hour!!
You wouldn't want to waste your time waiting at the platform.
Anyways you can eat on the train unlike in Singapore so you can fill your bag with food for the ride.

After you get to RuiFang station, you can choose to take a bus or cab to Jiu Fen. 

The cab cost about 200NTD ($8)!



To be honest, it was my 3rd time at Jiu Fen and i didn't really like how the place was so so so flooded with tourists
even if you decide to go there crazily early in the morning
Along with the fact that they sell fairly typical souvenirs? Would rather have gone elsewhere that's less commercialized with better food
Ended not buying anything and left the place with unsatisfied tummies haha
Many of the shops have changed as well it seems

If it's your first time to Taipei you can visit if you want to experience the place but for me it's just not worth the travel!




Though the trip was quite sometime back i can seriously recall that the "wildboar" sausage i had at MaoKong was
W A A A A A Y better





Not really a fan of QQ balls as well!! :/
This cost about 40 NTD ($1.80 SGD) but this really costs 1/3 of the price for QQ Balls back in SG









OOTD:
Fedora Hat from my old webstore (Stylehacks)
Outerwear from 50Percent @ XiMen
Black Bralet from CO
Skirt bought on Carousell
Samsung Gear Fit Watch
Fav Platforms that i've bid fairwell from China
Silver Socks from TOPSHOP




Jiu Fen is also a good place to look for a cafe, sit down and chill with a scenic view with a cup of coffee but i would say it's still flooded with tourists

I did however do that 3 years back and you can see it here (actually read through the post again and think i kinda liked jiufen back then but not so much anymore HAHA)






And so we headed back to Rui Fang by bus, it's just like near the 7-11 (entrance of Jiu Fen) so it's really easy to spot!!
I planned out PingXi right after Jiu Fen because it's somewhat near to each other.

We were fairly unlucky cause it was close to the date of their annual Sky Lantern Festival so the trains were so packed you could hardly stand
And people have to wait for several trains with 1 hr intervals just to get on. If this happens to you, i would highly recommend taking a cab instead.

Directions:
I would recommend buying a day pass @ Rui Fang Station to explore Ping Xi as it's only 50 NTD ($2 SGD) and
you can sit to any station without having to repurchase tickets.

Anyway i realized they only check your ticket back at RuiFang, when we went to Jing Tong which is the last stop of the Ping Xi Line, no one checks your tickets + there were no gantries?

Also when you reach your destination wherever you are on the Ping Xi Line, do take a picture of their train schedule.





So based on my plan i wanted to drop off at Shi Fen but we ended up at Jing Tong instead because the place was so crowded it was insane.
If you go there on an ordinary day i think you can probably add the Shi Fen waterfall into your itinerary as well.


Well Jing Tong was crowded but it wasn't all that bad!!





Walked past this cafe that had the teapot and tea cup from Beauty and the Beast!!






There'll be several stalls that sells paper lanterns and they will all offer to help you take photos as a form of service.
So other than the photography skills there's nothing else to compare HAHAH and ya i did look out for that
The different coloured lanterns also represents different things btw
This would cost you 100NTD ($4 SGD)

I got a shock of my life when i saw a toursists' paper lantern swaying too much left and right until the lantern caught fire HAHAHA
To be honest it was funny but pretty sad at the same time cause people write their wishes on it and for them to actually "come true"


After you're done writing on your lantern, they will light the fire inside the paper lantern first (you can really feel the heat) and you eventually let go
If you don't let it go at the same timing as your partner it'll sway left and right and might just catch fire too


Remember this drink so vividly from my childhood!! Always wanted to finish the drink so i could take out the piece of marble inside the bottle lol


Yes so apparently these wishes have been written last year before i actually joined AXA

1. "Wish to have happiness" is something i've always wanted since years ago cause i think my life damn sad esp in the past HAHA

2. "Succeed in my career", well i haven't stopped working hard so i guess one day i'll get to a level i wanna attain

3. "Get married to Mr. R" this to be honest, i meant get married to Mr. Right.
You might think i'm mean, i know my ex's name starts with R.
You might always feel you're dating the right person but months or years later you look back and think, what the hell was i thinking?!
Apparently it was deep in my head all along but was never acknowledged till shortly after! But thank goodness i did though,
if not wishes number 1 2 4 and 5 would have never worked out for me lol.

4. "Buy a house" and i'm already saving up and working towards that

5. "Retire in Taipei", might not be able to do that, always wanted it, maybe i'll just buy a house and visit as much as i like in future.
This would mostly depend on wish number 2 and 3!






People also wrote their wishes on bamboos as well.




Smelly Tofu that i would never try in my entire life ever again lol



The most old school candies you can think of, they can all be found around the area!!
I bought quite a few back to SG



The store's sign directly translates to "Cheese Meat Bun"? There was quite a queue for this!!




Really kudos to the amount of effort put into drawing on the paper lantern!!


After exploring the area for a bit, we took a train back to Rui Fang station before the last stop of our day;

KEELUNG MIAO KOU NIGHT MARKET (seriously one of my fav night markets NOWWWW)
They're really well known for their Fresh Seafood that's sold at their night markets. To be honest,
every night market is known for different things.
if you only go to taipei once, you'll probably assume that all night markets are the same.

Directions:
From Rui Fang Station, take a bus #788 towards Kee Lung (基隆) and alight at Zhong Yi Road (忠一路)the journey would be about 35minutes. If you're looking to head back to Taipei Main Station,
it's about a 10min walk to Kee Lung Train Station.
It'll be good to ask locals for directions to the train station which was what we did. 











YESSSSS
Was looking high and low for this stall, the "Old Soldier Cream Crab" (老兵奶油螃蟹)
I regret not ordering more food from this stall lol.was trying to save my stomach for other things i put in my list!!
Everything was pretty cheap considering it's seafood btw






when you see 2 rows of yellow lanterns like this you know you're at the right place!!


The queue for the Fried Sandwiches was quite crazy!! Lol but i kinda liked it

Ying Yang San Ming Zhi (營養三明治) Stall 58






Think this was the Wu Ji Crab Thick Soup (吳記螃蟹羹) Stall 5!!


Kinda reminds me of the pasamalam kinda "sting ray" soup!!


Their "you fan" smells so good i was more drawn to the rice than the soup hahaha
But it's the best feeling in the world, sitting there with a hot bowl of soup, in cold weather, in my favourite place ever.



Saw many stores selling this fried soft shell crab so decided to give it a go (it was super cheap though i can't recall the price right now)
But it was really bad, think i got it from the wrong stall!!
Can't expect something deep fried and left out in the cold to taste good anyways
Irony on the cup lol


Tako balls!!!
I know 2 things you can't have high expectations of in Taipei; ice cream and tako balls hahaha
Known it for quite some time but when it looks so good it's hard to resist



This is the most, UNDERRATED thing ever. This young man was making mochi at some ulu corner.
I didn't see a single person eating it lol but i decided to give it a try.
Best decision i loved it so much.
It cost me less than a dollar each. I recall seeing stalls in Singapore sell this for about $3 each?


There are many other things to look out for in Keelung Miao Kou Night Market, such as the
Pao Pao Bing
Ding Bian Cuo (鼎邊銼) which is like flat noodles
And their Tempura!!

So yeap here's my day 4. Hope you guys enjoyed it!!