The Ideal Working Life

Ideal Working Life

What's your ideal working life? A company that make money consistently and managed by people with good management philosophy - value staff commitment and loyalty, willing to offer reasonable rewards etc. And we all live happily ever after. Two elements must exist at the same time to create such ideal working life.

Firstly, a company that "prints money". I don't mean exactly printing dollar notes but that the company has strong fundamental such that it can and it will survive forever.

"Impossible lah!"

Impossible, wanna bet? Then how did Warren Buffett earn his billion dollars? What about Coca Cola? Colgate? MacDonald? GE? Many of these companies exist before you were born. In fact, I believe that there are also such companies in Singapore. Perhaps Singpost, Tiger Balm, Tiger Beer, SPH etc. I call this types of companies as a "money-printing" company. They are able to survive in good times and in bad times. They are highly profitable though may not be as profitable as an oil company. But these companies are fundamentally strong and are good for long-term investment even in term of career-building. One of my friends from a local beer company told me that their Finance Executives like forever-never-leave. We call it "pa si bo zhao" (never leave no matter how you whack them) in Hokkein. Question is, why they "pa si bo zhao"?

After having such wonderful companies, you also need another important element – the management team with the kind of management philosophy. Sometime back, I read articles about Singpost and a medicated oil company (can't remember is Eagle Brand or Axe Brand) about their employees staying with the company for a very very long time and that management value such employees. They will train and re-train their employees so as to keep them, even as technology advances. What I mean is that you must get the "correct boss", "correct management team" etc. I will not elaborate on this since some of my colleagues may be reading my blog but you can use your imagination.

This week is a rather an emotional week in my office. A few of my colleagues resigned and we had a last gathering with one of them - Valerie. Val had been with the company for 6 years if I remembered correctly. I only joined their gang after an internal posting in mid-2007. Apparently, Val got her MBA lately and she believe (and me too) that she deserve a higher position in the company – well at least the minimum. Unfortunately, the management has different opinion. As a result, she was, in a sense, forced to leave this place to look for greener pasture. Sad isn't it? I believe that if she has been offered at least the minimum, she would stay as she is emotionally attached to this group of colleagues.

Well unfortunately, we are not living in an ideal world. In the real world, people without the intention to stay on were promoted, and people with intention to stay were forced to move on instead.

This is the world that exist today. Welcome to the real world. (familiar line? From the movie Matrix!)

Actually I had also worked for the SAF for ten years. But my departure was not that emotional perhaps it is because "We Were Soldiers". But I still keep in touch with my brothers. These are my brothers in need. To Val, if you are reading this article, as your friend, I strongly support you to move on. I have no doubt that you will excel in another territory.

Lastly, Val, I like to delicate this song to you – Goodbye!

I can see the pain living in your eyes
And I know how hard you try
You deserve to have so much more
I can feel your heart and I sympathize
And I'll never criticize.....

(the rest of the lyrics are not appropriate)

There's nothing left to try.....

(the rest of the lyrics are not appropriate)

There's no other way than to say good-bye