Prince: I am Back Again..

16 JULY 2006
Long-Lost-Yum Char

It has been quite sometimes before I met up with Anna, Ewu, Kathryn & Joshua. Unfortunately, Simmy is in Vietnam sourcing for new business for his University. This time apart, will have to wait for another few weekend before I can meet up with them again.

I was quite updated with the latest development of my individual friends. Of course, not forgetting Simmy who is in Vietnam enjoying his life at the moment! (Vietnam is such a nice place-if without war! he! he!)

Joshua told me his idea of starting a business with Simmy; they plan to packs and supply vegetables to retails outlet. Since Simmy’s family business mainly focuses in plantation, they could leverage on this areas to expand further. I have given my thought over the idea; it is a good idea but if it is to sell vegetable; hen the idea may be a bit risky based on current retail environment.

Currently Giant Hypermarket is taking a big pie of the market shares; followed by Carrefour & Tesco. We are not forgetting the modern trade & lower trade market too. In order to succeed in the market, business will have to leverage on Giant Retail market for market expansion. Due to the strong bargaining power of Giant hypermarket, it nurtures the arrogance of departmental heads & largely empowers the buyers to negotiate with suppliers. They always push for lower prices; and manipulate quoted price with others suppliers unless you have a strong brand. A strong brand may give you a strong bargaining power over buyers such as Nestle.

We were having problem with buyers over OOS situation; and sometimes buyers are careless about the situation because the products are moving slows. However, they will be very anxious & panic if Milo is under OOS situation simply, Milo moves very fast and highly demanded in the market.

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17 JULY 2006
Fair-Play

Kelvin messages me the other day asking for my thesis proposal. He was saying his friend needs it for reference. Of course I would have no qualm to lend him even though I have to worry about plagiarism.

I would feel better if my thesis proposal has been approved, or perhaps UM accepted my enrolment (the intake will only opened in July 2007) at least I wouldn’t have to worry about being cheated after all (of course lar, approved thesis can not be used by anyone else except the owner himself).

Well, sometimes I just wish that I could be more selfish towards issues of ‘borrowing’ but I just can’t see myself in it. I keep remind myself about fair play & knowledge sharing so that I could at least calm down the selfishness in me.

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19 JULY 2006
Am I stupid, Nope, I am Not

My senior colleagues always claim that I am stupid to give up my previous industry since I could have a better future, better paid, with better position in the company. My reply is always the same, ‘looking for a better industry that allows me to learn’.

Although it may be hard to accept that I am currently working as a junior market executive in the company but earning a senior executive pay, or perhaps an ‘Assistant Manager’ salary.

More importantly, I know what I am looking for at the end of the day. I need to accumulate my experience in the different fields before I can move up to the top management position. This is, perhaps the main reason I move into FMCG lines, at least I would have no problem to move back in to PR industry if the current industry is not prospecting well.

I am learning everything from scratch, handling marketing plan, presentation, sales & promotion & etc. FMCG marketing line seems to be the only industry that allows you to experience the marketing 4P’s as a whole, and this fast moving industry helps to nurture your challenging spirit, it allows you to adapt the ever changing environment. Overall, it is likes putting yourself in a tough environment in hope to train your skills. I believe, I have made the right choice; and I am moving towards my dreams. My next plan is to move into sales department after one years / one & a half year in marketing line. By moving into FMCG sales teams can help to enhance my marketing knowledge with sales experience, giving me a totally new experience to move up my dream. At least if I become a manager or director, my experience in different field will at least earn some respect from my subordinate, plus a good leadership skills, everyone will be able to work as a team and move forwards.

(The lack of understanding among the departmental heads has become a pain in the ass! Each department is blaming each other for not understanding each others roles & responsibility. It happens because we never experience in each other’s field before. Marketing does not understand sales procedure and market environment; while sales do not understand consumer behaviour & marketing gimmick. Marketing’s suggestions maybe too absurd for sales team to believe; while sales request sometimes, may be too reserve for marketing to accept. Marketing may be pushing too hard which ignores the sales situation, because sales have to deal with arrogance outlet buyers which may delay certain issues. Sales may be too careless about the urgency of marketing issues for long- term benefits. This type of misunderstanding can be resolved if only both heads of departments have certain degree of knowledge of each others business. I believe this does not only apply for my company but for any others company in the market as well. It has been a norm, and a management dilemma.)

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24 JULY 2006
Another Working Weekend

Another working weekend for me, I guess I have been working almost every weekend for the past few months. I would now prefer people asking me how many weekends is ‘truly’ my own weekend; at least I can give an accurate number to the answer- 2!

Yes, I only have two weekends truly belong to me since the past three months. I guess I have to accept the underlying fact that every company may exploit their employees in someway around. The only issue is whether they are paying you high enough to exploit your freedom or they are paying you merely enough for survival while exploiting you.

Personally, I would prefer to be paid more; and treat the ‘exploitation’ as a return to the company. Then I shall see how long this situation will go-on but of course it will not go on forever because I am always looking for improvement for myself and my life, and promotion, increment and higher pay will always be my first priority after contributing my effort.

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25 JULY 2006
Restful Working Day

I am going to have a restful working day after tonight! Why?

Ops, my superiors are on their way to Japan; they will return only on Thursday night. I can have a few restful days at least.

We have marketing review every six months; a representative from each product line will be sent to Japan to present their review. None of my superior is willing to represent the company because it is a tedious & tiring job due to our company procedure.

Those who are sent over to Japan will have to depart at night ONLY (after 5.30pm). Arriving at Japan will be late at night. Checking into the hotel, and prepared to wake up early in the morning for the presentation; while you have to take the first flight back to Malaysia right after your presentation because employee are not allowed to stay additional hours for leisure.

Worse still, you will have to pay for the accommodation first, and company only giving you RM 95 a day as allowance (only for Japan; other than Japan is only RM 35!) Not even enough for food (actually just enough to survive for the few days)…I am really speechless…and the fact is…my superior is recommending me to go for next trip, and trying her best to teach me everything now…simply, she wants someone to replace her for the next trip…

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26 JULY 2006
The World Has Been Fair…=)

I came across an announcement in The Sun Newspaper today; JPA is announcing a new scholarship offers to those who wish to further their PhD study, but only 10 seats available. The application form can be downloaded from the web. I am slightly affected by the news, and anxiously browsing through the web then only to know that it is for government servant-mostly.

The world has never been fair to everyone. Those who wish to study will never get sponsor, but those who do not appreciate the chance to study will get everything the former wish.

The phenomenon in the society is no longer the rich and the poor but the best & the worst, and the luckiest & the most unfortunate.

We have people who can afford overseas study scoring straight A but still applying for scholarship; while if their application is not accepted; they tend to make media complaints to push for their own right.

Saying, if I can’t get a scholarship then why should I study hard. Well, they got a point but- if you get a good result and yet you are rich enough to sponsor yourself then why should you take this opportunity from others? Why can’t you give it to those who deserve more?

I always believe that the spirit of human will be softened if we lay-long enough within our comfort zone. There are those who can not even afford loan, waiting for scholarship, and there are those who can afford loan but still making complaint and groaning about their misfortune in the media in wish to overturn the scholarship rejection.

Well, Sometimes, I would wonder what is going wrong with the society nowadays.

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