Day 5: Recognition

Day 5 What a great way to end the week but with a recognition from your superiors. I can still remember my reaction when the add on task has been assigned to me. I hated it and will always have complaints about it. Eventually, the work that Im doing out of compliance just get bigger and responsibilities get heavier. But together with the task piling up, I started receiving good feedback. Started receiving commendations of the good job thus it got me fired up to give more on the task. Realized that sometimes those tough tasks are the ones that will make us shine if given best efforts, but I wont start putting more effort on it without the encouragements and good feedback coming fromt he higher ups. Looking back on my previous work assignments, it will either be a team of so many control issues, or a team with backlogs or a team with a lot of escalations but did changed before I got to move on to another role. Those gruelling tasks indeed become a stepping stone of oportunity to make me a better leader. And I will not notice it without the good words I hear from the people around me.

Reflection:

Bad things do happen for a reason, it wil either be a fire that will make you stronger or a doorway to another opportinity.

Day 4: Bulletin Board - Breaking news!

Day 4, Happy to know that Im being consistent. Im still trying to get over the decision that I had to make yesterday and I will learn of a concerning event this morning. Its not that I being hard about it but I beleive the issue is so petty that somebody will cross the boundaries of being responsible and being possessive. I understand that all of us might have their own bad days and waking on the wrong side of the bed, but to bring it at work and have other people feel it, thats different!  Indeed my patience has been tested, fortunately, I had my dose of coffee and a good laugh with my teammates and the bad vibes is gone!

Reflection:

Learn the value of respect, it cannot be imposed, it is earned.

Day 3: Decisions

Day 3, got an email for an opportunity that I could not say no to, In fact I got a lot of encouraging emails from colleagues to pursue it. As I know I wont be allowed to push for it due to various circumstances, tough choices had to be made, its like choosing between what I love to do and what I want to do. Choosing either of the two will also have its corresponding benefits and risks, wasnt able to sleep all night for this but I beleive I have made the right call. Dont need to rush for now, had to remind myself of my end in mind, had to be reminded of what will make me happy and where God can use me more. And with that, I decided to stay. Stay and be still, but be happy. This maybe a big step closer to "project royalty" but the long term plan doesnt include this.

Reflection:

Sometimes, what we wish for is not the best one for us. We should always have the courgae to accept things as they are so its easier to let go and be content of what you have.

Day 2 : Freebies

Got this free starbucks coffee during our dinner out today with the Leadership team. We where stucked at Chowking Rufino cor Dela Rosa because of the heavy rains. Although most of us did missed some meetings,we had a great time singing and just enjoying each others company. Those moments with the leadership team are really hard to have so rather than whinning on meetings that we have missed we just enjoyed watching the rains, teasing each other as we finsih our dinner and singing until we end up having coffee at starbucks beside chowking.  Enjoyed the chowking moment earlier while waiting for our knight in shinning van (our process manager's husband) to pick us up to go back to solaris =), we had a free instant SB coffee, free time for cackling and giggling (as we have asked Diane and Noel to join us), free song numbers from Gloria, Myelne and Myself and a free ride (a long ride as it was a block away he he ;)) from SB to Solaris.

Brainwave for today is about appreciating simple things, enjoying each moment with the people that you are spending the time with and share happiness!

Day 1 : Just Transferred

Day 1 starts now, just transferred to my new workstation, new workstation means new team, another set of challenges at work. But that doesnt end there, its another challenge on how to balance my other priorities outside work. same time last year, I was actually sitting on this new work station but handling another team, but this time, Im not sure of the reason but Im excited to work with my new team (not really a new team coz I also used to handle the same set of staffs but since they have been recognized as experts, they were promoted to a higher level tasks. Well as what I have always told them, "magkikita kita pa rin kami sa finals". Im looking forward for more happy moments as I stay on this work station but at the back of my mind, Im already starting to plan on my next workstation, either be another floor up or 3 floors up! =) who knows what the future may bring, but one thing I realized is that no matter whom you work with, its always you who will define if you'll gonna be happy or not on your job! and with what I do have right now, I choose to be happy! 

Joyfully Single

After the two days of relaxation and soul searching in Baguio, was back in Manila and right on time as I finish the book  Girls Guide of Being a Boss without being a Bitch, one of my churchmate handed me over this book Joyfully Single that talks about being content being single. Not sure if this is what I need right now with all the pressures that I have been receiving given that Im single at 27. Still thinking if I will start reading it this week but browsing through the pages, might be worthwhile to read...indeed its a shift from the themes of the books that I used to read which is more focused on Career and Leadership... lets see how this book will change my perspective...

Above picture also includes a new book and pen that I just bought today, Im already on the June 2011 page of my 2011 Starbucks Planner thus I need another notebooks on my upcoming trainings! Excited to come back to work after 5 long days of break!  Its been a long time that I have felt this about Mondays and Im loving it! =)

Double Chocolate flan

The best picture to describe my Baguio vacation this week is the Double Chocolate flan with strawberry toppings in mango syrup from Cafe by the Ruins.  Its a combination of sweet flan, bittery taste of Baguio batirol chocolate and the sour taste of strawberry and mango syrup. This is indeed my needed vacation after all the dreadful migrations, projects and transitions. Checked in last Friday at Microtel (http://www.microtel-baguio.com/)  and then splurge in relaxation at North Haven Spa ( http://northhaven.multiply.com/) where I had my new coffee experience, a full body coffee scrub matched with honey facial and hair hot oil, sauna and the quintessential spa massage. It was indeed heaven!

Great thing about this trip is that I'm not pressured to go around Baguio as we've been here so many times with different people (I actually worked here for half a year way back on my previous job for a project). Thus the only goal is just to feel the cool breeze away from Manila and enjoy the days off from work. Trully a break well deserved!

Some reflections:

1. That rest is indeed important and its another way of being grateful to your creator for the temple that He has entrusted you.

2. That having time away from your normal routine will get you recharged and be back in tune to the real you.

3. That having some time of from work will make you more excited to go back a bring forth new ideas.

Will definitely do this again... will now be in search for the next location...