Posts under ‘Work Stuff’

Taking time to be grateful

Jan 14th, 2009
by soph.
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My job is not perfect and I’m not above indulging in a little whinge here and there, but right now, today, I want to say I’m really grateful that I get to do what I love, that I do not dread going in to work each morning, that I have the privilege of working with some of the wackiest, funniest and nicest people I know. And even though we don’t always see eye to eye when it comes to boybands or musicals, at least we all love to eat.

The reason I’m going all gushy is because I know a lot of people who don’t enjoy what they do, and I’ve been reminded of that in the last week. I hear how miserable they are about going in to the office, I hear how much they dread Mondays, I hear how much they dislike their work and wish they could pursue something they like.

Friends always tell me, “You have such a cool job. I wish I could do something like what you do.” And I always tell them to go after the job they want, that even though in an ideal world you should be able to pursue your passion no matter your age, it’s always better – from a career and financial standpoint – to decide early on and get started pronto.

That’s when the “buts” come in. But I don’t want to take a paycut. But I want a career that pays well. But I don’t know what I want to do. And that’s when I thank God that I figured out relatively early on what I love and what I’m good at and that both happen to intersect. That I don’t care about a high-flying corporate career and mindblowing big bucks. That I fell into the right industry almost by chance. That I have an ambitious, business-minded husband because then at least one of us is planning – and hopefully working – towards making us both financially secure and comfortable.

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Posted in: Work Stuff.

Work that was unexpectedly good for the soul

Jan 8th, 2009
by soph.
1 comment

For the first time ever, I had a lunch appointment for work where we said grace before we ate. It was a follow-up meeting to a wedding story that I was doing, but we didn’t talk about the wedding. Instead, we talked about church, Christianity, travel, politics, work… It was one of the best conversations I’d had in a long while, because hardly anybody ever talks to me about these topics. Well, hardly anybody that talks about the more serious side of it, I suppose. It really appealed to the arts student/geek in me.

I love going all wacky and discussing entertainment news as much as… my colleagues, but I sometimes forget there’s a nerdy alterego inside. Today, I was reminded of that alterego, the one that gets passionate about issues close to her heart, the one that absolutely loves a serious conversation every once in a while. And I was reminded of one of the things I love most about my job: meeting new people and listening to their stories.

It was timely and good for the soul indeed. I have many more thoughts but I’m still trying to sort them out in my head before committing them to words. Or perhaps I should just leave them be.

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Posted in: Work Stuff.

The Who’s Who of People I’ve Interviewed

Jan 4th, 2009
by soph.
5 comments

The question I get asked the most when people find out I’m a celebrity and entertainment writer is: who have you interviewed? Oftentimes I respond with a blank stare. I’ve done so many I sometimes forget I’ve actually interviewed that person/band. So I’ve decided to make a list of the more prominent ones:

Aaron Aziz, Adibah Noor, Alex Yoong and Arianna Teoh, Alphonso Sharland (The Hoosiers), Amber Chia, Amy Lee (Evanescence), Andrew Leci, Atilia, Barbie Hsu, Che’nelle, Choong Tan Fook, Daniel Wu, Darren Hayes, Datin Paduka Sharifah Mazlina, Datuk Steven Sim, Denise Keller, Fatimah Abu Bakar, F.I.R., Gene Simmons, Hannah Tan, Hayden Panettiere, Hoobastank, Howie Mandel, Ho Yuhang, Isis (America’s Next Top Model Season 11), Jackie Chan, Jason Derulo, Jay Chou, Jesse McCartney, Joanne Kam Poh Poh, Kat DeLuna, Kelly Chen, Kenny G, Kevin Brauch (The Thirsty Traveler), Kevin Jonas, KT Tunstall, Lee Sinje and Oxide Pang, Lena Katina (t.A.T.u.), Lillian Too, Lina Teoh, Lin Chi Ling, Lisa Origliasso (The Veronicas), Lisa S, Louis Koo, Low Ngai Yuen, Madam Ana Baranano, Maya Karin, Michelle Ryan, Michelle Yeoh, Milla Jovovich, Ng Chin Han, Ning Baizura, Paula Malai Ali, Pete Teo, Salamiah Hassan, Sharifah Aleya, Siti Nurhaliza, Taya Rogers, Teddy Geiger, The All-American Rejects, The Script, Utt, Wang Lee Hom, Yasmin Ahmad, Zach Filkins (OneRepublic)

Also: Li Yuchun, Leo Ku, Nicholas Teo, Show Luo, The Script, Leona Lewis, OneRepublic, Jared Leto and Karen Mok (MTV Asia Awards 2008 press room); John Woo, Chang Chen and Zhang Fengyi (Red Cliff press conference)

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Posted in: Celebrities, Work Stuff.

Time to readjust my expectations?

Dec 24th, 2008
by soph.
3 comments

Y said something interesting the other night: “I don’t know why you always expect the best out of your bosses.”

Yes. Why do I?

Because I always think the best of people, until they prove otherwise.

Because I believe a man’s word is his currency and I hold my bosses to that.

Because even though I know there are lots of sleazebag employers out there, I cannot work for people who do not have integrity and who I do not respect.

I don’t know which is sadder: the fact that Y doesn’t expect good things of his bosses because he probably reckons all employers will not hesitate to screw you over for their own benefit; or me stubbornly believing – and expecting – good things of mine, only to be disappointed.

Perhaps the fact that he works in a multi-national firm and I, in a cosy little company, has something to do with it. Actually, I think it does. But I refuse to change my attitude towards my bosses. Integrity is non-negotiable. I want to – expect to – be able to trust and respect them.

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Posted in: Work Stuff.

How important is it to be nice?

Dec 22nd, 2008
by soph.
11 comments

With Christmas just a couple of days away, the raging debate in the office has been: should the 26th, which is a Friday, be declared an off-day for all? Many companies are closing for the day, but we won’t be. At least, not as of right this minute.

I think we should, if nothing else, as a gesture of goodwill and embodiment of the spirit of giving this Christmas season from an employer to his faithful and overworked employees.

Many companies don’t realise the importance of being nice to their employees. And by nice, I don’t mean in terms of monetary rewards. Not all companies earn truckloads of money and I understand that it’s not always possible to be financially generous.

But there are other ways of being generous and other ways of being nice. And these little things, no matter how small they seem, can go a long way towards boosting the morale of workers. After all, you want to attract the best and most passionate people and – more importantly – keep them, don’t you?

Everybody wants that, but very few companies understand that they need to work at it. I’m no corporate expert, I’m not even business-minded, but one thing I do know is the importance of being nice.

What do you think? Am I being too idealistic here? Are you getting the 26th off?

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Posted in: Work Stuff.

Gotcha!

Dec 15th, 2008
by soph.
4 comments

Look what my colleagues did to my table while I was away! Five minutes after I discover this, I find the video camera that has been quietly taping my reaction.

You gotta love these practical jokes.

I hope the video doesn’t go on YouTube.

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Posted in: Work Stuff.

Everyone should have workdays like these once in a while

Nov 27th, 2008
by soph.
5 comments

9.15am
I’m running late and Y’s car is blocking mine in our driveway. If I didn’t have a full day of running-around planned, I’d take the manual to work. Instead, I move his car to the visitor carpark so I can take mine out.

9.30am
Five-minute pit stop at the office to pick up a couple of magazines and my voice recorder.

10.05am
I make it to The Spa at Mandarin Oriental for my spa treatment review. I tell the therapist I have to be out of there by 12pm because I have another appointment. She looks slightly disapproving. After all, I’m supposed to be there to relax. I find it rather ironic that my destressing spa treatment is stressing me out because I can’t be late for my 12.30pm interview.

12.05pm
I make it out of there on time and the massage was actually really relaxing, even though I had to wash my hair in a hurry because the treatment left me with super-oily hair. I have no time to blowdry so I’m going to the interview with freshly washed, damp hair. As I’m brisk-walking towards the elevators, it suddenly strikes me that this is where Y proposed to me over four years ago. I indulge in a second of nostalgia before the elevator doors open and I hurry inside.

12.25pm
The rep from the music label rings me in a half-panic. Am I on the way? Yes, I tell her. In fact, I’m right outside the hotel and will be there as soon as I park my car.

12.35pm
I sit down with my interviewee, a new Taiwanese singer called Hsiao Hung Jen. He’s just released his debut album and they’re already calling him names – Jay Chou, John Mayer… I think the spa was too relaxing; my ability to form professional-sounding and intelligible Mandarin sentences seems to have dissipated along with the tension in my shoulders. The guy is unassuming, tall and somewhat adorable. He diplomatically avoids asking about/looking at my damp hair but when he’s not paying attention, I whisper to the music label rep that I’ve actually just come from a spa review. Hsiao Hung Jen is thrilled that I’m from an English publication – he’s never done an interview with English media before.

12.50pm
I’m all done and finally ready to head back to the office. By the time I finish my takeaway lunch and settle down to work, it’ll be past 2pm.

4.50pm
My colleagues are just about ready to run out the door. There’s an FJ Benjamin warehouse sale going on in KL and all the girls are going. They’ve been itching to go since 3pm. I resist the temptation to shop because: a) I hate going to KL, especially during rush hour; b) we heard there were some 2000 people there as of 3pm and I can’t shop amid chaos; c) I want a haircut.

5.10pm
The office is quiet and almost empty. The only people left are myself and two guys. I say my byes and walk out the door. I want that haircut. Tomorrow, I tell myself, tomorrow I will be really, really productive.

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Posted in: Work Stuff.

For a while there, we actually had mascots

Nov 14th, 2008
by soph.
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Yesterday, MA brought these tiny hamsters to the office. They were going to be our mascots and we were going to name them “hot” and “HELLO!”. Actually, we did. A bunch of them went out during lunch to buy a proper hamster cage and wood shavings because the hamsters were living in a mini plastic aquarium among newspaper cuttings. I briefly considered naming them Dolce and Gabbana. Sean kept calling them rats.

“They’re rodents,” I said.

“They’re rats,” he said.

“Rodents.”

“Same family.”

“So are a kitten and a lion,” interjected R.

The girls couldn’t find a cheap hamster cage, so they improvised and bought a bird cage instead. They filled the bottom with wood shavings, put water and hamster food into the feeding containers, installed a yellow running wheel and even put up a ladder and second floor. I think the hamsters really liked their new home.

We also found out one is male and one is female. Uh oh.

When I got into work this morning, the hamsters were looking a lot happier than they did 24 hours earlier. Even their fur didn’t seem quite as straggly. But everyone else looked a little glum. Turns out our boss had realised the hamsters were here to stay and had put his foot down. The critters had to go.

And that was the end of our mascots.

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Picking my battles

Sep 24th, 2008
by soph.
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I’ve always reserved a special level of sensitivity and anger at being accused of something I didn’t do, but these days, I’m learning to pick my battles. Especially when I’m not even being given the opportunity to go to war in the first place. Which is a good thing.

I used to feel this awful need to set the record straight (really it’s to justify myself) whenever I’m wrongly accused of something, and that resolve extends to those around me as well. Unfortunately, such indignant soliloquies are always much, much more impressive when played out in my head, so I’m learning not to go around picking fights.

I thought it would be a harder lesson to learn than this, but really, it’s not so bad at all. I’m learning that I do not have to care about everything, that I really do not have to care what people think when I know I’m not in the wrong, and that ignorance, even if it’s feigned, really is bliss. Is it a sign that I’m maturing or am I simply growing cold in my indifference?

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Four lessons I’ve learnt from my job:

Aug 10th, 2008
by soph.
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1. When in doubt, smile.

I have a bad memory for names and faces, which means if I meet you briefly for the first time, I’m almost certain to have forgotten where I met you and your name by the time our paths cross again. It also means if you smile at me because, of course, your memory is better than mine, there’s a good chance I’ll respond with a blank look because I’m trying to remember where I’ve seen you. Once, I even averted my eyes because I’d totally forgotten I met that person before (to that poor guy, I’m sorry.) From now on, I’m adopting a ‘when in doubt, smile’ policy. If someone smiles at me, I smile back. If someone makes eye contact, I smile. When in doubt, smile. I can always crack my head trying to remember who the person is later.

2. It won’t kill me to make friends.

I’m not an overly outgoing person. Some days I’m even antisocial. The way I look at it, I have a certain number of sociable points and once I run out, I have to go into hiding until the stash is replenished. It’s more a mental thing than anything else, I know, because when I’m mentally prepared (ie. in the mood), I’m practically Ms. Sociable. And more often than not, I end up coming away having had a great time. It may take effort initially, but I’ve always believed (in principle, anyway) in meeting new people and making new friends. You never know who’ll end up becoming a buddy, who you may one day end up working with or who you may need a favour from.

3. Seize every opportunity.

I know this in theory, I don’t know why I always forget to apply it in person. Whether it’s wanting a photograph with a celebrity, asking for an interview or something that I want, or trying out a new experience I may never chance upon again, I am really living the phrase ‘you only get this opportunity once’. I am kicking myself for opportunities missed, and resolving to seize every opportunity that comes my way from now on.

4. Never assume people don’t remember me.

I always assume this and it’s Not Good. It makes me seem unconfident and insignificant without me lifting a finger. Actually, it’s because I don’t lift a finger. Not to say hello, not to shake hands, I simply assume people don’t remember me. I once spent over an hour with a local celebrity interviewing her, and when I saw her at an event several months later, for some weird reason I didn’t think she would remember me. Like, seriously? So I didn’t say anything. Which probably came across a little rude. A couple of months ago, we talked and I found out that she remembered me all along. I must have ignored her half a dozen times since our first meeting. From now on, I’m assuming people remember me, though just to be safe, I’ll also remind them why they should.

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