你的快乐，就是我的快乐

“我们的上司，还ｏｋ吗？”　新来的经理战战兢兢地问我们。

“像天气。”　工作了十年的莫经理回答。
我迟疑了一阵，说“我们的上司提供很好的训练，将来无论你去到哪里，都没问题了。”
“哈哈你怎么迟疑了。。。而且你说的太圆滑了！”　另一个新男同事说。

我才加入这间公司１０个月，部门的同事却几乎每个月走了一个，如今同事全都来了个大洗牌，来了８个新同事，包括助理、执行员、副理和经理。而我，莫名其妙，变成了“老鸟”，新同事都在问我关于公司文化、上司喜好等等。

对于这一切改变，真的很令人错愕。反过来思考，这对我为尝不是件好事。因为我知道，作为部门最新的人，并不是很好的感觉。

昨天新旧同事们一起吃午餐，而上司出外工干了，大伙难得放松谈天，讨论起这里的工作状况来了。大家左一句、右一句，看的出来，新同事真的被我们吓坏了，对于公干的总经理，抱着忐忑不安的心情。我也不知道，这种预告，对他们而言，是不是好事。也许提前作心理准备是好事，但是从此建立了一种偏见，也可能不是件好事。

我加入的时候，并没有任何预告。对于上司的作风，我可是亲身经历了才学乖。对于这个总经理，我对他的心情，是五味杂全的。

他的能干有魄力、清晰有条理的思绪、认真要求完美的心态、聪慧的生意头脑、营养知识的渊博、做决定的果断、神速的领悟力，令我心悦诚服，誓要追寻。一个强势聪明的上司，可以让下属突飞猛进，快速成长。他给你的方向，是清晰的，是绝对的。

他要你思考不盲从，他要你追上他的步伐，以他的程度方式思考做事。他很注重汇报工作，他需要时时掌握你的进度。同时，他也爱恨分明，性格刚烈。他愤怒的时候，火焰滠入办公室各角。你看不见他，却可以在空气里感受到他的情绪，这种情绪，好像电波磁场，影响着你的心情，你快乐不起来。当电话响起，显现出他的名字，那一秒，你的心跳不是停止，就是加速。当你接下电话，从他喊你名字的方式，你就可以知道他的心情，你的命运。

因此，如果你没有一定的资质，你会窒息。

然而，当他称赞你的时候，你会觉得自己在九霄云外，精神气爽。你会觉得一切都值得，只要他一个眼神的肯定。他的能力很强，因此被这样一个人称赞，是一种无法言喻的满足。

他骂人的时候，声音从房里飘出，在座的所有同事都会把皮绷得超紧，坐如针毯，祈祷着自己不会中招。因为城门失火，殃及池鱼。

面对这样一个上司，岂是 ok 不 ok可以表达呢？

Top 10 Reasons Why Good Employees Quit

I came across this article and think it is very true. For sharing purpose:




Top 10 Reasons Why Good Employees Quit
By Shel Myeroff


According to the US Department of Labor and Statistics, turnover can cost an organization 33% of an employee’s total compensation including both salary and benefits. But the impact is not only financial it also affects employee morale. Therefore, it would be prudent for hiring managers to focus on reducing turnover rates but in order to do that they must first understand the reasons why employees quit.

There have been many studies and articles written on why good employees leave their current positions. As a veteran search consultant, I have heard an infinite number of reasons first hand. Over the years, I have identified and compiled a list of what I feel are the “Top Ten” reasons why good employees quit:

1) The job was not as expected. All too often the job changes from the original description and what was promised during the interviewing stages. It becomes painfully clear to the new hire that their new company played the bait and switch game which ultimately leads to mistrust. The new hire is now thinking, “What else are they lying about?”

2) Work/Life imbalance. There are times when management demands that one person do the jobs of two or more people. This is especially true when a company downsizes or restructures resulting in longer hours and possible weekend work. Employees are often forced to choose between a personal life and a career.

3) Mismatch between job and new hire. No matter how much you love the candidate, don’t hire them unless they are truly qualified for the job and they mesh with your company culture. Too many times, I’ve seen hiring managers try to fit a square peg into a round hole especially when it comes to a sales position.

4) Management freezes raises and promotions. Money isn’t usually the first reason why people leave an organization but it does rank especially when an employee can find a job earning 20-25% more somewhere else. Make sure your wages are competitive and your benefits package is attractive. Resources like www.salary.com can provide accurate and appropriate information.

5) Feeling undervalued. It’s human nature to want to be recognized and praised for a job well done. And in business, recognizing employees is not simply a nice thing to do but an effective way to communicate your appreciation for their efforts and successes while also reinforcing those actions and behaviors that make a difference in your organization.

6) Lack of decision-making power. Too many managers micromanage down to the finest detail. Empower your employees and allow them the freedom make suggestions and decisions. I realize that Empowerment is a ‘catch-all’ term for many ideas on employee authority and responsibility; but as a broad definition it means giving employees latitude to do their jobs and placing trust in them.

7) Too little coaching & feedback. Many managers have no clue on how to help employees improve their performance. In addition, many managers put off giving feedback to employees even though they instinctively know that giving and getting honest feedback is essential for growth and in building successful teams and organizations. Your role as a manager is to help your people find the right behavior, not just tell them what to do.

8) Management lacks people skills. Remember that many managers were promoted because they did their first job well, but that doesn’t mean they know how to lead others. People skills can be learned and developed but it really helps if a manager has the natural ability to get along with people and motivate them.

9) Too few growth opportunities. One of the most common reasons employees express for leaving their jobs is lack of challenge and potential for career growth. The most successful employers find ways to help employees develop new skills and responsibilities in their current positions.

10) Loss of faith and confidence in corporate leaders. With employees being asked to do more and more, they see less evidence that they will share in the fruits of their successes. More often than not, when revenues and profits are up, employers are still thinking competitive wages but employees are thinking bonuses, stock options and creative development opportunities.

They came all the way from Hokkaido

Office life could be plain dull and not exciting at times.
Pressure from the superior,
Never finished tasks,
Changes to your already familiar job scope,
Sometimes I start wondering the meaning of life...


It had been half a year since I started working for my current company. It is not an MNC, but considered very established with business crossing several countries, being well-known in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan. As I am in the product development department for health foods, we are constantly approached by suppliers, proposing products to us, and followed by business talks that lasts for hours.


I am still new to the company, thus, I really don't have much experience on talking face-to-face with suppliers, especially Foreign Suppliers! Yesterday, 2 Japanese suppliers flew all the way from Hokkaido to my office to have a session with my GM and I, wanting to discuss about 2 on-going projects. It was the 1st time I spent time with Japanese, though I had seen Japanese dramas for ages.


1 of them, Kohei, is a phD holder , standing all tall, confident and witty. He doesn't look Japanese, but like an American born Chinese. I later learned that he worked as research lecturer in Nebraska for several years before coming back to Japan. The other one, Takashi, has the classic Japanese appearance, and he totally reminds me of the Crown Prince Naruhito. They presented us with some small gifts, nicely wrapped green tea and lavender essence. Japanese has one of the prettiest packaging, and I love it! 


We talked business for 2 hours. They were wearing tux and ties, being all formal, which is predicted. My GM is a smart & quick lady, she has a business mind, fast to pick up hints/clues/opportunies in each word uttered by suppliers. The day before, I had informed her about the inconclusive and less than convincing lab report supplier had sent to us on the product efficacy. I didn't expect her to talk about that matter 1st thing in the meeting. But that truly made the suppliers nervous. I had to gave her credit for such a choice. Kohei took out his handkerchief and started wiping his forehead. Later on, he removed his coat. I suppressed a grin, my GM clearly could make a man nervous! Even a Dr!


It is tradition I guess, for us to have lunch with suppliers. This is the time to try out nice and expensive food. But it is not a time to enjoy, because that's a business lunch. I hate this kind of meals actually, this is when the superior keeps on judging on your behaviour and performance, leaving me with no more appetite. So 3 females (me, GM, Senior Manager) ate together with 6 men (Japanese + Americans). When the main course arrived, GM and Senior Manager started spooning dishes into our suppliers' plates, playing host. For a minute, I was wondering whether I should follow suit , but I held my ground, because I was worried of making a mess amidst the spooning act eg. dropping dishes half way on the table blah blah, that would be embarrasing. But GM spoke to me in Cantonese : Samantha, start working! That was her way of telling you, serve the suppliers & start spooning dishes for them. I did as instructed. But I must admit, it's funny to be serving men who are so much older than I am. 


Communication was all in English. But it isn't easy to understand their English, due to accent. Sometimes they sound Japanese, even though they are speaking in English. But overall, I really like them, my Japanese suppliers. They are different from Malaysians, but not totally different,  like Westerners. We talked about non-business things over the meal. Sometimes we run out of things to say, and the table turns quiet. There goes the art of socialising. It is challenging actually. 


The old Japanese gentleman beside me tried to make conversations. He asked me about my Zodiac! He actually knows about the 12 animals and each year represented by a different animal zodiac. I knew then he wanted to guess my age, well, not a problem. I told him I am born in the Tiger year. And he was counting on his fingers straight away, successfully guess on my age. Then he asked whether I am single. Well, it doesn't sound that strange when it is asked by a grandfatherly man in 70s. He then pointed to Takashi on my other side, saying, "He is single". Lol! 


After lunch, the suppliers stayed in our office , since they flight is late at night. I were to have dinner with them as well, meaning OT. This round, we let them tried typical Malaysian food such as Nasi Lemak, Fried Kuey Tiao, Prawn Mee, Asam Laksa, ABC, Chendol, Otak-otak and Bubu caca. These food are so typical, that I really wont have a second look at them. But Japanese isn't familiar with these food. And it was cute listening to my Senior Manager explaning about each dish to them, what it is made of, how does it taste blah blah. I really need to learn the art of being a good host, cause I didn't think about explaining the dishes at all. Believe me, it is totally not easy, when you want to explain and describe your everyday food, from another person's view. 


At night after dinner, we had some group photoes and I waved them off in front of my office building. They were heading towards the airport. Guess what, they would arrive Tokyo in the morning. And they had go enter the office straight to work! If I were them, I would surely take a day's leave :P! I need to salute to their professional etique . 


Their visit seems like a fresh flow of spring into the dull office life. If only my company will send me to Hokkaido for a visit ..... Well, extremely unlikely.

叶子的离开，是因为风的追求，还是树的不挽留

叶子的离开，是因为风的追求，还是树的不挽留？

这是蛮经典著名的一句话，通常用来形容感情，可是现在觉得，用来形容职场也蛮贴切。

可能可以这么说，

叶子的离开，是因为风的果断追求，再加上树的微弱挽留。

坦白说，我真的很喜欢我的工作，当营养师是一个备受尊重的工作，大家都以很客气的口吻向你请教，之后真诚向你致谢。而工作的主要范围离不开给讲座，这是我的兴趣，也是我训练已久的强项,每一场成功的讲座都带给了我满满的成就感。上班的公司，更是装修得美轮美奂，玻璃高楼、绿意怏然的环境、五星级的室内设计，非常养眼。公司的同事们更是无可挑剔的友善易相处，而且大家年龄相近，犹如大学同学们一样,也没什么阶级代沟。上司对我的评语也不错，时不时也给予言语上的表扬。

出差砂州天鹅城 Working trip to Sibu

This blog entry was about my work trip to Sibu, Sarawak dated 30/4 - 2/5. Although it is 2 months late, this is one of those memory I wish to keep for long term. Writing it down could somehow make a memory lasts and stays vivid. April was a crazy month for me, I was sent flying to Sarawak 3 times within that month, under the name of health checks and health talks. I could still remember grumbling and resenting innerly of how inconsiderate my company was, monopolising 3 my consecutive weekends, disregarding my health condition ( I was coughing nonstop for 2 months) and personal time . Now that when I look back, the 3 trips to Sarawak marked the happiest memory of my 1 year career with Melilea International. My colleagues couldn't understand my affection for Sarawak, I couldn't really explain it myself, perhaps it was the nature and people that made Sarawak dear to me. Little did I know that it was my last time going to Sarawak as Melilea Nutritionist.

出差砂州黄梨城和石油城 (Sarikei & Miri Work Trip)

这是发生在 22 - 24 April 的出差故事。之前太忙碌，搞得2个月后才分享。这是我在四月份，第二次出差去砂劳越。一如去kuching一样，那次我们营养师团队也是为了为当地客户作健康检查，所以飘洋过海咯。常常出差很累，但是看在是砂劳越的份上，我去得很愿意哦。

当时的目的地是 Sarikei 以及 Miri。Sarikei 是一个小镇，没有飞机场，所以我们需要在诗巫降落, 在坐一个小时车前往这个黄梨镇。工作了一整天，检查了无数人后，终于可以到附近走走了。这是出差唯一的高潮，可以让我享受当地风土人情，吃吃道地美食。毕竟公司付给我们的出差费，只够吃三餐，没钱可赚，如果去沙巴，可能还要倒贴哦。

出差砂州猫咪城 (Kuching Work Trip)

Though I am a Malaysian, I have not step foot on the land of Sarawak til I am 21 years old. It was a family trip to Miri and Mulu. The mountains, caves, rivers, forests and greenery Sarawak has to offer is something very refreshing to the eye and soul of a KL girl.

It never occur to me that I would then visit Sarawak continously 3 times within a month due to work. It is kinda funny for someone who rarely travel by plane like me, would be heading to airport every week that month. Though it is tiring to be flying so frequently, the Sarawak experience was love at first sight.

My current company has quite a few branches at Sarawak and Sabah, as there are no nutritionists based at East Malaysia, the headquarter nutritionist team was asked to support the heath check roadshow at Kuching, Miri and Sarikei.

Nutritionist uniform while performing health check

初尝走红滋味

工作一年，我的部落格也荒废了近一年。回想过去，我曾经落足心思在这个部落格哦！生活中常有许多小故事想在这里分享，但是往往工作回家，人类累了，周末常常需要支援公司event,要坐下来慢慢写一篇文章，真的力不从心。然而，令我感到窝心的是，荒废的部落格仍然有人来留言哪！接下来，我想要分享我这一年来当营养师的点滴，在众人眼里，我的工作是光芒四射，很刺激，非常glamarous的一份工作。也对的。不过，背后的代价，就是无数个working weekends，几乎没有私生活了咯。


台上五分钟，台下十年功。
这句话，真的很对哦。
在我的状况来说，应该是，
台上半小时，
台下十八年功。


一堂讲座 “健康美丽的保鲜之道” 让我有机会在吉隆坡、柔佛新山、新加坡、砂捞越古晋、诗巫和沙巴大放光彩。


给营养和产品讲座，是营养师的主要工作范围。但是由于旧的题材，一用再用，很多时候，经销商和听众也感到没有新鲜感了。但是呢，讲课方式有不可以过于学术，让人觉得在上课，要生动却又要有业绩效果。也是机缘巧合，我和业务公关刘经理合作上了，一起制作了“健康美丽的保鲜之道” 的power point slides 还有细心研究了整个讲座的 flow，调整了一个月后，正式开讲。

A job with conscience

I have been joining the work force for almost 4 months now. University life seems like a life time away. Yet somehow, my current working environment and condition makes me feel like still being in school.

The restrictions on costume and hairstyle are like the disciplines in school. Tie up your hair, wear black colour pants or skirt, wear black high heel, wear colours that are not too bright....

We nutritionist team stays stuck together everyday as the rest of the departments are still being housed at the Melaka office. My senior nutritionist is just like a senior in school. In fact she was truly a UKM Food Science & nutrition senior years ago. Perhaps I am fortunate to have her as guidance, since she is like a mother to us at office, making sure we don't commit fatal mistakes and kiss our career path bye bye.

My major job is giving health talks, that is like giving presentations in university to fellow coursemates and professors. Power point is still being used. The only difference being, my audiences are now adults in black tux and they might not have science background. They are distributors, so they aren't really interested in the science theories most of the time. They are more interested to be told on how to sell the product and earn money.

During my university years, I joined the Study Guidance Sheng Xue group. We always had events and we had committee and everyone has a job on that day. It is funny now that in the working world, things work exactly the same as back in uni. We had an organic baby grand final contest in Prince Hotel yesterday. 20 over staffs were supporting the event. We had briefing from coordinator, we set up registration counter, we had sales team, we had ushers blah blah. Staffs were all working together, even the manager level staffs were involved and wore the same costume.

The tricky part of working as a nutritionist in a direct sales company is that, you must HOLD FIRM TO YOUR CONSCIENCE AND MORAL VALUES. So many times, I felt like I am losing it when the distributors are using cunning techniques to scare their customers into buying the health products they do not need.

Some of the distributors had been with the company for years. They thought after hearing a few health talks from the company would make them wiser. And us nutritionists being young and just joined the company shortly, they tried to influence or stay involve when we are giving health consultation to the customers. When I advised on customers about how to take care of their liver, since most of the time it's due to their lack of sleep, the distributors would be there screaming the name of the 'liver product' . Each time after performing health check, I could almost see their DISAPPONTMENTS when the result showed that their customers were in good health. And you could see them smirking innerly if the result was bad, cause that would be golden time to sell products.

Few days ago, I was really angry.

Could the company's soya powder replace milk powder as infants' food?

That was asked by the distributor.

I told her if the baby hasn't started eating solid food and still at the stage that depends solely on milk, soya alone couldn't supply all the nutrients needed. That milk is still needed.

That was where things went wrong. The distributor went to ask another of my colleague nutritionist and she got the same answer. She was mad, asking who trained you ppl? Your nutritionist reported in the newspaper a few years ago, saying soya could replace cow's milk as infant food !

U know why she is so mad? Cause my statement would affect her business.

Later on, our senior nutritionist advised us, that babies below 6 months should be encouraged to drink mother's milk. Baby that had started taking solid food can drink soya because they have nutrient sources from other food. Our company indeed had educated the distributors that soya's milk is more superior than cow's milk in term of nutrients and proteins.

But the thing is, nobody told them that the condition is :

If it is a baby formula soya milk, then it can replace the baby formula cow milk.

But now we are talking about baby formula cow milk and our company's soya milk, of course the latter isn't more superior than the former. Baby formula cow milk is specially designed for infants, fortified and enriched with numerous nutrients and vitamins. It is processed differently, taking into consideration of infants' fragile digestive systems. Our company's soya formula is not specially meant for babies , but just as a drink for normal people who are usually adults. Just plain soya without any fortification or enrichments. How could this replace baby formula milk as the infants' only food?

It brings me horror, knowing that some babies are not being fed the nutrient rich milk they need, but fed with just plain soya , due to the lack of education and the misleading information from distributors.

So, always filter the information given to you by Direct Sales distributors. That is the advice given by our senior nutritionist.

Work aside, these are the things that give me comfort.

This is the set of sofa in one of our company branches. I love it. Cuddling with a book on the sofa, it is like being embraced in a warm hug.

This is the bakery shop below my company's building. It is beautiful to begin my morning with a mug of nice coffee, freshly baked pastry and a good book, on a nice rattan chair, with a morning view of the road.

I found this shop in Times Square. This little roasted chicky is very delicious and cost only RM4 ! The juice beside gives you multiple different sensations as it rolls down your tongue.

Vietnam food with beautiful arrangement. It is great to be alive.

营养师

从小到大，我都有种憧憬。

想象自己一身标准事业女性的打扮，潇洒踏入漂亮高耸的建筑物展开一天的工作。

这一个梦想，实现了。

在面试的时候，我并不知道自己将会在这种环境工作。因为这是公司刚购买的新楼。我第一次踏步到这里，我就爱上了这个地方。这是一见钟情的感觉。完全由玻璃建成的大厦，散发着全然不同的感觉，有点优雅又不失时尚。从公司里头

，可以看见外头的风景。

营养师，是我现在的称号。

我喜欢这个职业，也喜欢人们对这工作的敬意。

再怎样也是一间直销公司，所以对于员工的穿着打扮非常注重。

在这里，必须化妆、必须穿丝袜黑色高跟鞋、必须绑起头发。若是在给讲座的时候，必须穿上黑色西装外套。这一切对我而言，是陌生的。

公司售卖营养有机食品、化妆品、护肤品甚至是家庭用品。营养师要兼顾化妆和护肤品。我真的是个门外汉，只能快步学习。直销公司里，distributors 就是我们的皇帝。靠他们，货品才能销出去，我们才能有薪水。在这里会发现，每个人都衣冠楚楚，没有丑女人。就算是中年女人，他们仍然明艳照人，令我觉得自叹不如。

有时候，你的每一个选择决定，真的会影响你的生活方式。在这样的一个上班环境，我发现我必须时时刻刻look my best。在这里，如果你邋遢，就像是在学校里犯了纪律规则一样，会被说的。所以，我开始脱胎换骨。我的同事们都是样貌清丽的女生。如今我们一起去吃午餐的时候，许多人的目光会注视着我们。原来，这就是打扮和office wear 的魅力。

一个月内，我给了三次讲座。听众有许多年轻人，也有许多比我年长的前辈。我的第一次讲座，有接近两百人。那一次对我而言，是别开生面的讲座。因为，所有在场的观众们全都是西装笔挺，衣冠楚楚，场面很吓人，对我这个社会新鲜人而言，是很震撼的场面。我从来没有出席过任何场面是全部人穿西装的哦。

这是我在公司第一次给产品讲座的场地。

而这是在波德申海边一间酒店给讲座的场地。是一个专门为女人而办的美丽健康营。我最压力的一场讲座，因为全是女人在听。而女人的要求，是很高的。

在这里，我体验了许多大学时候没法体验的事情。我真的希望我可以在这间公司发光发热，找到属于我的事业。