I listened to the acoustic recording of the quake captured from the deep ocean with goose bumps all over my body. I suppose I could imagine the terror induced had I come face to face with such force of nature. The 2011 Japanese earthquake had lasted for 2 minutes. That has triggered a series of aftershocks, a tsunami, a potential nuclear meltdown, and an impact to the global economy. For the past one week, I have been glued to the news from the Internet feeling deeply saddened. That puzzled me a bit because I do not usually feel that attached to the disasters worldwide. Maybe deep inside, I admire the Japanese people and culture more than I think I do.
This week has been a crazy week. My mother in Hong Kong was hospitalized for a minor operation and how I wish I was there with her. One colleague of mine’s grandfather has passed away and I said to her, “Go home and spend time with your family. Don’t worry about that minute of meeting”. I suppose falling back into routines helps one to return to normalcy. And normalcy helps one to momentarily forget the pain. I did not have the heart to grant her that wish. There were two major deliverables this week and in the mist of all these chaos, one of my colleagues has lost his sanity – figuratively speaking – because he thinks that he will be asked to leave the company soon. So I said to him, “Keep your head down and continue to be productive”. I suppose different people handles stress in a different way. Constantly having to deal with his momentary lapse of sanity seems to have worn me out a bit. And hence, summing all up, it has been a shockingly depressing and incredibly busy week.
I have a different approach when it comes to work, compares to some of the colleagues around me. I believe that knowledge and experience should be shared. Because together, we can do so much more. Don’t you worry that one day your job will be taken away from you, some have asked in the past. I would be in deep trouble if my job is hanging onto what I know today. In contrary, I would be happy if more and more people can do what I am doing. That way, I can move onto other things in life and create new knowledge, create new experience. I think there is enough food to share around (again, figuratively). Even when the time is bad, deep inside, we are hunters. We will be able to find something else to eat, somewhere, somehow.
Last Sunday I took Cynthia to the IT Show. I would imagine that must have been a terrifying experience for her. The gigantic exhibition hall was filled with people. Mostly men talking in some geek languages, ogling at products that meant nothing to her. I am a seasoned IT Show visitor. IT Show is not a time and place for shopping. When I visit an IT Show, I know exactly what I want to get. At the exhibition, I checked where the Creative’s booth was located and under my supreme leadership, we zoomed straight into the location that mattered: Creative’s cashier. I took a look at the pamphlet. Yes, the World of Warcraft headset was on sales. Big discount. So I ordered three headsets there and then. The man who manned the cashier was surprised at my efficiency and determination. I went in as fast as I went out. Cynthia was shocked.
Today is unlike the previous days, my working day has ended with a sunny blue sky. Finger crossed, I am hoping for a better week next week. My world and the world I am living in.
I share the same sentiments on the disaster in Japan and your views about knowledge sharing. I have friends in Japan that are mostly staying in and around the Tokyo region…everyone I talked is either worried about the nuclear issues, still shaken by quake and those aftershocks and mostly are sadden by what the tsunami has done to the Tohoku region. A friend of mine said on March 15 – “Because electricity is not enough in Tokyo from tomorrow, a blackout is often planned. However, I can endure that much when I think about sorrow of people of Tohoku region. Japan revives from this disaster by all means. I have the power and solidarity power.”
As for knowledge sharing, I strongly believe sharing is the survival model. As long as one continous to learn new things and new skills, he/she will always be ahead of others and there is no worry about their jobs being taken over. Now, those that don’t share will eventually come to a point where they are seen as expansive resources with no additional values to the team and the company. Not just that, it is a poor demonstration of leadership skill which is crucial to advance in their job. (note: leadership comes from within and not given). So, if this “no knowledge sharing” goes on for sometime, they will be replaced because there is only so much one person could in terms of productivities. This is speaking from someone that has managed quite a few workforce reduction programs for MNC. 🙂
J – Workforce reduction programs! Must be one hard job to do, dealing with human feelings.
Cynthia has colleagues in Japan too. It is hard to imagine the extend of destruction. But I think Japan will come out stronger. In a way, I think events like these strengthen the younger generation.
Do hope your week will get better in your world and the rest of the world you are living in. 🙂
J -Thanks! And you have a great weekend.
Good for you Wilfrid. The world is abundance for people who think abundance. So it is true that the world is lack of resources for those who thinks the world is lacking in many things. Which is the better way to live? it is obvious.
Enjoy your WoW headset and cheers for a better tomorrow!
JoV – Thanks! I like your spirit. I can’t say for sure that my faith is always that strong. But I shall remember what you say … hehehe.
The headset is good. But I am scaling down on gaming and putting more time to do up my photo album, as well as reading 🙂
I share the same feeling – somehow, I am so much more affected about the disaster in Japan than anything else I have read.
I wonder if it’s because Japan is my favourite country to visit.
Kudos to you for believing in knowledge sharing.
There are far too many people who do not believe in that.
And far too many people who spend their time on mindless political games.
Dealing with an episode personally now and even ignoring it is tiring!!!
G – I guess to help ignoring the games people play at work, just do the right thing. It is tiring only because you are struggling with your decisions, and your decisions are taking into consideration of the game others play. Just do the right thing in life seems the easiest thing to do.
Many thanks again for the excellent Creative WoW headset!
Mark – You welcome bro. The best investment we have made thus far!