Afterthoughts

Just one week away from my next travails, a backpacking trip across the Philippines! I'm traveling with new CS friend Karl, and we're doing something off-the-beaten track, with farmstays, free dives, and some good ol' spelunking!


Right after that in mid July, I'll be kickstarting my career in SABIC, the largest public company in Saudi Arabia and a diversified manufacturing powerhouse. The program was what really attracted me: a two-year leadership development program for IT professionals, and boasting a lot of investment. Four diverse rotations across entire IT functions and working on projects spanning the globe! And a 3-week training course in the Netherlands in Aug/Sept to boot!


Of course, it's a riskier move than some of my other offers, which have stronger brand reputations and offer better remuneration packages that'll probably appeal more to others. That aside, I'm thoroughly excited about the opportunities abound, and will be looking forward to learn and garner as much experience as possible, and meeting all the interesting people out there!


With income coming in, I met with Alan to look at insurance planning options and some of my priorities in life. Undoubtedly he's someone I trust very much and have a lot of respect for. And i feel that it's a huge element in choosing your agent; it's not really about the policy or company but about the sense of trust and protection, the intangibles and emotional aspect, that really counts in the life insurance industry. I am glad to have someone whom I have worked with closely and built up a relationship with to choose as an agent.

He mentioned a personal observation about me that was a particularly striking theme in my job search... that I was someone who's outwardly unambitious, but inwardly ambitious. I don't really agree with that inward part, but I'm sure that's how many people see me. When interviewers look at my resume and see the double firsts, the volunteer initiative, the leadership roles, they're thinking like this: One of those high-achieving guys. What's his sweet spot? What keeps him going? Ambition for power, achievement, etc?

And, possibly contrary to interview guides out there, I always answer the same thing.

To make change happen. To bring great ideas and innovation into reality. To push what I think makes a difference out into this world. And to me, it really doesn't matter if I benefit from it in any way. I remember saying, Don't expect me to compete with others (in the program) to get ahead. I'm not going to fight for attention or clamour for credit. I'm not going to enjoy the political game. Because I don't get driven by the thought of climbing for power or money. It really doesn't appeal to me at all. I don't get power for power's sake.

But empower me to learn, to think and to dream, to pitch my vision out to a listening audience, to source for resources and connections that'll make it possible, and to lead the team to drive it through and make it a goddamn success - that keeps me going.

In that sense, I'm not a very consistent performer. Times when the environment set me free, I flew. Times when I just got put down, I plummeted. Sometimes it's tough to get a great attitude going when things are against you. I'm still working on it, too. And i guess that's why it is so important to find a good fit of company and personal culture.

Personally it was a tough choice amidst all the corporate Kool-Aid. In the end I trusted in my UBS mentor's advice: 'Go West, young man.' Well, not exactly, but anyway...

Time to start earning my flying creds.

Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow

Camp Rainbow. Still my favourite volunteer experience.

It was a refreshingly new camp experience this time round, being in the youths category and taking care of the two most independent kids in camp. As (self-declared) part-time camp photographers, they rampaged about with giant DSLRs and snapped down some of the most unglam shots of us befrienders (myself included). I imagine they have enough material to run a blackmail syndicate. But anyway, my challenge was in keeping my reins to a bare minimum, looking after their health and safety while letting them loose with everything else.

I loved catching up with old friends and meeting new characters. My ex-kids group are just as fun and energetic as ever, though i wish they could cut down on the relentless poking of me and Luke haha. Belle and RJ grew up to the youth group too. Oh, and Gary was in the same group too, and it was nice getting to know him better. Longtime GLs Smurfette and CK had an opposite leadership style from Ben and Pohlin, which i thought worked well with the youths. And who could forget the bubbly doc n nurse pair, perhaps too bubbly... i couldn't differentiate them from the kids, really. Haha.

The youths were a great bunch of kids, from the more restrained but still funloving Ed & Jas, to my two kids and Ira, Sarah etc. It's interesting to see this mix of characters sleep and play together, and though i wish they'd break into cliques less, i think they were still pretty close together.

I like the rebellious nature of our grp, always being the late one and skipping official programmes. We're truly deserving of our grp name, Black Sheep... well, the blackest of sheep might have the purest of hearts! I like to think we injected some chaotic fun and laughter into the camp, haha. Our mascot was universally adored after all (might post up a pic soon).

I think this year's camp had some interesting programs, such as the visit to the zoo, the ducktour and the photobooth during Carnival night. But somehow it felt messier, logistics and coordination-wise. Afterwards i heard that there were some politics going on, and a divide between the comm and the GLs. This kinda reminds me of the challenges i faced during my time as FOC chair. To me, intuitively i knew everyone had to be on board to change things for the better. That was what i thought was my greatest challenge, forging a team of diverse characters and getting everyone to buy-in on the same vision. Hopefully next year's team can move on as one after some rumored reorganization going on.

Anyway, it was a great camp as usual and kudos to everyone involved for making it happen! Looking forward to upcoming outings and next year's camp alr. Not sure which age group to go for - I might say i enjoy the energy and closer interaction with younger kids, but i relish the autonomy and deeper conversations with youths too.

Either ways, here's to more years of some of the most fun and meaningful times in my life.