Relationships and Egos

As I was scrolling down my Facebook wall, I saw this photo. It just struck a chord with me as I am in the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) line. Regardless of the situation, the first reaction is to apologize followed by empathy to understand their feedback better and then promise of improvement for the future (and of course action plans to actually improve where relevant). 

An ego has no part in being a customer service personnel. Though there are many times where I was sorely tempted to throw a sarcastic remark. There was this time where a customer wrote in an e-mail complaint with font size 30. I actually wrote the reply with the exact same font...... but changed it back to normal before hitting the send button. So..... so tempted *evil grin*

Important things to remember in this line of work is to not take it personally, appreciate the time that the customer took to feedback instead of just abandoning the brand completely and remembering that "aplogizing does not always mean you are wrong, it just means that you value your relationships more than your ego". A successful CRM is one that is able to maintain profitable long term relationships. 

*ponders* 

Language and People

When I was back in school, the English teachers (and my dad) were always pressuring us to stick to the proper English, not to use slang or end sentences with "la"s and "ma"s. We were instead supposed to speak English like we were Brits and it is our mother tongue. But it is not is it? We are Malaysians and we have various mother tongues. Living together long enough, we have come to understand each other's language just as we understand each other... even if it just a little. A friend once asked me if all Chinese ate dogs.... I would have laughed out right, but then seeing his serious face, I gently explained that most Chinese in Malaysia do not eat dogs at all ^^". Then again, there was another friend who asked if I was a gangster just because my school had a notorious history. Also asked with an extremely serious and cautious face.

But that is besides the point. The main point is that several years down the road since school, people are now proudly flaunting Malaysian flavoured English. It has become part of the culture of being a Malaysian. As much as things such as nasi lemak, Nyonya cuisine, general greeting (the first question, regardless of language is always: Have you eaten?) Malaysian drivers and Malaysian timing as part of our culture (though maybe we should rethink the last two items ^.<). Here, a sentence made up of a few language would be perfectly normal and understandable to all Malaysians, and be alien to everyone else.

We are still not completely comfortable with each other, but then again, there are a lot of people that we probably can't stand and it has nothing to do with the way we look. Still we have no problem living, working and playing next to each other. We can walk on the roads without fear of being gunned down (at most we have to worry about is acid being splashed). So it is sufficient... for the moment.

Happy Malaysia Day everyone ^^

Written in the Stars......

At lunch today, one guy was going through descriptions of people according to star horoscopes. I have always found that my Virgo stars are quite accurate in describing me, while another friend at the table had nothing in common with her star's normal qualities. Perhaps horoscopes are merely self fulfilling prophecies, we behave as how we believe we should be behaving. After all, with billions and trillions of people in the world, can it really that simple to categorize them into 12 different personalities? And how would the 12 animal zodiac affect? Or maybe it would combine and hence there would be 144 personalities? Come to think of it, there is another 5 elements to each personalities which would bring to a total of 720 personalities? Hmm.... might be possible after all ^^

There was one time I was told that some people's fate or destiny is fixed by the stars while others are not. For example, me being a total Virgo could mean that I am more influenced by the stars that my friend who does not have any characteristic of her star. Is that a good or bad thing? Well, I do like being a Virgo, though it can be very annoying and tiring at times.... but generally I am happy the way I am.... After all, most stars have both strength and weaknesses. It is good to know that in order to optimize your strength and cover your weaknesses.

So is your destiny written in the stars? Or will you take fate into your own hands?

A song with beautiful descriptions and images....

*humming to starry starry night*

A healthier lifestyle......

In attempt at a healthier lifestyle, I ordered this for lunch:

Sicilian chicken salad. To my surprise, the salad can actually be very filling... probably because have to really take time to chew all of it... and it was quite nice, had pine nuts ^^

Then I was treated to this:

So much for my healthier lunch..... but it was still awesome ^^ had a great lunch date and all my favorite people were on shift when I went.

*thinking of what other healthier lunch options*

One of those days.....

It is one of those days...... tired from long hours traveling for work, skin peeling from sun burn, muscle aching from carrying heavy stuff, leech bites itching like crazy, melancholy from too much critiques, loads of problems thrown at work...... among other things going on......

On the bright side, I am alive and relatively healthy, I just had a great lunch and dinner with excellent company, my sister made me laugh, I have a roof over my head and a soft pillow to rest my head later, my boss let me home early so that I can recuperate from the travelling, if I wanted a hug, I just have to stretch my arms...... among other things going on.....

Positive thinking, a good to counter each negative......

*zen*

OCD at home 1

Have you ever did a whole day of house cleaning, lie down on the floor too tired to move, stared at the ceiling and noticed that the fan is dirty then got up and cleaned the fan? Happened to me long ago. OCD appears to be able to define a person, like that red head counselor in Glee. But thank goodness I am not to the stage of brushing fruits yet.

Then again, in my point of view, it is not really a problem. I see a problem, I solve it. I see dirt, I clean it. Simple. The latest endeavor? I washed down the kitchen, from the sink to the side counter to the stove, storage area under the sink and stove right down to the floor. All because I wanted to do some cooking and noticed the sink was not shiny. From washing one area, the water flowed to the next and demanded to be cleaned.

On top of that, I baked a cake and cooked dinner for my family. The result? My mom came home, took a look at the kitchen and certified me insane. Result number 2? I am like a zombie today.....

*plops onto bed and checks out*

Irony in the Cinema

I was in the cinema the other day and was watching the advertisements before the movie. So there was one that talks about the diseases faced by Malaysian these days such as diabetes, heart attack, lung cancer and so on. This was followed by advice on living a healthier lifestyle with more exercise eating healthy and avoiding alcohol. The irony was the advertisement after that was for Twisties...... and then baskin robin ice-cream cake and ending with KFC...... contradictory message much?

~shaking head~

Lazy Song ^^

It's Friday! What better way that to start it listening to Bruno Mar's Lazy Song? This song is awesome, even if there is no way it would ever by my theme song as I am seldom doing nothing (except when sick ^^). Still, enjoy the song!

~Lazy-ish~

OCD at work 2

OCD at work means order slips being neatly punched onto that thing that is used to stick the paper in.... no idea what that thing is called, but the one on the left of the picture...... and the bell being shiny..... or it could also be due to boredom at work.....

The Working Hours......

A friend told me that it is okay to emo on my blog once in awhile..... so here goes..... working hours in the F&B industry, especially on operations level sucks...... ever since entering the kitchen, I hardly have time to spend with my family, what more my friends. Even the times that there are night meet ups, by the time I get off work, I am so tired that I barely participate in the conversations.

Nobody is indispensable and sooner or later people will get tired of arranging their schedule to fit a single person. It is also not fair for us to expect them to. If as an intern, the working hours can put such strain on socialability, imagine the damage it can do to relationships if working full time on that level..... because of Valentine's Day, a lot of the staff can only leave after 12am and the last person left at 5am... that person was back at the restaurant at 9am.... no wonder my lecturer warned us that one of the dangers of this industry is the divorce rate.....

So people, be nice to the staff when you are out in restaurants..... especially on busy days, it is not that they do not want to give good service, but there are just too many people to attend to and the kitchen may not be able to cope with the bulk of orders ^^

Only thing to do

Every day people will be faced with problems, decisions and challenges. Some bigger some smaller. Sometimes we lean to others when it is too heavy to be supported by a single person. Sometimes we voluntarily lend a hand to those we feel need it... to solve such puzzles, usually it takes an objective mind. That is when an unbiased person would be of great help. But when all is said and done, all we can do is advise and it is up to the other person to decide to take it or not, as my mom taught me indirectly many times over... we are not to blame if things go bad regardless of whether that person takes our advice or not... though when we do care about the person, it is easier said than done...

Dreams.....

Dreams are usually indications of how your life is at the moment, or perhaps in anticipation of things to come... like when I was in primary school, my classrooms somehow are always at the highest floor of the building. So a couple of days before every school reopening I would dream of climbing up the stairwell (which is jutting out of the building) and just as I was reaching the top the whole stairwell would break away from the building and everyone will be scrambling to keep it from falling... running from side to side to balance it.....

These couple of days however, my dreams been rather.... hard to decide.... can be considered out of control, scary of even exciting. It starts with somewhere fun and relaxing like a gorgeous Greek styled spa or an amusement park. The spa was especially nice, the details on the architecture was beautiful. But then I got angry at someone (cannot recall who and for what reason) and went on a drive.... a red sports car.... and was driving and drifting... quite awesome really ^^ but then competition came along and the cars raced up hill and then suddenly the road goes downwards drastically and the car just flies down.... and woke up....

The dream that begin with the amusement park ended with a terrifying roller coaster ride.... again ending with a steep downward rush..... perhaps I am a wee bit stressed ^^

OCD at work....

..... means the only time that the sugar caddy is according to standards (5 white, 5 brown and 3 Equal) and all is facing the same direction......

Words

At work, the words I say the most would probably be "welcome", "excuse me", "sorry" and "thank you". These words should be said with meaning but now it has become just words to get things done. Never thought it would come so easily, like just changing masks..... I guess it is true that it is difficult to say those words (especially sorry) to those who matter as compared to those who do not (Dr. Wilson from House). Also people tend to take closer people for granted and not be polite with those words........

Speaking of masks, turns out my mask at work is quite interesting, my colleagues describes me as "cool" meaning even tempered and "happy-go-lucky"........ @.@ this is almost as surprising as my university friends describing me as "cute"......

Actually, more interesting would actually be the words that is in the mind but not said when at work ^^

Merry Christmas

As busy as I might be with work, I would like to wish everyone a safe, merry and blessed Christmas. Do take time to reflect on the year that has passed and make amends for things that should be amended. Also take stock of all the things you have. The things that will make you richest is not counted in dollars, ringgit, euro etc. but love, friendship, goodwill. Be happy with what you have because there are many that has a lot less. After all, as Albert Einstein said, "Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted"

This is as much a reminder to myself as to everyone else ^^ There are times in life when things are moving so fast and people are rocketing towards their particular goals that they forget to enjoy the view of the journey. Life is a journey that is traveled but once. And the destination is the same. Think about what you would like to remember from your journey before reaching that destination.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Guess the Item

I do not know about the rest of you, but I have a particularly strong interest in shiny things and technological gadget. That day my mom bought the item in the following picture... can you guess what it is for....?

Voila! It is a ladle holder ^^

Soft Toys and Me

To most people that know me, I am not really a soft toy person.... which is why the giant teddy bear I received for a recent birthday came as quite a shock.... but then again, I do have a collection of soft toys:

None of which are purchased directly ^^ I had to grabbed them with a claw (below). And the picture above is only about half of all the toys that my family has caught so far. With a little bit of technique and opportunities, it is not really a gamble but a test of skill ^^

The latest additions:

Mr. White Bear

Lady Pink

Blue Bunny

This was a real opportunity. The soft toys were piled up high next to the hole to drop the toy. And this rabbit was sitting right on top of the pile. It only took me two tries to get the rabbit to roll off the pile, down the hole and into my hands ^^

One of the more fun arcade game ^^

Opposite of Love

People usually think that the opposite of love is hate. I disagree. True opposite of love is indifference. Hate means you still think about the person ever so often and have strong emotions for him or her. Realizing that a person you care about broke a promise to you should be upsetting. But when no emotions come about, you know that that person is no longer that important to you.

Read. Write. Share.

Bookxcess, found in AmCorp Mall is a great place to get books for really cheap prices. Today I dropped by to get some new reading materials and ended up with more than I purchased. I bought one book and had to wait quite a bit for the receipt. Turns out they have a new program called "receipt stories" where they print out stories by the general public on the receipts. (if you are interested to publish yours, click here) The one I received was titled "Perfection". As I am often labelled as a perfectionist, the story was rather interesting. It goes like this:

"Human's perspective of perfection is outrageously overrated. Security is an understatement. Every person's idea of perfection is carved specifically to something that they are not and expect to be portrayed by someone else. Our being is under no condition to be contented, thus, perfection is overly unachievable.

Things we want never stay stagnant and are as volatile as the movement of the wind. Human inadequacy to remain unchangeable is the sole provider to this imperfect world we live in. Our idea of complete happiness changes too often to remain perfect. "

~Philip Lee~

I particularly like the last line of the passage. Often people as why we change change our minds about what we want in life. But as we progress in life, we are exposed to more experiences that will change our mindset and priorities. Hence it is fine to change, it shows that we progress and we are human. To be human is to err and to be imperfect, then learn and improve...then make more different mistakes. Don't be the best, be better ^^

On a separate note, I wonder if this program is good for business considering the time it takes to print the complete receipt...

Human Basic Needs

"look for the bare necessities, the simple bare necessities...." sang Baloo in the Jungle Book about how life should be simple and the things that are absolutely necessary can be found all around. So what are the bare necessities for human? The common answer would be food, clothings and shelter. Then that day my sister asked, true, but they never specified how much did they? How much is enough? I guess for a lot of girls there can never be enough clothes!! And there are some who 'live to eat rather than eat to live' How about gated communities? Is it necessary? But with all the crime occurring, perhaps it is.....

Let's take food as an example (I can't seem to get away from food..... people also complain that all my analogies are based on food ^^). It is not an easy task to say how much is enough. People may say as long as there is food, you should be thankful and you will survive. But then, it is general knowledge that a variety of food is necessary for good health. Good health here means for a human to be fully functional. A diet with too much fish, especially those high in mercury will cause adverse health effect. So is wanting more variety of food really a want or a need?

So..... how much is enough? Or is it human nature that things are never enough?

Just a short post this time ^^ Look out for the next one on Skytrex Adventure once I collected all the photos!