Why a Changing Heart?

On June 12, 2008 I got a final call from a CPO company; they said that they already accept me for a financial analyst position. This company is a subsidiary from a Singapore listed company. The owner is one of the conglomerates in this country.

I feel excited but also sad, because this means these days are my last days in this company. I have so many good memories here with my co-workers.

As a business development or someone who assist the CEOs to make decisions, I feel that expanding my knowledge horizon is very important. We must become a generalist, not a specialist. That is one main reason why I will accept the job in that company.

I already had certain knowledge about transportation industry, including 3PL and operating lease from my current company. If there is an opportunity to know other industries, I think I will take it.

In this case, I will get the opportunity to learn about CPO [Crude Palm Oil] industries. The CPO company itself is a major vertically integrated agribusiness group with principal activities that span from research and development, oil palm seed breeding, oil palm cultivation and milling to the refining, branding and marketing of cooking oil, margarine, shortening and other palm oil derivative products. The Group is also a producer of Crude Coconut Oil in Indonesia.

My position as a financial analyst will be much likely the same, assist in drawing in-depth conclusions and make recommendations to Board of Directors from financial, operating and planning data; also involve in some projects to acquire or build new business units.

My Comfort Zone

I found this quotes in pravsworld.com, and I think it is very precise for me. This quote tells exactly how I felt. I want to take this quote as my resignation letter.

“I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I wouldn’t fail.
The same four walls and busywork were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things I’d never done before,
But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.

I said it didn’t matter that I wasn’t doing much.
I said I didn’t care for things like commission checks and such.
I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone,
But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.

I couldn’t let my life go by just watching others win.
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I’d never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.

If you’re in a comfort zone, afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true.
Reach for your future with a smile; success is there for you!”

Working in my company right now is like being in the comfort zone. I know my work very well and the people I work with are very predictable. I don’t say that work here is not challenging, I learn a lot last year. But ever since this company strategy is changing from expand the business portfolio to only maintain it, I feel that my learning curve is mature, and it’s time to move on.

P2P: Pay to Perform

“Pay peanut, get monkey” Do you familiar with this quotes?

A company can get a low pay employee to do a job, but don’t expect a high quality result.

Actually, the salaries in my company is not bad, many people say it is above average if we add other benefits beside money. For example: the 8 to 5 working hour, rarely overtime, internet access, no fierce competition among co worker, etc.

What I learned after working for several companies is this, if the company doesn’t have the accurate tools to measure your performance, it is better to negotiate the salary as high as possible on the first time. It is because later you cannot be sure how you can climb the corporate ladder or get a salary raise, so better to get what you want from the start.
There are some big companies that still don’t have a KPI for every position. In this case, when doing the performance analysis for employee they tend to be subjective or they measure the ‘wrong’ KPI, like lateness, absence report, etc.

How can you perform, if the only measure for your salaries future is the absence report? That’s why you must put everything in early salary negotiation.