The blog runs more than 18 years, then I am running into 50s

Time always run faster than expected. Very true.

Counting down to dive into my 50s, but I am still thinking something which I should have been done when have time. Too naive to say that, obviously.

In this age, I realized that I am really nothing. No matter to the world or to my family, and most importantly, to myself. Looking back what I have done for the past years, aligning to the society, graduate from a named university but not in a major that I love. Thus, not with a good GPA when passing out. Then started a career very unrelated to my major, but at least that was something I like. Still, nothing resulted good. Married with my first love when was still very young, got a divorce as a result. And that turned out as a turning point of my life.

Changed job, lived together with my second love (and married lately). Things seemed going right and good by then. Started to be a middle management position, lead a small team. Working dedicatedly, passionately, and results looked "OK". Took more burden, to ease my partner's life, but made mine harder. Still very enjoyable. That's sweet. All these made myself blinded. Thought I was the chosen one to change the world, though at an old age to say these words. I know that is stupid, I know.

Then nothing could be changed in that position. And changed job as nothing could be changed at that environment. But the world is not that easy for me to adopt when getting old. Changed several jobs, back to square one, working as a lowest level gear. No more thinking of change the world but being driven by the world. A more realistic experience of earning for living. Why? No preparation to be financially free though I fully understand that. Without actions, it will never happen.

There were no energy, no bargaining power to live in a way that I really love. For now, investing time and money for your dream could be too risky (and I do not have a desired dream). Believe someone in this age will think in similar ways to certain extent. A very normal person in 50s. Not capable to urge oneself to a better position and not much luck to be in a better position. You see many people surrounding are not capable but sitting on a very decent position. Yes, they got something which I do not have and I will never know and understand. Maybe that is fate. And that is life.

Looking friends, old classmates, bros sitting as CXO, Sr. Manager, Director, Sr. Director...etc and you are still working hard on tedious works like you are still young. 

Reckon the life.

But lucky that I do not have any descendants. I believe I should not reproduce similar environment, situation and luck to my descendant. I don't know, but I believe something will be inherited, to certain extent.

領域展開...maybe someone would like to have this supernature ability. And I do love to have it in real world. To enhance oneself' s ability.

Office politics ? Or something else ...

Still, more than 25 years working experience, cannot get used to those senior level's non-sense decision. No matter they are younger than me or not, that 'something' behind is obvious, but as it will not be spilled out from anyone's mouth, it turned out to be non-sense.

For a project, if there is a change on schedule, no matter to shorten or lengthen, still need a reason. It will jeopardize the project somehow. That's the reason for the exist of PMO. Literally, it regulate and formulate how a project will run to a success for a company. What senior management thought, it is a tool for controlling the way that juniors work. So the truth is, senior levels did not care any regulations in there if they have a decision.

I know, where the heck is fairness, right? Honestly, it does not exist. Especially in a huge conglomerate. For any small potato, voice out equals end of your life span in that office. And it turns out that, working level small potatos, need to adopt every single era of management level change. If you are going to survive in the same office for a longer period, this is really frustrating. If you are a contract staff, the length of tolerance period is relatively shorter, good for you.

Cannot act what it is right, especially when a man in the mid-age. Overloaded burden, pressure, and all related stuff... the only way to survive is to compromise, though it is not a mutual consent. You know what I am saying.

Good luck.

An old norm culture #goldplating

Gold-plating is not that bad, but when it becomes the key for a staff to show his/her performance, that comes a complication.

When you have plenty of time to accomplish your task, gold-plating could be your final touch. Literally, this is a nice to have step. To working level staff, that is junior staff to middle management staff, this is really a time wasting step. However, some would say, middle management may need this as an essential element to be promoted to senior level. The fact is, if you do have time for gold-plating, you probably off-load some dirty works to others, like junior staff or peer. In other words, you are really prepared to be a senior staff.

It sounds like it is a necessary skill for one to climb up the career ladder. No objection. If your skill foundation is not established from your professional, but with different levels of gold-plating. I don't think this could help you climb up the ladder steadily. 

When seniors did not see what is key for skill foundation, but blindly asking for results, and at the same time require staff can do gold-plating to certain degree. What will a company be under such atmosphere?

Though all said seniors are with crazy ideas which were never be practical, can you not entertain their desires? We, living down to earth, will never understand the underneath. We always tell each other, if you understand why seniors thought in that way, you were already sitting at a senior position.

And all these, distinguished you are in which category of the society. Everything comes with reasons. Never be too surprised for all unexpected, unfaired, unexplainable, ...etc, results that you are taking.

A very unusual CNY #CNY2021-HK

The world comes to the new norm everywhere, this year. 

The pandamic, will never be able to predicted. The consequence will never be the same if it were not bursted out. People, especially those without SARS experience, are implanted with the perception of proper use of masks, though there are still many do not admit in that way. Here distinguished people with risk management in mind from those free minded.

There are quite a number of issues out there. Reducing risk controlling policies and human activities lead to the serious downturn of economy. Then, new norm of human activities lead to new norm of economic activities. New economic models lead to new demand of new technologies. Technologies in certain areas are pushing a huge step forward inevitably. At the same time, pushing the real adoption of new technologies to man kind. It is pretty positive from this perspective.

And, the good thing to the world, the earth, is the recess time for kind of recovery. Previously, some of human activities were reduced, including wasted and toxic gases no matter from transportation or manufacturing industries. The air smell refresher at that period of time. Though that period is not that long, taking a break is still good no matter when.

For the time of CNY, it was the most peaceful one in this century. But it was also a recess time for this small city. The overrelying of tourism from the mainland made the city's characteristics less appealling. That non-citizens-favoured policies also made it more generalized. More and more non-local citizens living and working here, taking advantages which were built several decades ago, and be gone sooner or later. Anyway, those advantages are still there, for now.

As citizens, to learn the new norm, to understand the new position, admit it. Live will be easier then.

Before new start, may better have a look back

There are bunch of articles on the web which saying the sign for you to determine when you should quit your current job. Sometimes, it is so hard to tell whether the right time came, because to some people, opportunities will never be there for you, all the time. The only thing could be controlled is when to start the hunting. And that is the time you decide to quit the job. The process starts from hunting till resign may take some time. All these may be interesting, though, still depends.

Once resigned, you may need to arrange handover to successor, or how to make your works keep going somehow in the company. I would say, such process is way too hard sometimes. And it is a real challenge before you switching to another new position. Still, it is interesting because you can evaluate what you have done, what you are still working on, and most importantly you will realize what is your value to the company. Of course it could be good or bad. But such review is a good thing for yourself, no matter what.

At the same time, you will realize how much friendships are there in that couple years. Some will keep forever, some will not. Some are your mentors, and some are your padawans.

To me, all these are good times in my life. Experienced some golden ages of the company, changes of the company, like cultural changes, people changes. Then one day, the company is no longer familiar. It is sad, somehow. Maybe just for me. And, I realized, time for a new adventure. Of course, there are other considerations before my decision.

But, I would say, company culture will attract and gather similar type of people. This group of people will enjoy working there in a pretty harmonious way. Who contributes that kind of culture much? It could be Human Resources department. So, changing the head of the department will somehow change the company culture. I don't know whether most of the companies culture could be influenced by a department, but to some SME, it could be the case.

If the chief of the company let the culture change, it may mean a whole new "blood cleanse" exercise will be underway. Consequence? It depends. Some forward thinking leaders knew what exactly they are doing. They knew where they are heading to, with the help of HR, push the company to another new era, for good. How about the rest? Hard to tell. You know, seasoned staff is very precious for a company. That is what a good company could build on.

Am I blaming something? Not really. Like I always say, change is inevitable. No matter oneself, environment, or even the world. Just, like me, in my age, really do not want to change. But when my physical bell rings somehow, with the aid of my mental bell rings, believe it is time for me to seek for something new in my life. I really hope the change this time is good for me.