Random things about 2009

Let me tell you the truth - I started writing this post about three days ago and over the past three days, it's morphed from "top ten tech things in 2009" to "10 things I want in 2009" to "[insert random topic here] in 2009."

Yes, I've lined myself up right behind the 2009 post bandwagon. But not fully. I'm going to keep my list random with no set topic and no set numbers. How's that?

1. Expanding ministries and new responsibilities
It's a really exciting time for me personally at PetraYouthProductions. It's been 15 years since I grew up in this youth work and now, at my age, I'm seeing youths coming through the programme just like me. I like this year's theme: IGNITE, simply because it tells us that we're on the cusp of something awesome. The moment. And I think there'll be more than once that I'll look at the verse we chose this year: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13.

2. A brand new timekeeper.
My Swatch died on me ironically 5 minutes to midnight on New Year's Eve and for two days, I was looking at my wrist blankly. The replacement: a Tissot PR50. It's a pretty cheap watch too.

This is my first man watch. Yes, I'll admit, Swatch is kiddy, despite my ardent arguments the other way in year's past. Wearing this new timekeeper makes me feel all grown up. Is the new year really making me grow up?



3. Exciting times this year in the job
The PR industry is going to change big time this year. You might read some pretty good opinions here, here and here. The great thing, reading this as someone who's not based in the US, is that a lot of these sentiments reflect what's going on in the US but not necessarily Asia. Take Malaysia for example, we're looking at a media scene that's fast embracing online media, urban youth embracing social media, but at the same time, facing a big disconnect between the rural and the urban where rural people don't have internet access (nor do they want it).

That's a communications challenge. And the fact that only 15% of Malaysians have internet connections (and much fewer on broadband) points to the fact that social media will develop in a much different way than in the more matured western markets.

But I've got another point to make. This low internet connection rate has not stopped Malaysia from being one of the biggest blogging nations in this region. And I'll be one of the first to tell you that we do have a very active blogosphere that's worth communicating with. But I'll also tell you that the rules in our blogospheres are different from the ones in other markets.

Imported wisdom will only go so far, and I'd like to think there's still a lot of moulding that will take place in the Malaysian blogosphere before communications gets formalised in this space. The expectations you had working in the US, might not ring true in this local arena.

4. Stable internet, please.
You might have read my public whining on the NST this past Monday. I did not overstate it. I've simply felt that in 2008, both wireless (3G) and wired (Streamyx) internet connections have been a let down in Malaysia. If there's one tech wish I have it'll just be to get good, stable internet and better speeds.

We were promised Fibre-to-the-Home roll-outs in 2008 but that did not materialise. Well, try again this year, please.

5. Move into my new home?
Some of you might have heard of my home-building woes. I had intended to move in sometime in 2008. That didn't happen. I'm hoping it'll happen in 2009. Oh, and the early part of 2009. Please.

So there you have it. A random list of random things that matter to me in 2009. Happy New Year.

PS. Oh yeah, Robb, I want to watch 'The Rise of the Lycans starts Jan 09' can?

The thing about mashups and UGC

A while back, in the marketing world, UGC (user generated content) was the catchword. Every other marketing campaign had "UGC this" and "UGC that". I didn't get the big deal about this, until now.

It's really fun! For context, check out Eevon's blog here.

Happiness is...

... when boss tells you that you can go home at 2 p.m. for Chinese New Year!
Happy Chinese New Year everyone!



Ps. Technically, I can't win. But I just wanted to post a Happy Moment anyway. :) LoLz!

Commitment - or lack of...

I tell you the most "bodoh" thing about Malaysian managers, regardless of industry, that starts in
school is this oft-misunderstood concept of "commitment". Long and short, it really really rails me when people, especially your boss or team leader, throws it around like some sort of business mantra.

Yesterday I was sitting down with [name censored to protect the innocent] and just chatting about his / her [gender censored to protect the innocent] recent review with his / her boss. He / She scored top marks in all categories - he / she was efficient, quick to complete tasks assigned, consistent in delivering quality work and overall a great worker.

So, just as he / she was about to chalk it up as a great appraisal, the boss suddenly stops to say: "There's just one thing we're concerned about..."

"uh-huh?"

"Well, you've not been staying back much since we hired you. You know, like putting in the extra hours. Not much commitment from you... If you want to get promoted to [position censored to protect the innocent] we would like to see you stay back more often."

Now, this is when he / she has been staying back whenever required. Coming in to work on public holidays. Working on two Saturdays a month. The list goes on.

"Why do you say I lack commitment?"

"Well, colleague A stays back later than you and ..."

And comparisons are a good benchmark of a person's quality and commitment? I don't get it. So in this frame of understanding, people who stay back late and come in every weekend are the best workers in the office? Couldn't they just be slow, or worse, sucker-uppers who've bought in to the whole culture of first in-last out "meritocracy"?

I think on the overall managers need to understand the concept of a good worker better. Or even the concept of work. You hire a person to do a specific job laid down in the contract. That person does that job - it is a job well done. You don't expect more and you certainly don't penalise people for not doing more than what's written on their job scope.

If people have done more, thank them for it, don't compare with someone else perceived as doing even more and tell them they aren't doing enough.

And what's this about "commitment"? Commitment is about doing for your company what you said you'd do for it in your contract. Commitment is being responsible enough to deliver on what you're being paid for on time, in good quality. Commitment is finding efficient ways to do things so it's delivered faster.

Commitment IS NOT staying back late or coming in on weekends unnecessarily just to "show" the boss you're "committed."

Please people, if you're a boss, get a hold on what commitment is.

PS. let me clarify I'm not snarking my office - I love Text 100 just the way it is. FYI, I go home generally when I have done my work for the day, and by PR standards, is Pretty Early. (Oh, say, 7 - 7:30 pm?) :)