Friday 31 December 2010

Time to move on...

I have been mulling about posting on this subject for some time now... the reason being that it touches on something that makes me feel a bit sore. But I decided that it may actually be good for me to write about it so that many years later I can read about it again and recall that being knocked down once in a while is part and parcel of life. And since this is the last day of the year, it seems a good time to close the issue and move on for better things.

Regular readers of this blog may recall an earlier post in March about my job transfer from my hometown in Johor Bahru to the head office in Kuala Lumpur. I wrote about that change and my hope that it would bring me some good. Actually, it didn't.

After only four months working in KL, I was told by my boss that I wasn't needed anymore. To put it in crude terms, I was fired. The official reason given was that the company was feeling the economic pinch  and the directors have decided to downsize the staff. But I wasn't born yesterday... the real reasons are not that difficult for me to speculate.

What really disappointed me was that my move from JB to KL was at the request of the boss, purportedly on the need to have someone of senior experience to lead the team of young engineers and also to represent the boss at high-level meetings with clients. I initially declined to be transferred, preferring to be released from the firm so that I can look for another job in JB itself. I have been on the move for so many years in my career and I thought that the time has come for me to stay in one place. The boss pleaded with me a few times and I finally decide to accept the transfer because I believed that it would be good to share my knowledge with the young engineers. I made the move to KL in February this year but my family was left behind in JB. In my first day at the new office, the boss expressed his deep appreciation for my decision to come over. His words of thanks were so superfluous that it embarrassed me a bit to think that I am that valuable a staff to him.

Not even half a year in my new post, in June I was given a letter of termination. Although the termination comes with some monetary compensation, the principle of it is entirely wrong. You don't retrench someone whom you asked to join just a few months earlier. Now tell me if that doesn't leave a sour taste in your mouth...

So that is why my friends, I have been taking a break from blogging for a while, just to cool my nerves so that I am not tempted to type posts that would contain nasty words.

Many friends who knew of my situation came to give words of support and encouragement... you know, the standard stuff of : things happen for a reason, you'll be tougher after this episode, God has planned better things for you etc... But the real considerate friends are those who are willing to sit with me over a glass of teh tarik and simply listen to my grumbles and rantings. Listening to my grumbles won't change a thing... but it helps release the tension in my mind and body, and allow the calm to return.

Perhaps as a means to pacify myself, I say that this event is the thing I need to push me to do something on my own and to pursue that unfulfilled ambition. And that someday, I would probably thank my former employers for giving me that push.

Well.... as it is for now, I am on my way to chase that ambition. But until I do achieve what I hope to achieve, any words of gratitude will not be forthcoming.

Happy new year to all friends and readers. Selamat Tahun Baru Masehi 2011. May the Almighty grant you all your wishes. Stay healthy and happy always...

26 comments:

zafi said...

May Allah give us courage and happiness.. Ameen ya rabb.
Happy new year to you too!

eddy said...

Yes Bro, time to move on. Selamat Tahun Baru 2011.

mamasita said...

Happy New Year Oldstock. I know you're an extremely clever, good and religious man.
InsyaAllah your rezki will come so abundantly when you least expect them.
Theres hikmah for what has happened and be ready to welcome its arrival.

SFGEMS said...

Happy New Year!

Hoping to enjoy more of your posts in 2011.

Fadhil said...

Zafi, may you achieve your dreams over there in the UK. Take care.

Fadhil said...

Eddy, thanks bro for your support all this time. You're a true friend...

Fadhil said...

Mamasita, welcome back! We missed you :-)

Thanks for the encouranging words. I'm moving on and looking forward to the new year. I trust it is the same for you.

Fadhil said...

Hi there Lita,

Hopeful to have more writing in the works for this new year. Happy new year to you too..

Nin said...

Happy new year, oldstock. You're such a patient man for refraining from blogging about it. I would've ranted on and on in mine lol! There is a silver lining there somewhere... might take a little time to see it =) All the best in the coming year!

Mamaboyz said...

mr oldstock,

sorry to hear about it, insyaAllah you will rise higher after this, all the best in what ever you do, i'm sure we all your blogger friends are willing to read your grumbles and rants with our own cups of coffee :)

this happened to my father before when i was a teenager, i remember the hardship we all had to face, especially my mom :(

btw your angah belajar kat mana?

Pat said...

May this be a happy year for you, Fadhil. And yes, sometimes, something like this is just the shove we need to move on to bigger and better things. I know this will be the case for you.

About your termination: Have you spoken to anyone about unlawful dismissal? I'm told there is a 90-day window for filing a case, but I'm not sure. I think you should look into this, if you haven't already.

It's not about revenge. It's about justice, Fadhil.

I wish you well.

Nurie said...

sigh....didnt have a clue at all that you are experiencing such a situation. That ex boss of yours deserves #@$%&%&&!!%$#!!
he he he...saja nak perangat!!
Burn that angry feeling so it creates a fire that will ignite your passion in chasing your ambition (cehwah!) Seriously sometimes beng angry is a great push factor. Im confident you can do it, amin amin amin!

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr Oldstock,
I know exactly how you feel 'coz I am also moving into uncharted waters and frankly, it does freak me out abit. But over the last few weeks, I have realised that sometimes we need to have that push for us to move out of the comfort zone. With your good networking, communication and technical skills, I reckoned that you have the luxury of joining one of the Petronas contractors, or you can build something up for yourself by starting a consultancy firm.

Whatever your decision will be, I wish you all the best and May Allah protect you with His Blessings and Grace in 2011.

Fadhil said...

Nin, I have patience in certain things while impatient in others. Tq for the wishes. The new year is looking good already..

Fadhil said...

Mamaboyz aka Dr Wati,

Thanks for having that coffee with me :-)

My Angah is studying in Makasar, Indonesia.

Fadhil said...

Pat,

Early on in my career, I used to fight for quite a number of things... but nowadays age has caught up on me I guess. This time, I didn't want to fight the termination because I want to move on. Perhaps the fighting spirit has now been replaced by a more pragmatic approach.

Yes, I know it's not about revenge... but I'm a firm believer that payback will happen... one way or another.

Fadhil said...

Wow Nurie, you want me to be angry, huh? No need lah... life is too short to be unhappy for too long.

Fadhil said...

Andrea,

What's this about me having connections and contacts? You assume too much, my friend.. hehehe...

I did think about doing that consultancy stuff at one time but now I think I'll stick with the construction side of things.

And best of luck with your new venture too...

Unknown said...

U are a survivor, dun worry.

After hearing all those experiences U've been thru dgn that establishment Koka is in now, I am sure that U will do fine just anywhere!

Pat said...

I hear you, Fadhil. I know what you're saying. And I guess, in the final analysis, your success, in whatever you decide to do, will be the best revenge! :)

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr Oldstock,
I dun think I am assuming too much. I am not sure if you realised this, but if you have been working in a specific industry for a length of time, you have what we call "tacit knowledge". Unfortunately, it is often taken for granted by us that only an outsider can see its value in us. That is why sometimes we have to step back before we leap forward. Good luck.

HLiza said...

I saw this happen to my boss last year and I had a feeling this is exactly what happened to you when you gave those hints in the earlier post. It only made me realise that I may be in the same boat too one day. I know you'll overcome this; and I know it's easier said than done....Happy New Year pak..may the new year will be kinder to us.

Justiffa said...

Salam oldstock, i'm glad u finally decided to get it off ur chest. a crucial step in letting go & getting rid of all that 'sour taste' from ur mouth. high time u cari something nice & sweet plak hehehe.

Apapun the very best of luck to u, semoga sentiasa dirahmati & diberkati NYA.

Insyallah, better things await u :D

Fadhil said...

Verse, thanks for the encouragement. It was a pleasure meeting with Koka for the first time and I enjoyed our chat. If Koka can survive that particular establishment like I did, then he'll do okay too.

Fadhil said...

Hliza, very sharp of you in understanding the hints that I gave. The clearest one was when I posted about peribahasa Melayu titled Antan patah, lesung hilang. At that time, blogger Snakebite's comment was so close to the mark that I thought he had superior deduction skills (which I think he does).

I do hope that you won't be in the same boat... but if that happens, at least we can share our sorrows, even if it is only for a while.

Fadhil said...

Justiffa, yes it was time to let that sour taste go. Good idea to look for something sweet... how about madu? That would be okay, wouldn't it... heheh..