Ely this & Ely that...

Have you ever been told that you’re bossy? Hehehe, I didn’t know how I sounded today at the meeting until my co worker told me later that I sounded so bossy…like my boss!!! Well I couldn’t help it. I work closely with my boss. I send emails and arrange meetings for him. I also remind him on what he’s supposed to do for the day. I am authorized to give out instructions and say ‘As per Kent’. I also handle 2,000 rows large of Excel spreadsheets on projects and guess what? I get to do other people’s uncompleted messy projects to save a co-worker’s a*s from getting fired. No…Ely’s not done yet…please read on if you want to know what else Ely does at work.

I love my job. Since I started working in this section of the department, I have been given the chance to show what kind of worker I am. You want your phone fixed, here, let me fiddle with it or look for the parts first before I call the Telecoms Department (yeah I made friends with the telecom technicians too). It’s too cold in the office? Here, let me meddle with the thermostat (which I am not allowed to, only engineering technician could do it, which will take 2 hours, who cares! I just needed a stool and a screwdriver or if I am not confident, get the boss to help do it!). You have a problem and need the manager’s help? No need, just give it to me, let me handle it (unless they’re production wise, that one not me!) and let my boss initial his name on the document. Need a flyer? Sure…let me do it. I even get a comment from a sales rep today saying,’Gosh, what does Ely not know what to do?’ I really can’t answer that question!

This talent came from who else but my boss. He lets me handle crisis and issues however I want, as long as I get the job done. And he taught me one thing, if a technician or service person comes and services or fixes something, observe and your life will be so much easier (he forgot to say ‘for others’). So there…I am a quick learner.

Sometimes being a quick learner does get me in trouble. I become the one stop helpdesk from being the manager’s underpaid so called assistant. And all of a sudden, the whole department doesn’t know how to handle their own crisis. Don’t get me wrong, I love my co workers. My department is called Sales and Underwriting. I started off being an underwriter for the department and was trained to work independently. Then comes the sales reps who are pressured everyday to meet their production goal. They make the numbers or they get shipped out permanently. So these reps can really get under your skin and bend you backwards if you don’t know how to say no. So being tough is a must in order to work my job. No scaredy cat can survive this job. You have to not be afraid to say no and over-write their comments and opinions, cos you work for who else, but the boss. But sometimes these 24 reps must understand that Ely has 2 hands and a set of brains and sometimes the assistant needs an assistant!!!

I know, seems like I am talking good about myself eh (or do I sound stressed?)? I am however happy with my job. Why? Cos even though my department can be like a stressful cave, I always make time to joke and play around with my co workers. No joke no fun kan? People ask me how I can still laugh and smile and be loud when I am so busy? Alah…life s too short, kerja memang tak boleh habis, that’s why you have to make it a point to be human and relax (remember the song ‘Relax’ by Frankie Goes to Hollywood?).

Thank God tomorrow is Friday! Another long weekend to look forward to, the 4th of July long weekend!!! Time for the sun, sand and the breeze of summer.