Losing Your Job: A New Beginning?

In my short lifespan, I have done some "not so great things". Among all I have given the golden handshake to 216 good men and women, of which 8 were "executed this year 2010". All this is done in the name of the infamous "right sizing exercise"

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I stumble upon this blog some few months back: http://taxidiary.blogspot.com/. This blog is the recollection of probably the only taxi driver in the world who has a PhD from Stanford University. Dr Cai (his actual name + a well deserved salutation) got a string of scientific accomplishments, a good family life but lost his job due to unexplainable circumstances. Because of his unique qualification, he is unable to find another job. So, like all the other good Singaporean, Dr Cai turned to the last job on the list - to become a taxi driver.

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He blogs for fun ...well actually to make his dull job more interesting. But, he decided to compile into a book when his site hits becomes unusually high from readers all over the world. And he makes quite good money of it!

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If you have the chance to buy the buy, please do so as its a good book for collection. Its available via amazon.com. Nevertheless, if you dont then just read his blog. Only recently he stopped blogging because he has found a new job - after being the honorable taxi man for about 2 years!

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In another perspective, Russia has announced that they are going to cut 100,000 bureucratics jobs by 2013. This right sizing exercise is highly criticised because of the lagging world economy today, but much needed in order to reduce cost and modernize the country. Its was reported that Russia will be able to save USD$1.4 billion dollars by the 3rd year of this exercise. You can read this in http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1082319/1/.html

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A savings of USD1.4b a good number to boast, but what will happen to:-

1) the man/woman who lost their jobs?

2) the family of the man who lost their jobs?

3) the overall spending power of the city of the man who lost their jobs?

4) the banks that give loans to the man who lost their jobs?

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Then comes to the economic and social questions:-

1) will there be a probable increase in crime?

2) will there be an increase of homeless people?

3) will the private sector able to create more new jobs?

4) will these people ever be employed again?

5) how long can they survive without a job?

6) will there be suicides?

7) will there be mental disorder?

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My number of 216 is very small if compared to the 100,000 planned job slash by the Russian government. I got a few friends in Moscow who sometimes write emails to me complaining that they are still jobless while having the pressure to cope with the high living cost there. I wonder what will happen to them in the next few months.

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When I did the right sizing exercise I make sure that they can survive at least 12 months without working. Whenever possible, I try to find alternative jobs to them. Well... that the least that I can do. But, I dont know how they plan to execute that in Russia.

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If these people are not job selective, probably we can see more scholars with PhD driving taxis in Russia. This could be an interesting change, right?

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But above all, it is never a good feeling to lose your job. I did 216, and I am not proud of it!

It's Not About The Coffee

Leadership Principles from a Life at Starbucks

- Howard Behar

I wasn't a fan of coffee until I had my first cup at Coffee Bean some fifteen years ago. But, I can't afford to have it regularly as it was pricey in comparison to my salary those days. Today, I am addicted to gourmet coffee, well the very least coffees served either one of the followings Gloria Jeans, Starbucks and Coffee Beans & Tea Leaves. I have also discoverd the Highland Coffee, one of the famous brands in Vietnam, UCC Cafes of Japan and Old Town Kopitam in Malaysia.

Green coffee beans also means a lot to me as I am responsible to redesign new global coffee supply chain. That creates more appreciation for me as an avid coffee drinker

Regardless, this book is actually all about coffee! Its the inside story behind how Starbucks leadership management expands. My only reservation is that, this might be the personal experience of Howard Behar and not Starbucks as the whole. I read this as a common sense approach to leadership development which may be good for new leaders and veterans who needs the extra push to achieve organizational excellence.

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In summary, there are 10 principles that Howard Behar applies in running the company:-

1) Know who you are: wear one HAT only

2) Know why you are here: do it because its right, not because its right for your resume

3) Think independently: the person who sweeps the floor should choose the broom.

4) Build trust: care like you really mean it

5) Listen for the truth: the walls talk

6) Be accountable: only the truth sounds like the truth

7) Take actions: think like a person of action and act like a person of thought

8) Face challanges: we are human being first

9) Parctise leadership: the big noise and still, the small noise

10) Dare to dream: say yes, the most powerful word in the world

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Personal Review

Unless you are an avid fan of Starbucks, I don't fancy to recommend this book! All the 183 pages of this book has been summarized from No 1 to 10 as above

Bride Kidnapping Culture

What is the craziest thing that you do in the name of love? I have friends who send flowers to his lady everyday for months, I knew some guys who purposely waited in front of the lady office for hours just to catch the glimpse of her, I knew at least 2 friends who said "I miss the lady so much that seing the roof of the house would ease the pain", I have some friends who failed to complete their degrees because of rejections, I knew & I have seen a lot of things that people do in the name of love!

But I have never seen anyone kidnapping a lady to make her his bride!

Last Friday 3rd Sept 2010, I saw BBC Special report on "Stolen Brides and Life on Exile for Chechnya". I was surprised to know that bride stealing/kidnapping are centuries old tradition of the Chechen people! If a man likes a woman, then he is allowed to kidnap the lady and take her home to see his parents. But, he is not supposed to touch her. The man's parents then is supposed to contact the lady's parents to ask the blessing for marriage. 99% of the time, the lady's parents will say "yes"!

Unthinkable right?

I then started to surf the internet. Interestingly I found the TV report in BBC News. You can also download the full report via podcast & BBC iPlayer. Trust me, this is a very interesting report that you are strongly recommended to download it. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8891579.stm

... a month ago on her way home from college in the Chechen capital of Grozny, she (please see the attached photo) was snatched off the street and bundled into the car by a man she barely knew. A week later she was Bogdan Khazhiev's wife...

"Its the law of our grandfathers", Bogdan said. "We have to respect our Chechen traditions, You have to become a Chechen to understand this tradition!"

Some disturbing facts:-
1) Kyrgyzstan - despite of its illegality, bride kidnapping which is also know as ala kachuu is an accepted and common way of taking a wife
2) Kazakstan - bride kidnapping can be devided into consensual and non consensual abductions. Dont's ask me what as I am also confused about this!
3) Uzbekistan/Karakalpakstan - nearly one fifth of all marriages are initiated by bride kidnappings!
4) Dagestan, Chechnya & Ingushetia - bride kidnapping is a culture.
5) Under the Russian law - a kidnapper who refuses to release his "bride" can be sentenced from 8 to 10 years imprisonment, BUT a kidnapper will not be prosecuted if he release the victim or marries her with consent!
6) China - bride kidnapping maybe is the answer to have a wife because of China's strict one child per family. Sometimes these brides will be sold to rural China areas up to the distant Mongolia
7) Bulgaria - this is a non contestable acceptable culture
8) Others (Hmong, Mexico (Tzeltal community), Roma (Gypsies), etc etc. You will be amazed of the facts!

Women activist have been active to condem this centuries old tradition. But, I dont this it will be taken seriously by the sincere "husbands-to-be". After all their intention is so pure and never did they have any intention to hurt the ladies. All the boys wanted is to have a lawful wife!

So, how far will you go in search of love?