When I was young I like to have a job that allows me to travel and so I chose to take up auditor as my career path but instead of being an external auditor I somehow landed on internal audit field. Well, it was not in my original plan (seriously I have no idea what is internal audit all about back then) but of all the jobs hunting that I been to, this job pay the highest and of course I knew I can learn something better compare to book-keeping work. And when I found this job suits me very well, I continue with this path.
It was the people that I met in my 1st job that got me landed on Cambodia and Hong Kong which I spent 6 years traveling between Cambodia (80%), Hong Kong (15%) and Malaysia (5%). Yes, I only spent about 5% of the 6 years in Malaysia. How ironic that the 5% can get me a girlfriend and later a wife (and of course that were 0.0 something % where I traveled other countries for holidays).
As my relationship with my wife (back then my girlfriend) is getting more and more serious, the feeling of stop traveling has become my top priority. There are times where my wife and I had fight due to my heavy traveling schedule. It was such a headache that I sometimes tried to avoid such discussion. But at the same time I do hunt for jobs that do not require traveling or at least minimal traveling. It was not easy getting a job where you have to undergo a 50% pay cut, many companies question my commitment due to the large pay cut, and some even accused me for looking for a stepping stone which allows me to return to Malaysia. Alas, I was unable to find a suitable job after more than year of hunting. And I broke the promise that I made to my wife that I will be back in Malaysia for good at a promised date.
But all was not lost, I had a good talked with my boss and he agreed to allow me to based in Malaysia with a condition, I have to travel at least once a month for 7 days and if need be up to 14 days. Pay cut is still 50% but I was given a US$50 allowance per day if I travel (including weekends) with foods, accommodation and transport all provided for. It was a good start and my wife was happy. And it is also this opportunity that allows us to made wedding arrangement together. Yes, it is tiring but it was fun when you do things together with your love ones.
Few months after I returned to Malaysia, my wife and I plan to have children, which make me re-think of my traveling schedule again. While my wife did not really complaint anymore but being a husband and a father I want to be at their side most of the time. And so again, I hunt for new job, but this round it does not take long. I got a new job within a month of hunting. And so I quit my job of 6 years with great colleagues, which I do not know whether I will find such a wonderful colleagues elsewhere, for the sack of my family.
Working in the new company was really a disaster, my previous job gave me so much freedom that, I guess, I was pampered, so much so that I hate jobs that require to record working schedule (well, all audits line do anyway) and no flexibility on working hours, punch card for a Manager!!?? You got to be kidding man!!!! Worst, I have to work on weekends and travel (within Malaysia) more often. And my scope of work as a internal auditor is greatly different from my new boss, who is from external audit firm, hack what do these people know about internal audit anyway?? Those originated from internal audit background know that Manager level do not travel unless they conduct an exit interview (means meet clients to discuss about the audit report) because Managers level is as good as junior partner in audit firm. So, if a Manager need to travel to conduct audit work then it is very obvious the head of department (HOD) came from external audit background.
As for my new colleagues, they are alright but none is brave to voice up freely, why simply because the HOD (male) has PMS all the time. A typical Malaysian own company with a typical Malaysian bosses.
But I kept on telling myself, do it for your wife, do it for your children. All I need to do is suffer for a year then look for a new job (a year is because no company want to hire a person who like to hop from one to another company to often). But I started to feel the heat when I spent more time on work and less time with my wife, it deceive my main purpose. And so I called up my previous company and hope they will take me back, well, with such ex-bosses that I have, it has no problem at all for me to go back. But I told my wife I have to stay for at least a year or 2 before I can change job again and my wife agreed. Still, even though I was happy to go back, I was deeply disappointed that I can’t stay in Malaysia without having to travel so often.
But God got his plan, He really does. Only one month I returned to my previous company I had to resign again. And this time it is because 2 of my ex-bosses are going to have their own consultation firm. What’s more, it was the same own colleagues that I’m going to work with, they gave me 5% of the shares which makes me a director and a shareholder and most of all flexibility working hours and more time to spend with my family. And plus great bonuses.
But the most important thing is, since I have worked with my bosses before, we all share the same goal in life. Family 1st the rest is secondary. For that, I was able to take a month off when my wife delivered, take the morning off to take my son and wife for their routine check-up (not counted as off-day), work from home when my son is not feeling well and much more that I will never ever get no matter what company that I work for in Malaysia.
Looking back, I always got what I wanted, I struggler a little but still at the end I got what I want and most time even better than what I ask for. My luck or God at work? Well, I do not think I alone got so much luck, but with God, my luck is unlimited. And for that I count my blessing.
Thank you my Lord for your blessing.
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