Your Asian mom

This month, something unexpected landed on my lap. I was appointed person-in-charge for the bureau. Just like that — no warning, no ceremony, no survival kit. And as it turns out, the adventure has only just begun. If being in charge of full-time staff felt like managing a quirky little zoo, adding freelancers into the mix has turned it into a full-blown safari — one where the animals ask the same question ten times, pretend the fence doesn’t exist, and then complain that they weren’t told about the fence in the first place. Let’s talk about the latest “upgrade” in our daily chaos: the new system. Now, I understand that change is hard. New platforms take time. So I didn’t expect everyone to master it on the first try. But after ten — yes, ten — rounds of verbal briefings, followed by step-by-step guides, video tutorials, cheat sheets, infographics, and me repeating the same things so often I’ve started to sound like a malfunctioning GPS... we’re still stuck. Still hearing: “Wai...

  This month, something unexpected landed on my lap. I was appointed person-in-charge for the bureau. Just like that — no warning, no ceremony, no survival kit. On paper, it sounds like a promotion. In reality, it feels more like becoming the zookeeper of a very special kind of zoo. Because here’s the thing: being in charge doesn’t mean I just handle the young , energetic and eager-to-learn staff. No. It means I now also have to handle the old ones — the veterans who’ve long mastered the fine art of resisting change. Let me introduce you to my daily circus: The Seniors — The Untouchables They’ve been here forever. They know every corner of the office, every loophole in the system, and every way to avoid doing something new. “Why should I learn this new software? The old one works fine.” “You young people are always changing things.” And when you gently push, suggest, encourage? They smile, nod politely — and ignore you entirely. Occasionally, they even start recruiting oth...

Counting down the days for two years until I turn 40 has made me ponder whether I have done well and achieved what is necessary. I have been in the same job for more than ten years now, with no significant career milestones in terms of position or salary increments. Whenever I think about this stagnant progress—despite having access to international-level training—I always remind myself that I am still considered lucky compared to others who have quit their jobs and are in survival mode, without the guarantee of an Employee Provident Fund for retirement planning. To be honest, I consider myself fortunate to have a job that I am passionate about. But, like any overthinker, I also question whether I have become too comfortable in my life, to the point that I am not pushing myself enough to reach my full potential. Taking into account my company’s sunset industry and unsustainable financial management, it might only last another two years. By right, I should have already started working o...

In today’s fast-paced world, we rely heavily on technology for communication, but sometimes, traditional methods can be disruptive.  Recently, I had an experience that got me thinking about the importance of communication decorum. On my off day, I was interrupted by a stranger— a PR person who insisted on calling me about a story written by another agency. The constant ringing not only ruined my mood but also made me question the boundaries of professional communication. This post discusses why phone calls should not always be the default mode of communication and why respecting people’s time, and preferences is essential in maintaining professional relationships. Why Phone Calls Can Be Disruptive Respecting Personal Boundaries in Communication: Phone calls are intrusive, especially when they interrupt personal time. Whether it’s a weekend or an off day, many people value their time away from work. Communication through email or WhatsApp is less invasive and allows individuals to ...