Wandergirl Speaks

Archive for the ‘Personal’ Category

An hour ago I was lingering in my room and looking around for some things I can fix when my attention shifted to my closet. As I rummaged through it, I realized I had kept so many things I didn’t need such as clothes I never wore, clothes I only wore once, swimwear I was hoping to still wear, concert tickets I thought would last a lifetime, accessories I no longer feel fit to wear, wallets I kept for years, bank statements of more than six months, and pictures I can live without.

I can’t believe I kept so much more than I needed. And no wonder I get stressed all the time just by the moment I’d open my closet.

So without a tinge of hesitation I placed them all in a paper bag, very much ready and willing to throw away. And while I was doing the entire cleaning I fee freer and great. Then it occurred to me:  sometimes all it really takes to free yourself from all the stress is to just let go. No need to spend on a grand vacation or go on a shopping spree which a lot of women do when they are feeling bad or stressed. I’ve done that, too, and I always ended buying things I never really needed or would only wear once. I did think about the many times it happened as I saw those clothes in my closet which I never wore even once and  had now ended up in the paper bag waiting to be given or thrown away.

Less is more, so they say. And I now understand what that really meant

Yesterday, I was able to withdraw my first-ever Odesk earning. It wasn’t much, but certainly satisfying for a 10-hour work in one week. It only made me feel even more encouraged to work so well. Gladly my client gave a full-time 40-hour a week.

So who says work-from-home jobs can only leave you broke?

The last three weeks had been an ultimate challenge for me. I was hired for a Team Lead post in one of the biggest call center, not just in the Philippines, but also in the US. The compensation offer was not bad, and the promise for career growth is hugely tempting. Two days in the leadership training, I was confirmed by the program’s senior manager that I will be flying to the US for further product training since I already have a multiple visa. The said training is necessary in the migration process of the account since it’s going to be a pioneer program in the center’s site.

On the other hand, at the same time I started with the company, I was also hired to work full-time by one of the buyers in Odesk. The job requires 8 hours to work from home. And if by doing the math, it appears I am gonna be earning exactly the same—if not more—than what the contact center offered me. Another thing, with the work-from-home job I got, not only will I conveniently breathe, eat, and work at home, I will also be doing exactly what I am good at doing, which is writing.

Because I couldn’t give up any, I decided to still report in the training class during the evening, and then work with my home-based client in the morning as soon as I get home. The first four days proved very tiring, and while four days may not be enough reason to give up one promising job, I made the decision—and that is to go for some Odesk work.

Some people may be quick to say how stupid I’d been to give up a guaranteed employment with a physical office. A company that offers opportunities envied by many contact center slaves. A company that almost everyone I know would do everything just to get their feet in their recruitment facility. Nonetheless, those were not enough reasons for me to just let go of something I have waited for years.

I have worked in the call center for more than 6 years. I’ve worked in an office with years of grave yard shifts, answering volumes of contacts, dealing with irate individuals, working with easy to difficult bosses, and nice to demanding clients. I know the numbers and what they represent, and how to achieve the ones that will make you keep your job. Those were all extremely challenging, but I never have done the kind of work I have been so passionate about that I’d be more than willing to give up a fat paycheck.

Now is the time and I got that with Odesk. I am only working for 3 weeks and so far quite satisfied with what I am earning. Hard to believe yes, but I’m gonna be sure to blog more about my Odesk experience in the coming days.

For now, I just want to give myself the kind of KUDOS I didn’t receive despite all the hard work I’ve had as a Customer Service Agent and eventually the Program Supervisor during my call center experience. And to be honest, it feels damn great!

Finally, the long wait was over. On July 10, hubby and I walked down the aisle of Paco Park church at 5 PM, as witnessed by our dear friends and family. It was by far the most memorable event in the last two decades of my life.

And what with all the stress and dilemma of the 6-month preparation, I thought they were all worth it. Below are some of the pictures taken on the day of our wedding, including our on site video courtesy of Nice Print Studio:

hair and make-up with Kris Bacani

my lovely wedding gown by Amonn Velasco

hubby and I

w/our parents

the kiss and the doves

And here’s our on site video which garnered a loud applause from our guests during the reception. I’m just so happy with how Nice Print worked on this.

Nearly a month ago, I have officially submitted my resignation letter  which indicated an effectivity date of June 27. It was probably the most critical decision I made in the last four years of my working life. But I’d like to think it’s also the best because it gave me the license to start applying to other BPO companies.

Oh yes, and first stop was with Capital IQ. After initiating my interest thru Jobstreet, I was lucky to get an appointment for an initial interview, assessment exam, and final intereview with the hiring manager, all in one day.

I arrived at their Rockwell Business Center office an hour ahead of my schedule on Wednesday, and as expected there were already four people waiting to get interviewed before me. I was applying for the QA and Vendor Supervisor position, and while I was contemplating whether or not I would still be asked to take an exam, I didn’t notice that my palms were getting a little sweaty.

To ease myself a bit, I fished out a John Grisham novel I brought with me and read a few pages until I heard my name called by an HR personnel for the initial interview.

The initial interview covered the basics and usual questions like:

• Tell me something about yourself that’s not in your resume.
• Why are you leaving your present company?
• How much is your current salary?
• How much is your expected salary?
• What is your major contribution to your program?

Somehow the initial interview made me feel a little more comfortable and before I knew it, I was being told that in a minute or two I’d be going to take the assessment exam, which would consist of behavioral questions, some number series, abstract, and logical questions.

After completing the exam in about an hour, I was endorsed to the hiring manager for the final interview, which lasted for about 30 minutes or so. It was very a productive day, and I do hope that all companies would have the same policy of maximizing one-day application process.

Meanwhile, because they still have pending applications to finish by the end of the week, I was told that if and when I’d be included in the shortlisted applicants, I’d be given a call for further instructions. I am not expecting too much at this point, but I’d have to say that I did have a good experience with the way they handled my application.

:

I received a forwarded email today which I was about to delete, except that I found the subject a little way interesting. Besides it was forwarded to me by my father, and which I would like to share to everyone:

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar..
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants…
4. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18.. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree…

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about, I just did.

I am getting a little pressured on this. I don’t want to get something useless and forgettable. But the thing is, I have several things in mind that I want to receive. But the limit is only P300, and so somehow I thought, what can I get for P300?

The Wedding (Nicholas Sparks). Last time I checked, this one costs over P300. But I’ve been rooting to buy this after I read the short summary at the back of the book. It looks quite promising, never mind the title.

Cellphone load. Oh well, not a bad thing. I can use it to send text greetings to friends and family relatives during the holidays.

Cool, nice blouse or t-shirt. There are a lot in tiangges and P300 can really go a long way. Just please get me something that won’t shrink after washing.

Chocolates. And lots of it. Yum, yum!

So far, those have been my thoughts lately. I hope I can get either of those!

Cyber Monday madness

Need I say more?

If you work in a call center like me, this day only means any or all of the following:

1. An increased volume of customer contacts.

2. An increased number of sup calls.

3. An increased number of agents correctives.

4. An increased opportunity to render overtime.

5. An increased number of correspondence from the client.

Whew, guess it’s one of those yearly occasions where I’d simply have to be ready for the worst. And hope that my team will not fall short from doing a great job!

I’m having the feeling for days. One minute I’m super busy, the next minute I’d become super wistful. I have long tried convincing myself to stop over-analyzing things and to stay away from too much television, because they are make me think unrealistically. I thought I am somewhat successful in doing so, but I also realized how I missed the old times.

I remember some years ago, my friend Rachelle and I were shortly caught up in our respective reveries one evening when she said something like “Alam mo naisip ko lang, sino kaya sa ating magbabarkada ang unang mag-aasawa? Sino yung unang magkaka-baby? Sino ang di magkaka-anak? Sino yung iiwan ng asawa? Sino yung hindi magiging masaya sa pamilya?”

Somehow I was quick to say I’d probably be the one who won’t bear a child. Because back then I thought I’d be having endometriosis or something that would prevent me from giving birth. After all, I’m a certified worry wart and honestly, being one stresses me so much.

What Rachelle probably did not realize was I’d taken her words seriously. Meaning, I looked forward for the characters and see where I’d belong.

Fast forward today, obviously I was wrong for thinking of not going to have a child, because I did give birth to a beautiful baby several months back.

Our lives now have evolved in ways we never imagined. Ways, I have not imagined. Or maybe, it’s only because like I said earlier, I’ve watched too much TV and seen too many things that only happens to the few selected ones.

When I was younger I thought to myself I will have this big, beautiful blue-colored house with white fence. I will get married wearing this beautiful ball gown and my wedding will be attended by family and friends, especially lolo and lola. I will be witnessing every milestone my baby will achieve.

Now I’m thinking, had I daydreamed too much as well? I guess I had, and because things doesn’t seem to be going my way, I’m beginning to fret.

I know there’s proper timing for everything. Or for some, some things just do not happen the way we foresee it. I guess it just validates what I read somewhere, “Lahat pwede, pero hindi lahat DAPAT.”

Sad to say, that is the real world!