RISK - Chapter 2 - Taking the Next Step

A dream comes true is always something we anticipated for. But what comes next? Many people are looking forward to find something better...like a better job. Though year 2007 has come to an end, but do we need to put our career to an end too? The answer might be populated with YES and NO and even MAYBE. Frankly speaking, the normal reason working adults like us who are taking the career risk to switch jobs are very common....

- current job not challenging
- boss does not pay well
- time to look for something i really like to do
- people ciao..so i also wanna ciao

Familiar with those reasons? We rarely hear people say "I won lottery so I do not want to work" or "My husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend are supporting my retirement plan so I want to quit". Sometimes working is just another past time for each individual or else we ended up spending 8-10 hours aimlessly. Even the riches people on world need to work. So what is the BEST reason to change?

The answer comes back to "whether it is worth taking the RISK or not?". When we want a change, we have to be very determined to carry on. There are always obstacles along the way. Dealing with them make us grow. My colleague did told me that why people still driving even they knew it would be another traffic jam in town. Life goes on no matter what the obstacles are. If we cannot change it, we must get use to it. If we can change it, make a choice and find a solution. We are living in a circle. We use to do something again and again. We use to take the same route to go to work and come back to work. Hence, either we make a change or we carry on. Taking a career risk is the same. If you take it, then expect the unexpected from the new place. If not, stay with the current one and be adaptive. Just remember to give ourselves a very strong reason when making a decision.

A dream comes true means you have another dream to make.

to be continued....

RISK - Chapter 1 - Career Risk

The year has finally comes to an end. Before it hits 31st, I thought of re-launch my blog again. May be it is times to speak out after 2 months of silence.

The topic of this feature will be on RISK. A simple 4 letters word with a big impact of each individual or an organisation. Indeed, I have got myself involved in this area since I took my career path in a local bank. Talking about risk, it does not apply only on financial risk but also on career risk, relationship risk, liability risk etc etc.

If you ever thought of it, the very first time you signed your employment contract, you are actually putting your life in a risk. How risky it is depends on the job you are taking. You are not sure how the job environment like, how the organisation works, how much times you need to pick up the workload, how long your probation will end and many more. No one ever thought of these little things when they apply for a job. What they normally have in mind is more to how much money I can earn to support my existing lifestyle. Sometimes, I told my friends that what you learnt from university is just a passport to the working life. The fact is 100% true. If not, please challenge me on that.

Your job will be the one that shape your career path. Your role in your company will determine who you are in the coming next 5 years or so. Your attitude to work will be the key to your success. But all you have to do is taking the RISK to be more persistence and consistence with what you do. I have heard stories from fresh graduate. The normal feedback from them for leaving the job are "Company pays very less", "Company no good", "Too much work", "I cannot stay back late" and it goes as long as the traffic jam in Federal Highway. It is only when we take the RISK to really explore what they have in the company that makes our future much brighter.

The question is more to the level of risk you are taking. The more experience you gained, the lower your risk will turn out to be. I understand that some people feel like they do not want to waste their time on sometime that does not turn out good. That is fine, so we need to question ourselves again on what best for us. Switching a job is also a big risk to take as you need to re-establish the whole interconnection again between colleagues.

So start to measure your risk level again. Big risk comes with big return but only with proper planning. So think again and set your career risk level now.

Stay tune. To be continued.......

Makan Sini Sana - Part 1 : Fatty Bak Kut Teh & Fish Head

On the Raya eve where most people were heading back to their respective hometown, I was still stucked in the the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Wondering what to have for dinner, I ended up in one of my sister's friend's makan-makan shop. Back then, it was still a stall where it parked all the tables and chairs along the shoplots' corridor. People would make their way over to eat the well-known STEAMED FISH HEAD and BAK KUT TEH. Upon arriving the place once again, I am impressed that they have rented or may be bought a shoplot to host their guests with the same delicacies.

As usual, parking spaces were limited and we ended up securing a place near a TNB building with the KEEP OUT sign. Though it was not a proper parking area, I believed Malaysian would not mind to do that for the sake of food:-) We reached our designated shop around 7.30pm and we are relatively lucky to get a space. If you do come a bit later, may be you could make a few turns to look for "Dead Chicken" to catch. Ha ha..my meaning of "Dead Chicken" aka Sei Kai is where you could take over parking space of those who were leaving the area. Anyway, I am giving a 3/5 for parking spaces here..at least i got a place..so PASSED!

Upon reaching the shop's main entrance, I could see there were still ample of tables to fill in. Everything seems to be newly bought and so far cleanliness was well-kept. Though the shop was equipped with many fans and lighting, I still saw people enjoying the feel of sitting outside of the shop. Guess human beings just could not get rid of their own habit easily. Just for your information, the kitchen was surprisingly outside of the shop and dishes were prepared similiar to old times. Once we have sat down, an average looking man came over and asked for our order immediately. We were recommended with a few dishes and finally we made up our mind to pick the followings :

1. Chicken Cooked in Wine

2. Porkless Bak Kut Teh (only mushroom. tauhu and vegetables)

3. Steamed Fish Head with Mashed Ginger ( MOST RECOMMENDED)

4. Fried Vegetables (Just to make the table look greener)

5. Oil Fried Ghost ( for the BKT)

There were 5 of us and we ordered 4 dishes. These were really too little compared to other places we went to. We used to eat as much as we wanted, hahaha...but for me, I am complacent when I am full. Anyway, I am giving a 2.5/5 for choices..still PASSED! Basically, choices' score is given based on selections that would make you feel like ordering. Some might have lots of variety but nothing much to select..that is failure!

While waiting for the arrival of the dishes, people were flowing in one by one. Youngsters, family and working adults were among the people patronising this shop. Guess what, there were almost 5-6 foreign workers in this shop helping by serving and cleaning up. They looked competence and very efficience too. Besides that, even the Lou Pan Leong was helpful enough to serve the customers too. Eventhough the business has been running for so long and quite well-known to some frequent visitors, the services were well-kept and workers were still modest when it came to meeting each customer's needs. Hence, I am giving 4/5 for services. Good job and keep it up.

Finally, our dishes were served in just 20 minutes of waiting. All came together and we could not stop from filling up our stomachs. Though I have not been here for some times, the dishes still met my expectation of quality food. Without thinking much, we placed another order of Bak Kut Teh...this time with the pork. The fish head was as nice as before, even my aunt who does not like fish ..found that it was an excellent dish. The fish was freshed. No fishy taste thanks to the mashed ginger. The Steam Chicken in Wine was another classically Chinese dish. The 'kip' tasted soft and tender with some Hua Tiew's smell. As for Bak Kut Teh, still comparable with the Klang minues the herb taste. I still preferred this version because the Klang's BKT were much more herb taste. Not forgetting too, having some great vegetables to accompany the other dishes would make a good companion. Just to ensure you never get constipation. Food quality : 4/5 ... taihen Oishi desu ne!

After all the munching and tasting, we came to an end with all empty dishes. The best thing was nothing was wasted. We, Chinese, wasted too much food for ordering too much. I was glad that this meal was completed without over-eating. The bill came and one of us settled it. All these dishes only cost us RM92 for 5 dishes + chinese tea + rice. I could say this was really affordable for family who preferred a day out of great meal in Kuala Lumpur! Affordability score would be 4/5.

Before I forget, there is this dish called Sang Kuat Pot. Heard it requires pre-order. I have not tried it yet. Would be doing so some time in future. Hope you are aware too.

Some of you might be wondering why am I talking about food. Frankly speaking, I love to eat and try new food..furthermore, I just ain't growing bigger:-p. Being able to eat is a blessing, you do not need to too much to be satisfied. My satisfaction with food is simple....affordable, taste good and of course make my tummy full NOT over-FULL. In the coming series, I will be sharing with my fellow readers on good and bad foods in town. Hope it could be additional choices for you people when deciding where an what to eat.

Here are what you are waiting for...check it out :

Fatty Bak Kut Teh & Fish Head
A-5, Batu 4 1/2
Jalan Klang Lama
58000 Kuala Lumpur
012-3660035 (Fei Lo)

*if you coming from KL you need turn back through Jalan Kuchai Lama.

*Sorry no photos available. Check it our yourself

#kip (Dutch) = chicken
#oishi (Japanese) = delicious
#Oil Fried Ghost (Cantonese) = Yau Ja Kuai