happy chinese new year!

gong xi fa cai!
happy chinese new year!

wee hours of 4th day of february, also the 7th day of the lunar new year. according to chinese new year's celebrations, 7th day in the lunar month is "ren ri" (mortal's day), ie. everyone's birthday. on this day, it's common to go to restaurants to "lou hei" (toss and eat raw fish slices with mixed vegetables) for good luck.

so glad it's the weekend again. work is so stressful nowadays, i just keep looking forward to the weekends. wonder how much longer i can hang on, the idea of a job-change has popped up at least twice in the past month.... hmm... not sure if i wanna do that - too high risk. call me conservative/ risk-adverse, but i somehow believe that every company has it's own problems, leaving company A doesn't necessarily guarantee "greener pastures" at company B or C. besides, i don't hate what i'm doing, just too much to handle that i don't know how to enjoy it anymore. i've been trying to wipe out those negative thoughts from my mind and look at the bright side of things. attitude and conviction are very important.

met up with a friend for dinner and shared our work problems with each other. everyone seems to have problems at work (my point above proven). i don't like being a whiny/ complain-some person, but have to admit the occassional rants are very good ways to vent and release built-up tension. more often than not, this actually helps control the stress and dissatisfaction level, thus keep you staying longer in the company.

my friend said that i don't show enough of what i'm doing, as in i have to learn to make known "louder" that i am doing a lot of things and contributing a lot more than others realise (esp. the management). climbing the corporate ladder has always been a mixed approach of talent-vs-tactic. doesn't matter how hard you work, how late you stay up burning the midnight oil, how many weekends burnt slogging for the company, how incredibly "superwomanly" you've been.... the key lies in being smart in finding ways to announce your efforts to the world. it's all in the perception.

i call that the art of recognition-fishing. some people are very good at that, while others either overdo it or have lots to catch up on. i want to shout out loud too, "hey, look at me! notice that i'm doing great things to contribute!" but just haven't found the right moment, right person, right opportunity, without coming across as show-off or braggy, yet drawing just the right amount of attention upon myself. shall try harder next time.