Redha...

In psychological literature, a lot of research have shown the relationship between having the right attitude and performance in an organization. What I say in here is strictly not researched yet, but I do believe that there are some mediating variables that bridge this relationship. Some of you are students, so I guess you understand that this relationship also applies to your academic life.

Yes, this is a common sense kind of issue, we all know this. Perhaps you already muttered it, “Duh! Taufik, write something more chic!”. But, how often do we really remember to actually have the right attitude? Why do so many people still fail in one subject repeatedly? Why do so many people still do mistakes that once was made? Obviously, because when the advice is obvious, we become oblivious.

Hence, the word Redha (consent, willingness, accepting) comes in. My very nice team leader, Zahirah (I really wish she has the best of everything in life) pointed this out for me and made me realize, when we don’t really feel the consent of what that has come our way, for a very good example, me working at a call centre, our performance drops down. Perhaps because Redha is interrelated with passion and passion is interrelated with trying hard enough. We barely give efforts to things whose existence we frown upon.

I am moved to write about this because I realized how much screwed-up my working life is because my attitude about call centre is screwed-up in the first place. Day by day I witness the fallout of my lack of efforts and troubles I caused people just because I worked here due to the desperation to feel like a grownup. And I am telling you, that ain’t the right attitude.

So, as my respectful close friend, Jason Aw said, embrace everything that comes your way. Make it something valuable and an experience that actually makes you smile when you’re old and gray, and you are reminiscing about it. As another wise anonymous old man said,

One Last Week

Wow, it's finally the final week of my working life at Shell Superkad Services Sdn. Bhd. I can't believe I actually stayed for more than 2 months in a call centre and I should say that despite how I frown upon going to this workplace everyday, I value the experience and knowledge this job has been offering. When I gave the 30-day notice to my boss, I can't help but notice that Kubler-Ross' 5 Stages of Dying - err, resigning - actually happen to me...

1) Denial: When the environment, job scope, the atmosphere, people, and every aspect of the job subtly demanded me to resign, I actually believed that I could handle at least a half year in a call centre. I tried refusing to accept the fact that it's time for me to kiss the workplace goodbye.

2) Anger: I realized that I couldn't continue denying, and in fact I couldn't continue anything at all. I was forced to write the resignation letter and actually babbled to myself angrily, "Why must I resign? Why can't just I be a little bit better and make this job worthwhile to you? Why do you have to give up now?"

3) Bargaining: Before submitting the notice, I actually spent an amount of time thinking if I could just at least stay for the bonus came in. I thought, at least if you really want to resign, make the exit an acceptable one. I went back and forth to the thought of resigning now or resigning 2 months later.

4) Depression: I submitted the notice after I realized that I couldn't afford to stay for another month. I felt like I just admitted defeat and really had no energy to even say, "Shell Service Centre, Taufik speaking, how may I assist you?" It felt like I lost control.

5) Acceptance: I finally made peace with my decision to resign. I came to terms to believing that it's going to be the best decision I would ever make, and yes, it seems so day by day.

Now it's the last week of my working life, and I'll try making the best out of it. Maybe it'll be the hardest week ever. I don't know. But I can hope that it'll be the best week ever.

Ameen...