Make Yourself More Valuable in your Workplace

How do we make ourselves more valuable to the company we're working? I actually do not know. Work hard, harder, hardest? Hmmm that doesn't pay at all. Even though you have shown dedication to your job, chances are of less acknowledgment. Efforts are not seen and you get more frustrated because you cannot have what you wanted to achieve. Why? Because you have a dumb boss and a stale, rusty management.

Actually, for me there are just two most important factors that determine one's worth in the company: MANAGEMENT and WORKER itself. Why these? Because they co-relate with each other. Albeit you are the the outstanding employee, if there's no support from the management, promotion or reward, you cannot make it to the top. You're left on the same platform. And this keeps you loathing all the time. But, if you are connected (a friend, a relative, or an acquaintance perhaps) to the top bosses, however you're a slop, you're given chances. And you end up leaving or staying depending on your will and needs. But this is just a matter of fate.

So you see, I think there is no real and actual ways to make yourself valuable on the workplace. It just depends on how you see yourself valuable to them. If you think you're not too good for them, strive to be the best in your field and duty. If you are the best yet no return, better think many times. You best know the politics, I mean, atmosphere of your company so think how to make it best for you.

However, there are some factors that we are of control. This, however, will be up to your judging. Take this 5 tips for making yourself more valuable to your company.

1.) Designate one day per week when you will come in early. Get there before the boss does; if you can manage it, get there before everyone else does, too. It doesn't have to be the same day each week, and it doesn't have to be by much, but that little extra bit of facetime can go a long way toward keeping you on the office radar and reminding people that you are, indeed, dedicated to the company.

2.) Designate one day per week when you will stay late. Later than your boss, later than everyone else, if you can, for the same reason stated above. Facetime, facetime, facetime.

3.) Look busy. A New York Times article about looking busy struck a chord with me, not because I'm lacking in things to do around the office, but because I hadn't thought about it before. I work at a computer -- I'd have to try hard not to look busy -- but if you're not at a desk job, then make sure you look like you have plenty to do, even if that means refolding the shirt display eleventy billion times a week.

4.) Be busy. Take on extra work if you can. I've noticed that, over the past few months, my mindset has changed from "They don't pay me enough to deal with that" to "Well, they pay me." A friend of mine whose husband was just laid off explained it this way: We've gone from a sense of entitlement -- not "I deserve a bonus because I'm great" but "I've worked here for 15 years, I ought to be able to work part time if I need to" -- to having to buckle down and compete with everyone all over again. Your company is going to want to wring every last bit of effort out of you in exchange for that paycheck; it's a lot more palatable if you beat them to it.

5.) Expand your skill set. Think of it this way: If you were just entering the workforce, you'd consider an unpaid internship, right, just to get the experience? Try to choose something you haven't done often before and, when the project is complete, add it to your resume, and show your boss that you have skills above and beyond the ones they hired you for.

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When I Dream

I constantly dream these past few days and this reminds me of the Psychology subject I had with Mr. Henzel. Why do we dream and what do they mean? I got to read a brief information on it, just to refresh my memory, and yours too. ;)

The act of dream is physiological (physical), whereas the content of the dream is psychological. The images, emotions and activities of the dream are a product of the individual's unconscious mind, having to do with the total make-up of one's human condition (conscious and unconscious). Most images (symbols) in dreams are personal representations of the individual (dealing with events and emotions in our waking lives), but also found within the dream are representations (symbols) that have nothing to do with the individual's personal knowledge. These are what Carl Jung called the archetypal images, images that are from the collective knowledge of all mankind (actually predate mankind itself), and their images are tendencies of the human mind that form representations of mythological motifs - representations that can vary a great deal without losing their basic patterns. An archetype is not a specific image or motif but variations of the images and motifs that are found in mythology. The archetype is a predisposition (previous inclinations) to an image, a common psychic structure that parallels the common human structure (patterns in life). The archetype itself cannot be experienced; all we can know of it is its effect on dreams, emotions, actions and other mental contents.

Perhaps the best word for the archetype is emotions, or more acturately emotional complexes. Dreams are stating the present condition (psychological, physical and metaphysical) of the dreamer, at the time of a particular dream. The total condition of the dreamer is being played out within the dream and the images and motifs are a reference to those particular conditions. What is lacking in the unconscious state of mind (the dream) is the bias and prejudgices found in the waking state of consciousness. It is like another person, one without preconceived ideas or prejudgices about the dreamer, watching the dreamer and then giving a true account of what is happening in the dreamer's conscious life. This can be a physical event (with the emotional influences), a psychological condition, a metaphysical reference or, perhaps a combination of two or more of the dreamer's conditions. The dream is about the total human experience and most of the images and themes (motifs)are taken from the vast vault of experiences from the dreamer's life, but also has a reference to the archetypal motifs (universal themes). It is the emotions at play, seeking to inform the dreamer of what is really taking place in the dreamer's life. And even though it is the emotions that carry the greatest weight within the dream, it is also referencing to the physical and metaphysical (spiritual, creative) condition of the dreamer's life.

Please read What Are Dreams? for more details.

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The Winner Stands Alone

A new book that will again touch hearts and influence the many. The Winner Stands Alone is a new novel about following one's dreams. What does the society impose one to become and to have? Sometimes we are greatly manipulated by the society realizing in the end after achieving them we asked ourselves: Are we happy? Are we satisfied? Are we whole? This recurrent theme of the book will let us get back to when the world was just plain and ordinary. Achievement is not what people look about us, it is about self-worth and fulfillment.

Can't wait to have my own copy of Paulo Coelho's. The novel, however, is not yet available in the Philippines. (oops! I just grabbed my own copy, 4/20/09, yipee!) Released dates in other countries are as follows:

March: UK and Russia
April: France, Greece, Holland, USA, Hungary, India (in English), South Africa, Lebanon and Middle East
May: Australia, Iran, Bulgaria, Poland and Slovakia

You may visit PauloCoelhoBlog for further details.

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One More Chance

'Just give me one more chance...' I was singing a few lines from Madonna's when flashes of events came before me that made me stopped.

Another chance for me to live a life that is valuable. That I need to take all the time and effort to make it worthwhile. I need to get back to the mainstream. I need to be fed, information and experience wise. I need to make use of everything to get me started and moving.

I hope this Chance won't slip in my hands. Another time means another play.

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RP Blacklisted

The recent meeting of Group of 20 Leaders or known as G20 held last Friday in London blacklisted the Philippines for being one of the four uncooperative tax havens worldwide. Other countries include Uruguay,Costa Rica and the Malaysian territory of Labuan.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) named the four as uncooperative tax havens at the request of G20 because they failed to concede with the new rules of financial openness, failed to exchange tax information. Countries that are blacklisted will be sanctioned by the OECD, which may include withdrawal of financial assistance from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The G20 summit would want to answer global economic crisis and setting off new rules on banking secrecy is a step for solving it.

Tax havens are places where taxes are collected at low rate or not at all. These will deliberately attract investors and exploit foreign demand opportunities to move in to them for tax avoidance.

After the recent summit, the Philippines released a statement that they are willing to abide with the new set of rules but it may take time as this will need a government legislation for the current Bank Secrecy Law.

The Bank Secrecy Law was legislated in 1955 primarily aimed to attract foreign investors after the nation was under colony. Under the law, all peso and dollar deposits, including government-issued bonds, are completely considered confidential unless courts order for its issuance for any pending cases or impeachment. The impeachment case of former President Estrade though was considered weak as banks did not give transaction records as they are covered with the Bank Secrecy Law. Same is what happens with the Legacy Group case where bank records are kept confidential in investigation.

Moreover, because of this law's flaws, Philippines has been declared by the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering as a haven for money laundering of drug trafficking, kidnapping and gambling.

The Philippines must hastily uplift the blacklist to still receive assistance from the global community, moreover, with World Bank and IMF. Bank Secrecy Law is a good strategy to attract investing firms but at times like this, global economic crisis, all we need is a decision and act that will balance everything.

For more information visit
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/star/20090403/tph-g20-blacklists-rp-other-tax-havens-541dfb4.html
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/03/09/govt-aims-get-oecd-tax-blacklist

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Aitakute, Tomodachi

'Aitakute', I wanted to tell you all this because I miss our laughter and long talks over coffee. I miss our company, our friendship.

To Wiseman who has indirectly taught me life's philosophy, take care and stay healthy.

To the Disciple of Paulo Coehlo who introduced him to me and for life's inspirations it gave me, my coffee partner, press on.

To Mommy who has showed me the courageous path of living and the joy of it, be Joy-ous still.

To Arm-man who is I know a very loving and patient man, stay the same.

To Madam Butterfly for leading me to what is real, keep safe.

To the people who have played roles in molding my working and social relations, you helped me be Me.

For everything we have been and for anything we may have, I (will) cherish them all.

I miss you all!

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Lucky

There are certain moments in our lives that we think we are but ordinary people living in an ordinary world. When in these times, we think that everyday is just plain but a continuous cycle of survival. We failed to see life's beauty, preoccupied on how to achieve the peak of success and fulfill self-worth. Yet, when we are in the brink of a circumstance when we almost to fail or vanish, the past flashes back and we are brought to realize life's significance. We ponder on and began cherishing little things, little ways. We then realize that all these times, we have been protected by great Hands.

I wrote this journal to tell myself that I am fortunate to have the Father with me. That when I thought I lost my worth, I was proven worthy. That when I thought I will be empty, I was filled.

Like any ordinary humans, I am imperfect. Yet, the heavens continue to bless me in little ways. And I am incessantly grateful.
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Starting Anew

Just to give a little update of my life (coz I’ve been sleeping for a few days now), I have started to create a new, well very different, day schedule. I finally able to unlock the chain I myself did for a long time. I have started to move on, although it was harder to welcome a new life than to leave the past behind. But everybody must let there lives be shone by new light even if that means shedding of our shields and feel and experience what new life has to bring us. Just as I said saying hello is harder than saying goodbye.

Taking new chances mean redressing the past and starting anew. I have grown with goodbyes, I thought so. Maybe because for quite some time I have taught myself that nothing remains the same forever. We have to grow and we have to change. That is why we cast off security for a room of love and growth. And even this new life is far different from what I have lived, I think I would love it. I’m gonna love it.

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The Reciprocal of Love is Death

Valentine’s Day is just three days to go. This means another year or months for lovers in love. I previously wrote blessed are those who celebrate it and miseries for none. I was referring to those who have no beaux to celebrate it at all. I was not expecting that there are also those who ended up loving before that day strikes. I apologize if I have overlooked such incident. It is a painful event when a person you truly love leaves you. And I grieve with you.

Someone told me that the reciprocal of love is not hate, it’s the absence of it. Then an incident came. The word DEATH strikes me. Could the reciprocal of love replace Nothing with Death?

I read a line from someone intimate of someone intimate to me. Was that understood? Well, I leave that vagueness. The tone implies ‘I can live without you but that would be a life full of miseries’. Then came a time that the person she loves left her in abrupt. She cannot take it. Dying, she thought, was the best way to escape life. I thought she would live in miseries but why escape that life through death? When all we could think death is the best way to free us from miseries, that would be a wrong notion. Worst when we commit suicide and yet we failed to achieve the sting of death. It worsens your being. It worsens the view of people around you. Good if you are able to cope up with the trial and renew yourself once more.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (Love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

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I Fear Hello

I have learned that saying goodbye is easier than saying hello.

We are afraid to fly. We are afraid to commit. We wanted to leave the darkness but the light in the open will penetrate the eyes and blind them; so we decided to close them once again.

We wanted to get out of the cave but the moment we step closer toward the beautiful but unfamiliar world, we stop and prefer to have both feet standing still.

We wanted to grow. We wanted to change. But when change came and opportunity opened its doors, we often hoped that they have not come at all; so we don’t have to welcome them.

Some people, after deciding to leave a part of them behind, regret after saying goodbye. They wished they had stayed behind than to face a new world before them.

Why do we prefer to stay on the ground than to climb a fewer steps? Why do we lose strength building something new when we have struggled to get out of the old and live anew?

Fear is what overshadows us. Fear that we might not cope with the changes. Fear that we might not live well. Fear that we might fail. Fear that we have not made changes at all. That living a new life, of starting anew, is another struggle more difficult than turning our back to the things and people we left, to the old ones we once were.

Because we know that staying on the ground is far safer than climbing with no harness at all.

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