Eye of the Beholder

"Creating a brillant connection for everyone"
- Not the exact phrase, showing in the wall..


As I lean to a wall facing that phrase, I can't believe I'm just staring that wall and looking 2 columns of agents taking calls in a very queing day. What a refreshing feeling. A new role for me even I'm just a stand in for a SME who was on leave. 

I still can't believe I was given a role for an interim SME. All of the sudden.. To tell you the truth, I was given this role since, ehem last month. A great blessing. A great start for the year. After all those days that I pushed myself just to survive or just to get more pay due to OT's, maybe my performance shown not only for a surviving CSR but an outstanding one. Wow, after those grueling months, one day my TL told me, I'm nominated to be an interim SME with a great chance to be a full time one. 

A week later, I am guiding newbies in the immersion phase. Wow!! First time in my call center life experience that it dawned upon me. But honestly, I did not expect this. I don't know what my TL was thinking about me. Hmmmm maybe I just want to give my best shot at work so I won't be bothered by low scores or DAP's in my files.. I just here to perform and contribute to the team.  Even the team was crumbling and the scores were done, I continued to perform and work. Worked hard to be exact. 

Despite some troubles I faced after I finished training, I kinda just learned the ropes of the account and process then yes, get the brains out of those SME's which I ended up in the end, same level with them. Not to brag or something, it made my job a bit easier and fast...

I admit I really did not expect this because my scores in December were bad that I only passed one metric, my FCR7. NPS also good but not enough to pass their high NPS passing score. And yeah, when January came, I'm just thinking when can I get out. 

However, all of the sudden, when everything was decided.. I got this role. Wow.. Yes, that's really a wow for me. Awesome!!! I thought about it when I was in training and just looking at them how they do the job and role.. I never like applied for it especially when you have those so-so stats. But when I started to teach those newbies some tricks and tips, I felt I can do this for some time right? 

Running across the floor and go to somebody who is asking for help. Approving credits. Giving BOH access.. Advising this and that for instructions. Approving Trouble Tickets. Joining with other SME's and chatting each other.. Greeted by OM's or other TL's, even surprised other TL's who were just my TL in training months ago! 

Yeah, they were surprised, even my few batchmates left with me.. I also got myself that shocked that I'm doing this. That's how unexpected I am for this position. I'm grateful to him that although, I'll be in a different path soon.. My last days are spent some in this kind of position. 

Making sure all CSR's are calibrated on how we deal our customers and how we make sure, they don't freaking call us back!!!!

Yes, soon.. Even my future is kinda promising here, a lot of positions available.. Then add the other office or in house positions available.. Then I heard a gossip that I might be promoted without going into a gruesome interview.. 

I need to go away. Let's say.. Finishing and putting an end to a career that saved me for the past decade. Yes, I know it's hard but like they say..

I need to get out to this freaking comfort zone.. 

Oh I'll just go to an agent who is raising her hand!!! Wait!!!! 

classics: Wall Street

Well, as I monitor all corporate or financial happenings for these past years, it boils down to one attitude that really ruined everything the financial foundation we put up.. That is Greed. I was greedy before, but not that business/worker/salesman time, but it was those early times when I have my credit cards. I was greedy to buy whatever that entice me, or spend it all.. I end up broke for the quite long time.

That what happened to almost all the big financial or even multinational companies in this earth. Now, countries are experiencing such catastrophe from Europe, USA and soon, please God forsake us.. Asia and the other continents. 

Before this ripple or domino effect happened, everybody was earning great.. Those time, Greed indeed is good. I'm just curious in this film with Charlie Sheen, Michael Douglas, surprising all star cast and its theme.. Money! How Money works for these people.

The biggest letdown of the film, it's not technicalities or plot, script or even the catchy song at the end which was not quite fit for an end credits.. Or even the director or the complex transaction in stock market.. Its the two eye catching female leads. One was Darryl Hannah who I was surprised that she just looks good at the film but when she spoke her script, I thought I'm watching a soft porn flick! Crap dialogue for her and sad to say acting. Sean Young, as much I love her in blade runner, I hate her in this flick, I was even surprised that I knew she's there at the end credits. I looked which scene she were and yeah, few lines, glimpse of her beauty then that's it. Wasted time and eye candy. Those two actresses by the way were great at blade runner, but for this one, I hope other actresses were cast. Especially at that year? Come on, there were a lot of available, better actresses than them, for this film. Forgivable, anyway, with or without them.. Movie is still a classic. 

First thing I love for this film, as a business graduate, used the real business environment, especially the stock market into film. As much the film wants to explain it simpler, but it can't. That's why a lot of fraudsters, schemers, or even networkers or yeah, business leaders, tycoons, watched this film due to strategies used, whether it's legal or illegal and most glaring way or earning quiet. Money laundering. Very visual and auditory at this film. You'll get a lot of ideas here, it is still applicable especially at these digital times. Inside trading indeed magnified as its best for this film. Depiction at it's finest, especially the stock trading.

Second the dialogue, despite that complex thing of earning money or talking about money and stocks all the time, the script/screenplay focused on human emotions at such in a simple way. Like that scene, when Charlie has everything with a beautiful girl, he asked himself, who am I? Then, how about Charlie's boss who dignifies hard work and right strategy than fast buck, inside info strategy.. Well, as much there is goodness for other characters.. You can't beat, or even forget all of those good things when Gordon Gekko speaks. Michael Douglas enigmatic character. As he preaches the best way to enjoy life, as long you have the best info in the world. Business info, anyway as possible of getting one. Every scene that Gordon Gekko pops, he's damn good. I love a lot scenes he's with it but one particular scene I love, which that scene encouraging investors to believe in him running the company despite of course, hiding his best scheme. Destroying the company and run away big which I think a lot of CEO's have done that already. Gordon Gekko is like an idol to these capitalist, as Scarface to mafia or hip hop artist. Geez, great role model. Then don't forget the father and son relationship of Charlie and Martin Sheen, in that film. Wow, that's kinda touching for such complex story.

Third great factor is the cast, except to those 2 chicks.. Ah from Bud's friend, to his bosses, then Gordon's team ah yeah Bud Fox and his pop. Wow, all star cast.. They delivered what it needed. Despite Charlie Sheen's kinda not encouraging performance, I like his character, and maybe it's just a very short time to really show he should be the lead for this film. But well, you can't disregard Gordon, his prescence and angst personality towards earning money, just keeps you wondering, great thing he's not real. Why? What if Bud did not care about Bluestar and both of them, just earning they way out without conscience, they won't be caught. Even at these days? Nah, they just laughing hard that deception works to all. Great thing, Bud kinda realized he's doing the wrong thing. By the way, I love that role of Terrence Stamp, especially in that scene he faced off Gordon, try to buy him off at a very low price. But well, it did not work but he played great, I thought he's a real damn billionaire. I wish I'm like that. 

Speaking of that, I wish I'm not like Gordon, a whole of him. Some of his strategies yeah but not to be like him. Brash, arrogant, and doesn't care who he hurts especially when it comes to money. 

Last thing I love with this film, the pace of the film. Despite I want more scenes how Bud and Gordon relationship flourished into more dealings, I like how after that scene of Bud giving info to Gordon go straight to bluestar. It was not that very long or very short. It's the right logic at the right time. Then, how Bud progresses in the film and how Gordon manupulate Bud as day goes by. Great thing that Bud realized it right away how that success ruined him and a lot of people, especially his lovely Dad. I love that dialouge in the scene were bluestar planned to be liquidated which Bud did not know at the first place. He almost became the fastest CEO to be brought down in the company due to liquidation. He won't even reach like 30 days like that first Pope got poisoned. Geez, scary corporate culture.

This film, should be an eye opener not only for those businessmen or stock traders but all of us, how money really never sleeps that it disturbs a man's soul. 

It is really hard when you're earning big and thinking that you can buy anything even human dignity. Well, it's a harsh reality but at these times.. It's real.. Whether here, or even in my workplace or any place in the world.

Money can be good if its used for the proper good. Money can be bad when you use it only for yourself and yours only. It eats you into a brim.. 

Greed is good? Well, Gordon says yeah, greed for life, greed for love, greed for money.. It enriches our evolving spirit.. 

Look at it now. Due to that dogma, every financial foundation falters..

I'm just waiting which country is next to file a bailout. 

I hope it's not us.. Unless those greedy men and women never stops. 

They believe Money never sleeps. It never stops.

I hope I have that kind of Money.

Money that can bring me in...

this must be the place! 

I love that song, I'll play that if I have all the money. =)