2012 ~ 2013

Time is ticking. It is 2013 already.

I just realized I have not updated the blog for a few months. Clearly, I have been busy... Well there are few items to summarize for the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013. The major changes would be obtaining a new position in a new company and trip to Europe. 

2012 is not really a quite year for me. A few major changes and decisions were made. Thankfully, correct decisions were made and I am pretty satisfy with my life now. I realize sometimes you just have to make your move and do what you truly believe. Maybe people do not understand or do not support at the time, but you should pursue what you truely want. 

Life goes on, time doesn't wait for you. We just have to make some brave move. It is better to make a mistake than regret not doing it after.

With regards to my Europe trip, it was great. It is a family trip with family reunion as well. I am glad to take this opportunity since this may not happen again in my life time. I really appreciate the time that we can spend together.

There is a lot to see and experience in Europe. Two weeks is a very short period of time. UK and France are definitely worthwhile to revisit. Actually there is a lot of comment on the trip, I should update it later on.

PS. Happy New Year! Wish everyone all the best for 2013 and the snake year!  

What is proper management?

Management sounds like a very popular topic. Now days, too many people study management. However, how many of them actually apply their knowledge property and actually well manage a business? The answer can be very questionable.

I have to admit, management style is very subjective as well. Some people would agree with certain style and allow it work effectively. However, the same style may not work with other people. Therefore, I believe knowing your employees/suppliers/clients is very important in order to apply an effective management.

Also, management is not only managing the operation or business. I believe the most challenging part of management is managing the people. Many employers do not understand this and think they are the king because they pay their employees. Acting like a king is much like a dictatorship and it is not going to increase the productivity and loyalty of your employees. A good employer has to be open to different opinions and be a good listener. Employees may provide awesome ideas if you are willing to take them and this will help your company to expand further. You have to realize, you can only know/think of so much, your resources are limited.

Apple is successful because it is open to innovative ideas. The technology is advancing because young people are willing to explore and accept the new ideas. Of course, seniors and elder generation have the experience that youth do not have. However, while young people are learning your experience, seniors should also be open for new ideas.

I believe different types of management style are indicated on books. However, not many people are actually adopting them effective. It is relevant to the managers/employers' personality as well.

With a wrong management style, you may be able to survive, however, it would largely limit growth potential of the business.

是我细路女唔知世道复杂

一個礼拜两次，从来没有试過的事。没有想過會有這样的客人，雖然不至于無理取闹但我有種被陷害的感覚。當初选這行，本想着作幕後的事情较多也比较中立，以為不用handle太多复杂的關系。原来不是。

是自己掉以轻心了，以為自己看淡了，就連戒备心也放低了。人家對你笑不等於不會害你，跟你聊的来不等於在你背後不會说你的不是。

經一事，長一智，以後还是少说话，少承担。在這種地方，只要听order做事就好了。

new intern

公司来了個新女孩，summer internship。每個礼拜来两次，因爲我也是刚回到工作岗位，所以我也才见她两词而已。才大學一年级，19歲都不到，真的年轻。她来之前，同事跟我講起，说她是 "a whole different generation" (同事就比我大三年。）哈哈。一個很開朗的女生，會在這一行前途無量吧。但有時覚得，说话有點不知轻重。呵呵，我以爲自己已經够糟的了，有時真得不懂掩饰。但跟她比真是... 這就是年轻吧，可以率性而爲，何况她還是皇親國戚。

她讓我想起几年前的自己，也是這样事無忌惮。现才真正明白當初师傅和同事對我有多包容，他们的胸怀有多宽廣。毕业也一年多了，好像没有做多少事，可以说一點成就都没有。未来還有太多太多要學，好好努力吧。人越大越發覚自己懂的太少了，完全不够用。不久的将来，還是應该會學校继续學。

新同事

公司來了新同事，是一個會跟我們聊天的男生，很高興。^_^ 不要誤會了，我高興並不是來了一位男生，即使是女生我也一樣高興。重要的是，他會和我們聊天。一個不悶，不會死氣沉沉的公作環境很重要。因為來了新同事，就不自覺的把兩個年齡相近的男同事作比較。雖然覺得有點不應該，但還是的做了。其實我們的新同事是一個平凡的男生，跟我那些男生朋友們沒什麼大不同。只是因為近一年來，公司的男生都很靜，所以來了個正常的反而不習慣了。人就是這樣，無論喜惡，最終也敵不過時間和習慣。

Tax season kick off

Here it comes.. tax season.
This is the peak season for public accountants. Personal tax filing is due on the 30th of April every year in Canada. Individuals should receive their personal tax receipts by the end of March. I realize some other accounting firms start OT since Jan/Feb. Our firm starts this week. This means.. 12hr working shift started and Saturday becomes a workday...

This is my first official tax season, working full time. I am worried. Efficiency counts every minute, there will be a lot of stress. I am going to cross my finger from now on. It is more than a tax season for me because my study timeline hits me as well. Counting down 3 months left to SOA, I really should study my technical material. PASS is all it matters...

slow January

It is been a week after I back to work from the new year/exams. I have been told the office would be slow in December and January. Now I totally understand.... I am out of work every morning, have to wait for boss to give me some work. Colleauges are pretty chill, especially when the boss is gone.

I know this kind of good times will not lasts long, it will be extremely busy when it hits March. I should prepare for it. It is a good time to clear my mind and sort some stuff out. =]

*still praying that I pass...*

Terroni

We went to Terroni in downtown Toronto tonight. Terroni is a traditional Italian restaurant. It is the first time I ever been there. The restaurant is not very big. It has two separated dining rooms and each has different menus. This time, we tried the more traditional side. The menu is in Italian and some explanation in English. Heh, I wish I read Italian. The food is pretty good. Comparatively, the dish size is fairly small but with high quality. Their homemade pastas are very tasty with chewy texture. I would totally go there again.

Today's dinner is to catch up with a friend. She is been traveling in Asia for 8 months. Honestly, I am jealous. For the past summers I had, I never had an opportunity to go anywhere I want. I have been stuck in town and work for all those summers. I have way too many places I want to go,and it is different if I can go now than later years. Unfortunately, I never had a chance. I guess it happens I have a different way to walk with.

first week...

it is the ...
first week back to school
first week of new year
first week of work in 2010
first week of ....

maybe it is just the new year thing. i am more motivated than ever. hopefully, it is going to last...
work is boring as usual, that's why i have moments to write blog now. people say it is easy money, might as well just earn it then.
school started, more work than i expected. i don't think i would be able to catch up later if i don't start now. hah.. when my friend keeps remind me how busy this sem is, i just can't believe he is the one who says it. usually, i am the one who reminds him about those things.
job hunting should be started again... or i am really going to sleep on the street in the summer.
i applied for summer school already. no matter how much i don't want to, i guess i would have to stay here for one more month this summer.
my baggage is still missing. lets see how is Northwest going to compensate me. i am really pissed about it, still.


there are too much stuff out of my control.
no matter how much i try, if it never meant to be mine, it would never be mine.
i tried, no regrets.

work evaluation

do you get those moments that you make up excuses to not attend work?
do you have those times that you hate your job and don't want to go to that work place again?
do you ever quit because you don't like what you do at work?

i am starting to experience those.
no, there is nothing wrong with my boss/work.
however, when i am not doing anything new after a year, i don't have motivation to go to work anymore. i know even the smallest task or every job would bring me something. but when you have to photocopy/filing for an hour, i don't think there is that much fun there. fortunately, it is only a temporary part-time position....

i start learning to make up excuses to skip work.
i start ask for sick leaves.
i start to not going to work because i don't want to.
yes, i feel bad about it, but i still do it.

september memo

when we mention September... what do you think of?

- students back to school
- beginning of fall
- another long weekend (for Canadians)
- full moon festival/moon cake is coming
- ...etc.

to me this year...
going into the final year of undergraduate.
of course i think of back to school, and one more thing this time... campus recruitment.
honestly, it is not happy to back to that small town. yet, it is better to concentrate at school there.
as everyone says, it's the last year. don't do/not do anything that i would regret.

first meeting with clients

meeting with clients do not sound like a big deal.
yet, an actual formal business meeting, this is the first time for me.
and yes, i was nervous.
the meeting is held in 8.30am this morning, i almost kept myself awake for the whole night because i did not want to sleep in. ><"

this meeting is a good lesson and good experience overall.
thanks for my boss and manager, they don't need to worry about that i didn't learn anything anymore.
because i did.. and i got a lot out of this.

meeting with clients...
presentation and communication skill is the key.
everything has to be very clear and well prepared.
i know it sounds very easy. however, in order to make an average person on the street understand is not as easy as you thought. (at least not as easy as i thought)
also, there is so much to observe.
know your clients is the key rule.

experience is essential to all works.

OT

11hrs.
yes.. i spent more than 11 hours in office today.
and.. i actually worked the whole 11hours.

this overtime work is not required. i took the initiative.
i know 11 hours doesn't sound a lot to many people, especially for the people who are used to OT in HK. but then this does not always happen in Toronto.

i should go back to my point.
it is worth it. for all the time and effort i devote, it is worth it.
it is not the first i write a report or do a project. yet, it is different when you actually do it for a client.
every single detail has a lot to learn and needs attention.
i am glad that i got this opportunity.

there is always something that you thought you know, but you don't.
you may never get to a perfect position, because anything can always be more amended.

OL

OL (known as Office Lady)

ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be an office lady.
I liked to play with stationery, hope to put them into use.
I liked to sit in an office and handle all the documents.
I liked to sign papers and tell the person it's good.

yes, thats because I was a kid. I didn't know how cruel the reality is.

now the real world comes, it is not as easy as you think.
maybe you think sitting in an office, dress pretty, doing paper work are easy tasks.
at least i thought so, i thought it would be easier way to go compare to others.

no, being an OL is not as easy as you think.
there are a lot of stress and work load that others may not know about.

if you like it, then it is worthy to continue.
if you don't, maybe you need to realize that, soon the better.

we should all know what we really want.

busy work

haven't been busy like this for a while.
actually, busy work is good. it is challenging.

a person should have some challenge regularly, it is beneficial for growth.

civil servants

named as civil servants, tax payers pay for your salaries. theoratically, they should work for the citizens with the best manner, provide efficient service. ever since when, civil servants only care about themselves because the job is permanent, they are not really serving anymore.

I work in an accounting firm, need to deal with Canada Revenue Agency regularly.
I am gonna quote some conversations as following, you would of understand why I complain.

>> M - Me, A - Agent

M: Hi, I am inquiring this xxx issue. (A very general question) What would be the process of it?

A: Where are you calling from?

M: XXX

A: What is the Business number?

...... (ask me all the confidential information)

M: So, what would be the progress if I want to do xxx?

A: You called before, we put in the request for you. All you can do is wait for our letters.

M: Yes, I call two weeks ago. You said you would send me the letter, but I didn't receive anything. I need to get it done by the end of this month.

A: All you can do is wait, we will send it out.

M: Is there anything I can do to advance the procedure then?

A: No, there is nothing you can do.

M: How long would it take then?

A: I don't know, it depends on our work load.

>>
depend on your work load? so if you think you are busy, you will never handle my file then? we pay that much of taxes every year, this is the service we get. even you work 9am-5pm, with the most on time breaks, at least work efficiently when you are working.


my parents told me to apply for government positions too.
they say it is stable, a lot of benefits and high salary.
what i think is... working there, slows a person's development and even forget about the principle of being an employee.
my conclusion is... they are lazy, because they are used to get a lot from working very little.

Investment

saying Investment... what would be your first option?
GIC? T-Bill? Stock? Bonds? ...
as advertised, i think education is the best investment.
i never realize its worthness until ealier.

a friend used to say that... everyone has a price.
i disagreed.
i thought a person is priceless. there is a price for his work, but not himself as a person.

now, think about it in another way, maybe he was correct.
a person does have a price. they hire you to work. it is the price of you.
all the knowledge, experience, inspiration you have, they are apart of you.
the price you get paid is how much you worth.
maybe it sounds bad, but somehow it is true. it is the truth that we don't want to agree with.

no one would want you for no reason.
there must something in you that someone wants.
if you have more, people would want you more.

therefore, if you put money into some product that you hope to the value would increase.
why not invest in yourself, increase the value of yourself?

終於開始了

也不是第一次發現了，發現自己是坐不住的人。
發現自己不能一心一用，總喜歡把心思放在不同的事上。
在學校的時候就總想著要打工，現在打工了，就想著要讀書。做人真茅盾。
懶了有一個月了，是時候開始學習了。
超過一個月不讀下書就覺得自己在浪費時間。現在還浪費時間，以後會后悔吧。

almost a week

as i said, time goes by very fast, first week of work is almost done.
i am doing half admin and half accounting work. admin is nothing special. accounting is a lot to learn there. that's the whole purpose i work in an accounting firm. it feels good when you are absorbing. heh, now i finally understand that textbook knowledge is very important too. they are all put in use in reality. the key for my position is.. multi-tasking. i need to handle a couple of task at the same time. no worries, i will ace it soon. =P

beginners always have more passion to work. i still attend early and off late for now. hehe, don't know how long i can keep up with that.

Ｂombardier

Bombardier Company (BBD) is the third largest company in world aerospace industry. BBD focus on two fields of business, aerospace and rail transportation. This is a Canadian company, where the head quarter located in Montreal. Basically, it is a company building airplanes and trains. It provides sophisticated technology and related services.

The company is well established. The overall net income and EPS is been improving. Also, they have reasonable accounting policies and handle risk fairly well. Mostly important, BBD seems care about the community and their employees. The financial report is pretty long, but it is worth to read it.

--- more details may come later.

I am currently doing my accounting report on BBD. So far, I think it is worthy to invest in this company.