Two Stories

There are two specific incidents in my life which I stubbornly stick to my principles, of which one of them had a major (ill) effect on my life.

I have a good friend that works in the financial industry for some time. When I explain to him the way I invest, he claim that I am very inflexible, the objective of investing is to make money (true), and there are many ways. 

I have a different opinion. Investing is very hard, and the market is unpredictable. One thing for sure is that from time to time, the market tests you, sometimes in very cruel ways. If you do not have a set of investing principles or framework, the market will expose, hurt and grind you down.

***

The first story took place when I was in national service. I was already ranked a sergeant, and had to perform duties at night. I was based in an auto workshop, and there is a duty driver that I have to take responsibility for.

Social order in my unit reminds me of stereotypical prison films. For those who are not aware, middle management in National Service units tend to be regulars (meaning, they are not conscripts, they 'signed on' contracts). The direct manager of my unit was a regular, and he had an alpha-wolf personality. 

I remember playing a game of basketball in the unit once, and I accidentally bumped into him. My seniors pull me aside and strongly suggest that I apologize to him after the game.

Back to the story... this duty driver was a pretty new addition to the company.. and that duty was probably his first. There is a lot of haunted stories about the park where we perform our duties at...

So this duty driver asked if he could rest up the bunks instead of down here in the park with me, because he was scared. I believe him, even though his reputation established during that short duration was poor (most felt he is a trouble maker, malingerer). But I gave him my word.

The next day, I was confronted by this direct manager if I had given this duty driver special privileges (that I don't have) to sleep in the bunk. The duty driver is supposed to accompany me, he said.

"Look, I know this guy is a Chao Keng Kia (malingerer in local dialect). You just have to say that he did and you won't be punished."

I refused and covered up for that kid. 

For that, I was given extra duties.

Many would probably think of me silly (wait till you read the next story), but a word is a word. If we don't stick by our promises, our reputation means nothing.

***

The second story would probably make no sense to you career climbers out there.

This was more than 12 years ago. I was put up for promotion, but because this school I was working in was way overstaffed, they make it a point to have 4 head of departments, the head of admin and the (acting) dean of the school to interview the prospective. 

The school was then facing a lot of pressure to get local students to enroll. I was one of the technicians who manage a lab, and the students who are doing projects were regularly called up to demonstrate their projects during publicity events, such as open houses, tea sessions, scholar recruitments, and the like.

I witness how these students were stretched for time, having to study for exams, make progress with the projects, and get no remuneration for participating in these events. I understood that some of them were even doing it for fear of reprisals (i.e. get a bad grade if they refuse to participate).

What was disheartening is that these students spent hours to prepare for these events, but were given mere minutes to demonstrate their project before the visitors were hastily usher to the next one.

I felt that the school's publicity effort was feeble, unorganized and the school was running low in time to get the recruitment numbers.

As I was called into the room, I answered a few perfunctory questions ("What are your plans when you are promoted... blah blah blah). I believed I answered them satisfactorily.

At the end of the interview, the dean asked, "what do you think of our publicity efforts so far?"

I told him the truth of how I felt. I believe we should hire PR professionals to get the job done.

The interview ended, and I stepped out. I saw a colleague of mine getting up and approached the room as he is the next interviewee.

I didn't get the promotion. This guy did and is far more senior in rank to me, today. All because I choose the wrong time to be honest. I struggled really hard to get promoted for the decades to come. Do I regret it? Yes.

***

These qualities, although silly, are what I am exactly am. I am a major failure in my career progression and definitely not a people's person.

But these traits, sticking to your guns and being who you are, are exactly why I invest fairly better than most people. I am not swayed by the masses. I am stubbornly and stupidly candid, and true to myself. I always care for the stakeholder, even at the conflict of my interest.

This is me.