Having been to the Singapore Yacht Club before, i had high expectations of the Marina @ Keppel Bay.
I missed the opening of the bridge and the chance to meet up with the President that day as Old boy fell sick so when Senior decided to move our afternoon tea to the Marina, i took up the offer.
It was one of the Senior’s projects which he was extremely proud of and i could see why.
Small and exclusive, the entrance to the Marina @ Keppel Bay was hidden by the upcoming Reflections @ Keppel Bay project. The bridge linking up to the Marina was beautifully constructed and the whole thing was just aesthetically pleasing.
We took a quick tour of the Marina and the S$5.2 million docks. First ever dock all built in concrete, if i am not mistaken.
And then we went to the management office to meet up with the people who made the Marina happen.
I won’t say much but there are problems with the Marina that they are still trying to fix. Participating in discussions with the deal-makers have taught me the need to be more decisive. Especially with projects that deal with millions of dollars.
Assertiveness has never been easy for me, much less, being in the negotiation stages.
I don’t have the skill sets yet to broker huge deals but with a bit of help here and there, i guess i may get by.
Blog, in four years time, let’s see where i am.
Somehow i feel that something has changed between us.
I can’t explain it but i feel it and it doesn’t really help much because our brain processes information based on facts.
And of course, there are no facts to substantiate at this moment!
I hate this kind of feeling because it eats into me and affects everything i do including at work.
Sigh.
Tough is an understatement to describe my week.
I used to think that it was great to handle a regional role because of its challenges and progression to a regional role was somehow, the natural thing to do after being a manager for close to 2 years.
For those who are stuck in regional roles, i feel your pain. For those who are planning to take up that portfolio, please think twice.
It took me three months and a pep talk by my partners to get up to speed.
I have 20 jurisdictions reporting to me, which also essentially means that 20 different legal systems to think about. Time zones is just a fraction of the problem.
It’s the daily correspondences, monthly reports, legal issues that relates to another jurisdiction that kills you.
With no intentions of sounding out any prejudices, i have realised that Bangladesh, India, Thailand and the Philippines are countries that have caused many sleepless nights for me.
And many more to come.
I’m just glad i’m not expected to travel.
Despite the obvious, the position is challenging and has given me a competitive environment to grow, which was exactly what i asked for when i looked around.
I am not complaining, but in Old boy’s words, “Just a statement of fact.”
