Goodbye Manager, Hello Piranhas

I don't know about you, but to me, leaving a comfort zone to join a new company is as daunting as ordering me to sleep in a haunted castle. You don't know what is awaiting you ahead. And you don't know if you'll survive the night or not.

When I told my friends that I'm joining the Piranhas-infested company, everyone gave me 'The Look', "WHAT?! Are you a moron? The Piranhas in there are friggin' the ferocious can die!!!"

YES I DO KNOW that the Piranhas are cannibals but fuck it! Petrol is sexpensive and I need the money!

WOkay. Enough hint of my new work location...

I had a heart-to-heart talk with my reporting manager when I handed in my resignation letter a month ago. He remarked dryly, "Young people are like the Energizer battery, they never say die. I mean they don't know how to spell the word DIE."

"Ouch. Why say like that?" I winced.

"Have you heard of the Chinese proverb that goes, "Newborn calves are not afraid of the tigers"? It means the young and the clueless are not afraid to tread in the Piranha-infested waters because they have no idea how dangerous it is."

"Yeah." I nodded my head. Maybe the turnover rate in this company is so damn high that's why he needed someone to rant and lecture at. And me the unlucky target. Sigh...

Today don't know tomorrow's world. If I don't drink the Milo, who will drink the Milo?

"Young people nowadays don't know what is appreciation. They have no qualms leaving their company which has taught them everything from A to Z and made them the knowledgeable person that they are today." He continued to throw-school-bag at me.

"Ahem, well, some companies don't know how to appreciate their staff. That's why people leave." I replied tongue-in-cheek.

"Aiyo, cannot say like that one. Did the company not pay you your monthly salary to feed you, your dog, your parents, your spouse, and your hungry children (if you have any) at home?" He disapprovingly dismissed my satire.

If petrol can be replaced with water, the elephant can fly too.

"Of course YOU do! But... the opportunity to grow professionally, career advancement, and exposure are also very important factors to a baby calf like me. Or else how can I transform from a whiny little cow into a fucking loud BULL?" I retorted rather saccharinely.

"Are you not LOUD enough already?! Haihz..." Exasperation spread across his face and he continued, "That's why I said young people like you are unappreciative. Only talk about money and money only."

"What to do? My religion is $$$. Mom baptized me in $ungai Wang since the day I was born!" I annoyed him further.

He shooked his head slightly and drawled, "Wait till you are old like me, you'll feel the pinch. Especially when age is catching up and you have godzillions tiny little mouths to feed. Leaving the comfort zone is equivalent to asking myself to be thrown into the Piranha-infested waters. And attending interviews is like sending myself into the Lions' lair."

"Waaaah... Where got so scary like that one ah?" I protested in disbelief.

I damn like this machine. Can choose cold or hot Milo. But after a while, you'll get bored of it.
Coz it is the same taste all over again. Sienz. Can I have a can of Coke please?

"True one. Hear the word 'interview' the legs already start to shake violently like the leaves." He self-humoured and went on, "ANTIQUE like me has been staying in the top position for waaaay too long. And am forever the one interviewing others and no chance to be interviewed back. So when the roles are reversed, you say I sweat like a pig or not leh?"

"Yeah, I get what you mean. But no pain no gain my friend. Would you choose to stay in a position where you don't get to learn much + low stress + good pay, or one that you can get to learn a lot + high stress + very good pay?" I probed gently.

"If I'm still young, single, and have no family obligations, then I'll opt for a good pay + learn-a-lot job. Knowledge is power. But once you get married, your priorities will change. You'll prefer something more stable and routine. Something which gives you less headache, put food on the table, allow you more family time, and pay you well enough and beyond until the day you retire." He tried to brainwash me.

"There you go. You have said it yourself. If you are young and have no family obligations, you'll give it a shot too." I gave him a wink and a winning smile.

"Now don't you stop me for wanting to play in the Piranha-infested waters."

This place is neither Starbucks nor CoffeeBean, it's just a corner of the Piranhas-infested company's pantry that I have recently joined. Nice leh?

Two weeks later, I left my comfort zone and is now sexcitedly treading in the murky waters not just with the Piranhas, but with the sharks, and the crocodiles too. Good luck Titoki! ;)