I did not even think of doing this entry... at least, not yet. After all, 2011 still has a few days left - but then the counter argument would be do I forsee myself making dramatic changes that will dramatically affect how I feel for 2011? Not really... so I guess now's as good as any time until 2012 creeps in.
So, how was 2011 for me? Good question. As I try to think back, I find it really hard to come up with a definite 'Great!' or 'Sucks!' idea. In fact, I'd even venture to say it was 'All right, I guess' - kind of answer. And yes, with emphasis on the 'I guess' part as well, because 2011 - they year that was, was... okay. It wasn't a bad year... but it wasn't really a good one either. Its a mixed reaction, really.
On work:
This year wasn't spectacular on training - just like last year... and we were still on the seeming receiving end of said training short stick. When the client said jump, our handler would jump. In fact, when we would give feedback on improvements, we'd be brushed off as complainers - ones too spoiled for an old set-up... even if that particular set up was much better. Later, we would - in one way or another, be proven right, and we'd still be in the losing end of the deal because the point we were stating would just be swept under the rug. When the client made a mistake (and in this case, it was a gross foul up) we ended up having to work extra hard to help them fix things.
What did we get out of it? Sore throats, tired bodies... and for some, we even got sick out of sheer exhaustion. What did we get back? A certificate of recognition? And even the process of this certificate giving was... to put it mildly, questionable.
On the plus side, we finally got an ally in Accenture by way of Sheila - now, we won't just be trampled, because these power trippers realize we're friends with their new boss. how long this will last, though is anyone's guess. Suffice it to say, for the effort we're giving, we're not getting as much as we deserve... and training still remains a poor priority in Accenture. More often, its like they do the training conducts just for the sake of 'number of conduct' metrics.
Its definitely more than enough for us to seek other avenues of revenue - and speaking of this, 2011 also saw me join an Accenture project - the U2K2 SAP implementation in Unilever, Philippines. I would like to think I held out on my own as long as possible in a very tightly scheduled project. I mean, think of it... I get rolled in expecting some support - and the only person who can give me a semblance of support leaves the project out of frustration to the regional team. I'm in a position that makes me coordinate stuff with everyone - in an environment I'm not too familiar with, and with people I don't know. I'm given some tasks beyond my expected (by NGL) area of responsibility, and I hardly get support from anyone. I'm expected to be on top of the situation with everything - yet I can hardly control, or keep tabs with everything and everyone.
There comes a time when I'm just too tired - and the pace does not slacken. I make mistakes, and get reprimanded - even if I'm just receiving the data. If I wasn't being paid more, I would have seriously reconsidered staying in the project. As it was, I did it to make sure I could save up for Bryce's tuition, and you could say this project came in the right time, as it allowed me to cover the greater expenses so barbie could help her dad with his hospitalization.
On the plus side, I learned more about Accenture projects - as it was my first exposure to one. I definitely understood what was lacking to make me better deliver, but being a consultant makes me rather low in the power totem pole. I see my easing out as a possible political maneuver - to make some people smell better. To be honest, I was also not in the best of health when I joined, so I had some difficulties as well. I was less experienced, but was compensating... but as I said, this was a learning spike. Had I a second go at it, I'm sure I could function a whole lot better, knowing what I do now. But will that happen? I don't know. Still, I'm thankful for the opportunity - and I'm a better facilitator in sharing some experiences and understanding the ideas and methodologies for it.
On learning new stuff:
I don't think I learned a lot of new stuff - aside from the U2K2 experience, I think I read less technical or behavioral-related books this year than last. I mean, aside from Covey's new book (The 3rd Alternative) - which I am currently stuck in the middle of... and the 'Influencer: Power to Change Anything' audio book which I soldiered through just these past two to three weeks, I can hardly think of any other book I've read and learned from... so much for lasting impressions, I guess.
I did make some headway with being a better photographer - and I've got some great shots to prove it. What I lack will be a vision whenever I go take a shot. Right now, I'm more reactive... though I do inject some inputs... its more like shoot what I see and hope some come out right. Still, I am learning, and I may save up for some lighting equipment. So you see, 2011 wasn't a total loss or waste.
On family:
I'd have to consider this a status quo - granted, Bryce is now in College, and it fills me with some pride to see him doing okay in La Salle... specially after a rather rocky start. I've tried supporting him, and in one instance, I was able to really help him debug a program. But as he shifts to medicine, he will be entering fields I am not familiar with.
Bernice seems to be running on automatic - and my influence has been rather minimal, in fact I suspect that had it not been for her occasional need for allowances or gimmick funds, we'd hardly talk. Recently, though, I may have found some leeway as I support an interest of hers - that is, fashion shoots. I also did allow her to recently go on an out of town trip with her classmates. A show of trust on my end... though I think I need to talk to her about openly displaying herself. I feel she needs to be a tad more conservative. I like that she reads books - and will willingly spend for her new books as long as I can do so.
Barbie lost her dad fairly recently, and despite the costs due to hospitalization and medicine, I steered clear of that hot button, lest I get Barbie's ire. To say I'm glad he finally found peace might even get a negative (read as scathing and sarcastic) remark form her. So to keep the peace, I just protect the family's interest. Now that he's gone, there's still a seeming adjustment period. Her mom frequently visits us... and that's okay with me, because as she distracts her mom form thinking about her dad, the same hold true for her. She needs these distractions to keep her from thinking too much. Hopefully, 2012 will afford such distractions.
Mom's been fine and coping... Papa's likewise doing okay (but just okay like me), I feel that I've not spent a lot of time with them - given my very busy project schedule and Barbie's family's needs. It was nice for my folks to separately show support. Now I feel that I should be around them more often. I have to make that happen more next year.
On interests:
I still read and collect comics. In fact, this recent DC revamp has me getting a lot more titles - but I'm starting to trim down on these. I have recently started to be a bit more aggressive with trade collections - in fact, my top library bookshelf is full beyond capacity with these trades.
Books have been a steady stream of interests... in fact, just today, I'm collecting older Matthew Riley books about a seeming character he's created 'The Scarecrow'. After all, I did like his 7-6-5 book series, and if his earlier works have the same pacing, then I'm in for a great ride. I've also been reading the new Star Trek adventures.
On the DVD front, I find that I've yet to watch one movie since the Christmas break started. I've more often than not watched these movies in DVD format. Only saving the real hits fore the big screen. I mean, with movie prices the way they are, I do make it a point to think twice (and thrice) before spending on a movie - specially if I can wait 6 months; or less, for the DVD to appear. I may not be seeing it on the big screen, but I can pause, review a scene and yes... repeat the movie. So what were the biggies? Thor, Captain America, Harry Potter's last movie, and um the latest Twilight film. I'm sure there's more... but I can't recall right now.
On being me:
I still need to exercise more often. The exercise machine given to Barbie lately (for her 20th year in JJMP) will help. I postponed my annual physical - though technically, I shouldn't. I had to, since December was tight.
I have still been organizing the group's Bacardi nights - though I suspect that there have been less Bacardi nights - no surprise, as a great number of these were held at home, and it would still be awkward to have them at home. I mean, I don't mind... but Barbie does.
On the side note, I may be the one my friends listen to - or they're just too lazy to organize one (or it may be both). So that's it... unless I suddenly come up with more 'share-able' stories.
So, how was 2011 for me? Good question. As I try to think back, I find it really hard to come up with a definite 'Great!' or 'Sucks!' idea. In fact, I'd even venture to say it was 'All right, I guess' - kind of answer. And yes, with emphasis on the 'I guess' part as well, because 2011 - they year that was, was... okay. It wasn't a bad year... but it wasn't really a good one either. Its a mixed reaction, really.
On work:
This year wasn't spectacular on training - just like last year... and we were still on the seeming receiving end of said training short stick. When the client said jump, our handler would jump. In fact, when we would give feedback on improvements, we'd be brushed off as complainers - ones too spoiled for an old set-up... even if that particular set up was much better. Later, we would - in one way or another, be proven right, and we'd still be in the losing end of the deal because the point we were stating would just be swept under the rug. When the client made a mistake (and in this case, it was a gross foul up) we ended up having to work extra hard to help them fix things.
What did we get out of it? Sore throats, tired bodies... and for some, we even got sick out of sheer exhaustion. What did we get back? A certificate of recognition? And even the process of this certificate giving was... to put it mildly, questionable.
On the plus side, we finally got an ally in Accenture by way of Sheila - now, we won't just be trampled, because these power trippers realize we're friends with their new boss. how long this will last, though is anyone's guess. Suffice it to say, for the effort we're giving, we're not getting as much as we deserve... and training still remains a poor priority in Accenture. More often, its like they do the training conducts just for the sake of 'number of conduct' metrics.
Its definitely more than enough for us to seek other avenues of revenue - and speaking of this, 2011 also saw me join an Accenture project - the U2K2 SAP implementation in Unilever, Philippines. I would like to think I held out on my own as long as possible in a very tightly scheduled project. I mean, think of it... I get rolled in expecting some support - and the only person who can give me a semblance of support leaves the project out of frustration to the regional team. I'm in a position that makes me coordinate stuff with everyone - in an environment I'm not too familiar with, and with people I don't know. I'm given some tasks beyond my expected (by NGL) area of responsibility, and I hardly get support from anyone. I'm expected to be on top of the situation with everything - yet I can hardly control, or keep tabs with everything and everyone.
There comes a time when I'm just too tired - and the pace does not slacken. I make mistakes, and get reprimanded - even if I'm just receiving the data. If I wasn't being paid more, I would have seriously reconsidered staying in the project. As it was, I did it to make sure I could save up for Bryce's tuition, and you could say this project came in the right time, as it allowed me to cover the greater expenses so barbie could help her dad with his hospitalization.
On the plus side, I learned more about Accenture projects - as it was my first exposure to one. I definitely understood what was lacking to make me better deliver, but being a consultant makes me rather low in the power totem pole. I see my easing out as a possible political maneuver - to make some people smell better. To be honest, I was also not in the best of health when I joined, so I had some difficulties as well. I was less experienced, but was compensating... but as I said, this was a learning spike. Had I a second go at it, I'm sure I could function a whole lot better, knowing what I do now. But will that happen? I don't know. Still, I'm thankful for the opportunity - and I'm a better facilitator in sharing some experiences and understanding the ideas and methodologies for it.
On learning new stuff:
I don't think I learned a lot of new stuff - aside from the U2K2 experience, I think I read less technical or behavioral-related books this year than last. I mean, aside from Covey's new book (The 3rd Alternative) - which I am currently stuck in the middle of... and the 'Influencer: Power to Change Anything' audio book which I soldiered through just these past two to three weeks, I can hardly think of any other book I've read and learned from... so much for lasting impressions, I guess.
I did make some headway with being a better photographer - and I've got some great shots to prove it. What I lack will be a vision whenever I go take a shot. Right now, I'm more reactive... though I do inject some inputs... its more like shoot what I see and hope some come out right. Still, I am learning, and I may save up for some lighting equipment. So you see, 2011 wasn't a total loss or waste.
On family:
I'd have to consider this a status quo - granted, Bryce is now in College, and it fills me with some pride to see him doing okay in La Salle... specially after a rather rocky start. I've tried supporting him, and in one instance, I was able to really help him debug a program. But as he shifts to medicine, he will be entering fields I am not familiar with.
Bernice seems to be running on automatic - and my influence has been rather minimal, in fact I suspect that had it not been for her occasional need for allowances or gimmick funds, we'd hardly talk. Recently, though, I may have found some leeway as I support an interest of hers - that is, fashion shoots. I also did allow her to recently go on an out of town trip with her classmates. A show of trust on my end... though I think I need to talk to her about openly displaying herself. I feel she needs to be a tad more conservative. I like that she reads books - and will willingly spend for her new books as long as I can do so.
Barbie lost her dad fairly recently, and despite the costs due to hospitalization and medicine, I steered clear of that hot button, lest I get Barbie's ire. To say I'm glad he finally found peace might even get a negative (read as scathing and sarcastic) remark form her. So to keep the peace, I just protect the family's interest. Now that he's gone, there's still a seeming adjustment period. Her mom frequently visits us... and that's okay with me, because as she distracts her mom form thinking about her dad, the same hold true for her. She needs these distractions to keep her from thinking too much. Hopefully, 2012 will afford such distractions.
Mom's been fine and coping... Papa's likewise doing okay (but just okay like me), I feel that I've not spent a lot of time with them - given my very busy project schedule and Barbie's family's needs. It was nice for my folks to separately show support. Now I feel that I should be around them more often. I have to make that happen more next year.
On interests:
I still read and collect comics. In fact, this recent DC revamp has me getting a lot more titles - but I'm starting to trim down on these. I have recently started to be a bit more aggressive with trade collections - in fact, my top library bookshelf is full beyond capacity with these trades.
Books have been a steady stream of interests... in fact, just today, I'm collecting older Matthew Riley books about a seeming character he's created 'The Scarecrow'. After all, I did like his 7-6-5 book series, and if his earlier works have the same pacing, then I'm in for a great ride. I've also been reading the new Star Trek adventures.
On the DVD front, I find that I've yet to watch one movie since the Christmas break started. I've more often than not watched these movies in DVD format. Only saving the real hits fore the big screen. I mean, with movie prices the way they are, I do make it a point to think twice (and thrice) before spending on a movie - specially if I can wait 6 months; or less, for the DVD to appear. I may not be seeing it on the big screen, but I can pause, review a scene and yes... repeat the movie. So what were the biggies? Thor, Captain America, Harry Potter's last movie, and um the latest Twilight film. I'm sure there's more... but I can't recall right now.
On being me:
I still need to exercise more often. The exercise machine given to Barbie lately (for her 20th year in JJMP) will help. I postponed my annual physical - though technically, I shouldn't. I had to, since December was tight.
I have still been organizing the group's Bacardi nights - though I suspect that there have been less Bacardi nights - no surprise, as a great number of these were held at home, and it would still be awkward to have them at home. I mean, I don't mind... but Barbie does.
On the side note, I may be the one my friends listen to - or they're just too lazy to organize one (or it may be both). So that's it... unless I suddenly come up with more 'share-able' stories.
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