Bakat Arena – my current pride and joy. I can’t say how thankful I am to have been able to have the free rein to form my dream team of loyal comrades – all whom share the same vision and harbour the same dreams to expand as ONE ENTITY. CM, in charge of events and also, office manager, YZ & Anne, my allies in terms of brainstorming marketing strategies and execution, Paul, my medical affairs director who ensures that our marketing ideas is in line and suitable for the particular therapeutic area, whether it is for Keytruda, Concor, Latuda, Blackmores and to also ensure we abide by KKLIU and pharma code of ethics, also our word smith, together with Charity, KCM, Aida and Andrew, in charge more of the execution and monitoring of ministry work and tenders.
We are still a small, close-knitted team, but am actively growing in tandem with the demand from more and more local and regional clients. But as in my interview with a new candidate yesterday, she asked what are her prospects in terms of growth with Bakat Area. My reply was short and simple, “as long as you can demonstrate keen and earnest passion for medical and healthcare marketing together with ensuring you give nothing short of your 100% commitment in terms of delivering only the best work quality to all your clients, I can assure you that your prospects are infinite, even if you leave Bakat Arena to join another agency.”
Whilst I’m still managing VC, but I’m slowly trying to phase out my role there due to some unforeseen circumstances. I have high tolerance for a lot of things work-related but absolutely not office politics which to me is a total waste of energy and mental space. It’s just 1 company after all, why pitch a Team A [which is essentially mum and I] against a Team B [the rest of the staff]. Is it a power struggle? When we relate the shocking story to close expert friends, most of their first response is “he feels threatened by MC’s sudden and unexpected up-rise.” I, who used to take instructions from him in the years I was lying low – now the tables have turned. I chair meetings and delegate who does what. Isn’t that what a leader supposed to do?
So he resorted to dirty tactics which is to belittle and ostracise colleagues who defended me. And spread word that both mum and I have done nothing for the company whilst leaving him to “do all the work.” But in all honesty to God Almighty, my key loyalty still remains with VC as I will never forget that it is VC that raised me since it’s establishment 32 years ago. But I have to be realistic and move on albeit with a very very heavy and sad heart when something is no longer working and working together to achieve what I want personally out of life is no longer a possibility. Since a young kid, I’ve really huge ambitions to make my life and achieve ambitions that are way beyond what I can ever imagine as a kid. And this vision remains unchanged.
But the downside of managing 2 companies and a whole combined team of almost 20 over staff is the insurmountable stress that goes along side with it. Which ultimately has led to a serious increase in medical bills, mental breakdowns, completely whacked out hormones akin to a menopausal woman and endless sacrifices to my personal life – friends, social life, hobbies, giving talks in conferences – I can go on and on. But as in econs, we learn early the concept of opportunity costs. Which and what is my priority in life that I really really want in the end? The answer is simple and without any doubt – career achievements and my ambition at any and whatever cost. Like mum’s parody of being a char kueh teow seller. I want Bakat Arena to shine and stand out as THE BEST and nothing short of that. Otherwise, we might as well not take on that job at all. This is my foremost guiding principle in accepting any clients or jobs – not everything that comes our way, means we take on. It’s also our capability to deliver quality.
For all this possibility, and also, getting through assignments and making progress in the work on my thesis, there’s nothing else I can attribute all these to, except for God’s bountiful and beautiful grace to even the most undeserving of all humans for all I’ve ever sinned and done in this life – me.
On the eve of Good Friday itself, He has risen indeed, especially the profound impact of Him in my humble life and the difference He has made when I truly open my heart to let Him in wholly and sincerely, which I’ve learnt to treasure and appreciate since my last admission when I almost lost my life.