It is this time of the year again, writing annual self assessment. It is due today before midnight. But from last week, everyone was using it as an excuse to claim themselves busy; it seemed like a big deal - our pay increase is dependent on it. How hard could it be right? I knew what I was going to write, it will probably take me a few hours, but I still started it last Monday to give myself ample time to finish. I finished it as planned, it took me an hour since I have more accomplishments this year to write about. I proof read it a few times to make sure it is all polished. Click, submit at US EST 1330 this afternoon :-)
I did very well last year, maybe it was because I wrote a fascinating assessment or just the fact that I accomplished so much. Also, I got rewarded fairly last year. I always had the intention to write more and more trying to claim more credits. I used to do that, and I fixed this bad habit last year, not to mention there is a 2000 character limit for assessment on each objective.
My evaluation system is composed of three objectives, it intends to cover different aspects of my work and attempts to evaluate me in a well-rounded manner. Leadership is my first objective trying to measure how well I managed my team and how effective the team's productivity is. Communication and horizontal integration is my second objective. You can ask five different people what that is and get eight different answers. In a nutshell, it tries to measure my ability to communicate with people and how well I manage technical issues and drive them to resolution. Third and last, the objective is personal development. I guess my organization wants to make sure I am not just doing a job, but at the same time, I am proactively enhancing my career through different means.
Kudos to me because I already built a template from last year. When I first wrote my assessment last year, I wrote it like a resume. I bulleted every single thing I worked on, things include a major project, a small project, talking to people, attending meetings, writing documents and etc. You usually realize how bad your stuff is after you write them, sounds familiar? After I was done, I barely read it through myself, it was so disorganized and sounded like I was ranting. I showed a friend of mine to get some feedback, his comment was "So what!" His comment shocked me, in a good way of course. He is right, who cares what I did, perhaps other people can do the same thing. Everyone can attend meetings, everyone can talk to people; but how well and what difference did I make?
After reading through countless self assessment examples and suggestions online, I came across this article that stated something that just hit the spot. Paraphrasing here, your boss wants to know what you did, curious about how you did it but really cares about its impact. This immediately led to my idea of the three-tier template.
Select all, and erase. I started from scratch again and I spent less than 10 minutes for each objective. I then went online and searched for some polishing words and tried to spice it up a little bit. I read it again, I asked my friend to read it again. It was smooth, well organized and made it sounds like I actually did something important.
Why can't we write a resume like that? I think resume serves a different purpose, it act as a quick "gotcha" for your readers just like a 15-second elevator speech. If you run into your director or vice president in the elevator and you only got 15 seconds, what would you say to impress them? A resume is supposed to send a few quick bullets of your accomplishments to the reader, and try to correlate as much as possible to the job itself. It is like a strobe light, a quick flash and catch someone's attention and save all the beautiful stories for later - interview.
But how? In my personal opinion, the choice of verbs and eliminate ambiguity of the subject (your work accomplished). Try to consider these four verbs: lead, developed, drafted and participated. If you were to rank them in terms of credibility, how would you rank them? I already ranked them in sequential order. I suggest to avoid ambiguous subjects which means do not allow your reader to think about what it is. "Developed a statement of work for investment plan." What kind of investment plan? Are you asking someone to invest a dollar or a million dollars? I think amplifying the scope of investment plan will earn you some positive points. For example, "developed a statement of work for a multi-million dollar advertisement investment plan and obtained excellent customer feedback."
Writing an annual assessment in my mind needs a different approach, it is suppose to capture a year worth of work, accomplishment and value. I find the three-tier template very useful - what I did, how I did it and its impact.
To summarize, resume is supposed to be concise, eye catching, simple and unambiguous where as annual assessment should be well structured, methodical, value based and should trace back to overarching organization goal.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Sunday, September 8, 2013
My Understanding Evolution of God, Religion and Church
My uncle used to tell me, God created everything, God gives us knowledge and strength and God has a plan for us. This was many many moons ago, 16 years ago if I remember correctly. This was when I first came to the states, I was 12, everything was so hazy to me. As a naughty boy I was, I responded "Well, it sort of conflicts with what I saw at the National History Museum."
My family including my parents will bug me here and there from time to time about going to Church. I occasionally tried to be obedient so I can get my demands in return. Maybe it is my ADD syndrome, something else would catch my attention during the service or I would fall asleep like I do in classrooms. Maybe the message they were trying to convey is not something I can comprehend, or just yet. The statements usually start with God this, God that. If the sentence doesn't have the word God in it at least once, they probably think that they are not doing their job. I have to be frank, their messages were provocative to me. It caused moments of anger, moments of not wanting to reconcile, and moments of rejections.
As I went through my high school and college education, I am more exposed to the society, new people, diverse culture, and different sources of education. Everyday is a learning day, learning all sorts of things about knowledge that interests me, people, history, math and science, sports, and art etc.. I have good friends who believe in God and they practice different religions. We don't really talk about it, but when we do, it would remind you of a heated debate. I actually don't have much to offer to that conversation, I can't disapprove anything they say because I still have doubts, nor that they can convince me.
I was a proud and arrogant person in college. I was selective on what I want to hear and what I want to learn. I always feel like I have the power to do things, control the process and get the results I wanted. It isn't until a few years ago that I realize how do I know what I wanted is really what I want. I had a path laid out for myself after college, or I should say a path that other people took thatI should follow the same. Was it really my choice?
Having a life with a professional career changed my life. It changed how I view things, how I think and my value system. At times, I felt devastated that my powers are limited, I can't get the results I wanted and I have to try so hard to succeed - a lot harder than I used to try. There wasn't a specific click or turning point, I guess through time, my ego and pride had gone out the window and sailed. I concluded one thing, devastation and anxiety is because I don't know enough about anything and everything. I looked up into the sky, I know not what is out there. I read the book Apollo, how do I really believe the fact that we sent humans to the moon? I decided to remain humble, maybe God did create everything. Let's call him God for now so people don't think I made up another name for. This was probably 4 or 5 years ago, from then on, I do not exclude new information, I try to reconcile, and I challenge my comfort zone. The first 10 years or so I spent in the states was an evolution that nurtured my value system.
If you remember Jefferson Bethke's spoken words of "Why I hate religion but love Jesus", it shocked the entire social media in matter of hours - millions of hits on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. As religious as he is, he used such strong words to distinguish between God, religion and church. "Because if grace is water, then the church should be an ocean, it's not a museum for good people, it's a hospital for the broken." This is just one of the many meaningful notes that hit the spot. He really puts God, religion and church into perspective, at least it did for me.
I am really grateful of what I have today because I know if I am without any of them, my life will not be the same. But if I did lose what I have today, I would be content because I know things could be worse. I have overcome many challenges, and I am sure there are more to come. I do not see them as obstacles, I see them as milestones I need to go through to reach my goals. I remain positive and optimistic about my future, because life is a path that everyone has to walk, it just depends on how one walks it. There will be a lot of other paths joining in, and so will there be paths branching off. When I look down, I see the path that I am walking on, when I look up, I see my dreams. My value system is being nurtured and refined, and I am slowly establishing my faith.
So where did I get these perspectives about life? I have faith? Where did it come from? I would like to emphasize that the keyword here is life. I think a person's faith yields that person's life. Maybe faith doesn't just have to do with life, maybe it deals with something beyond life - I don't know. For me, it had been a collective and comprehensive evolution, I am not saying these will always be my perspectives, but my faith in life is a continuing evolution.
So going back to Bethke's words, what is God, religion and church? The subject that ties everything together, I think, is faith. Religion and church are created by human beings. Why? Religion is humans' understanding God's creation, at least we tried to; that is why we have so many different religions. I am sure if you put a Christian, a Catholic, a Jew all in one room and locked the door, it may not just be a heated debate. According to Bethke, church is just a broken hospital for clueless people seeking guidance in life. Everyone comes to church is at a different stage of their lives, thus their level of faith is different. I agree! Some people are assholes from Mondays through Saturdays and they act so holy on Sundays. Quit putting a fake mask on. Watch out!
I have not been baptized yet, it is insignificant to me, at least right now. I believe or don't believe in God, I don't know. There is no rush to know. When the time is right, it will turn itself out. I learn different things everyday and my faith is being refined, hopefully for the better.
My family including my parents will bug me here and there from time to time about going to Church. I occasionally tried to be obedient so I can get my demands in return. Maybe it is my ADD syndrome, something else would catch my attention during the service or I would fall asleep like I do in classrooms. Maybe the message they were trying to convey is not something I can comprehend, or just yet. The statements usually start with God this, God that. If the sentence doesn't have the word God in it at least once, they probably think that they are not doing their job. I have to be frank, their messages were provocative to me. It caused moments of anger, moments of not wanting to reconcile, and moments of rejections.
As I went through my high school and college education, I am more exposed to the society, new people, diverse culture, and different sources of education. Everyday is a learning day, learning all sorts of things about knowledge that interests me, people, history, math and science, sports, and art etc.. I have good friends who believe in God and they practice different religions. We don't really talk about it, but when we do, it would remind you of a heated debate. I actually don't have much to offer to that conversation, I can't disapprove anything they say because I still have doubts, nor that they can convince me.
I was a proud and arrogant person in college. I was selective on what I want to hear and what I want to learn. I always feel like I have the power to do things, control the process and get the results I wanted. It isn't until a few years ago that I realize how do I know what I wanted is really what I want. I had a path laid out for myself after college, or I should say a path that other people took thatI should follow the same. Was it really my choice?
Having a life with a professional career changed my life. It changed how I view things, how I think and my value system. At times, I felt devastated that my powers are limited, I can't get the results I wanted and I have to try so hard to succeed - a lot harder than I used to try. There wasn't a specific click or turning point, I guess through time, my ego and pride had gone out the window and sailed. I concluded one thing, devastation and anxiety is because I don't know enough about anything and everything. I looked up into the sky, I know not what is out there. I read the book Apollo, how do I really believe the fact that we sent humans to the moon? I decided to remain humble, maybe God did create everything. Let's call him God for now so people don't think I made up another name for. This was probably 4 or 5 years ago, from then on, I do not exclude new information, I try to reconcile, and I challenge my comfort zone. The first 10 years or so I spent in the states was an evolution that nurtured my value system.
If you remember Jefferson Bethke's spoken words of "Why I hate religion but love Jesus", it shocked the entire social media in matter of hours - millions of hits on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. As religious as he is, he used such strong words to distinguish between God, religion and church. "Because if grace is water, then the church should be an ocean, it's not a museum for good people, it's a hospital for the broken." This is just one of the many meaningful notes that hit the spot. He really puts God, religion and church into perspective, at least it did for me.
I am really grateful of what I have today because I know if I am without any of them, my life will not be the same. But if I did lose what I have today, I would be content because I know things could be worse. I have overcome many challenges, and I am sure there are more to come. I do not see them as obstacles, I see them as milestones I need to go through to reach my goals. I remain positive and optimistic about my future, because life is a path that everyone has to walk, it just depends on how one walks it. There will be a lot of other paths joining in, and so will there be paths branching off. When I look down, I see the path that I am walking on, when I look up, I see my dreams. My value system is being nurtured and refined, and I am slowly establishing my faith.
So where did I get these perspectives about life? I have faith? Where did it come from? I would like to emphasize that the keyword here is life. I think a person's faith yields that person's life. Maybe faith doesn't just have to do with life, maybe it deals with something beyond life - I don't know. For me, it had been a collective and comprehensive evolution, I am not saying these will always be my perspectives, but my faith in life is a continuing evolution.
So going back to Bethke's words, what is God, religion and church? The subject that ties everything together, I think, is faith. Religion and church are created by human beings. Why? Religion is humans' understanding God's creation, at least we tried to; that is why we have so many different religions. I am sure if you put a Christian, a Catholic, a Jew all in one room and locked the door, it may not just be a heated debate. According to Bethke, church is just a broken hospital for clueless people seeking guidance in life. Everyone comes to church is at a different stage of their lives, thus their level of faith is different. I agree! Some people are assholes from Mondays through Saturdays and they act so holy on Sundays. Quit putting a fake mask on. Watch out!
I have not been baptized yet, it is insignificant to me, at least right now. I believe or don't believe in God, I don't know. There is no rush to know. When the time is right, it will turn itself out. I learn different things everyday and my faith is being refined, hopefully for the better.
Work to Live or Live to Work
Emails flying in, office phone ringing, cell phone ringing and some annoying coworker's voice quacking next to you. Does that sound familiar?
The display only shows temperature in Celsius, "we need Fahrenheit or we can't authorize this!" My boss shouted "Oh for god's sake, you are a freaking engineer, use your iPhone or do the math, multiple by 9/5 and plus 32."
The last thing you want to solve is how to convert temperatures and some dumbass demands a 'specialized tool'. And that's also the last thing you would want to tell your boss that you have an engineering degree but you can't do math.
Well that was Thursday, more problems arise and no one gets a day off today. I swear I woke up this morning expecting to have brunch at a local cafe.
What I learned is there are always problems, some belong to you and some belong to others and some don't even matter. Tip: never think all problems belong to you.
If you let work stress you out, I am sorry to tell you that you lost to your job, you didn't succeed. If you solve what you can and know how to set things aside, and know how to keep a positive attitude even during overtime and no matter how tedious the problem is, you have won the battle and you smile when you leave that door because you are about to enjoy life.
How tedious can what your boss ask you to do is? Stapling papers? Plan a meeting to talk about how to run another meeting more efficiently? Reviewing a document that you know an updated version is coming out tomorrow? Or someone can't do simple elementary school math and you have to figure out how to tell him he is so stupid in an educated way.
Whatever, it doesn't matter, what matters is weekend is here and my sports car is waiting for me outside!
Don't let your work rule over you, if you learned something today to help your career, congratulations, you succeeded, now take that paycheck and enjoy your life!
The display only shows temperature in Celsius, "we need Fahrenheit or we can't authorize this!" My boss shouted "Oh for god's sake, you are a freaking engineer, use your iPhone or do the math, multiple by 9/5 and plus 32."
The last thing you want to solve is how to convert temperatures and some dumbass demands a 'specialized tool'. And that's also the last thing you would want to tell your boss that you have an engineering degree but you can't do math.
Well that was Thursday, more problems arise and no one gets a day off today. I swear I woke up this morning expecting to have brunch at a local cafe.
What I learned is there are always problems, some belong to you and some belong to others and some don't even matter. Tip: never think all problems belong to you.
If you let work stress you out, I am sorry to tell you that you lost to your job, you didn't succeed. If you solve what you can and know how to set things aside, and know how to keep a positive attitude even during overtime and no matter how tedious the problem is, you have won the battle and you smile when you leave that door because you are about to enjoy life.
How tedious can what your boss ask you to do is? Stapling papers? Plan a meeting to talk about how to run another meeting more efficiently? Reviewing a document that you know an updated version is coming out tomorrow? Or someone can't do simple elementary school math and you have to figure out how to tell him he is so stupid in an educated way.
Whatever, it doesn't matter, what matters is weekend is here and my sports car is waiting for me outside!
Don't let your work rule over you, if you learned something today to help your career, congratulations, you succeeded, now take that paycheck and enjoy your life!
Two Years of Darkness
I crawled out of the field, couldn't even stand on one leg because there was so much pain. It reminds me of Beckham back in 2006 World Cup where he got subbed off during the game due to a knee injury, he teared and threw his boots at the floor with anger, despair and hopelessness. It seems like he knew his time is up. Not so long afterwards, he gave up his captain armband.
The doctor told me you can't play for six months, and recovery can take up to another six months. I didn't know how to take it, I feel handicapped. It feels like I can't walk anymore and I teared. Another year of injury followed, I almost gave up on it. But I keep training, pushing the limit and now I am back! I feel fine and the game is back.
I want to say goodbye to darkness that clouded me for two years.
The doctor told me you can't play for six months, and recovery can take up to another six months. I didn't know how to take it, I feel handicapped. It feels like I can't walk anymore and I teared. Another year of injury followed, I almost gave up on it. But I keep training, pushing the limit and now I am back! I feel fine and the game is back.
I want to say goodbye to darkness that clouded me for two years.
Leaders
I've always wanted to be a leader. I am sure you have as well, like so spontaneously say "I want to lead, I want to be a leader!" But how?
For the longest time, I didn't know what it takes to be a leader. Well, I thought I knew. One thing I know is a leader makes a difference, regardless of its size, measure and influence. Big leaders make big influences that you will see on social media, small leaders make smaller influences but it doesn't mean they are subtle and should be neglected.
What about a good leader? In my opinion, that is when your subordinates believe in you! Also, they are able to create opportunities. They don't tell you what to do or how to do, they make you think about what to do and make you believe in it.
For the longest time, I didn't know what it takes to be a leader. Well, I thought I knew. One thing I know is a leader makes a difference, regardless of its size, measure and influence. Big leaders make big influences that you will see on social media, small leaders make smaller influences but it doesn't mean they are subtle and should be neglected.
What about a good leader? In my opinion, that is when your subordinates believe in you! Also, they are able to create opportunities. They don't tell you what to do or how to do, they make you think about what to do and make you believe in it.
How to Save Yourself from Procrastination
Have you ever feel like you did nothing for days and the productivity was absolutely low? Don't lie, I am sure everyone has. I have as well.
I sat in front of a computer, browse YouTube for hours, ate junk food instead of cooking, can't go outside because my hair is puffy, too lazy to dress because I feel too comfortable being in boxers, can't tell what time it is because blinds are shut and I can't find my watch.
So day 1, day 2 and so on. After so long, I've done nothing, but I will ask myself what did I do because I did do something, just I feel like I did nothing.
If you get to that stage, please pick up a pen and a piece of paper and start writing. Write what you did and what went through your mind. You just saved yourself from procrastination, because first you did do something now, and I am sure if you read what you wrote later on, I bet you you won't do this again!
Me
People are created with who they are, what they like, how they feel, what they think and how they act.
If I take a note on that, then I am the composition of soccer, Chinese, English, guitar, blogs, procrastinator, airplanes, cars, Washington DC, engineer, table tennis, spicy food, writing, freedom of speech, dating girls, sports car, water, rivers, red leaves, fall, snow and blah blah blah...
If you notice these are all nouns. If you don't know me, can you tell who I am? If you know me already, can you throw some adjectives to describe me? And if you really know me, can you see what I am composed with?
If I take a note on that, then I am the composition of soccer, Chinese, English, guitar, blogs, procrastinator, airplanes, cars, Washington DC, engineer, table tennis, spicy food, writing, freedom of speech, dating girls, sports car, water, rivers, red leaves, fall, snow and blah blah blah...
If you notice these are all nouns. If you don't know me, can you tell who I am? If you know me already, can you throw some adjectives to describe me? And if you really know me, can you see what I am composed with?
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