Writing my story

Despite my busy schedule I took time off to write a rather light-hearted and casual proposal for the firm's management which I thought at first would be relatively quick to write but the 2 page piece took almost an hour and a half. The time otherwise would have been spent on my superannuation readings.

On Wednesday a professor from University of Western Australia came to present the result of a survey of the firm which was pretty good but still contain room for improvements.The whole firm attended the presentation and not a soul was on the floor beyond the conference room - a sign of a serious issue.

At the end of it the management encouraged employees from all levels to speak up about the result and how we can improve further in the coming weekly Friday meeting which I've no doubt that the speaking will come from the upper level staff only, as usual. They always dominate the scene which is of course understandable given their level.

I only speak up when absolutely necessary.

Since the start of the financial year I sensed that the management is attempting a steady reform, from culture to work performance, and they are getting uneasy about middle to lower level staff keeping quiet all the time when they want feedback from us.

Well this time I am going on board as I've formulated my opinion strong enough to put it on table despite my written proposal is just a casual 2 page piece, which I deliberately made it so. This will be my stick to test the depth of the water, metaphorically speaking.

My plan is to email everyone my proposal tomorrow, setting an agenda for the weekly meeting and see how it goes.

After slightly more than a year in the firm, I am ready to write my own story.

Derailed

As I've mentioned before over the past 3 weeks that the public transport crisis in metropolitan Melbourne could topple the current Labor state government in the next election if the problem is prolonged without any form solid solution in sight.

The opening of this week saw the Flinders Station dangerously packed with evening peak-hour commuters due to the rain. Connex, of course, blamed the weather for the train delays and consequently the packed platforms.

Transport Minister Lynne Kosky, currently on leave, continues to receive backlash from commuters. I am pretty sure she is currently one of the most unpopular minister in the cabinet.

From The Age today:

Catch our trains' say frustrated commuters

'Angry commuters have challenged the head of Connex and Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky to take a ride on Melbourne's overcrowded and "dangerous" train network.

- Kosky challenged to 'take a ride'
- Flinders Street station 'dangerous'
- 'Sea of commuters' block platforms

Frustrated passengers threw down the gauntlet to Connex executive chairman Jonathan Metcalfe and Ms Kosky in emails expressing their fury at crammed train carriages and packed station platforms.

[...]

A Craigieburn line passenger said it was "only a matter of time" before overcrowding at Flinders Street Station caused a death or serious injury.

"The Transport Minister and her colleagues should join the voters of safe Labor seats and catch the 5:36pm to Craigieburn," he wrote.

"She might see that this is a real problem that has a high potential to cause serious injury to children or the elderly or small-framed women who, if pushed in a big crowd, will not have the strength to resist the crowd and will be toppled onto the tracks." '

The metro railway contract currently held by Connex will be up for tender soon and so far Hong Kong's MTR and France's Keolis are bidding for the rights. Personally, I would like to see MTR to run the trains as they are no doubt one of the best railway operators in the world.

Ms. Kosky, you heard us?

Sparrow

I might be biased because I'm Johnnie To's fan but I really must say that his latest film, Sparrow is simply cinematic orgasmic.

It was simply so enjoyable that I was smilling throughout the film. There's the cinematography, the acting, the music, the scenes and of course a rather refreshing story departing away from the usual standard Hong Kong themes.

If you want to be transported to a magical world that is not ancient fantasy or filled with fairies but set in reality then this is the film for you.

I am not going to tell you the story. Find it out yourself, if you are interested.

Saleable Service

It would have been just another Friday afternoon, casual and taking things easy as we all were anticipating for the weekend.

But it was different this time. I was called in by one of the firm's partner into his office. I thought I was in trouble or something as I rarely work for him. What more could I expect when I was called in.

Did I do something wrong?

To much surprise it wasn't what I've thought. He just wanted to have a chat with me regarding my 'foresight'. He started off by asking me whether have I done any formal work before on future business planning or any of that sort. No I didn't.

The reason he summoned me because of a short story I wrote last Friday during a leadership training session. The coach asked us to write a story, past or future, and the moral of if it that could inspire our colleagues in the workplace to work as a team and advance forward.

While I guess most of the attendees wrote about the past, mostly about certain situations or problems which were then resolved and became lessons for others.

I didn't write about the past and instead I wrote about a scenario of the firm's future standing.

Apparently what I wrote, according to the partner, was future studies or Strategic Foresight as known in the academia. He thought that I might have the potential to turn this foresight into a saleable service, i.e: strategic management consulting.

In the firm he is one of the two senior partners who does consulting/advisory with no underlings, whereas I work for other partners in the compliance section of tax, superannuation and audit.

He said if consulting is what I want to do further down the line then I should start seriously considering the option of picking up the skills now and be involved in discussion groups and networking. He is willing to provide the platform for me.

During the meeting I was pretty stunned as his words were pretty much spot on on what I want to do in the future in the accounting field. I would like to become a consultant one day in addition to my other ambitions in the investment arena, and to a certain degree, politics.

It is also my intention to pick up some knowledge and skills in strategic management accounting next year, albeit nobody knows about it in the firm.

In a way I am delighted that someone is spot on regarding my career aspirations but on the other hand it would be a real challenge because in consulting it is either you make it or just get out.

Who would pay $1000 per hour for lousy advice?

Carnage

The topic over dinner was all about the current US financial market meltdown and judging from the current flux of mess, it looks more likely to become a global financial meltdown.

In what was supposed to be a dinner of four turned out to be three as one friend just became redundant earlier in the afternoon which naturally spoilt her day and appetite. It seems like the meltdown have hit the shores down under. Even Macquarie wasn't spared - shedded 20% in market value.

The friend was an operation officer in a hedge fund company.

The other two friends are finance academics from Melbourne University and they are not optimistic about the state of affairs. Of course.

"First to go are those from the operations, next are Last In First Out", one of them said, referring that backroom people would always be the first line of cut followed by the professionals who came in late but first to be out. Only the experienced ones will be kept during such times.

Already there are leaks that some of the major Australian financial companies are putting a hold on their graduate recruitment drive next year. In fact those who have been recruited were told that their official intake might be delayed. For how long? don't know.

It would take some time for the whole financial mess to be cleaned up before things start picking up again and this could take at least two years, if not more.

Despite the carnage there is some silver lining. Like I said before, it is always a good time to buy shares during bear market or financial downturn.

Over pasta, fettucini, chicken main and calamari, the three of us agreed that we would all be rich men in the future if we can afford to buy the whole index now, sit on them and wait for a few years.

Perhaps index-tracking ETFs could be an alternative entry.

Only if we could afford.

No escape from the public transport 'crisis'

The Labor Party Carlton Branch meeting this evening was supposed to have the attendance of Victoria Deputy Premier Rob Hulls.

I am certain that almost everyone in the room was expecting him. I was late due to the rain and ran to the meeting to find out that Mr. Hulls cannot make it due an emergency cabinet meeting. Spring Street isn't very far from the Trade Unions Hall in Lygon - so near yet so far.

In my mind I expected questions for Mr. Hulls from the floor to be on the lines of the implications of the recently concluded WA Elections, which the Labor Party lost to the Liberal/National tie-up on Saturday, and of course the Melbourne Metropolitan public transport 'crisis'.

The members in the room I spoke to agreed that the public transport problems have reached a tipping point that could launch an electorate backlash against the Labor Party. While it is understandable that the government cannot resolve the problems overnight but on the public relations front in providing confidence for the people has been rather disastrous. Think MyKyi and Lynne Kosky.

It is not just an issue of people's comfort in using public transport but also the implications for business and investments. Certainly this has affected Melbourne's status as one of the world's most liveable city. If Victoria wants to capitalise on the federal's initiative in turning Australia into a global financial hub then it has got to get its basic infrastruture right.

If it can't solve a public transport problem how can it provide a suitable platform for future investments and economic growth?

Until the people's grouses are subdued the future of Labor Party maintaining its hold in Victoria looks shaky, if not defeatable.

A warning sign for Victorian and Federal Labor

It has been a rather exciting week for Australian politics from coast to coast.

After an internal party coup in NSW, in which the state Labor right faction kicked out Morris Iemma from his premier post, the WA election over the weekend produced a hung parliament.

The voters sent the WA Labor Party a strong message that it did not do well enough despite the state being the current economic superstar of the nation.

Surprisingly the WA Nationals became the kingmaker which is still deciding on which side to join, Labor or Liberal, and form a new state government. It is highly likely that the Nationals would pick the Liberal Party.

On the other side of the federal fence saw The Nationals losing a mid-north coast NSW seat of Lyne to an independent by a significant margin. Down in South Australian seat of Mayo where counting is still going on the Liberals is only razor thin ahead of the Greens despite that former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer held this seat previously.

The swings are a sign of voters' frustrations with both the Labor and Opposition parties in time of economic uncertainties - inflation, high interest rate, job cuts and a fast slowing economy.

Back home in Victoria theres the transport and housing issues in addition to the dark economic clouds. If John Brumby is serious in keeping the state, he should start doing some serious work fixing up the problems, rally the party and move the state forward. He is lucky that the he does not have to hold an election soon.

For sure John would not want to end like WA premier Alan Carpenter - an electorate backlash against a lacklustre and mediocre state government.

Kevin, this goes same for you. Enough of plain-speak rhetorics and its time for some real results for the people to see.

It is a bit of an edge

It is the first time in my professional working life that I will be receiving an award of recognition of my skills and knowledge in Australian Taxation.

The mail arrived today at my desk inviting me to attend an award ceremony in two weeks time at a high end hotel in the CBD to receive my scroll.

It certainly made me happy as it can give me a bit of an edge over my peers in the industry. I am not overjoyed about it though because this is just the beginning of a journey of trying my best to stay at the top of the game.

Already I am feeling the pressure - personally and professionally, to continually strive for excellence in my work.

Although I am recognised as being very much up there and I will accept it as a fact but I don't see myself at the very top yet.

I am happy to receive the award but with guarded joy. There are still a lot more rooms for improvement.