Category : Books-Non-Fiction

Sub Category : Biography

Story 4

"I Will Survive"

"Ma'am, my wife is not working and we have three small children. If I lose this job, it will be hard for me to get another one," an anxious face amongst the many people sitting in front of Sue solemnly said. She could see the same worry etched on the faces of everyone else present and it bugged her. But.... what could she do? What could she say? 

It was one of the most distressing periods in Sue's working life; a time when she had to 'sell' the idea of leaving their jobs to hundreds of staff across the country. The later part of the 1990's was a traumatic period for those working in the financial industry. Bank Negara Malaysia had announced a consolidation and merger programme for domestic banking institutions, which affected the organisation that Sue was working in. She was then the Company Secretary of a finance company and was responsible for all corporate matters, including human resource management. Their parent bank planned to merge the finance company operations into its banking structure, which would lead to the dissolution of the finance company. On the human resources side, that means loss of jobs. 

In meetings of the task force at the bank level, it was all about making the numbers. They needed to let go of 'x' percentage of staff by a given date. As they talked and studied spreadsheets, the voice inside her yearned to say, "We're talking about people here, people with mouths to feed. They're not just numbers." But she didn't say anything. The voice inside her remained just that, the voice inside. She was part of the management team and had to get on with the job. A 'Voluntary Separation Scheme' (VSS) had been drawn up and it was her unenviable task to go around all the branches to explain the consolidation exercise. In the process, Sue had to persuade her staff to opt for the VSS. 

The fears facing the staff were real. Banks and companies were downsizing all over the country and the job market was dismal. Sue had a hard time putting on her 'management face', telling them not to be unduly worried as the VSS payout actually represented an opportunity for them. That 'opportunity' was actually her persuasion tool. She came up with a presentation to show her staff the possibilities that could open up to them if they accepted the VSS. This was a chance for them to be their own boss, to take the money and start a small business. Of course, she knew it wouldn't be as easy as it sounded. Doing business is always risky, especially in difficult economic conditions. Plus, not everyone has the acumen to be successful in business. But Sue had to make the 'x' percentage, so she had to persuade, persuade and persuade. 

Sue felt like such a phony because the bank's Chief Executive had indicated to her that she would have a place in his management team. There she was, her position assured, while she was telling people to leave theirs. Where is the fairness in that? But that's the reality of the corporate world. Everyone is dispensable, some more than others. 

Racked by a guilty conscience, and also unhappy with what she had to do, Sue decided to lead by example. She decided to take the advice that she had been liberally giving to her colleagues. She went to the Chief Executive and said that she would like to take up the VSS. The Chief Executive had not expected her to do that, but he would accept Sue's request provided she wouldn't join any other financial institution. Sue agreed. 

The news about Sue taking the VSS soon broke only this time, when she made the rounds of the branches,  she could say, "Look, I'm taking the plunge into the unknown as well. If I can do it, so can you. Go ahead, take the opportunity."

In truth, she really had no idea what she was going to do. She was a 45 year old woman who was almost at the height of her career in a well-known organisation. Her peers at the parent bank thought she was crazy and one guy, a Canadian expatriate, even said, "Sue, you are very brave to leave."

And he was right. Sue had always been career-minded, moving upwards through various organisations until she settled into this financial institution. The climb up the career ladder came with the stresses and strains of corporate life but she had made it to the level she wanted, with the corner office, the luxury car, and overseas courses and travels. It was indeed brave of her to leave it all, to be a non entity with no job title, no perks and no privileges. 

People she met would often ask, "What do you do? Where do you work?" - questions that made Sue realize these were what others measured her by. But then again, these were questions that made her look within herself, forcing her to assess her own capabilities and determine her own person. At long last, she was free of an organisational crutch. She now had to learn to swim by herself. In fact, the sense of relief that came over her once she had made her decision was so noticeable that, in her last few months at work, her staff commented on how happy she looked. The frown was gone from her forehead because the burden had been lifted off her shoulders. On a personal level, she would lose much but they were material things, tangible accoutrements that were not essential to living. In her heart, she was confident that what she would gain was plentiful - the opportunity to make her own way within God's greater plan for her destiny. 

The day finally came for Sue to make her exit from the 'rat race'. It felt surreal to her the next morning to wake up knowing that she didn't have to be anywhere, see anyone or do anything that she didn't want to. Having been so wrapped up in a life of meetings, appointments and deadlines for over two decades, Sue savoured the luxury of curling up in an armchair with a book in her hand and a cup of coffee on the table. It was a momentary indulgence, however, because she had to face the fact that she needed to earn a living. She thought to herself, "When one door closes, another one opens."

Sue had always wanted to do community service but with her very busy work schedule, she never had the time. Now that she was free, that was one of the first things that came to mind soon after she left her job. God soon pointed the way for her. She was reading a local newspaper one day and came across an article about the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA)  Malaysia. It was just what she was looking for. Volunteering with RDA involves helping special needs children and she has always had a soft spot for those having to face mental and physical challenges. The sessions are held outdoors and require physical exertion, thus she would be able to get some much-needed exercise in the process. She could kill two birds with one stone, a thought which really appealed to her. Horses and ponies are used in the sessions and she had been fascinated by these beautiful creatures since she was a child. Another plus point in her book. 

So, Sue made her way to the RDA branch at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort and met a group of dedicated and enthusiastic people, all volunteers; locals as well as from various countries. Sue got on board immediately and even obtained a Level 1 certification. RDA is an international organisation based in the UK and provides training and certification to volunteers. Sue continues to be involved with RDA to this day. She said the biggest reward she derive from her association with RDA is seeing how the sessions truly benefit special needs children, who all have greater trials and tribulations in their lives compared to hers. She thanks God for this door that He opened for her to help others. 

But.... she still needed to earn a living. 

Each day she prayed to be shown the way, the path she should take to earn an honest living. Through her full trust and faith in God, He guided her to her vocation - writing. 

Sue has been an avid reader since she learned her alphabets, and when she was a child her pocket money went towards buying books. A passion for reading led to a love of writing. In school, Sue was a regular contributor of articles to annual school magazines, and in her early working life she invariably ended up on her company's newsletter editorial team. Writing became a big part of whatever work she did or pursuit she undertook. 

The idea to actually work as a writer appealed to Sue. It was something she loved doing, but the attraction lay in the fact that she could work from home and determine her own hours. She could do as much or as little as she liked, and what was even better, she could choose her clients. Nonetheless to branch out as a freelance writer at the age of 45 was not that easy. She didn't have a journalistic or publishing background so the network wasn't there for her to tap. It dawned on her then that she had given up an assured five-figure monthly salary to now scrounge for financial scraps of perhaps a thousand or two a month. The difference between the numbers were huge but she had no regrets. 

She had to start from zero and her very first writing assignment was a corporate profile for an international company that made light switches, thanks to her Kiwi friend, who was its Managing Director. He then informed Sue that Editions Didier Miller, an international publisher was looking for a New Zealand educated person to work on a travel guide on New Zealand. The experience that she gained from working on the travel guide was priceless. It was a year of education for her and it gave her the confidence to continue with freelance writing. Sue has been working consistently since then, moving from writing magazine articles to annual reports to now working on longer-term projects such as corporate histories and coffee-table books. 

In adversity, they say, there is opportunity. Of course, it was not a bed of roses all the way.  In her initial years, she had clients who didn't pay her for work done. She also had those who thought that writing in the English language was a piece of cake so they question why they should pay her the fee she had asked for. There were many who felt that they could treat her like a hired servant because she was a freelancer. After her life as a corporate high-flyer, it was a huge step down for her to have to face such degrading treatment. While these experiences were trials of humility, they also helped to teach her how to be more discriminating in accepting work. She soon learned that if she was not happy with a client's attitude or demands, or the work required, she wouldn't take it on. 

Today, she is thankful that she has built a reputation as a good and reliable writer and editor in the English language and she is grateful to God for the sterling list of clients that she had worked for. Sue firmly believe in having faith in God's plans for her. Nonetheless, she also knows that she must work towards achieving her goals that are consistent with His way. 

We endeavour, we persevere, but God determines the final outcome.