I’ve been working for this nifty, little online store for the past 2 years. I am/was employee #1 actually. Been with it while it was still just a small project of a digital advertising agency until it exploded into something else and became an independent company. In a matter of 2 years, we’ve expanded the business, tripled the revenue, and quadrupled the work force. August 2010 we were just 2 people (my boss and I) and now, we’re 80 people. And it’s been a crazy ride. A lot of heart/head ache, victory dances, tears, fist pumps, and shouting matches –like I said crazy, but not the least bit disappointing.

It’s a start up. So needless to say, policies, process, rules, structure, and other things you might expect from an established corporate -y environment do not exist in a start up business. And for some people, it’s amazing. But for most people it can be quite the hell you don’t want to be in. And everything can be summed up in just one word: STRESS!

So I’ve made up my own list of things that you need to know about working in a start-up. Maybe they’ll help you survive. Maybe they’ll make you want to stay away. But either way, these are my start-up realities and learnings.

1. You are the expert – it’s only logical that the bosses/owners will only get people they no longer need to train. people they think are capable of running their own departments, and able to make sound decisions for the company’s growth. they’re trying to build a business. of course they will only get people who can help them build it. so there’s no time nor space for training or mentorship (at least not in the first few months or years). you will be the mentor. you will be the one doing the training for your future teams. so it’s up to you to push yourselves to improve. to learn as much as you can about the business, about your job and kick ass at it.
2. Be Water, My Friend –  Bruce Lee couldn’t have said it better. Sometimes you have to do things that are beyond your skill level. Maybe you were hired as a Project Manager, handle IT projects and shit. Next thing you know, you’re closing financial books and processing new hires because you haven’t got a Finance and an HR manager. So you have to adapt fast. And learn even faster. Don’t fight it. Not only will you learn new skills (perfect for the resume), it also builds character and gives you a better feel for the company and how to manage it (or at least your teams).
3. People will always complain – (this one is for the managers, leads, supervisors, etc) exactly just that. They will complain about the aircon being too cold, the aircon being too hot, the internet speed, the tepid water in the pantry, the stale office smell, the noise, the lack of noise, the sun and sometimes about your shoes. And you can’t stop that. You just have to listen and be able to sort out the valid ones from the exaggerated. They will complain about you, most of all. So don’t take it personally.
4. Respect the company – start ups are pretty lenient. You can come in later than usual, in shorts and slippers, and pretty much spend the day looking up cute kitty videos on youtube – they almost let you do whatever you want. So don’t abuse it. So you can pretty much come in at whatever time you want? Awesome. But please don’t keep coming in at lunch time only to just put your bag down and then grab lunch 5 minutes later and basically be gone for the next 2 hours. Don’t eat up your network’s bandwidth by downloading torrents at work (other people are actually trying to work). And don’t come in at noon only to leave 4 hours later and without proper approval too. Start ups are pretty lenient. But when the owner and the board of directors get wind of how their employees are abusing that leniency then say goodbye to internet freedom, and say hello to salary deduction when you are late. One person’s self-entitlement can lead to other people’s blocked kitty videos.
5. Be prepared to work over time – without pay. Sometimes it’s as simple as “it’s in your contract”. Sometimes this is how companies get something in return for letting you come in at 11 in the morning, and 5 minutes late for your meeting. Sometimes they give you something back for having come in at work on Tuesday only to find yourself still at work 3 days later in the same pair of jeans. But don’t expect anything. If you’re needed to finish something, then you have to finish it. At the end of the day, it’s still your job to deliver. Now if you have to stay until 10pm at the office to finish it, then you have to. Re-assess. Maybe it’s your fault too. Maybe you spent the entire day watching cute kitty videos on youtube?
6. The CEO is not your enemy –  ok so maybe he can be quite an asshole. Asking you to stay extra hours without pay. Calling you in the middle of the night because his internet connection is quite slow. Maybe he’s pure evil. But at the end of the day you’re both working towards the same goal – which is to make more money for the company so you both will have more money. So no, he’s not your enemy! And it’s also wise not to make an enemy out of him.
7. Speak Up – remember item # 1: you are an expert! So there’s absolutely no reason in the world why you shouldn’t say what’s on your mind… even stupid things are ok to say, I guess. Start ups thrive on open communication, I think. Ideas are a given. But most people find it difficult to voice out their concerns outside of bathroom gossip. They shouldn’t keep it to themselves. If it’s going to help the company grow, then by George, go for it.
8. Beer – when it’s been quite a long day, nothing feels better than going out for a drink after work. Don’t talk about work. Just get to know the people you work with, their stories, etc. It’s easier to trust somebody you know – so get to know your co-workers.
9. Wear clothes you actually like wearing – no dress codes! So wear something you like and are comfortable in. Chances are you’re going to spend an entire day up to your eyeballs in work and stress and all that stuff – at least do it in style! And besides if you don’t like how you look, you’re going to be sully the whole day and that’ll effect your productivity. Trust me.
10. Actually care about the company and what it’s doing – this makes the difference. It’s a new company. It probably still doesn’t have a bonus scheme nor a pay increase matrix. You have to work long hours most of the time (often without over time pay). You have to suffer long meetings with your boss (even on weekends via Skype) and spend half of the time in that meeting arguing with him. There will be tons of meetings. And failures. And finger pointing. There will be loss. And heart break. So why stay? Because you want to see the company grow. You want to be part of that growth. You want to be the reason why there is growth. Because you can’t bear to see the company and the business fail. So you will give it nothing but your best and (sometimes) maybe sacrifice some things (like #8 and shower) – but you’re going to be ok with it. Because when you see the company and the business succeed and you know that you had something to do with it (even just a tiny bit) – it’s going to feel so damn good. Even better when you get a raise.

Start ups aren’t for everybody. And that’s ok. You have to be crazy to want to be in a start up environment, I think. :)

Haley from One Tree Hill (yes, I am totally in love with that show) once said “write down the things that you can’t say” so I will.

1. I miss my dad. Terribly. I try to keep it together for the sake of my mom and my sister who cry at the littlest things that remind them of my dad. I crack jokes. I try to change the topic. I refuse to dwell on it. And I get by, somehow. One day at a time. But stone cold walls only last so long and mine are crumbling. I miss my dad and I can’t make this dull ache in my chest go away.

2. I’m still confused. I just can’t figure out what I’m feeling right now. One minute I want “creme brulee” and the next minute I just want some simple “jell-o”. And I know wanting “creme brulee” makes sense and I really want it but there’s just something gnawing at the base of my spine that keeps saying that there’s something missing in that “creme brulee” and perhaps I’ll find it in “jell-o”. And to this I say, GAH! All the cliches, the rom-coms, the books, the old diaries – yep none of them are helping at all.

3. I can’t believe it’s still in my head. It doesn’t make sense. It shouldn’t matter at all. I’ve said time and time again that I’m over it. And truth be told, I am. It’s just that, every once in a while, I remember something and that sets me off once again. Why does it matter so much??? “…I still hear trumpets” said the song a friend of mine made me listen to. S is for Slowly, I always say (or at least my friend, Roncee would say).

4. I’m fat. Acceptance. Next stage: Diet.

5. I’m so excited for JAPAN! Goddammit. I know it’s still a couple of months away but I think I’ve pretty much narrowed down the places I really want to go to. Now to prioritize. And to decide whether we spend a day or 2 in Tokyo (we’ll be staying in Osaka). JAPAN! But I haven’t told my sister and my mom yet. I kinda feel guilty leaving them behind again, and spending so much money for this trip.. which leads me to the my next point.

6. Somehow, with my dad dying (him being the breadwinner) and my sister leaving her job in Canada to be with us during these difficult days – I’ve suddenly become the unwilling bread winner. And I’m too selfish for the position. As much as I don’t want to admit it, because it’s silly and it makes me to be such a terrible daughter – I feel quite uncomfortable with having to second guess all of my purchases and financial decisions versus before wherein I can do with my money pretty much anything I want. I don’t hate it. I just need to get used to it, I guess.

7. I think I may be burnt out.

I promise to post something light-hearted soon enough.

This weekend, I spent approximately 7k. 3 days, 2.3k per day.

• Friday – Ponti + Taxi = 700
• Saturday – Grocery + Gas = 2000
• Sunday – Divisoria = 4000

Whataweekend. Payday just hit me and I’m already broke. Somebody keep me away from my wallet. :(

A bit iffy about my new Project Manager. I mean I’m happy we’re no longer outsourcing to Yellowasp (I know they’re really good but they’re a pain to work with). So far I’ve had 4 Project Managers for CCP and yeah, maybe we are a pain to work with too; but 2 out of those 4 I really didn’t have a problem with (the 4th one didn’t work with us extensively so I really can’t say much about working with him). Why? Because of the following reasons:

1. They gave feedback when feedback was needed - especially during emergencies. especially when feedback was needed immediately. especially when I have abso-fucking-lutely no idea what was going on.
2. They explained things pretty well - I’m amazing (and humble too) so most of the time I know what’s going on (nothing like a little Google to help you in times of ignorance). But sometimes Google = information overload. Plus there are jargons to look up so what was originally a one item research usually becomes a 10 item research. So I appreciate a little 101 when there are issues that are not for the kids who did Basic Math in college. Oh and please, don’t use highly-technical words. It doesn’t make anybody sound smarter, nor like you know what you’re talking about. Using big words won’t impress me and make me stop asking questions or pestering anybody.  If you can’t explain it, then it means you don’t understand it well enough yourself. 
3. They didn’t promise anything - In my book, PMs should never ever ever promise anything. Especially since last time I checked, we are still in a world where “anything can happen”. Deadlines can be pushed, Requirements change, Earths quake and a sneeze from the other end of the world can so much as cause a hurricane on the opposite end. So don’t promise me anything. Don’t promise me that the site will be fast and there will no longer be any downtimes. Don’t promise me that you know what you’re doing. Because sooner or later those promises will come and bite you in the ass. And in this team, honesty is always the best policy.
4. They consulted - They didn’t decide to do things on their own. They didn’t change specs just because they thought it would be better. They asked. Because in the first place, it’s not their place to do so without consulting with the business owner first. At the end of the day, it’s my project, it’s my business – I make the decisions (or in some cases I consult with other people who should be making the decisions). Granted that in some cases, your way can be better or it makes more sense – OK. But at least have the decency to consult with me. Coz in the project food chain, business owners trump project managers in the decision making.
5. They were trustworthy - Sometimes it’s all about the hips. There’s a certain aura that is needed for Project Managers. It’s this aura that makes people trust you and trust what you’re saying. When I ask for something, I want to feel that I’m sure I will get what I asked for (on time and correctly). If you don’t think you can deliver it on time, then say so. If you have questions, then ask them. Because when you don’t do any of those and you come back to me late, and with the wrong requirement – then I will never ever trust you again. And when I don’t trust you, I don’t want to work with you.
6. They recognized that I am the business owner - Bypass me and I will wring your neck. I don’t care if you consulted with the CEO (of the other company, to be exact). He doesn’t make the decisions for this project, I do (and by I, I mean after I’ve consulted with our big boss, the marketing head, and the rest of the team involved with the project). So yeah, even if you’ve consuted with him, it doesn’t change the fact that I no longer need to know what’s going on. In fact, I need to know what’s going more than he does. And you need me to know what’s going on, because at the end of the day, I have a say in your evaluation.

So basically my new PM isn’t any of the above. But I’m gonna give him the benefit of the doubt. It’s only been less than a month. If he doesn’t change after we’ve talked, then I will strangle him.

I recently made my list of things to do before I’m 30. I’ll be 30 in 3 years and several months so the pressure is on! I realized that most of the things on my list are travel related.

Some things on my list.

1. Sleeper train across South East Asia
2. Backpack across Europe
3. A month in a different country – or at least a month travelling.
4. Bagel in New York
5. Batanes
6. Japan
7. Volunteer (Immersion style)

These pictures weren’t taken by me (they were taken by Niche Dumlao), but I thought I’d post them anyway because today was too awesome not to talk about.

Madmen and women. 50s mod. Bugsy’s lunch. and beer at 5 in the afternoon. More photos that were taken by other people coming up soon. but for now… we have these.

Introducing the people of 20th floor.

p.s. this post is for my ate who’s not online right now. ate, i think you might appreciate this :)

and the underdressed:

now doesn’t everybody look so dapper? :)

Crappy picture of probably the best people I’ve ever worked with all 5 years of my career (plus 3 ojts hehe and minus a couple of people who’ve gone before me – moved on to other work not died). Spot the girl in the nerdy glasses (that would be me!).

I’ve had my share of bad days, complaints about work and bosses and seatmates, but my 3 years stay with IG has been filled to brim with fun, laughs, alcohol, how to deal with difficult people, how NOT to deal with difficult people and a whole lotta learning (and loving going on – a cookie to the person who can get the musical reference)!

But the people I’ve worked with – they’ve taught me to always try to be the best at what I do. Go for the gold or die trying. And my boss (all 3 SPMs and 1 Director and 1 MD) have taught me that nothing is ever good enough if you want to be the best and seriously for a slacker like me – that was a hard lesson to learn. But it made me love what I do and made me strive to be better everyday.

Aww mush mush.

Goodbyes are never easy. And since I’m just a few blocks away – I could always drop by for lunch.

So now… on to a new adventure. :)

Today – the Internet tomorrow… THE WORLD!

I’ve been working for a little more than 5 years already. While most of my peers are still with the companies they’ve joined right after graduation (some are with their second), I am already at my 3rd – and in less than 2 weeks, I will be moving on to my 4th.

My first job was a total disaster. I hated going to work to everyday. I didn’t have any friends there at all! I had to wear a uniform to work everyday – and look like an overweight teacher on crack. I got reprimanded once by the CEO’s secretary for wearing slippers on my lunch break. I didn’t have much to do so I pretty much just stared at the computer screen all day. But I did manage to learn PHP and MySQL from scratch during my 6 months stay there (Thanks to G and Eumir) well enough to build a CMS for their site and an online enrollment system for their clients. Of course it was crude, and I’m pretty sure it was very buggy but the love for anything web-related was borne from there. As well as the realization that a spark of interest can go a very long way. On my 6th month I resigned. I couldn’t stand being there anymore. I was lonely. I felt like people didn’t want to talk to me because I was different (my music, my books, my casual Fridays clothes, even the way I react to things, etc). The only person I got along with was my boss but that wasn’t enough to make me stay. Plus the pay sucked.

So I moved on to a Swiss-owned non-profit company. The pay was great (especially the non taxable allowances), and I could pretty much forgive the uniforms we had to wear too since they weren’t that bad and casual Fridays were allowed (although I got into trouble a couple of times for being too casual on casual Fridays). And the friends I made there were pretty much awesome. The work was web-related and there was a lot of interaction with people from multi-cultural backgrounds so it was pretty interesting… at least at first. After getting used to doing the same thing over and over again, editing copies, deciding which keywords will work, I decided that internet marketing, though pretty challenging, was just not for me. It was too much of the same thing over and over again. I realized that I needed to be constantly learning, doing different things at the same time (not just editing different sites at the same time), and pretty much allowed to make decisions for myself and for the work I am doing to be able to feel some semblance of a career fullfillment. So a few months after I turned a year old in the company, I left. I appreciate how my bosses tried to find a way to address my concerns when I told them why I was leaving but I was already looking forward to moving on to my 3rd company and the prospect the job they offered me promised, to consider staying (what a long sentence).

So come August 2007 I joined Information Gateway as a Jr. Project Manager. The title itself made my chest swell and my head filled to the brim with possibilities. My job title had the word Manager in it! Of course it had the word Jr. too but that’s irrelevant. And for 3 years I worked more than 8 hours daily, did more work than what my job description required, got frustrated a lot, wanted to kill workmates, celebrated project success, enjoyed perks brought about by reaching revenue targets (got more bonuses than I ever expected, an iPod touch, and a trip to El Nido and Hongkong both paid for by the company), got drunk at Christmas parties, been glued to the computer and to my office phone even during weekends because of a project, had to spend the night at the office before a project launch, did more Math than I ever dreamed of doing after swearing I’ll never touch numbers again all 4 years of my college calculus life – and more. I’ve also gottten drunk during weekdays after office with my friends, read awesome books, listened to new music, and watch movies and series (that I’d never find out if not for them) they’d recommend and generally made friends with the coolest people I could ever hope to work with. I’ve learned a lot from my bosses – passion, eye for details, thinking out of the box in an industry where you feel like you’ve done everything there is to be done, which battles to fight and which to avoid, persuasion, standing your ground, flexibility, and more! And from my peers? I’ve learned that a team works better when you are all working towards the same goal, with equal passion and with equal desire to be number one.

I only realized I’ve been with IG for 3 years a couple of months ago. It always feels like I just started last year. Even if I’ve already had 3 direct supervisors (am already on my 4th one), I’ve seen team mates leave, I’ve seen teammates get married, had babies, and some – even pass away. IG is not perfect. It’s just like all the other companies out there. There’s politics (way too obvious sometimes), there are difficult bosses and co-workers who complain more than they work. Sometimes the pay sucks. But like I said – you can find these problems wherever you go. It’s all just a matter of priorities. And I think one of the reasons why I’ve managed to stay longer here compared to the other 2 companies I’ve been with – is because everday, I keep learning something new be it work-related or not.

Here at IG I’ve finally found something I was good at, something that I could potentially be great at. And I wanted to keep doing it despite the stress, the work hours that sometimes included weekends, the frustration with targets, bosses and even workmates. And I say, finding that feeling in a company you’re in trumps whatever negative aspects you might find in your workplace (be it your boss, your seatmate, your pay). Because you’ll always find something to complain about wherever you go but you’ll never find that satisfaction you get from doing something you like that easily.

Besides, only IG has ever made me feel that a “WHAT DO YOU THINK?” from one of the big bosses in the company, means I’m more than just a peon but an actual stakeholder in the project I’m handling. haha.

(So I feel bad for all the complaints I’ve had against my work, my bosses, the company since they were all petty and  immature but more on that in a different post. )

So why am I leaving if it seems like I’m in a good place right now? I got asked that same question during an interview by my would-be boss. Believe me it wasn’t an easy decision to make but I’m going because I feel like now is a good time. A company I look up to has hired me for a position that will allow me to take all the “technical” skills  I’ve acquired  from all 3 companies I’ve been in and roll it into one position in an industry that has always had me inspired. And my gut says I should go for it. And honestly, most of the skills that I’m taking with me to this new job, are skills I’ve learned with IG. So I actually have IG to thank for getting me this job hehe.

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Instead of cutting the budget for pantry food, or not giving salary increase to those who deserve it… let’s just terminate those who take up space, waste resources, make a lot of noise, add to air pollution – but don’t contribute anything to the company aside from its repository of office complaints.

It’s a win win situation. You don’t need to pay them their atrocious salaries so you get to save. The morale of employees left will boost since they’d stop hearing “the management is unfair” campaigns plus they’d be able to concentrate on work because the noise level will go down. Focused employees result to improved work and could lead to increase in revenue. You’ll also get to save on energy since they won’t be using the computer anymore. Less people will result in cooler airconditioning – thus no need for the air con to be turned up high.

With all the good results that can be gotten from terminating useless, loud, annoying employees – we have happy management!

And we all know that happy management gives awesome bonuses and salary increases.

Just think of it as having less icing on your cake than you’ve expected or have gotten used to.
You whine in between bites about the icing that’s not there… but you end up finishing the cake anyway.

Anyway, I don’t know which is better. Not getting any good news or getting a confirmed bad news? They’re both not as good as getting word of something you’ve been expecting for the longest time right? So it doesn’t really matter which sits better with your ego.

At the end of the day, you’re gonna have to live with whatever news you got.
Drink water if it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
If it doesn’t work, you can always just brush your teeth.

No thanks to Senator Enrile, business hasn’t been as good as it was. NTC, and our Telco Clients have become stricter and it’s been most difficult selling our products.

Because of the above mentioned situation, the company has been forced to make budget cuts recently. And the first to go is the budget for pantry supplies.

One of the reasons I took this job here at my present company is that there’s free food in the pantry. For nearly 3 years I’ve enjoyed chips, pancit canton, candies, pop corn, cereal drinks, iced teas, etc for FREE! And now, it’s gone. :( ALL GONE!

I am now forced to buy Turon on afternoons when my stomach calls for it because there will no longer be Cupcakes in the pantry to quell the hungry beast. And no longer will I be able to live on Pancit Canton and Instant Noodles on nights wherein I have to work late (and that’s usually every night).

Yes, it is the end of my budget meals world.

I hate to think what will go next should the company feel the need to tighten its belt once again.

See this, Senator Enrile? See what you have done to us poor hungry fellows?