Busy Busy Work!

Did anyone noticed that I have not blogged since I got my job?  I’ve started work on 21st March 2007 and no updating my blog til now!  Just imagine how busy I’ve been!

 I have worked in a handful of companies either part time or full time and I have to say that this is the first time I am so stressed out and busy at work!

Not only do I have to do my work, I have to memorise the company’s vision and mission statement, not forgetting the foundation of the company, knowing our values, and vital objectives.  Oh yes, we also have to know the 10 basics of the day, such as positive attitude, our motto, etc… We are also learning the 7 Habits of Effective Leadership, thus we have touched base on being 1.) Proactive, 2.) Begin with the End in Mind, 3.) Put First Things First, 4.) Win-Win and soon another 3 more habits to learn!

It is great to know a company which has strong foundations and believe in their own Vision and Mission Statement.  How many companies have I worked for whose owners do not even remember their own mission statement?  At my company, we energise it every morning!  And it is drilled in my head now and I can tell people that ‘ We want to lead the way in maintaining the intergrity of food & cuisines by delivery the best professional culinary arts education.  We want to deliver formal education in East & West, Herbs & Spices, Old & New World Cuisines and provide Work & study rotations at top hotels, resturants and luxury homes’.  THERE!  Not bad huh?

Besides TRYING to remember all these stuff, I have to learn my job!  I realise that it is not easy being a Personal Assistant!  Especially if you are reporting to my CEO!  He is demanding and he knows what he wants.  You can never lie through your teeth and you can’t be too long winded with him.  I tried numerous times to answer him when he ask me, ‘Shanna, did you do this?’, starting off with ‘Chef, so and so said that he …’, and he cuts me off saying, ‘Shanna, listen to my question, did you do ____?’.  ‘No Chef’.  Sigh…

I have to also arrange and confirm his appointments, do some follow ups for him, prepare correspondences for him, in fact, arranging his life at work.  It has been a trying 2 months for me but I am still enjoying work.  My main aim is to really understand him as much as I can.  I realise that both our thinking is totally different.  I am still having a hard time understanding him and of cause with his French accent, it sometimes gets even harder to understand him!

It is amazing that first time in my whole life that I am so early at work!  I start work at 9am, but I am usually there by about 8.20am or so.  In my other jobs, I am usually at work on time or slightly late!  So imagine, how motivated I am to work for this company!

Another plus point for me is the free food!  Each day, we have different cuisines, Thai, Indian, Chinese, Malay, Singaporean/Malaysian, sometimes Western.  And when we have a new batch of students coming in, they have to go through restaurant training, and we get served food, restaurant style!    What more can I ask for?  If not, lunch is served at the patio, there is where I can pig out!  Free flow, buffet style.  Our Pastry & Baking students bake for us muffins and cakes and delicious yummy desserts!  Applie pies, quiche, and the other day, PIZZA!  but amazingly, I still managed to lose weight!  Lost about 4kg already!  Must be the stress at work!

Well, I think I should blog more to de-stress myself!  More stories coming up!