Now I know how some of the oil & gas companies optimize themselves and make profit.

I woke up too early. Couldn’t sleep very well. Munief seemed a bit grumpy and all. Not sure what the commotion was all about.

***

I saw in newspaper ad… bad, bad, advertisement. An excerpt:

A: “Ask not what your company can do for you, but what you can do for your company”

Compared to:

B: “Our approach is collaborative - matching our business needs with your training needs, our global opportunities with your career aspirations. We aim to build a win-win partnership between you and us.

Which company would you work for? A or B?

I headed back on time. Earlier, I talked to Khairul Azli about a gathering of scholars. I was thinking about attending it. Just to know more. What’s new? What’s going on out in the world? How is everybody doing?

More importantly, I could gauge how much I could be worth inside and outside.

I was still preparing for the review. It took a lot of time. I realized that I just couldn’t keep my mouth shut too. That sucks.

And then I had an awakening. I was rushing and rushing until suddenly the magic came. It unfolded satisfyingly. Alhamdulillah.

All the things that I’ve always been trying to tell the upper management was finally heard. They realized and understood it. Finally. After… (counting fingers… while mumbling…) 8 months of doing the project.

I had a discussion with our “Chief Facilities Engineer” while preparing the package. Wow. I wish I just sit in the office offering advice. Isn’t that nice? But you must’ve gone through some rough roads too to get there, for sure. All it takes is to build a “brand”. Then whatever you say, people will start to sway.

I don’t mind advising. From what it looks snow, I have a better shot of doing that compared to the other path of supervisory. I don’t know. Sometimes I wonder if I can actually lead, given the right amount of substances in my hands and in my mind. I just couldn’t be aggressive for no reason. I’ve seen how ridiculous that could be before. Again… what do I know.

Returned home late.

Tazkirah (Surau ME: 6 May 2008, Ust. Riduan)

The Ustaz started off with some remarks on how progress of Da’wah in the rural areas could be more disappointing. He was from Besut himself, a place once famous for Sky Kingdom Ayoh Ping (Kerajaan Langit Ayoh Ping) - admitting that that actually smeared some coal on the face (” conteng arang di muka”)

2 observations:

1) He asked an old kampung man what Hajj type was he performing (type of pilgrimage, i.e. Qiran, Tamattuk, and Ifrad) and the man replied, “Haji Mabrur.” With a straight face.

2) One middle-aged lady from rural Perak somewhere called up PerakFM during its session with Mufti Dato’ Harussani and asked - what is the ruling for plucking out his husband’s armpit hair?

In another observation, religious classes are just twice every month. The class covers something like type of water - mutlak, musta’mal, for Fiqh, etcetera, and there is no growth in the syllabus. Perhaps recitation of Surah Yasin every Friday night (literally Thursday night before the Friday since days in Lunar begin after sun down.) And that’s pretty much it.

Then the Ustaz reminded us of the time during Rasulullah’s time, the history of amazing Sahabah. They just love Rasulullah so much and everybody would crave for knowledge for it is the key to better practice and therefore better servants to Allah.

Wallahua’lam. It’s the short version of the tazkirah. Please refer to the more knowledgeable ones for clarifications.

Early morning, police escort cleared up the road - all 3 lanes - to make way for a red Ferrari to pass through the highway towards PLUS Sg. Besi and further south. The Brunei King Hassanal Bolkiah maybe?

The Offshore asset supervisor was OK with the news that I brought him. I wish it’s as easy as that everyday. Sharing info on the fly without any “review package”, verbally reminding everybody. Why does everything needs to printed on the paper? It’s not like signing a contract, yes?

Imminently experiencing sore muscles.

I spotted in Forbes.com the most recent big profit jumps (delta or change in profitability):

+05.9 Shell/Royal Dutch
+05.3 Novartis
+05.1 ArcelorMittal
+05.0 Microsoft
+04.8 Nokia
-36.8 GM (deficit to deficit)
-30.6 Nextel (profit to deficit)
-17.9 Citi
-15.3 Merrill Lynch (profit to deficit)
-13.4 UBS (profit to deficit)

The first inter-departmental bowling held on Sunday. We bowled 5 rolls into the afternoon. I struggled in the first two rounds as usual. Others seemed to be doing very well.

Must be because of the knee imbalance. I did wear some knee-guard protection though.