What if I gave you a technique that would identify you as an Ass kisser, or not? I am sure this blog will get people fired up in the name of NETWORKING lol.
When you meet someone, let's say a Richie Rich kid, one that has made the money the easy way and not done anything about it, but spend it, to be clear.
1- Do you greet him with extreme warmth and make it a point to be seen shaking his hand and hope he doesn't flip you like one of his flip flops in less than 2 minutes, to meet someone more important than you?
2- Do you fake your smile and laughter at his dumb sick jokes?
3- Do you praise his intelect even though you know he is no more than a newspaper headline eduacted jerk?
4- Do you through names of these people to show that you are in the loop, even though he does not know you exist!?
5- When approached by this same individual you spark up and seem alive like your first date even though you had a sick day at the office?
6-When this Richie Rich hits you with a social blow that affects your self esteem in public do you smile back accordingly?
7- If this person had no money, or less than you would you treat him or her the same way?
Sorry if you answered yes to any of the above, you could be a newbie Ass Kisser or an advanced Ass Kisser.
Don't get me wrong,this has nothing to do with networking or being people savvy, this is exactly what it means..ASS KISSER.
Oh and yes! it takes one to know one ;-) I was for a good part of my life, remember I worked in a bank.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Feel good music
Is it me or is the whole world moving towards peace and love again. It seems they have had enough.
When your in a night spot and they are playin some groovy music from the seventies or early eightees and the 18 year old's are dancing and humming along, alarming is when they know the lyrics and you don't!
I have never stopped listening to music, its easy when you like most of the popular music being created around you. Anything from 80's to ear deafening acid rock I will give it a try, and every thing in between. My favourites are of course R&B, Reggae for the deep meaning behind the smooth rythms, contemp and much more. My son get's shocked when im listening to his newly released Cyclone hit or Low, and it really get's interesting when me and him get down to some lately released hit ;-)
Back to my subject, feel good music; anything that makes you smile, feel it in a positive way, brings back a good memory, increases the beauty of the moment a takes you to your favourite spot in 3 minutes.
Trust me on this, check your music selection and tell me if it does affect you? people with those 24/7 love songs...gimme a break, that's not what I mean. Check out the old and famous hits like : Move on up, by curtis mayfield.What a wonderful world by Louis armstrong,Music & You, room 5( taken from the old days), like a star, dramatics...etc. get my drift?
Dance to the music!
When your in a night spot and they are playin some groovy music from the seventies or early eightees and the 18 year old's are dancing and humming along, alarming is when they know the lyrics and you don't!
I have never stopped listening to music, its easy when you like most of the popular music being created around you. Anything from 80's to ear deafening acid rock I will give it a try, and every thing in between. My favourites are of course R&B, Reggae for the deep meaning behind the smooth rythms, contemp and much more. My son get's shocked when im listening to his newly released Cyclone hit or Low, and it really get's interesting when me and him get down to some lately released hit ;-)
Back to my subject, feel good music; anything that makes you smile, feel it in a positive way, brings back a good memory, increases the beauty of the moment a takes you to your favourite spot in 3 minutes.
Trust me on this, check your music selection and tell me if it does affect you? people with those 24/7 love songs...gimme a break, that's not what I mean. Check out the old and famous hits like : Move on up, by curtis mayfield.What a wonderful world by Louis armstrong,Music & You, room 5( taken from the old days), like a star, dramatics...etc. get my drift?
Dance to the music!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Saudi Labour( workers)
Believe it or not! We offered some Saudi guys in the ages of 20-30 the opportunity to work as car washers and end up after 6 months owning their own car wash and found zilch! zero! sifr! nothin!
I thought that many people work as employees for years to save and eventually save enough money to won a business and become self employed? How wrong could I be? VERY.
Here are some of the things I personally handle to make sure no one was trying to scare off the Saudis ( conspiracy theory amongst Saudis);
1- Advertised in major newspapers to draw the attention of prospects, only to find the very few came to think it was a push button operation with no labour involved.
2- Talked to the Major social players to get us hooked up with some Saudi youth, no luck there.
3- Advertised some more, this time no one even called!
4- Talked to young guys at the car wash to send in their friends for job interviews, no luck they all wanted to be Supervisors( as if they knew what the @#$% they were doing in the first place!)
5- I even hired a Saudi who appeared on TV in a large country campaign for labour work, he ripped me off from day one by asking for an advance of Sr5000- USD1300- never to be seen again or heard of!
6- We put the word on the street that we were hiring by word of mouth in a " work to won program" failed again.
7- Finally the franchises we operated and sold started to close due to tough Saudi laws on labour and visa requirements and still no Saudis.
It is so funny that these very Saudi guys whine all day and complain about not finding jobs, and companies not treating them right! get a life you idiots.
If someone was to come to me and say would you let your son work as a car washer, YES! and he would. If someone asked me would I do it? YES! been there done that, after being a Private banker at a leading Saudi bank, and a 14 year banking career. I am not showing off, I'm actually pissed off! excuse my french.
Every country in the world has a labour force from the natives, except the gold fed Saudi youth. If I knew they were dumb, stupid, uneducated,morons,with no ambitions, I would relax and rest my case. They are actually the opposite.
Why do we give it to them when we find someone working as a barber, mechanic, painter, plumber, chef,washer...enough of the kiss their ass cause they did it and ignore them, if they want it bad enough, really bad enough they will fight for it.
It's time we changed our strategy as a country, and ignore them. Job or no job, our government has stretched out on a limb to help them, they even gave them money to start work, they take the money and travel or just spend it!
We should have ads in newspapers making fun of them, not showing that they are cool when they work! make jokes about the subject, wake up and smell the coffee.
If you have anything to add on the subject I'm all ears.
I thought that many people work as employees for years to save and eventually save enough money to won a business and become self employed? How wrong could I be? VERY.
Here are some of the things I personally handle to make sure no one was trying to scare off the Saudis ( conspiracy theory amongst Saudis);
1- Advertised in major newspapers to draw the attention of prospects, only to find the very few came to think it was a push button operation with no labour involved.
2- Talked to the Major social players to get us hooked up with some Saudi youth, no luck there.
3- Advertised some more, this time no one even called!
4- Talked to young guys at the car wash to send in their friends for job interviews, no luck they all wanted to be Supervisors( as if they knew what the @#$% they were doing in the first place!)
5- I even hired a Saudi who appeared on TV in a large country campaign for labour work, he ripped me off from day one by asking for an advance of Sr5000- USD1300- never to be seen again or heard of!
6- We put the word on the street that we were hiring by word of mouth in a " work to won program" failed again.
7- Finally the franchises we operated and sold started to close due to tough Saudi laws on labour and visa requirements and still no Saudis.
It is so funny that these very Saudi guys whine all day and complain about not finding jobs, and companies not treating them right! get a life you idiots.
If someone was to come to me and say would you let your son work as a car washer, YES! and he would. If someone asked me would I do it? YES! been there done that, after being a Private banker at a leading Saudi bank, and a 14 year banking career. I am not showing off, I'm actually pissed off! excuse my french.
Every country in the world has a labour force from the natives, except the gold fed Saudi youth. If I knew they were dumb, stupid, uneducated,morons,with no ambitions, I would relax and rest my case. They are actually the opposite.
Why do we give it to them when we find someone working as a barber, mechanic, painter, plumber, chef,washer...enough of the kiss their ass cause they did it and ignore them, if they want it bad enough, really bad enough they will fight for it.
It's time we changed our strategy as a country, and ignore them. Job or no job, our government has stretched out on a limb to help them, they even gave them money to start work, they take the money and travel or just spend it!
We should have ads in newspapers making fun of them, not showing that they are cool when they work! make jokes about the subject, wake up and smell the coffee.
If you have anything to add on the subject I'm all ears.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Pampering service standards
Ever wonder where all the good service outlets went? Ever wonder where all the smiles and sincere greetings disappeared? Have you seen how the STARBUCKS standards have fallen below average in the past few years in KSA? well I know where they are brewing, in ASIA.
It takes you by surprise when you visit an Asian destination of choice and see what service is all about. It should be forced upon all layers of management to visit hotels, coffee shops, shopping malls and retail outlets during their job, frequently. Did I forget the airlines? have you travelled SAUDIA lately, even after word that its going for IPO? did things change? or do they have a great job at finding the worst living souls and plug them in service seats at the airport and stick a phone to their skull and demand they answer the phone?
I honestly think they give bad service a new meaning. So back to my original subject at hand, service in Asia. Ahhh, what can I say. Ideas flow, pains and stress are all relieved and released, smiles are in the air, you feel humble once again, sometimes you say to yourself enough " I could get used to this", only problem there is when you get back home and get the smiles from immigration and try to find your luggage alongside 20,000 other pilgrims and frequent flyer's.
Trying to be better is a given in KSA, its the walking the talk that sucks. When was the last time you saw an airport official greet you with a smile? when did you get served? when was the last time you had a fully confirmed booking stay that way, not lost to someone else? when was the last tim you had a good meal at the airport, not from a useless franchise operator who monopolized the airports with overpriced, tasteless food and coffee? when was the last time you saw a good food joint in the airport?
Did you compare the lounges at King Abdulaziz Airport and the much smaller Bahrain airport? At Bahrain you get meals on demand, cooked to your taste and liking, in Jeddah you get cheese sandwiches which look like they came out of someones underarm!
Do I see an awakening in the Arab world, one that wants to prove it Can DELIVER, or am I dreaming? I think we can, I hope my son gets to enjoy it!
It takes you by surprise when you visit an Asian destination of choice and see what service is all about. It should be forced upon all layers of management to visit hotels, coffee shops, shopping malls and retail outlets during their job, frequently. Did I forget the airlines? have you travelled SAUDIA lately, even after word that its going for IPO? did things change? or do they have a great job at finding the worst living souls and plug them in service seats at the airport and stick a phone to their skull and demand they answer the phone?
I honestly think they give bad service a new meaning. So back to my original subject at hand, service in Asia. Ahhh, what can I say. Ideas flow, pains and stress are all relieved and released, smiles are in the air, you feel humble once again, sometimes you say to yourself enough " I could get used to this", only problem there is when you get back home and get the smiles from immigration and try to find your luggage alongside 20,000 other pilgrims and frequent flyer's.
Trying to be better is a given in KSA, its the walking the talk that sucks. When was the last time you saw an airport official greet you with a smile? when did you get served? when was the last time you had a fully confirmed booking stay that way, not lost to someone else? when was the last tim you had a good meal at the airport, not from a useless franchise operator who monopolized the airports with overpriced, tasteless food and coffee? when was the last time you saw a good food joint in the airport?
Did you compare the lounges at King Abdulaziz Airport and the much smaller Bahrain airport? At Bahrain you get meals on demand, cooked to your taste and liking, in Jeddah you get cheese sandwiches which look like they came out of someones underarm!
Do I see an awakening in the Arab world, one that wants to prove it Can DELIVER, or am I dreaming? I think we can, I hope my son gets to enjoy it!
The Filipino culture and its products
It is an experience to see how countries change and update their status to accomadate change in this ever changing world.
If it was what you heard that meant everything to you, you end up in a tight contained tupperware area defined by what you heard than what you see. I have taken it upon myself to actually be the informer and not the informed.
I travel for business and pleasure, and try to get a grasp of the true essence of the culture by wondering around CBW. This way you try to have a free flow of whatever it is the culture is conveying to you. You will be harrassed, and caught in the local taxi cons,the concierge who takes you for face value and sends you to the local tourist traps. But in the end its an experience.
When travelling with friends, watch out not to get caught in their travelling rituals and prefernces, have your own style and do it your way.
Manila is a city that translates into what they want to be. People are so amazing and loving. They lack the financial freedom that many countres have, but boy do they know how to max out on life!
They will take care of everything they come accross with delicate hands and treatment, even you will be pampered in their yes sir, yes maam attitude. To get an immediate feel for the difference in cultures, just go to the airport and see the way they treat you at customs, compare to the US of A. I mean where on earth do you have a smiley on the immigration officers window that boasts" immigration with a smile!"?
Trust me on this one, Middle Easterners, Learn from the best and forget the money part. It starts at an aearly stage and continues to manefest into the surroundings. Filipinos are a service culture, they are a beautiful masterpiece in the making.
My only concern is the PMS that affects them from time to time( male & female) I think it happens when they are faced with a situation that they have no direct answer for, otherwise enjoy your time and learn!
In our Arab culture we tend to look down on this amazing race tht has made governments fight to have their manpower and nursing workforce at bargain prices. Well guess what, whatch out cause prices are rising and they are refusing to move out without the correct form of pay, what they deserve. In my humble opinion, any filipino is a steal at these rates if you are looking for longterm growth and productivity ;-)
If it was what you heard that meant everything to you, you end up in a tight contained tupperware area defined by what you heard than what you see. I have taken it upon myself to actually be the informer and not the informed.
I travel for business and pleasure, and try to get a grasp of the true essence of the culture by wondering around CBW. This way you try to have a free flow of whatever it is the culture is conveying to you. You will be harrassed, and caught in the local taxi cons,the concierge who takes you for face value and sends you to the local tourist traps. But in the end its an experience.
When travelling with friends, watch out not to get caught in their travelling rituals and prefernces, have your own style and do it your way.
Manila is a city that translates into what they want to be. People are so amazing and loving. They lack the financial freedom that many countres have, but boy do they know how to max out on life!
They will take care of everything they come accross with delicate hands and treatment, even you will be pampered in their yes sir, yes maam attitude. To get an immediate feel for the difference in cultures, just go to the airport and see the way they treat you at customs, compare to the US of A. I mean where on earth do you have a smiley on the immigration officers window that boasts" immigration with a smile!"?
Trust me on this one, Middle Easterners, Learn from the best and forget the money part. It starts at an aearly stage and continues to manefest into the surroundings. Filipinos are a service culture, they are a beautiful masterpiece in the making.
My only concern is the PMS that affects them from time to time( male & female) I think it happens when they are faced with a situation that they have no direct answer for, otherwise enjoy your time and learn!
In our Arab culture we tend to look down on this amazing race tht has made governments fight to have their manpower and nursing workforce at bargain prices. Well guess what, whatch out cause prices are rising and they are refusing to move out without the correct form of pay, what they deserve. In my humble opinion, any filipino is a steal at these rates if you are looking for longterm growth and productivity ;-)
Monday, May 14, 2007
Success in a Saudi Bank
To succeed in any of the banks in Saudi Arabia here a re a few pointers for people starting out. Start out first by knowing what you really want to do for the bank, don't just walk in to an interview and say anything will do, you might end up as a janitor with a master degree!
- Know what the bank is doing in terms of services and growth, you can know this by simply following their advertising. What area are they calling out for? like SAMBA today is reigniting the Gold platform( people with Sr100,000 to Sr500,000- in Non interest bearing accounts) here you would position yourself as a person who has conections with people who have this kind of money, usually players,tarvellers,show offs, relators who keep some money in the account for emergency puchases.
- Get your friends to introduce to one of the people that work in the bank, any department as long as it has to do with sales. Then forge a good relationship/friendship and see where they hang out. Usually bankers flock together to talk about the same subject:The Bank.
- Visit their website and see if this culture is ok for you?
- Ask the bankers you deal with how they like or dislike their jobs? sometimes if you get the same negative reactions from people you know are good in what they do, it's a bad idea to join this bank.
- Visit their regional offices, see what it's like? walk around if you can. When you are invited to visit someone open a conversation with the person sitting next to you, you never know what you can find out.
- When you go to an interview always be prepaired, and do not get annoyed by the time they let you wait, it is an old strategy used by losers to see how you ract to this kind of ego stabbing.
- Check when you visit the bank if the person stands up and welcomes you, does he stand up and sit beisde you? or does he hide behind his big office?
- Do not take personal insults in interviews, these are common ground in ego centric managers, trying and old trick of the interview book can actually hurt them if word gets out.
- Be on time every time for the rest of your working life.
- Dress the part, they like sharp looking people. Be yourself in the interview, they actually like street smart individuals.
- Know the persons background you are meeting, Bankers lives are not a mystery, ask and you shall be told. Ask at least 10 people about him, and you can enter into exciting out of the box interviews.
- Personnel department has no say in hiring you. It's the branches, managers, friends helping friends and regional managers pets( the regional managers ass kissers and close friends outside the bank)
The Secret
What's the new book out on the street these days after appearing on Oprah? Yes, The secret.
The book and the DVD are a great investment that can actually help you out in life. I think that the DVD will not appear for religious reasons or something else, get it from Amazon( trust me). In the DVD you get a whole lot more, like the commentary section on the show.
Once you watch the The secret you will be surprised at the impact it leaves on you in minutes through watching it. I know of families that have taken it to the bank to change their ways in life to a more fruitful outcome. I will now try to give you a brief of the book/DVD and the investment decision is yours to make.
Basically it flows around the idea of the Law of attraction; Whatever you occupy your mind with will be attracted to you and vice versa.
Here are a few examples; When you want to buy that BMW all you see is bimmers! When you want that new mobile from Nokia, all you concentrate is the NOKIA. When you have your mind on building a house, guess what? how about the bad things that you think about? like the debt on your credit cards and the loan that is late... the more you concentrate on the problem the more it grows, you should concentrate on the solution rather the problem.
Ideas like;
- I am a magnet. Like attracts like, make it absolutely clear.
- 3 simple words; Thoughts become Things!
- Thoughts and feelings create my future.
- You create your own future as you go along.Sir Winston Churchill.
- The creative process: Ask yourself what you really want write it in present tense, I own and drive a Ferrari.
- Believe it s already yours" you only know it can happen" like starting a business.
- Receive: Begin to feel wonderful, as it has already happened.
- Speed: Take action fast! Jump in and do not delay, hold the images and feelings.
- The process: What are you grateful for? list them.
- Visualize: Really see it, hold it ( the test drive at the car dealer, the checking out of a fancy couch, the playing with the new PS3) feel the joy and happiness.
On Money: Set a goal so BIG! it would blow your mind. Everyday visualize having it, the lifestyle and all else related to obtaining it. and actually say how you want it?
Health: Happier thoughts make a healthy life.
Here is one of my favourites: Don't walk away from negative people, RUN!
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