Bergelut ...

Selepas 'Drama', Ahau-Dee 'Bergelut' pulak ... bukan dengan ular macam gambar patung tu tapi bergelut dengan training ... ha ha ha. Mulai esok, 14 May sampai 27 May setiap hari ada training kecuali weekend saja.

Esok akan ke Hamilton. Lebih kurang 2 jam perjalanan. Kena bertolak seawal 6 pagi dari Auckland. Kali ni kena drive sendiri ... dah lama tak memandu ni jauh-jauh ni ... he he he. Then, Monday nanti akan ke Palmerston North sekali lagi selama 5 hari untuk training lagi. Harap-harap tiada drama kali ni.

Kali ni stress dia lebih sikit sebab banyak programme dan target group dia pun lain-lain. Maka banyak homework kena buat. Memang penat. Apapun, nasib baik ada kerja kan ... kalau tak ... mana ada gaji ... ha ha ha.

Ini pun dipaksakan diri untuk update blog ni takut lama sangat terbengkalai. Tak ada cerita menarik sebenarnya. Oh ya, gambar kat bawah ni masa kengkawan dari Malaysia datang baru-baru ni. Dalam sibuk-sibuk pun, sempatlah jugak luangkan sepetang dengan mereka.

Ahau-Dee sudah menjadi seorang 'tour-guide' yang baik ... ha ha ha

Ainna, Yatela, David dan Jordon di Mt.Victoria

Tempat wajib dikunjungi kalau ke Auckland - The Museum

Tak sabar nak rehatkan diri dan tenang macam gambar kat atas ni.

Ahau-Dee

Drama

One of the statues in Auckland Museum

I returned from Palmerston North (PN) last Wednesday and that was my second business trip to PN. If you can remember, my first trip was in last December, when there was a bit of ‘drama’ because I forgot the main DVD. I almost missed my flight and the DVD got damaged by the courier company. You can read it here. On my second trip, I again suffered from DVD drama. Gosh! I guess I am just not lucky when it comes to DVDs.

Fyi, my Sales Training proposal was approved in March after it was ‘stranded’ for about 4 months on the Management table. The whole idea was to purchase a Sales Training DVD as the main source material and then I would facilitate the session internally. It was more cost effective compared to engaging an external trainer to run the course. I just needed to encourage the participants to have the right belief system, be in the right mental state, get them to model the right behaviour and ensure that they practiced the skills consistently. Hmmm … it sounds so easy and simple but it required me to work hard to sell the idea. Thanks to John Patterson (one of the Sales Managers) who convinced me that I already have good sales skills.

Sales Training Participants - from left, Jamie (the main coordinator), Tony & Lyndon

From Left, Ian, Keith, Grant and Collin (Sales Training)

To simplify the story, the drama started when the whole process was delayed until I had just 3 days to put everything together before the first session in PN. I needed time to internalise the material and to master the skills being taught in the DVD. Not only that, most of DVDs had problems with their labels. There were a lot of bubbles on them and it showed that the Company had not invested a significant amount of money producing the DVDs. Then, I realised that the workbook produced by the supplier was in a script format rather than a workbook that we normally use in training sessions. Just imagine watching the DVD and then finding that the workbook contains exactly the same words that you can hear on the DVD! Obviously, the participants would have been extremely bored if I had used the material.

Leadership Fundamentals participants in Palmerston North ( Group 8)

Customer Service Excellence Participants - Group 2

To make matters worse, I suffered from the flu, a fever and an eye infection during the last 3 days, which intensified the drama. I decided not to overwork myself. I just took some medicine and had a good rest. Otherwise, I might not have been able to go to PN. As a result, I had a sleepless night in PN on Monday and Tuesday in order to put everything together. No matter what, I couldn’t let the participants know that everything was done at last minute.

Customer Service Excellence - Group 3

And again, there was a last minute hiccup. No wonder I am losing more hair … ha ha ha. Anyway, the overall session ran smoothly and everyone was happy with the programme. In fact, they were impressed! For the first time I realised that I am not just lucky. This is the result of 13 years experience in Training and Development; the learning experiences that I have gathered from each session that I had conducted before, both good and bad.

For the first time in my life, I said to myself ‘Hey! You did a good job!’ and I gave myself a pat on the shoulder :-)

Ahau-Dee

Ahau Dee's Awards : )

I keep telling myself to update this blog at least once a week but by the time I get around to doing it, it has been long overdue. Therefore, now I am forcing myself to write something and to update what’s been happening in my life recently.

There are two reasons why this blog has been so quiet. Firstly, there’s been nothing exciting to talk about and secondly I have been very busy with my work. Since a few weeks ago and from now onwards, I will be preparing and conducting lots of training courses.

During the current economic climate, when companies often have to say ‘NO’ to external training, the internal facilitator / trainer like me will be very busy. Suddenly, I have to be a master of all trades and to fulfil each request from the managers to provide training for their staff. I can’t really complain, I guess it’s better than being unemployed… : )

Other than time management and customer service, a few other (some of them new) topics will be on my list such as Sales Training, Leadership Training, Presentation Skills, Recruitment and Selection and a few more. How’s exciting… :-)

Anyway, to bring colour to this posting, these are the photos that I took at Milford Beach / Park, North Shore last month.

Oh ya! My blog has received two awards recently … ha ha ha. Even though I have been blogging for a year now, I am still ‘new' when it comes to things such as ‘award’ or ‘tag’, etc. Anyway, I am so pleased to have received the award and would like to thank Jean and Ieda for choosing my blog.

So, what I have to do next is to give these awards to other bloggers. Huh! That would be a tough job as I wish to give it to all my blogger friends (you can see their names on the side bar of my blog). It is very difficult to choose 3 or 7 from the list because I like to visit all the blogs.

Yes! Let me break the rules and give it to all of them…. Ha ha ha. As they say, rules are meant to be broken … ha ha ha.

Anyway, I will have more updates later concerning the training courses that I will present. Hopefully, I haven’t bored you. :-)

Have a good day everyone.

Ahau-Dee

The Last Minute King !!!

Since the last posting, I have been very busy working on a 'four week assignment' in less than a week. Why?

Simply because of my ever-lasting problem, an old habit that is really hard to break - doing things at the last minute. Perhaps my ex-boss, Jean Ooi could verify that statement and then I would be 'proud' to declare myself the 'Last Minute King' ... LOL.

Obviously, I have never learnt my lesson and as usual, this time I was lucky again. Thank God. Despite the adrenaline pumping through my body, a sleepless night, a worrying mind, a near nervous breakdown and panic etc., I managed to overcome the obstacles and make it happen.

Huh! What a relief, the first hurdle was over and everything went well even though I was not really happy with the quality. Another typical 'me' who is never satisfied with my performance.

I just completed two training sessions, Customer Service Excellence and Time Management. Oops! Please don't laugh !!! Generally, everyone was happy with the programme and looking forward for the second session next week.

Here are my photos with the participants :-


Customer Service Excellence : Peter, James, Dominic, Warwrick and Graham


Time Management : Grant McKain, Travis, Heather, Warwrick and Jason.

Anyway, because of the last minute rush, I have to sacrifice the upcoming long weekend. There are two public holidays in NZ this week - Good Friday & Easter Monday. I was supposed to have a short trip somewhere Downunder but it looks like I will have to forget about it.

So many things to catch up on, otherwise next week will be a nightmare for me again. Huh! So sad but my work should come first and so sorry guys, no more 'Jalan-Jalan Ahau Dee' for the time being : (

Have a great weekend everyone & Hapy Easter : )

Note : Below is the email that I've just received from the General Manager. Alhamdulillah !!!

Zahidi Hi

A simple note of sincere thanks and congratulations re your time Management Seminar.

I have had very positive feedback regarding this already and again our sincere thanks

Kindest Regards

John Mackinlay
North Shore Motor Group

Ahau - Dee

First Anniversary ...

28 March 2009 marked my first anniversary in New Zealand and today (1 April 2009) is my first anniversary working at SDMG (NZ) Ltd. It has been a wonderful year, one which has had a great impact on my career and personal life. What else can I say except thanks to the Almighty God for this great opportunity and for all the blessings in my life. Alhamdulillah!

It may not be a great deal for some people but for a ‘Kampung Boy’ like me, who used to earn RM8 for an eight-hour job, it has truly been a once in a lifetime opportunity. For a person who is always struggling with his English, working with people for whom English is their first language has certainly forced myself to step out of my comfort zone. Even writing this posting is a struggle for me.

I still remember what it was like when I was offered this secondment. I felt uncertain, excited, sad and happy and a host of other feelings especially when I started to realise that I would be missing my home, my family, my friends and my country. Many people don’t realise it, but deep down, I am a shy, introverted person and I have self-esteem/confidence issues too - believe it or not? He he he. And this secondment would force me to face my deepest fears.

Somehow, I always seem to have a way of overcoming my weaknesses. Perhaps it is just my luck. But I really think it is because I am blessed to have great friends around me no matter where I am. They are always ready to help when I need them the most. Thanks very much guys and girls (or as the Kiwi and Aussies would say, “Thanks, mate!”).

By the way, the world’s first global election between Mother Earth and Global Warming was held last Saturday. People voted for Mother Earth by not producing any green house gases for one hour (except for the natural ones … he he he) – no electricity, etc. How interesting was that!

Of course, I voted for Mother Earth. I was with my buddy Henry, helping him pack his belongings in the dark … LOL. Henry is selling his house with the beautiful sea view and is keeping his stuff in storage until he decides what to do next.

Soon ‘Kembara Ahau Dee’ is going to celebrate its first anniversary too (24 April 2009)! For those who keep visiting my blog, thank you very much. May our ‘cyber-friendship’ last forever (or at least for as long as this blog exists … he he he)

Happy Anniversary to Ahau Dee!

Ahau Dee with Chrissy(centre) and her friend. The photo was taken almost a year ago. Can you see the extra 20 kg being cover up by his jacket?

Ahau Dee with Managers from NSMG after he facilitated the E-Learning Group Session recently and of course, he is more confident about showing his minus 20kg figure … ha ha ha! Don’t be too self-satisfied Ahau Dee… still more to lose.

PS: To mark the upcoming 1st anniversary of this blog, Ahau Dee will write more in English, as he would like his Kiwi friends to read this blog as well. To Mas, Enida and Wiz please do not hesitate to correct my English if you spot any typos or grammatical errors. Of course I can’t write as well as you can. After all, I am just a simple ‘Kampung Boy’ at heart… ha ha ha.

Cheers.

Ahau-Dee