After I took that final step that took me to Sykes, I was caught in utter disbelief at the decision I just made. It was a leap into total darkness. The thought of severing myself from the academe, the place I thought I was fashioned for, was flabbergasting, to say the least. Was it the right decision or was I just a willing victim being tossed into the inroads of globalization?
That was two years ago.
Today, so much has changed from that unnecessary and self-limiting naivete. I am living an experience with a mindset which is a 180-degree-shift from where I started. From where I'm standing, with the ascent of paradigms and insights afforded by the Sykes experience, I can look into the future pregnant with resolve to continue living the call.
And I'm glad I heeded that call. In hindsight, it is impossible to leave it all to happenstance. Consider these:
How can I be in the wrong place when I'm comfortable with the people I work with, who are not just my colleagues but best friends, more importantly? In the middle of difficult situations, I never run out of neighbors who are only too willing to haul me out of the wasteland I'm dumped into. My leaders are not old-fashioned, bespectacled forty-niners but are self-driven individuals whose passion for excellence is just so infectious. While professional respect is maintained, I can always share a drink or two with them and share life's inanities and glories without hesitations.
How can I call it mere coincidence when Sykes catapulted me into undiscovered realms of self-knowledge and reinvention. Opportunities to further my innate talents abound I thought I finished unearthing them in my school days. Almost everyday, I gather new information it's just so exciting to know I'm earning while learning. I'm overjoyed at the thought I am seen not just an associate who can talk my hours away but a multi-faceted individual infinitely endowed with potentials, and there are people interested in me showing off those talents.
After all, I believe in Sykes' promise: How far will you let me take you?
Take me to the heights of my aspirations, where dreams are lived, real and boundless. Bring me to realms of untold riches hidden under the guise of undiscovered capabilities just waiting, biding their time to be tapped. Fly me to verdant enclaves of infinite possibilities of showing the world that I matter, that I am significant.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
The Tale of a Sykeser (Part 2)
Let me tell you about someone I know like the back of my hand.
Like a tongue that involuntarily reaches for the aching tooth, his desire to unravel the mystery within this growing subculture of call center agents was unrelenting. Torn between perfecting his trade in the profession he figured his first and last and satiating his thirst for self-realization, he felt like he was caught between Scylla and Charybdis. To either stay ensconced in his comfort zones or tread on uncharted terrains might mean foregoing rare lifetime opportunities.
He decided to take his chances and jumped ships, albeit reluctantly, and found himself in Sykes.
As with anything that's novel, unfamiliarity breeds intimidation. From the time he stood in front of its edifice, its enormity swallowed him whole leaving him little faith and giving more room for self-doubt, which was easier to believe. But when you are ushered with welcoming faces, warm smiles and a full backing from people who believe in you, you can't help but put your guard down, smile back and unleash you talent. He found the culture so people-centered it's the closest to home he can ever be with.
By far, it was in Sykes where he experienced the ultimate challenge of his will to survive and the breadth of his talents. There had been times when he felt too weak in the face of seemingly insurmountable tasks and raising the white flag would have been the easiest thing to do; but that, too, would have been the most ignominious. He only had to look around to see that he's not alone and realize that greatness does not belong to the chicken-hearted.
Here, too, did he have his most humbling of experiences. Always known to achieve and not settle for anything less, his frustrations came flooding in when he found himself inept and lacking as evidenced by his performance relative to the others'. In numerous times, the temptation to find solace in a resignation letter was just too overwhelming. But then again, that, too, would have been the most inglorious act. While the environment frowns upon mediocrity, passivity and inaction, there is a tolerance for self-improvement that allows one to zero in on his weaknesses and polish them to perfection.
By the way, did I mention he just loved the opportunity of brushing elbows with celebrities in Sykes-wide celebrations--all for free? What about on how grateful he is for finding in this place the person who now makes his heart skip a beat?
And I do apologize for not mentioning early on that I was talking about me.
Like a tongue that involuntarily reaches for the aching tooth, his desire to unravel the mystery within this growing subculture of call center agents was unrelenting. Torn between perfecting his trade in the profession he figured his first and last and satiating his thirst for self-realization, he felt like he was caught between Scylla and Charybdis. To either stay ensconced in his comfort zones or tread on uncharted terrains might mean foregoing rare lifetime opportunities.
He decided to take his chances and jumped ships, albeit reluctantly, and found himself in Sykes.
As with anything that's novel, unfamiliarity breeds intimidation. From the time he stood in front of its edifice, its enormity swallowed him whole leaving him little faith and giving more room for self-doubt, which was easier to believe. But when you are ushered with welcoming faces, warm smiles and a full backing from people who believe in you, you can't help but put your guard down, smile back and unleash you talent. He found the culture so people-centered it's the closest to home he can ever be with.
By far, it was in Sykes where he experienced the ultimate challenge of his will to survive and the breadth of his talents. There had been times when he felt too weak in the face of seemingly insurmountable tasks and raising the white flag would have been the easiest thing to do; but that, too, would have been the most ignominious. He only had to look around to see that he's not alone and realize that greatness does not belong to the chicken-hearted.
Here, too, did he have his most humbling of experiences. Always known to achieve and not settle for anything less, his frustrations came flooding in when he found himself inept and lacking as evidenced by his performance relative to the others'. In numerous times, the temptation to find solace in a resignation letter was just too overwhelming. But then again, that, too, would have been the most inglorious act. While the environment frowns upon mediocrity, passivity and inaction, there is a tolerance for self-improvement that allows one to zero in on his weaknesses and polish them to perfection.
By the way, did I mention he just loved the opportunity of brushing elbows with celebrities in Sykes-wide celebrations--all for free? What about on how grateful he is for finding in this place the person who now makes his heart skip a beat?
And I do apologize for not mentioning early on that I was talking about me.
Becoming Nocturnal (Part 1)
I was once asked if I'd give being a call center agent a try. Having been a teacher for the most part of my career life, shifting to such a direction was simply unthinkable, out of place. Then my mind raced into thinking of people with dark circles around their eyes due to lack, or perhaps absence, of sleep with coffee-filled mugs on one hand and lit cigarettes on the other. I brushed the idea aside faster than I can say"No!"
Not until last year. It was a whirlwind of events, so fast that everything is now a blur. I found myself in Sykes, a call center agent.I ate my words.
The adjustments I had to undergo had been made less tougher because I was with a group of equally adventurous and daring young professionals.The rigorous and intensive financial training sessions were interspersed with fun and light interludes which almost always got us out of the way and eventually earned us the reputation of a rowdy, undisciplined, and out-of-focus pack. Nonetheless, we managed to pull it off and were permitted to man the queue.
Being on the AMPF floor was, and still is, an opportunity for me to brush elbows with self-driven and highly motivated individuals. Nowhere else in my previous working experiences had I been in a group so intent and focused that everyone seemed to be looking in one direction. The air is charged with infectious electricity to push oneself to the limits.Months after taking live calls, few of my colleagues started being recognized for achieving the goals expected of us to meet. That was when I also started to worry. I always thought and regarded myself highly that it was so hard for me to accept that my batchmates got ahead of me while I trail behind. Surely, there must be a way to the top.
Thankfully, success stories in the account were something that were not kept secret. Best practices and innovative ways were shared around making it almost impossible to get infected with the"I-know-I-can-do-it" virus. Achievers were praised indiscriminately and I couldn't wait to bask in my fifteen seconds of fame. Well, who doesn't? It was great that in those sharing sessions, the associate-on-the-spot found a way to look at success in a different perspective. Others looked at it as a means of self-realization, some considered it a result of favorable luck being on their side, while for the religious, they offered their everyday toil to God and therefore attribute their feat as a God-given favor. Soon enough, I started being counted among the achievers. It felt good to contribute to the team's achievements and to simply belong to a high-performing group, at the envy of and inspiration to others, could not be more fulfilling.
Teambuildings were also sources of insights. The camaraderie that these activities sought to strengthen was so palpable that it doesn't seem to want reconstruction. Everyone seemed to be very supportive regardless of each others' idiosyncracies. In one of the games where every team member had to be lifted to get past the hurdle, some displayed hesitance due to their size, perhaps an accumulation of months of unchecked diet and eternally-postponed exercise. The assurance that team members afforded was just so overwhelming that crossing the hurdles went without the fear of disgust and ridicule. Here is a team mature enough to mind petty concerns reserved only for the small of minds.
Then later I found that nobility of character does not solely reside on being a teacher, as I previously thought. Call center agents too can stand among the nobles. It is noteworthy that some team mates are socially-conscious and extended invitations for outreach programs. These were opportunities to connect with the less-privileged members of the community, the latest one being with the orphans sheltered at Cebu Hope Center. The experience was heartening and humbling at the same time.Heartening in that our being able to make them smile and share what little that we have with them was more than enough to fill our hearts with ineffable joy. Humbling in that the children, though they have nothing, were a source of inspiration for us, the more fortunate ones,to continue with life's challenges no matter how the going gets tough. Bon, my team lead, couldn't have said it better when she declared, "We sought you here because you have something that we do not have."
Overall, I'm enjoying the call center experience. I discovered one more side of me--that I'm able to thrive in an industry I used to distance myself from. I'm glad I found and now belong to this group. Or is it this group that found me? I can only wonder. The realization of success and self-fulfillment manifested in a job well done will always stay deeply rooted in my consciousness, wherever destiny takes me. And I will always look back to this account as the important contributory element in forging this realization.
Not until last year. It was a whirlwind of events, so fast that everything is now a blur. I found myself in Sykes, a call center agent.I ate my words.
The adjustments I had to undergo had been made less tougher because I was with a group of equally adventurous and daring young professionals.The rigorous and intensive financial training sessions were interspersed with fun and light interludes which almost always got us out of the way and eventually earned us the reputation of a rowdy, undisciplined, and out-of-focus pack. Nonetheless, we managed to pull it off and were permitted to man the queue.
Being on the AMPF floor was, and still is, an opportunity for me to brush elbows with self-driven and highly motivated individuals. Nowhere else in my previous working experiences had I been in a group so intent and focused that everyone seemed to be looking in one direction. The air is charged with infectious electricity to push oneself to the limits.Months after taking live calls, few of my colleagues started being recognized for achieving the goals expected of us to meet. That was when I also started to worry. I always thought and regarded myself highly that it was so hard for me to accept that my batchmates got ahead of me while I trail behind. Surely, there must be a way to the top.
Thankfully, success stories in the account were something that were not kept secret. Best practices and innovative ways were shared around making it almost impossible to get infected with the"I-know-I-can-do-it" virus. Achievers were praised indiscriminately and I couldn't wait to bask in my fifteen seconds of fame. Well, who doesn't? It was great that in those sharing sessions, the associate-on-the-spot found a way to look at success in a different perspective. Others looked at it as a means of self-realization, some considered it a result of favorable luck being on their side, while for the religious, they offered their everyday toil to God and therefore attribute their feat as a God-given favor. Soon enough, I started being counted among the achievers. It felt good to contribute to the team's achievements and to simply belong to a high-performing group, at the envy of and inspiration to others, could not be more fulfilling.
Teambuildings were also sources of insights. The camaraderie that these activities sought to strengthen was so palpable that it doesn't seem to want reconstruction. Everyone seemed to be very supportive regardless of each others' idiosyncracies. In one of the games where every team member had to be lifted to get past the hurdle, some displayed hesitance due to their size, perhaps an accumulation of months of unchecked diet and eternally-postponed exercise. The assurance that team members afforded was just so overwhelming that crossing the hurdles went without the fear of disgust and ridicule. Here is a team mature enough to mind petty concerns reserved only for the small of minds.
Then later I found that nobility of character does not solely reside on being a teacher, as I previously thought. Call center agents too can stand among the nobles. It is noteworthy that some team mates are socially-conscious and extended invitations for outreach programs. These were opportunities to connect with the less-privileged members of the community, the latest one being with the orphans sheltered at Cebu Hope Center. The experience was heartening and humbling at the same time.Heartening in that our being able to make them smile and share what little that we have with them was more than enough to fill our hearts with ineffable joy. Humbling in that the children, though they have nothing, were a source of inspiration for us, the more fortunate ones,to continue with life's challenges no matter how the going gets tough. Bon, my team lead, couldn't have said it better when she declared, "We sought you here because you have something that we do not have."
Overall, I'm enjoying the call center experience. I discovered one more side of me--that I'm able to thrive in an industry I used to distance myself from. I'm glad I found and now belong to this group. Or is it this group that found me? I can only wonder. The realization of success and self-fulfillment manifested in a job well done will always stay deeply rooted in my consciousness, wherever destiny takes me. And I will always look back to this account as the important contributory element in forging this realization.
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