Career and Sustenance

Same Meal, Different Experience

I am sure people would be asking what is the connection between the picture of the steak and this article. It was an experience this morning I had during sahur that reminded me of the connection between my career and sustenance provided by the Almighty.

I was having the same meal I had from iftar (breaking of fast). It was Kyochon chicken with a little bit of rice cooked by my wife (not the steak). While I fully enjoyed the meal the night before with my family, it was a different experience this morning. Somehow, after the second bite, I felt a slight choking. I had to vomit out the meal. I tried to eat again but the choking happened again. After 4 attempts to eat and failed, I stopped and decided to just drink water. I just sat at the dining table looking at the rest of the family members finishing up their food and at my plate with the remaining food. My mind started to ponder.

I waited for everyone to finish their meal and leave the table before I allowed my tears to drop as that 15 minutes hit me quite hard. It reminded me of a few things that is happening currently and also in the past.

Please read on to see how this relates to my career development and its connection with sustenance....

What Is Mine Is Not Mine

The first thing that I was reminded of is that even though I have purchased the food and my wife cooked it to perfection and a small portion of it has gone into my throat, it was still not mine entirely as my body rejected it. I may be able to afford food but if it is not meant for me, I will still not be able to have it even though it is sitting in front of me.

Relating to the current pandemic, it looks like there are a lot of changes to adapt to regardless what I am able to do. Cant go and get a haircut, cheap fuel but nowhere to go, can't run outside or attend run events and many other activities that have been put to a stop. It looks like it will also continue after any type of lock down is lifted by the authority.

Lets Go Back In Time

I actually studied mechanical and aeronautical design engineering in University of Brighton, UK and was deeply passionate about flying. I have zero knowledge, zero interest in Oil and Gas. I was lucky that UoB, (being an ex-polytechnic) emphasized a lot on practical modules. I spent the first 5 months in their workshop learning about machining, CNC, lathing etc. As I go on with the undergraduate course, I even started to learn how to fly an airplane as one of the modules was actually practical training in a nearby airfield. Through out my studies in the UK, I went to a few interviews by notable international companies (from their Malaysia operation) just to be rejected from even attending the interview itself. Reason given was that they can only interview students from certain elite universities. UoB was of course not on the list even though it has a strong relationship with Malaysia (especially with TNB / LLN) since the 1940s). I was getting worried as I may not have a job upon graduating.

So, What Does This Have To Do With My Career?

Still with me? Ok lets read on.

This year marked the 20th year of my professional working career. Worked with 7 different amazing companies.

• British Energy - At the age of 23, I landed my first proper job as a Reactor Systems Support Engineer, in charge of 5 different plants under the supervision of a Mr. Paul Thomas. It was a year out from uni but was given the trust to really work as an engineer. It was not easy for a foreigner to land a place in this company as it needed high security clearance. I remember that they even had to contact the Malaysian government back in KL and ran a check on my background. Superb colleagues I had - Christian Welfare, Robert Ackroyd, Hon, Dick Bruin, Chris etc. Stationed at the oldest nuclear power station in Dungeness in Kent where alarms are triggered nearly daily. Exciting times. This was the only job that I actually had to apply for.

• Astronautics Technology Sdn Bhd - was offered a job as a Spacecraft Engineer and to be based in Washington. It was a dream come true to land a job in an area I am passionate about. However, I must be the person with the shortest career in Astronautics - 3 days as the September 11 situation forbids me to work in the US. At this point, I actually had 3 offers - this, Malakoff and SLB.
• Schlumberger - had no idea what this company does. My colleagues in British Energy mentioned that this company produces electrical meters. The recruiter (Schlumberger Malaysia) was very adamant to invite me for an interview whenever I come back to Malaysia and introduce me to the world of oil and gas. I was wondering why they can't arrange for an interview here in UK. Only recently, I was informed that Schlumberger UK recruiter didn't see that I would be a suitable candidate as I only graduated from UoB. The Malaysian recruiter however was adamant to introduce me to the oil and gas industry. Eventually, I joined Dowell Schlumberger Malaysia at the age of 24. Started of as a cementer, then moved to CT and stimulation, frac and sand control. I would like to thank Mr. Zahris Sham Abu and Kak Fauziah Hanim for opening the door for me. Spent most of my career here. Worked in SEA, Gulf and Aberdeen. I did good. Really good. At the age of 24, I was already earning a very high salary monthly. Of course it came with hardship of offshore in South China Sea, jungle of Duri in Indonesia and scorching desert of the Gulf. My longest offshore hitch was 49 days for the Well Start Up campaign in CTOC.

1. I topped most of the training schools I attended in SLB
2. Received numerous awards from various Management Level in SLB. From the top to the domestic management
3. Chosen to be on the LEADER path and sent to University of Tulsa for Petroleum Engineering and Reservoir Fundamental school (PERF)
4. Achieved a Senior level status in SLB Eureka Technical Community
5. Written and presented several SPE papers in US and Abu Dhabi
6. Championed various New Technologies like PowerCLEAN, ACTive, SXE-HT and many more.
7. Chosen to do Masters in Herriot Watt Uni and Edinburgh Business School
8. Chosen for their InterChange program
9. Secured numerous number of high profile contracts and projects like the first CTD in Malaysia and first integrated well intervention campaign in Bokor.
10. Presented with stock options.

Sounds like I am bragging right? And it also sound like I have it all. Have patience and read on.

Despite of the successful career in SLB, I was greedy. I was impatient. I felt I was entitled. It got into my head that I can demand what I wanted. And due to dissatisfaction of how the company seems to ignore my request for greater things, I quit SLB. Twice!

And this is not about being arrogant. It was just an internal thing where I mistook entitlement as aspiration to be successful.

• Shell - at the age of 31, an opportunity presented itself for me to join them. Initially, I was reluctant to join them because I have to move to Miri and also, this was one of the companies that rejected my request to be interviewed in London as a student. However, after discussing with the Shell management on the role they are offering, I changed my mind and moved my family to Miri. Thank you to Datuk Mohd Anuar Taib whom was the Wells Manager back then. Not to forget Derek Mackenzie, Roger Hubbard, Michael Kang, Tzarina Abun, Clement Wong, Richard Pie, Bonnie Bilal and the whole Miri team for their support and guidance for me to shift from a service company into an operator's role. I did well again. Received a Special Recognition Award within the first 9 months I was there. Scored high as well in their Round 1 assessment. Presented the successful South Furious campaign to Shell Asia Pac community. Topped the Asia Pac ranking on individual performance and presented with company stocks. Unfortunately, it was a short-ish stint for about 3 years as family circumstances forced me to return to KL. My dad passed away and my mother was struck with cancer soon after. Upon returning to KL, I had the option of joining PETRONAS or rejoined SLB. I actually rejoined SLB for about 3 years before I moved on to the next adventure.
• Talisman - Another opportunity presented itself. At the age of 36, this is when I started to ask myself - What Went Wrong? Why can't I stick to one career path? Why am I not getting what I wanted? Thank you Ross Burnstad and the whole Talisman team for a sweet 9 months journey to complete the first Kinabalu well intervention campaign.
• PETRONAS - after about 2 weeks I reported duty to Talisman, another offer presented itself by PETRONAS. Thank you En. Bacho Pilong and En. Rahimi Wahab for your trust and opening door to the most prestigious unit in PETRONAS - The Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM). The regulatory body of the upstream industry across the whole of Malaysia. However, it was only agreed that I would join PETRONAS after I complete the project in Talisman which took 9 months. Again in the same year I turn 36, I joined PETRONAS. An organisation that also rejected me as a fresh graduate 20 years ago. And here I am approaching my 7th year in PETRONAS. Success? You bet. Again, recognition after recognition from the very top to business units management. Even received acknowledgement from the industry in numerous occasions. Transformed the well intervention landscape in Malaysia through IIWR. Presented papers in China, Indonesia, Canada, Malaysia. United Kingdom etc.

.... And now....This is my sharing and how it relates to my experience this morning.

Upon enjoying all the successes throughout my career, I felt I have the right over something. The more successful I get, the more entitled I felt. I keep comparing with what my colleagues had in their career. And I needed to be more and more to the point that I was greedy I suppose.

It was in Talisman that I realized that this was not the right attitude and mindset. It was triggered by the passing of my late mother in 2013 that brought me down to realize not to question what I didn't get but be thankful for what I have been given as it can be taken away.

Today's episode of choking reminded me of the following learning back in my Talisman days:

1. Work hard is essential but it is not me who decide what I should get in return.
2. Never compare my career path with others. Focus on building mine as my path is unique to my own life as sustenance is already set for me.
3. Receive what I get with utmost gratitude and never focus on what I am entitled to get. There is no such thing as that. No mathematical equation to compute what I should get. I cannot equate X amount of effort = Y amount of returns. The next door cubicle gets a higher bonus? Good for them. I am OK with what I get.
4. Rejection is not really a failure. It is actually a deferment for greater things to come.
5. Nothing is permanently mine even though it is lying in front of me just like that plate of rice and Kyochon chicken this morning.

Why I decided to write this long article is mainly to remind myself of how hard it was to get here but also how blessed. But also for the fresh graduates today or anyone who is facing difficulty in their career, I hope you can extract the following from my sharing:

1. Work hard. No substitute to that. The way to do it? That is up to you.
2. Build your expertise and people will remember you for that. Not because from where you graduated or which company you worked for before.
3. Focus on your path, not others. We may work in the same office, but we are unique individuals. Companies are looking for you for your talent, so surface them.
4. Hard to find a job or failing at interviews? This is just a deferment for greater things. Not a failure. Be patience and believe that you have your own sustenance set for you.
5. Never feel entitled and be grateful for whatever is presented to you.
6. Open doors for others just like the individuals above that have opened doors for me.

Thank you for reading. This is purely a personal sharing and not meant to teach nor coach.

Learn something from this? Share with me your thoughts.

Didn't get anything from this 15 minutes reading? Share your thoughts as well.

#selfreflection #careerprogression