Transit....for a new journey!

My successor arrived on July 1st. Which means effective the same date, I am no longer the VP of my function for the company. Which means I am no longer the leader of my team. I am no longer a signatory for the company and do not hold any more executive role. Simply put, I do not have any more power!. I have been preparing myself mentally and emotionally for this day - for I know it was not going to be easy. When it came, I wasn't ready. Afterall, I did not want to leave this job, but my contract was not renewed. The company is paying my salary literally until I get another job, so I am grateful for the generousity but my pride is slighted. I became overly sensitive over mundane things. A friend replied to one of my mails and he referred to me as ..."boss". I replied back...."Boss??". His next reply was "all in good spirit". I snapped with..."not funny to someone who has just lost his position as a boss". He said I was too harsh. Maybe I was.....but I found him being insensitive, especially he has never called me by that word 'Boss' before.

On Thursday, Mr R reluctantly moved into my office. Someone has changed my name tag on the door to his the night before. He was apologetic. It was not his fault. I wasn't cool about it, and the lack of courtesy and sensitivity by whoever who took down my name tag was not acceptable. I demanded to know who took off my name tag and created a fuss. Enough fuss that the chairman reprimanded the facilities manager to make sure my name tag was restored and Mr R was moved to a spare office.

From July 1st until the end of the month, my objective is to do an effective hand-over and pass the baton to Mr R, the new guy. The fact that he is such a nice gentleman helps. In a way, I could not have wished for a better successor - I know in my gut that he is not the type who will witch-hunt for any skeletons and spill out any worms from the period of my tenure to shame his predecessor for his own glory. At the end of July, I will no longer be with this company - and I have a mixed feeling about that.

On his part, Mr R has been very appreciative of the way I welcomed him into the organization and the support I am providing. For the whole of this month, we will be traveling together, staying at the same hotel, and on certain occasions even ordered the same items from the menu. I want to see him successful in his new job, and I want to see that my team feels comfortable with their new leader.
I have had two already who came to hug me with their eyes all red, holding back their emotions.

On one occassion when a staff member came in to say farewell early because he was leaving for his vacation, I was overwhelmed with emotion. After we hugged, I signalled for him to leave me alone -I turned facing the window to manage my own emotion. And the trigger was his simple words, "Sir, I will miss you and your kind leadership". In a harsh corporate world, I found his sincerity and appreciation overwhelming.
Arabs can be very emotional when it comes to relationship. For their sake too, this hand-over will be the best I can ever do.

I am looking forward to starting my vacation, joining my family back home in Kuala Lumpur. I am excited with the event at the Darul Izzah Orphanage! My way of spreading love is to be there.....and I am happy when I know I have made someone else happy.
Being the optimist that I am, my mind is already focused on starting a new job, one which I do not yet have and still am looking - the past is as good as what lessons it provide, the present is here to be rejoiced, and tomorrow is where our future and hopes are.
This is a transit which I find energizing. An opportunity to open a new chapter, meet new set of people and paint a clean canvas with my footprint! How often indeed do we get such an opportunity? Transitioning is an action in the present - a time to recollect past lessons, regroup past experiences, and re-focus onto the future!

Called LiL and the boys the moment I woke up this morning and just listening to her voice filled with happiness while enjoying the home coming in KL made me smile and gave me a kick start to the day. When she paused for breath, all I could say into the mouth piece was..."I want to go homeeeeeeeeeeeee".

Despite everything, Malaysia is home! For a man in transit - waiting can feel long.