So I just got back last weekend from yet another India trip. (Thanks for your tweet, imp! Thank goodness I didn’t get kidnapped to some alibaba village.) This time round, I got the star treatment because I went with a star; my boss’s boss who is all the way up the corporate food chain. And because I went with him, I am no longer just a minion - I am Executive Minion.
As Executive Minion,
- I get driven to the office in a SUV with a uniformed driver. There are even tiny bottles of mineral water by our seats and chains of jasmine flowers. (Just to give you a comparison, when I am there by myself as Minion, I get a rundown colt with no side mirrors or air-con).
- I was given exclusive rights to the executive board meeting room as workspace (When I was just Minion, I sit in the filing room).
- The coffee boy comes round to fill up my cup every 5 minutes. (He comes just twice a day when I was just Minion).
- I dine at 5 star hotel restaurants for lunch and dinner (As Minion, I get a takeaway Subway sandwich, if at all they remember to feed me.)
The last time I travelled with a boss’s boss (“BB”) was in Bangkok a few years back where I was not allowed to open my mouth except to giggle at her jokes at appropriate times. I was very junior then, and my boss was with us. This time round, there was no entourage - it was just me and BB. Which means I have to do a lot of talking, including entertain him during long car-rides and meals, as well as chair all his meetings and organize the itinerary. With the intensity of our agenda, you can imagine how horrible it would be if I don’t get along with him.
Thankfully, we got along really fine. Several reasons:
Reason 1: He can take a joke
BB: I saw a vacuum cleaner outside your room this morning. What did you do?! Do I need to call your boss in Singapore?!
Frou: They were trying to clean up the mess I made. I threw a party in here last night, didn't you hear?
BB: Oh. That’s what the rukus is all about.
(No, I didn't throw a party lar. The cleaners just decided to park their vacuum outside my room)
Reason 2: He is a bit of a cuckoo
BB: I got woken up by the calls of prayers this morning at 6am.
Frou: Err.. this is not a Muslim country. There shouldn’t be any calls to prayer.
BB: Are you serious??!
Frou; Yes. I didn’t hear anything. I was up at 6 too.
BB: Then what could it be??
Frou: Did you look out your window?
BB: Yes
Frou: What did you see?
BB: There was a cow.
Frou: Maybe the cow is calling to you? *make mooing sounds*
BB: Did the cows call out to you too?
Frou: Nope. Maybe they only call out to angmohs.
Reason 3: He is alcoholic, like me
BB: Groannn….
Frou: Are you alright?
BB: Err…
Frou: Yes?
BB: I think I am hungover from last night’s wine.
Frou: ME TOO!!!!
Reason 4: We handle crisis well together
(We were riding in a tiny office lift, chatting merrily, when suddenly there was a blackout and we were stuck in darkness)
BB: Gulp.
Frou: ARGH!!
Someone in the same lift: EVERYONE! DON’T PANIC. DON’T STOP TALKING.
FROU: ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
BB: GET ME OUT OF HERE!!
FROU: I AM NOT PAID ENOUGH FOR THIS SHIT
BB: ME NEITHER!!!
Overall, he is a really nice down-to-earth guy. There is no airs about him. In fact, he offered to swap his business class seats with my cattle class, and even sang to me whenever I am about to crash from exhaustion (he sang Air Supply because I told him it was my favourite). It didn’t felt at all like he is a BB, but then again, maybe it was all a test? Hmm.. if so, I wonder whether all that have been a career limiting or a career enhancing move. I guess I’ll figure out soon enough during my mid-year review, eh?
2 comments:
i tuned out to all except the stanza on alcohol. that is all the reason and explanation for a good work trip.
but NO- you DID NOT accept his offer to swop seats?!!?!!
Imp, you must be good at drunk networking! I'm crappy at it. I say the most ridiculous things when drunk :S
No lar! of course i didn't swop seats. I guai guai sit in the cattle class like all minions (executive or otherwise) would :P
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