ADONG, THE WALKING SHIFT MANAGER

 The squirrel said to the mountain; "If I cannot carry forest on my back, neither can you crack a nut."

Describing the totality of a person is something difficult to put into words. Adjectives can be pompous or grandiloquence or useless, if you don’t implant to the readers the meaning of the words that you are describing about the person.  Simply it could be hollow and empty. It is like a plot in a novel story that you'll find  stupendous and exciting. Mine is simple description of  this person.

When you see a guy entered and exited the premises of Qualfon with great impetus, then you feel that he has strong personality. Not because he is tall, dark and handsome   (Jeez, girls love this  kind description of a man as though he is the Prince Charming) but because he has a silver tongue. He is witty and glib talker and he never runs out of ideas as long as you have the ears to listen.  This reminds me of "Desiderata". Few may not like him-accusing him as "overacting". By the full force of  his position, he is not over reacting  I say but just doing his functions to the best of his capacity. He is  sort of charismatic leader. If he runs for politics, he can be a good politician. I love to address him as “Wonderful Adong”. Gee, I cannot fathom where I get  this "title". I believe it was through the net messenger. Wonderful means extraordinary good.  He is   the Shift Manager that I can see proactive on the floor. I describe him as the "The Walking Shift Manager".

Adong's angelic baby

I had the opportunity to have a short tête-à-tête with Erwin  couple of days ago at the aquarium. What I mean by aquarium is the management area at the 7th floor, not the aquarium of fish  and body of water ^_^  It was absolutely enticing interview. My butt arched on the swivel chair as I listened to his answers. My ears glued ! My  mind was absorbing everything what he said.  His thoughts were overflowing yet noble in mind.

The first thing that I asked about him was: "What was the most challenging experienced he had as Shift Manager?" He answered in sotto voce that call center is a fast pace environment. The moment you turned around, different people are swarming under your pants,  under your  control and supervision . This is absolutely true and the  facade of "geographical" struggle of the company right now.  How to address  this pose the  most dynamic challenge in the midst of our leaders.  It is like a labyrinth .  Too many directions  until the time to come-out with the right approach. Talking about challenges, he added that it is  a test of one’s capabilities to make sets of activities  and programs into control by setting up priorities, action plan and time management.  The bottom line for him is that: “Managers should not be measured by success but how to make a road to success.”

Back tracking: Erwin started as a Quality Assurance Analyst (QAA) on May 1, 2007.  Then he was promoted to Operations Supervisor on October 30 of the same year.  Like others, he made it to the top caliber position as Shift Manager. He was confirmed as Shift Manager on March 29, 2010 (at this point, I forgot to ask him what was his reactions when he was confirmed as Shift Manager. It slipped from my mind. It was a 20 minutes interview in between shifts. My mind was enthralled). 

I know that few  aspired to become a Shift Manager; some did not make it at the first try. Some were lucky enough to make it on their first application. The road to success is rough and lots of potholes. Some make the roads less traveled by. Those who dare, made it. Adong was one of them who dreamed for it. When I asked him what was his edge to other aspirants.  He said it was presentation of data and people management.  Other scenario also that is not healthy in an organization is the pulling  down system of which 90% is inevitable.  When you are at the top, some people would pull you down. Attacking and making false accusations.  These are people with crab mentalities. Never happy of themselves so they make themselves the extension of other people. When asked about this, he said to take time to listen and acknowledge them and it is hard to please everybody.  

With parents and sis on their leg of tour

PERSONAL PROFILE

Let's us deal with the glimpse of personal life of Adong. 

Adong finished his  BS Accountancy in San Jose Recoletos in 2002. He also took Culinary Arts at Saint Paul's College. Hmm I can smell the aroma of  gourmet foods from his kitchen.


Adong has good track records of work experience.  No wonder he can functions his job with great mettle. His first job was in PENTA Marine Corporation as Operations Supervisor.  His functions was discharging, overlooking  and coordinating vessels from each port.  He was also an Operations Manager of Global Maritime Inspection Services.  Six month with Teletech and one-year with Convergy's. So far with all his jobs experiences, he finds Qualfon as a conducive working environment. 


With the astronomical income of P180,000.00 - P280,000.00 that his parents is deriving from  their Philpost Fertilizer business, Adong should not be working and contend his self  in a call center. He can help his parents manage the business and earn more  and be a millionaire. Can splurge in other parts of world.   Yet, it  is a passion and drive in him that he wants to prove something out of his self. He wants  build his own life under the scourging heat of the sun without depending on the income of his parents.  As a matter of fact, he is not asking any single peso from his parents. His sisters are now all abroad. Sheena is in Canada and Janette in Georgia, US of A.  I asked him if he has a plan to find a better horizon in a foreign land. He  muttered that would rather stay in the Philippine soil.  Adong has a very cute and huggable baby in Texas. Of course,  he is single and negotiable. He hope to find the right woman someday. About his personal love life, I don't want to dwell on that.  Who knows, it is you.