.Wednesday, September 26, 2007 ; 8:18 PM -
.His Mercy is New everY mornInG.
"Good morning/afternoon, "whoever the name is", this is Kathy calling from marcusevans Singapore. How are you?"
That's the start of my speech/pitch/sales presentation to the client over the phone.
The job is quite exciting. A lot of learning everyday. Imagine being a human super absorbent sponge from 830 to 530 everyday. Well, my day at work revolve around these few things:
830 is equivalent to the start of prime time a.k.a calling time. This is the time to call all those decision makers, operators and sometimes PAs or gatekeepers. Everyone will be so engrossed speaking on the phone, we won't even realize if a bomb drops next to us. The pace slows down after 1030. Emails, call backs, toilet trips are usually done at this time. Some will go out and take a short break. Lunch is from 1 to 2. From 2 onwards, the whole cycle starts again until 530pm. My record of phone calls so far is 76 phone calls in 8 hours. Well, i need to hit 100 calls, reached more than 10 decision makers and send out at least 10 emails. It is the later part that I am still struggling at. I've reached 9 so far and sent out only 4 emails today. Pressure pressure. lol
My manager, colleagues and seniors are all very helpful. They don't mind telling me tricks in calling or closing deals. I think my manager expect quite a lot from me. A good thing or bad thing I don't know. There's still long way to go. It's about refining the skill. She was correcting some of my way of questionings. Actually I am very grateful to her - cough like mad still took the effort and time to help me. Somehow she thought that she sounded like scolding me. I wonder why. If the seniors can sell transfer pricing, there's no way I can't sell branding.
3 days of calling, I realized Singaporean management people are very discourteous on the phone. They spoke to people as if we are not worth their time at all. Downright putting us down. Well, the fact that I call them is because the product is suitable for them. If learning and networking with their potential business partners are such a chore to them, then feel free to stay in their little world surrounded by their own little so called knowledge. No pun intended towards other Singaporean.
All's well so far. Probably I just need someone to talk to. Someone to listen to. Funny right. I have been on the phone the entire day. Yet, I still feel like talking to people. Oh well, when I needed people to listen to me, I can't seem to find any. I messaged a friend who were in this line before. Applied my sales trick to get the person to talk - ask questions ^_^ - he said he'll share with me tomorrow. I'll be alright tomorrow. I just need a listening ear today. No point wait till tomorrow.
I don't need advices, just a presence, a comforting pat that assures me that tomorrow will be a better day. I guess it's unfair to expect others ot give it to me when they themselves are busy enough with their own life. Called a friend but I sounded like I am complaining.
Only in God presence that I can be entirely vulnerable. His goodness really shown through. His words comfort me. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future" That's what God tells me. Walked back from the station with headphones firmly clasped on my ears, I was tearing all the way. The words that was spoken through Joyce Meyer and Brian Houston really spoke to me. I didn't pick that sermon on purpose but the things spoken there really apt.
"Don't give in to the enemy. He will put negative thoughts into your mind. But you have a choice of not accepting that thought!Make that choice"
"God never leaves me nor forsake me"
"Don't give up now. It is not the time to give in"
"Do not be afraid nor be dismayed. Be bold and courages."
"whatever testings I am in, God has given me enough to go through. He will not test me more than what I can take. So yes, I can take this job, the pressure, the expectations, the pace and the blessings."
In the end, I talked to the Lord instead. You can be in a crowd but feel invisible. I hope I was invisible towards the people around me. I don't want strangers to see me crying.
