WHAT I HAVE BECOME IN THE THREE YEARS AS A SALES IN FOREIGN TRADE
It was NOV 30 the day before yesterday, an anniversary for me. Right on this day 2 years ago, my manager left the exporting department, leaving me behind with another two colleagues, without anyone to turn to when I came across something hard for me to handle alone.
From that moment, the boss took charge of everything concerning business with foreign customers. All the issues pending will still be there if I have no approval from him. This is a stubborn old man with strong determination but ineffective way of execution, high spirit and confidence but next to the exaggerated style bravado. So things get difficult to move on or carry out in his rule, especially when it comes to complaints and returns, which he regards as something impossible given the admiration and confidence he has in his products, which puts me in a very uncomfortable position since I have both the confused customers and an irrationally bigoted boss to satisfy.
Fortunately, I am where I am now after all these struggling process and unpleasant experiences. I am kind of grateful to what I have been through, putting me somewhere embarrassing and chaotic, pushing me hard enough to exhaust every potential to solve what's put onto the table. I wouldn't have realized I could be so strong, strong enough to take care of the heavy tasks which are supposed to be coped with by 3 other persons; I could be so effective, effective enough to read more than 40 emails a day from 8+ customers bringing about different topics and issues, and get 50% of them done every day besides brand new situations piling up in the same day; I could be so flexible, flexible enough to drop one thing immediately once I see no possibility to get a quick feedback for the moment and pick up the other without hesitation, if I was not exposed to the circumstances more ridiculous and frustrating than I have expected.
I am not saying that I enjoy this kind of pace where I am pushed forward every day by old tasks keeping accumulated and new things coming along toward me, having no choice but let the customers beat the shit out of me. But I am getting better when I take the situation as it is and get something favorable to my career out of the actuality awful and horrible, helpless and hopeless.
I would like to make a list about what I have got during these 3 years, in memory of what I have become after all these fightings.
OPEN MINDED WITH CHANGEABLE SITUATION
I used to get panic when the current plan needs adjustment required by customers, when there is no news from customers or forwarders advising what we should do next. However, I learn to let it get to me no more since I have more things important to take care of and I am not allowed to spend energy on meaningless worry in vain since energy is the limited resource. The more tasks I am engaged in, the less likely I will spend time worrying or wondering what would happen next. I give up any concern or anxiety on the what would go against my will or expectation since I don't have the time or energy to. I spend every possible minute on tasks at hand and before my eyes, and I find all the negative feelings pass me by in surprise.
FIND THE EFFECTIVE WAY WITH LESS TIME WASTED
The more limited time is, the more tasks on you, the more likely that your potential will be activated to find the effective way in need. I start doing instead of keeping wondering where to start. Action is the fastest way to get you out of confusion. Your plan will be clearer when you take your step since you know what to adjust and how to continue once you have your hand on it. Thinking without practice has wasted a lot of my time, worrying while standing still has robbed me of energy. Then I just make a list of all the current tasks I need to deal with and get things moving. Take action then the effective way will take care of itself.
KEEP CALM IN ANY EMERGENCY
I have witnessed numerous colleagues coming and going in a year, some of them staying no longer than a week. The high frequency of turnover tells how terrible place this is. And soon I have no others around me who have been in the exporting department for more than half a year. I have been asked to take care of the tasks left by different colleagues saying goodbye to this company, some of them raise the resignation all of a sudden, without any sign or prediction. As this kind of emergency happens a lot, I get used to this. The calmness I get from this situation helps me through more emergency, such as rework in limited period before shipment, rejection of cargo, and lack of materials to get products ready in time.
ACTING ALONE AS THE INTERPRETER CONFIDENTLY
I like the feeling of being in charge, especially leading the conversation between my boss and the foreign visitors. I am glad that I am no longer a shadow beside my manager, unable to find the right time to fit in, or find the appropriate word to say during our meeting or around the dinner table. I have to take the initiative to do the interpretation as the host on behalf of my company.
DO WHAT I AM CAPABLE OF EVEN IT IS NOT MY BUSINESS WITHOUT COMPLAINING
As the company is going down, there are a lot of ridiculous tasks I have to deal with so as to make on time shipment. We have delayed payment to the suppliers of materials, so we fail to get materials in time to guarantee cargo ready as estimated delivery date promised to customers. I have to chase the materials with the purchasing department over and over again, and even chase the finance for payment to supplier, which will hardly be my business if this company is in good management. The management of warehouse and workshop is even worse, or there will be no conflict between these two areas, where the warehouse keeper claims that she gets right quantity of items received from supplier while the workshop says that the quantity is not right. To my surprise, they come to me for settlement of this contradiction. This increases my burden, but I learn how to deal with something I am irresponsible for without complaining.
STAY ENERGETIC NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS
Keep the energy and refuse to let anything unpleasant steal your active feelings away. A spirit high may help you through the most difficult situation.
TAKE IT EASY EVEN IF THE SITUATION GOES AGAINST ME
If things go in the different direction from what you have expected, take a deep breath and let go of all the negative emotions potentially caused by something beyond expectation.
KNOW WHAT TO DO IF I AM TRAPPED IN SOME BORING MEETINGS
Instead of feeling bad about the meeting taking up another precious hour from me, I will bring whatever documents related and the notebook, then I will have a to do list for a day, and a shipping schedule in the following week ready before the meeting's over. Once something compulsory is inevitable, figure out what you can accomplish within the time occupied by it.
I am not staying here because I have no choice. I just keep accumulating something I need in order to have a better choice when I am leaving.
