We did our best, but there are times when best is no damn good

It’s Valentine’s day… and I’m in the office. Hehehe. It’s ok. Don’t be sad. I have a dinner date tonight, so it’s not so bad.

Anyways, our Nokia client is flying in next week for a two day workshop, and I’m just prepping a few things… you know, dotting my i's and crossing my t’s, installing all the bells and whistles. I’ve been at it for about 2-3 hours… and I have to admit, I’m pretty distracted. Let me tell you why…

You see, raises and promotions were announced two days ago and…

I actually did ok. Not great, but not bad. I’m not happy, but I’m not sad (stupid rhyming, sorry). I got promoted in July ‘09 with my increase promised in January ‘10 (there was an 8 month company-wide freeze on hiring and pay increase. Stupid recession). So this week, when all the bosses across all 3 offices were the roaming the Singapore office, we knew something big was gonna go down! Then at about 3pm, letters and emails started to arrive. One by one everyone heard something one way or another. It’s like in those WWII movies when a soldier hands a letter to a mother and father; the mother opens the envelop and within 30 seconds is on the floor sobbing… OK, well maybe not that dramatic, but it was freaking nerve-wreaking nonetheless.

In a matter of 45 minutes, the company finally announced all pay increases along with this round of promotions. The good news is, when you compare my salary percentage increase to other in the office, I pretty much come out on top. My increase “is well above average across the company and reflects your continued growth and future potential - well done mate!” so emails my boss. A bunch of us were comparing increases, and I have yet to hear someone who beat my 20% increase. Hellz ya biatches!

To add another mini cake on top of my own cake :), my direct report – Dorcas (That's her in the sari) – was also promoted this January round!!! How awesome is that! Even though she only has 1 year and 5 months of experience (promotions are usually given after 2 years for her level), she’s a monster of an exec, and I am so proud of her… and between you and me, I’m pretty fucking proud of me too! I don’t mean to boast (I will anyways), but I’m a pretty kick ass manager! I’m pretty sure I had a strong influence in Dorcas’ rocket-fast growth and eventually her promotion as well. I’m pretty sure she knows this too. Man, I love that girl. I’m like a proud big brother!

OK. So here’s the sad part…

There’s this other guy on my team named JH Teo… a 24 year old Chinese kid with (now) brown hair and a face that kind of reminds me of those troll dolls from my youth – but cuter and more human-like. He a little arrogant, but he works his ass off. He can hold his own and he takes well to responsibility and challenges. I’ve been training and mentoring him for the past year and I’ve watched him grow from a seemingly pubescent drooling Chinese boy who didn’t know his ass from his head (his words not mine) to a sharp, confident, competent project manager with his own informal management line responsibilities. It’s been an amazing transformation. The shitty part is it all been majorly overlooked.

JH makes crap (like seriously, crap – less than half what I was making before I got my raise!), but he was up for promotion this round. So we were all hoping that it would all balance out and end up for the better. We were all fighting so hard for him – seriously like 6 people with positions ranging from manager to department director. Apparently, all that didn’t make a difference because he did not get his promotion nor did he get any sort of pay increase. It’s ridiculous; almost disgusting. He deserves it so much, that nothing short of writing it in the sky with in green smoke – wicked witch style – would do him justice.

Alas, justice kept her blindfolds on for JH, and he gave his resignation on the spot. Can you blame him? When, I found out I told him to leave and never to come back. Even with all the good news, my chest’s filled with heaviness and my head’s hung low. I admit, I dropped a tear or two. We all did the best we could, but there times when best is no damn good. As his mentor and advocate in the office, I have failed. And it sucks. And there’s nothing I can do about it.

JH, man. I know you know this already, my I want to write it down so that it’s legit and real. You have been an incredible teammate and it has been my pleasure to have worked and mentored you over the past year. You are a brother to me and I have your back! I wish you the best bro!