EPT
What I learned as a Consultant at PwCKorea Part 5
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MightyAtom
Korea (South)1897 Posts
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Entropic
Canada2837 Posts
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tofucake
Hyrule19221 Posts
Anyway, great reads. Glad to hear you're feeling better. I was a little confused though. From the way you wrote this one it sounded like you left for PokerStars something like 4 months after you started at PwC, but you said 4 years later. Which is it? | ||
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MightyAtom
Korea (South)1897 Posts
On August 28 2010 05:27 tofucake wrote: NO! You can't leave! I'll call the embassy! Anyway, great reads. Glad to hear you're feeling better. I was a little confused though. From the way you wrote this one it sounded like you left for PokerStars something like 4 months after you started at PwC, but you said 4 years later. Which is it? I was at PwC in 2006 and PS from mid- 2007 to March 2010. So by Sept 1, it will have been 6 months of recovery. I could have started at another firm at a VP level, I got a few offers, but the jobs weren't inspiring, but also I just wanted to find my feet again. I think I have a good 5 years left in me to work like a mofo, but only if I was fully recovered. It was a very difficult decsion to take this much time off and I can say the recovery only really started about 2 months ago, the first 4 months, I was still mentally running, taking a vacation but still ready to jump back in if the right opportuntity presented itself, so i was still in some sense in work mode. Until I said, ok, forget all this, I am not going to consider any more offers that require me to set up the project, then I started to really recover and so when I decided to write this blog, it was point where I had settled a very great possible project for me that really was something I knew I could enjoy and be passionate about. So yeah, the story is set 4 years ago, but the reason why I'm writing this blog is because I quit PS nearly 6 months ago. Sorry, whenever I speak about work, I always assume that people know my work history, which is true when I'm talkng to people in the industry, but not on TL. lol oops kaka. But, I'm going to continue with the blog of course, bu tomg, this series, wow, its 5:40 am now, and I feel great. ^^ Cheers! | ||
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Zeak
United States19 Posts
So do you have a definite plan from here on out, or are you just gonna recuperate and see how things go? I definitely hope you continue to keep posting more stuff! ^^ I'm slowly working through all your blogs XP | ||
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Najda
United States3765 Posts
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MightyAtom
Korea (South)1897 Posts
um, it took a while to really prioritise or let myself recuperate first so I could start to recover. And I have finally got a definate plan together, but right now I'm waiting on some external funding to see if I will be able to do a project at the scope I want. And, actually the reputation for being th guy who could eat people was actually something that I still carry with me with positive connotations. ^^ | ||
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wwiv
Singapore182 Posts
i have a question, how do introverts fair in your industry? | ||
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Entropic
Canada2837 Posts
On August 28 2010 11:37 wwiv wrote: thanks, this was really inspiring for a young teenager i have a question, how do introverts fair in your industry? I'd suspect die? On a more serious note, work in research (Msc finance, PHD Econ/finance) as opposed to consulting (which is a really different beast). | ||
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krndandaman
Mozambique16569 Posts
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MightyAtom
Korea (South)1897 Posts
On August 28 2010 13:31 Entropic wrote: I'd suspect die? On a more serious note, work in research (Msc finance, PHD Econ/finance) as opposed to consulting (which is a really different beast). I would not write it like that persay ^^, but I agree with this that perhaps a financial analyst or account role would be more suitable as a major part of being a consultant is presentations in one form or another. But, its hard to say so simply that just because you are an introvert that you are disqualified, as long as you are a competitive introvert who can put yourself out there in a high pressued situation, then its quite reasonable, but personally, I get further fueled by more people, more pressure, more intensity and for many introverts, while they have learnt to deal with such external pressures or interactions very well, it is exhausting for them. So unless the introvert is really some type of strategic genius, then I would say that it simply isn't fulfilling work for them. Introverts may be more appropriate for the product developoment side of business. But if you are introverted and can be competitive and enjoy that competition, then I would say you probably will bring a lot of value to the firm you can stand the fire. Cheers! | ||
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YoonHo
Canada1043 Posts
On August 29 2010 01:17 MightyAtom wrote: I would not write it like that persay ^^, but I agree with this that perhaps a financial analyst or account role would be more suitable as a major part of being a consultant is presentations in one form or another. But, its hard to say so simply that just because you are an introvert that you are disqualified, as long as you are a competitive introvert who can put yourself out there in a high pressued situation, then its quite reasonable, but personally, I get further fueled by more people, more pressure, more intensity and for many introverts, while they have learnt to deal with such external pressures or interactions very well, it is exhausting for them. So unless the introvert is really some type of strategic genius, then I would say that it simply isn't fulfilling work for them. Introverts may be more appropriate for the product developoment side of business. But if you are introverted and can be competitive and enjoy that competition, then I would say you probably will bring a lot of value to the firm you can stand the fire. Cheers! Thanks for the question and the answers. I was really curious about this. I personally think that I am what you described up there. I get exhausted even though I can deal with people and be very sociable/talkative. I don't think I can stand the "fire". Ugh, so much going through my head right now lol. I don't know if I'm qualifed for what I want to be. | ||
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haduken
Australia8267 Posts
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MightyAtom
Korea (South)1897 Posts
On August 29 2010 12:55 haduken wrote: It seems like at that level, there are a lots of unspoken rules (in social/business settings) and either you know it or you are lucky to have a mentor to teach you all that or you have an "eye" for this sort of thing. This is super scary I'd say that you're absolutely right on the ball, when it is in the context of East Asia (Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Macau--minus:Hong Kong, HK is a very reasonable place to do business btw), at that level it is impossible to actually just learn it yourself without a mentor, just being naturally inclined or talented alone is not enough, someone needs to invest in your knowhow. The difference that talent has in this case, when you have the know how, is simply a slightly higher rate of closing the deal or closing very exceptionaly complex/hard deals (complex in the terms of political relations, not the actual business terms); but the only reason why someone would invest in you is either you have great potential or extremely loyal. Otherwise, most people's mentality in this case would be to never explain to you the mistakes you are making and let you shoot yourself in the head eventually. (I'd say foot, but at this level, your reputation and track record is pretty significant, if you're out, you're pretty much out for the count). There has been many, and I mean many cases, where I've seen this happen where I catch the eye of a senior manager or client and someone has done something wrong and I wait to see if the senior manager or client will take that person aside and point it out, usually in a very indirect way. Now, it is indirect because, if the 'one at fault'' doesn't recognize what the 'mentor' is refering too, then he likely needs more time to personally understand what was the actually issue. But directly telling someone what they did wrong in this case, DOES NOT, prevent the likelyhood for this person from making similar mistkes, only this one. But if it is very direct, and involves swearing, its because the mentor either recognizes it as a critical situation or it has highly offended someone or the Mentor REALLY cares deeply. Now, if no one takes them aside, then that persons will eventually be a lepar in that, their assesments in projects will be well within in their capabilities, they won't get opportunties to challenge themsleves and they will never be more than as senior manager, if that. But amazingly enough a lot of people are able to rise up the ranks of position and deal making with major character flaws or lack of understanding, either its because of their very wealthly or powerful background (in that somone is backing them) or they have managed to politically manuever themselves into a strong position and actually are deluded enough to believe that now that they have achieved that position it was via their business skills and not political skills, thus they assume it affords them a certain space and authority, when in fact, it makes them more of a target. Now anyone legitimate will stay the hell away from them and as long as these guys keep feeding on small fry, it's fine, because the small fry never have access to the higher levels of networks to know if this guy is really legit or not. Also if the small fry's deal screws up, the guy can always blame them or say tough luck, its because they were small fry. But once one of these incompetents start operating at their actual level, it just takes two screw ups to be permanently servicing the small fry forever. A lot of these points that I've made only apply in this Asia context. I know a lot of guys from western companies who will 'confront' the person who made an error and they will even argue with the guy because they themselves have felt offended by the trouble maker. Most times, the trouble maker will argue back definding his position and it will go back and forth. Eventually though, if the trouble maker has any intelligence at all, will change for the better and may or may not ascribe the guy who pointed it out in the first place. The trouble maker may appreciate it or naturally and subconciously change their error and beleive that it was always so. I would say, on the whole, working in business in the west is about 10 times easier and also 10 times more beneficial for your personal corporate development. Of course there are a lot of political assholes, but that is everywhere, at least you will be prepared to deal with them in a western corporate environment and know where you stand. In an East Asia context, they will, with smiling faces, send you in, to be eaten by lions, while patting your back and saying, you're doing great, its gonna work out fine. But to be honest, if you do get caught in that situation, it was probably because you were a rude little punk in the first place. ^^ | ||
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MightyAtom
Korea (South)1897 Posts
On August 29 2010 09:50 YoonHo wrote: Thanks for the question and the answers. I was really curious about this. I personally think that I am what you described up there. I get exhausted even though I can deal with people and be very sociable/talkative. I don't think I can stand the "fire". Ugh, so much going through my head right now lol. I don't know if I'm qualifed for what I want to be. If you were 100% confident you were qualied for a position or your goal, then you're aiming way too low. And if you were actually qualified to do a positon that you wanted, then you're not just aiming low, you're already lost the race before even the start. Life is supposed to be difficult and challenging, just accept it and do it, that is what makes accomplishments and achievement worth something. AND DON"T THINK TOO MUCH, if you are repeating the same crap over and over in your mind, stop! Just relax, do, read, work, play. When you have time to reflect, it will have someting immediately applicable, even if it for setting up for the long term, but if what you are thinking just leads to more thoughts and anxiety, you're just wasting time speculating and not living. Reflection leads to decisions, speculation leads to just more speculation. ^^ | ||
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