I started another job recently being an admin staff at a major media corporation. To be honest, I still can't say I know about how things work in the world in terms of salary increment and all that stuff, but reading and hearing many stories of people feeling enslave towards their job, really set me thinking again. Just how perfect can this world get?

I had an experience several years ago, when I was part-timing a few short term work over a few months when I graduate from high school awaiting for enlistment in national service. One particular job was being a promoter or some sort of salesman for a company that sells cookies.

The job was simple. A stall was setup in a busy corridor of a shopping mall. As it was the new year festive season, in addition to the great location, the sales was naturally good.

I remember being naive in a good way. Why do I say that? Because, I had work hard for them, Since I was paid a fixed rate per hourly, to earn money, the simple logic of going early to help setup the stall and leaving late to pack up came to my mind. I had wanted to clock the maximum numbers of hours.

I do not know when I started thinking this way, but I remember feeling something in my gut that I am definitely worth more than the six bucks they pay me per hour. Besides, lunch was only twenty minutes.

Although its understandable that every corporate would want the biggest cut of the pie for themselves, it just isn't fair for the worker ants. Especially now, companies like to "prey" on energetic young people who are in the phase of waiting for results, enlistment or further studies. This group of people are educated, energetic, young and more importantly, they have no preconceived ideas of what job should be like and how should they be rewarded.

That's why so many people are working by the clock, because they think that they benefit and because companies benefit more by paying less. As weird as it sounds, it is we who let ourselves down by accepting the jobs in the first place. So many that it has become a standard. Now it only gives companies another excuse to not raise your paycheck by saying that its the "market" standard, although, more than half the time they are able to do so.

This is why I always flavor jobs which deals with commissions and not simply selling my life for that few meagre dollars by the clock. Your pay should be decided by your effort and performance and not the clock. Having said that, I am ashamed to announce that I am still tied down on a hourly paid job..

Buying of soul for time is a common practice everywhere. Whether you have a elementary certificate or a degree. The only difference is the starting salary. Period. The piece of paper simply does not guarantee any thing except being accepted or not. However, that is still not to say I am undermining it, its just that its not safe to pin all your hopes on the paper.

Now if you are thinking that a degree would be your pass to break away from this social vicious cycle, I can only say, it depends. I'm sure you have heard stories of people with high school education striking it rich. The truth is that nothing is certain now in this society.

Although I have no prejudice of any sorts against the Americans, I have read so many reports of office people clocking the hours all their life, arriving early, finishing their work, play solitaire, surf porn till their own demise. And they leave to start the routine all over again the next day. Perhaps for this kind of people, they really do gain more, or possibly over payed.

Most likely they might never be promoted. Their fate might be summarised below:

Probably they remain stagnant
till the end of time

What I am saying is not just to quit your 8 to 5 daily job, but simply making your effort count. In Singapore, although protests are not allowed, the system is more or less balance. However, no matter how balance or if there were to be protests, the fundamental problem would not be solved but just stowed away temporary as you can see below. The system is the same, the outcome would be the same. Nothing changes.

As you can see, initially, it might seem like a good idea and plan, but your effort does not always follow in sync with your effort or responsibility. This can apply anyone, not just the typical office guy.

The way to break from this, might be to simply have your own business. Again, this can take many forms and you would face a different sets of difficulties and it would take lots of time, passion and determination to see it through. However, most importantly, it would be making your effort count. If you are determined and patient enough, the following might just happen.

If this happens, you might also start recruiting innocent youngsters to help manage your business. If all this does not sit well with you, there is of course the other route, which is to sit it through and wait to get a percentage of your company's profit. You never know, everyone can start dreaming to get rich. Just a thought.

Then again, working and evaluating the company does not just lie on the single monetary factor, sometimes, there are things to learn and experience, and the power of youth is the ability of choice.

Climbing the ladder to limitless future