KonMari’s Guide To Sparking Joy In Your Desk

From a best-selling author to a Netflix superstar, cleaning queen Marie Kondo has an efficient way of de-cluttering your own house and your workplace desk.

Her KonMari method is so powerful that most of her clients never turn back! When practiced regularly, the results become everlasting.

STEP 1: TOSS OR KEEP

With an honest outlook, select an item from your desk. Hold this item and ask yourself this question: “Does it spark joy in your life?” If your answer is affirmative, keep the item. Items that hold a special place in your heart, items that brighten your day through the toughest days, and items that make you smile are worth keeping.

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If your answer is “no” then, please get rid of the item. State your gratitude towards the item before tossing it away. Remember, it served its purpose to help you in your career. Do the same process for every item on your desk.

STEP 2: PHYSICAL CLEANSING

Marie Kondo believes that you must set a clean slate for all the items that spark joy in your life. After all, your desk is dirtier than you may think!

According to Microbiologist Charles Gerba, the average desk has more bacteria than an average toilet. It is important to disinfect your desk or working space with paper towels, wet wipes, rubbing alcohol, or disinfectant spray.

STEP 3: DIGITAL CLEANSING

Aside from the physical arrangement of your items, Marie Kondo has a way of cleansing your work inbox. She recommends limiting the creation of folders.

Afterwards, go through your email or Facebook inbox swiftly and completely in a single sitting. Rather than checking your inbox throughout the day, she prefers to get things done as quickly as possible.

STEP 4: HERE OR THERE

The last step is to assign a designated place for all the items that spark joy. She loves putting items in boxes or baskets! For instance, you may store your clips, tapes, and other stationary materials in a small box. Put this box inside your drawer. The idea is to put things out of your sight.

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The most important thing to remember is to keep your desk permanently organized! In time, repeated behavior will become a habit. Thus, cleaning your desk will be second nature for you.

Sources:1 &2

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The Varying Types Of Work Leaves In Singapore

I recently came across with an article featuring a story of a Malaysian employee. He applied for a leave as his mother will be undergoing surgery. To his shock and dismay, his leave was rejected as it was deemed “not too serious”.

Early this year, my mother underwent a surgery and I never tried applying for a leave. The thought of having my sister as her companion was enough for me. If my sister was not present, I would immediately apply for a work leave. However, will it be granted?

Let us take a look at some of the work leaves available in Singapore!

Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL)

Gone are the days when fathers are looked down upon! The GPPL grants working and self-employed fathers the right to enjoy the paternity leave benefits. This is to support the shared paternal responsibility when raising a child.

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By default, your paternity leave must be taken in one continuous period within 16 weeks from your child’s date of birth. It can only be taken flexibly, if the mutual agreement between you and the employer states so. The paternity leave, capped at S$2,500 per week, is fully paid by the Singapore government.

Government-Paid Maternity Leave (GPML)

It is understandable that there are differences between the paternity and maternity leave. When it comes to the later, you can start your leave 4 weeks before the delivery date. By default, your maternity leave must be taken within 12 months from your child’s date of birth.

The Singapore government will pay for the 9th to 16th week of your maternity leave for your 1st and 2nd child. The payment is capped at S$10,000 per 4 weeks or a total of S$20,000 per child order.

Emergency Half-day Leave

Say that your too sick to function, but you still went to work. Even if you leave in the middle of your shift, any leave you take will be considered as a full-day leave.

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However, your employer may consider it as an emergency half-day leave following your contract. Check with the Human Resources department or your employer whether the company grants half-day leaves or not.

Annual Leave

In accordance to the Employment Act, you are entitled to paid annual leave for up to 14 days. If you have worked for an employer for at least three months and less than a year, you will be eligible for a prorated annual leave. The year of service will dictate the days of your leave. For instance, you will get to enjoy 7 days of annual leave in your first year of service. If you have served the company for 8 years and beyond, you will be entitled to 14 days of annual leave.

Marriage or Grievance Leave

There is no statutory entitlement for marriage or grievance leave. These types of leave depend on the contract or mutual agreement between you and your employer. Otherwise, you may treat it as an unpaid leave.

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Approach your employer for the leave application procedures! 🙂

Sources: 1 &2

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Surefire Ways To Survive A New Job

New year, new job! Congratulations on acquiring a new position. You have your budding career ahead of you!

Are you feeling excited or nervous? It may be exciting to begin a new phase of your career, but it can also be nerve-wracking to start from scratch! Review the following tips to ensure your smooth transition.

DO A PHYSICAL TOUR OF THE WORKPLACE

From drafting your resignation to completing your unfinished projects, you need to carefully plan out your departure. The same amount of careful consideration must be poured out to your arrival.

Upon arriving to your new workplace, notice the key locations and the overall environment. Where are the pantries, toilets, conference rooms, and so on. Find a place of solitude where you can retreat every once in a while. Remember to schedule small breaks in between your tasks to walk around the office. More importantly, ask for some lunch recommendations.

DO NOT IGNORE THEIR CULTURE

Aside from being qualified for the position, the hiring manager chose you because he or she deems you to be a great fit for the company. I remember when my supervisor told me that she strategically put my desk beside a co-worker due to my background in Psychology. She believes that I can help resolve some of my co-worker’s inner conflicts. I learned about her strategy after a year of interacting with my co-worker. It worked out for the best.

Catch onto the workplace culture and bring something to the table. If your department goes out to lunch every Friday, join them. Is your office looking for volunteers to help organize an upcoming event? Do sign up! Send the message that you are a good team player by respecting the unspoken rules and engaging in their social activities.

DO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS STRATEGICALLY

It is understandable that you will have a lot to catch up on as a new employee. So, use your time wisely. Rather than sitting silently on a corner after a meeting, ask your peers about the tricks of the trade.

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Keeping quiet will not establish a good impression! However, listening actively and asking smart questions will.

DO NOT FORGET TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS

In spite of having years of experience and significant educational background, you can never know the answer to everything. Many marketing and advertising executives agree that new employees make a mistake of not asking questions. No one expects you to know it all in one or two days! Do not be afraid to ask your supervisor or co-workers on the processes as well as their expectations of you.

Requesting clarification entails that you are eager to get things right! While you do not want to bother others with endless requests for assistance, most people will be happy to help.

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The bottom-line is: “do not stress yourself too much”. No one expects you to get it right in the first few weeks! Ask questions, if necessary.

Sources: 1 & 2

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How Can The Chinese New Year Affect Your Business

One cannot deny that the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, is the most celebrated festival in the Chinese calendar. It can fall anywhere between January 21 and February 20. This upcoming holiday is not only important in China as it also appears to be influential in other Asian countries including Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

As China’s position in the business world is significant, the Chinese New Year will pose an international effect for the companies or people who do business with it. That being said, here some elements that you need to prepare before the CNY celebrations begin.

THE RED ENVELOPES

To accommodate for this festive period, companies dealing with Chinese manufacturers or retailers must adopt to the local practices. This accommodation shall extend to companies dealing with international trade.

For starters, you must prepare red envelopes with money inside. These red envelopes are usually given in the form synonymous to a 13th month salary. It is issued to employees in January as a bonus for CNY.

THE ADVANCE PURCHASES

Manufacturers in China will be closed for a month. Then, they will have a month to get back to their previous rhythm. To welcome the Chinese New Year in a blissful note, you must forecast the needs of your company and buy in advance.

Minimize the disruptions in your business operations by ordering a two-month supply to be delivered from China to Singapore. While it may seem difficult in terms of cash flow and storage space, this preparation will ensure that you will not run out of stock during the festive period. Remember that promotions tied to the holiday seasons can attract people to buy more. By forecasting your needs early, you may perfectly cater to the purchases of the customers. Furthermore, this preparation will enable you to safeguard your inventory.

THE BUSINESS TRIP

The general advice regarding business travel during or around CNY is to reconsider. It is not a suitable time to come to the country for business. Since most businesses will be shut down, it is not a conducive period to get things done.

However, there may be cases wherein a visit to China for business is essential. In this particular situation, you must take some precautions. Start by having your accommodations booked ahead of time.

Image Credits: IQRemix via Flickr Creative Commons

While the CNY may improve your business network in China, it goes without saying that family is the top priority at this time. From a business perspective, being prepared for the upcoming Chinese New Year will go a long way to avoid any problems!

Sources:1 &2

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How Does The World’s Richest Man Spend His Money?

In 2018, Amazon’s founder and CEO Jeff Bezos triumphed over Microsoft’s founder Bill Gates as the world’s richest person. He owns 16% of Amazon, which he founded in his garage in 1994. His current net worth is a whopping US$138 billion (about S$186 billion)! His growing wealth was boosted as Amazon acquired the healthy grocery chain called Whole Foods.

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As the only person in the Forbes list to rank with a 12-figure wealth, how does he spend his money?

PROPERTIES

It comes as no surprise that Mr. Bezos and his family has homes around United States. He owns a lake house, which is estimated to be worth about US$25 million (about S$33 million). His neighbors include Silicon Valley’s tycoon Bill Gates.

Not to mention, his Washington D.C. home belongs to a neighborhood where previous United States President Obama and Ivanka Trump resides. Said home was bought for about US$23 million (about S$31 million).

However, the state of his properties may change due to the recent announcement of his divorce.

INVESTMENTS

With all his wealth, he decided to diversify his portfolio. He has invested some of his money in Uber, Google, Airbnb, Washington Post, and Business Insider. What’s more?

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Bezos Expeditions has invested in businesses including Basecamp, Twitter, Juno Therapeutics, and Workday. Imagine having these big names in your reservoir!

EXPLORATIONS

His contributions to space exploration is his most ambitious venture yet. You read that right! Mr. Bezos has a passion for aerospace.

His love of space led him to finance the recovery of the remains of the Apollo booster-rocket engines. The engines were located from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, which is about 14,000 feet down. At his request, NASA donated a restored F-1 booster to the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Moreover, he believes that his company Blue Origin can make affordable tourism possible!

The actualization of this passion project may commercialize space exploration. Who knew that having a honeymoon in outer space can actually become a valid option in the future?

According to the reports published on The New York Times, he is selling about US$1 billion in Amazon stock a year to fund this venture.

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Are all his efforts worth it in the end? More importantly, will a Singaporean tycoon follow the steps of Mr. Bezos towards space exploration? Only time can tell!

Sources: 1 & 2

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