Bajet = Jimat = Sihat

Walaupun bajet tidaklah bermaksud "jimat" secara langsung, rata-rata orang kita di Malaysia menganggap bajet sebagai mengurangkan perbelanjaan atau berjimat sama sepertilah perkataan "diet" yang dianggap sebagai mengurangkan pemakanan agar lebih "slim" atau sihat...

Teringat juga saya tentang perkataan-perkataan tertentu yang hanya difahami oleh orang kita tetapi tidak membawakan makna yang sama dalam bahasa atau budaya lain, misalnya dalam lagu dendangan Kumpulan Ahli Fiqir, "dua kali lima" (atau "lima kali dua") yang membawa logik kesamaan walaupun cara yang berlainan -- Kalau dialihbahasakan jadi "two times five" mungkin langsung tak difahami akan maksudnya.

Untuk menjimatkan masa pengucapan atau penaipan misalnya, perkataan "belanjawan" itu sendiripun diringkaskan kepada "bajet" kini yang terus diambilpakai dari Tun Dr Mahathir ("Tun M") hinggalah Dato Seri Abdullah Badawi (atau, secara "bajetnya", "Pak Lah" kini). Selari dengan tema penjimatan tersebut, perkara-perkara besar Bajet 2008 (yang dibentangkan petang semalam) yang diambil perhatian oleh rata-rata rakyat ialah penjimatan-penjimatan yang bakal diraih sepanjang tahun depan dan seterusnya.

Menganalisa penjimatan-penjimatan tersebut, ada tiga perkara yang menarik perhatian saya, yakni yang memberi kelegaan kepada kita rakan-rakan pekerja pajama atau usahawan:-

1. Pengurangan cukai untuk pembelian komputer baru dan kos akses jalur lebar. Ini nyatalah antara kos utama untuk perniagaan di rumah menelan belanja beberapa ribu ringgit untuk setiap buah komputer dan lebih seribu ringgit setahun untuk langganan jalur lebar seperti TMNET Streamyx, Digi Edge atau Maxis/Celcom 3G. Akhbar The Star menjudulkan perkara ini sebagai "creating a knowledge-based society". Saya lebih gemar dengan judul "creating more productive entities" selari dengan kegemaran pengguna Internet untuk menjadi pengeluar kandungan, bukan sahaja sebagai penggarap ilmu.
   
   
2. Kesihatan rakyat: Ini cukup menarik! Semalam, semasa saya menghadiri bengkel pelan perniagaan (yang kelima bagi saya dalam masa tiga tahun ini!) yang dikelolakan oleh MDEC, PDC dan USM, Datin Sharifah Sheha selaku penyelia sesi mengingatkan tentang isu kesihatan temasuklah pemakanan dan penyenaman yang sihat untuk membolehkan kita mencerna idea perniagaan yang baik. Hadiah untuk rakyat bermula tahun 2008: Pengurangan cukai sebanyak RM300 untuk membeli alatan sukan dan senaman! Reket badminton dan tenis dah ada. Mungkin saya akan beli alatan untuk weight training dan/atau kasut sukan yang baik...
   
   
3. Pengurangan cukai korporat sebanyak 1% setahun bermula dengan 27% untuk tahun 2007 sampai 25% untuk 2009. Terjawablah permintaan ramai peniaga dan pemilik perniagaan nampaknya.
   

Bercakap tentang kesihatan, rakyat mungkin pelik kenapa tak saja ditinggikan lagi cukai untuk rokok dah minuman beralkohol supaya lebih rakyat akan mengurangi pengambilan perkara-perkara anti-kesihatan tersebut. Perlu diingat bagaimanapun yang kebanyakan perokok misalnya akan terus merokok kalau harga rokok naik, dengan bertukar jenama atau memilih "rokok daun" (tembakau yang digulungkan sendiri) yang tak kurang bahayanya. Yang lebih memudaratkan ialah mungkin pertambahan tekanan (stress) yang mungkin lebih membahayakan dan mengurangkan produktiviti -- mungkin lebih ramai akan sakit atau terkorban kerana tekanan daripada kesan rokok misalnya.

Syabas untuk "Pak Lah and team" di Kementerian Kewangan untuk Bajet yang mengurangkan tekanan mental dan fizikal, yakni menyihatkan rakyat...

Two is better, more than two is the best!

Looking at the mainstream media - the Malaysian TV stations, the locally published newspapers and the popular magazines, one would think that Malaysians don't spend that much time online. What I continue to discover however: there seem to be so many Malaysians out there dominating Web 2.0 communities. Friendster, a social network is one of them; Ryze and Ecademy for business network.; So are MyBlogLog, SpicyPage, Technorati etc. And the millions of Malaysian Internet users "dig" big media too -- songs and videos. They flock YouTube and along with Filipinos and Singaporeans, they also become one of the biggest audience of Imeem, the latest YouTube-meets-Friendster craze for Malaysians.

They surely do talk about everything, including work. But will most of us pajamaworking at home continue to work alone, or explore the possibility to actually work in a group of many -- not just 2-3 collaboration, but in a corporation-like manner: say, six or more on a project.

Can tools like Pajamanation.com be one of the platform for such net-WORK-ing?

Nothing speaks to freedom louder than a halfsuit

Need that nice looking designer suit for an important business video conference from home? BusinessBib's Klosk might have a solution for you... half of it that is, but that should cut it for you if all you'll be doing is sitting on that chair and flaunt your upper body up to the video camera.


Businessbib™ on Good Morning America on 22 SEP 2006


Here's a press release from BiB dated 17 Sep 2006:

Talking heads on our televisions have delivered the news, commented on our favorite teams and sold us snake oil for decades. Video conferencing is poised to completely change the way we look at people on our screens. It’s becoming so much easier and ubiquitous that in the not-so-distant future, we will be able to have face-to-faces on almost every surface. Whether it’s calling a friend, watching a webcast, or showing up for a board meeting, the format has been established. With all of this in mind, Klosk is proud to announce the Businessbib- a new take on your video business persona.

The Businessbib allows you to look perfectly put-together in a fraction of the time it takes to boot your computer. You can work from home in your underwear while presenting a polished appearance to the people that matter most. Using a simple abbreviated design of the traditional business suit eliminates the time and effort that goes into primping for more formal meetings. It frees your time and allows you to continue uninterrupted with your casual lifestyle.

In a word, the Businessbib is a halfsuit. Each sturdily stitched ensemble is stylishly appointed and hand made from recycled materials. No two Businessbibs are the same. In fact, each one is christened with it’s own name based on it’s overall aesthetic. With its split back Velcro-sealed design, the short-sleeved Businessbib can easily be worn and removed with comfort and ease. Just slip it on over your tee shirt and shorts- no one will ever be the wiser. Appearing to others in your video domain to be fully prepared for the business at hand with little to no preparation may soon be considered the most important freedom of all.

Take#47 for the first web commercial. Chick Cashman models the businessbib™

About Klosk

Klosk is the side project of Tucson-based designers Brad Denboer and Jeff Adkins. It operates under the philosophy that many objects can be re-invented; that their design lifetime can be extended by revisiting their function in a more modern context.

Previous projects include the Western-Electric 2500 USB handset and a 900 MHz Cordless 2500 phone.

The Businessbib is the first project that Klosk has released in a production-level scale.

Inquiries can be directed to information at klosk dot com.

Want to buy one now? Unfortunately, due to overwhelming response to their initial marketing, the Klosk shop is completely out of stock at this moment. It'll be a matter a time before local suit maker in Malaysia will come up with similar fun attire for pajama workers. If you're one of the entrepreneurs, or if you've spotted one, do let us know, and we'll feature it on Pajamanation Malaysia sites. Stay tuned!

Work in Pajamas, Holiday in Smart Casual

It's weekend. For most parts of Malaysia that is. Time to switch from pajamas at workplace and don a smart casual look for some recreational outings (play)...

A hardworking pajamaworker needs some rest, and leave home sweet home some time... Today, My family and I are going to check out AutoCity Carnival 2007 (and International GT Series 2007) in Juru, Karnival ICT in Alor Star, and a play by Actors' Studio "Anak Bulan di Kampong Wa' Hassan" in Balik Pulau. These kinds of social networking meets are actually business networking opportunities though!


...Isn't it ironic? (Alanis, 1996) . Well, at least, I don't get to be often late for work for reasons like traffic jam anymore...

How to Balance Your Life and Your Work – Five Top Tips

In one of my recent articles, I explored work life balance and what it means to individuals. For me, work life balance means “allowing people to have a fulfilled life both in and outside of work”.

For many years, work life balance has been promoted by the government in the UK and millions of pounds have been invested into organisations to help them to implement new laws and guidelines. However, in many cases what has happened in practice has not solved the problem. But what actually is the problem?

According to figures from the National Statistics (UK), the average weekly hours worked were 31.9 in 2006, which is down from 32.9 in 1998. It also indicates that 1 in 4 employees work less than 30 hours per week. In addition, according to the Workplace Employment Relations Survey in 2004, the number of organisations offering flexible working options has increased:

- 26% offered flexitime in 2004, up from 19% in 1998

- 28% offered homeworking in 2004, up from 16% in 1998

- 73% offered parental leave in 2004 up from just 38% in 1998

This indicates that working long hours may not be the main issue, and the challenge for many may lie in reducing stress and pressure at work.

So how can you better balance your work and your life? Follow these tips to help you to find a better balance.

1. Carry out a life review

Take time out to look at where you are currently.

Do you want to carry on working the way you are?

Do you have enough time to spend with your friends and family?

Do you have enough time for your hobbies and leisure time?

Why don’t you keep a time diary for the week or two to check that you have the time to do everything you want to do as well as reviewing where you could better manage your time.

2. Organise your life

Spending time preparing what you want to achieve can help you to better manage your time both in your job and your life. Every minute you spend planning can save you 5-10 minutes in actually doing the task.

Set aside some time at the beginning and end of everyday to prioritise what you want to achieve and the importance of each task. Then at the end of each day, review what you have achieved (and congratulate yourself!).

If a job seems large and unmanageable, firstly determine what you actually want to achieve. Then, secondly break down the goal into smaller chunks and do small steps every day until you have achieved it.

3. Learn the art of delegation

Delegation involves you passing responsibility for completing a task or piece of work to another person. It can help them to learn how to complete a task, and enables you to spend more time on the other important parts of your work or life. You can also use delegation where another person’s skills in a particular area are better than yours.

Delegation includes training someone to do a particular job or getting buy in from a partner to do the washing up. To effectively delegate in either situation is similar.

Decide what you want to delegate.

Explain what you want done and the reasons that you need their help.

Let go of the task.

Give credit for work that has been successfully completed.

4. Review your working arrangements

The average person works 40 hours a week for around 40 years, which equates to 80,000 hours of their life.

To be truly satisfied in your job, it is important that the job is right for you, but additionally that it fits around other arrangements. Many companies offer flexible working such as part time working, job sharing, home based working or even career breaks or sabbaticals. These can help to support the other things that are important to you.

If you feel that a review of your working arrangements will help you, arrange a time to talk to your manager and review your options.

5. Look after yourself

Finally, it is easier to achieve work life balance if you are healthy and have time to relax and enjoy your life.

Develop and maintain interests that are not related to work and cultivate relationships with your family and friends. A regular exercise routine, eating healthily and sleeping well can help you to restore your energy and allow you to live a better balanced life.

Copyright Karen Williams 2007. All Rights Reserved

Karen Williams is a Life and Career Development Coach and runs her own coaching practice, Self Discovery Coaching. She has over ten years experience of working in Human Resources, training, coaching and management roles and is a Chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

For more information and to sign up for the free Self Discovery newsletter, go to http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk/

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