The Wrong Path Taken by Noriz Garcia, Incoho Senior Agent

Incoho’s Masquerade Ball. The event is glittery. Everyone is chic and glamorous.

The night is fast becoming late and the program is nearing its end. My hair is starting to fall apart from it’s updo, loosened maybe by my hyperactivity taking photos of others and myself; wanting to freeze every moment in frames. So here I am, sitting quietly with my team at the back end of the hall, trying desperately to reconstruct my messy hair back to how it was daintily fixed. The crowd is bursting into boisterous laughter. Awarding is up and cheering is all over. Everyone is thrilled, in anticipation of who will get which award. There were cute and funny awards, descriptive of the recipients personality extraordinaire. And there were formal awards too. Then my name was called… “MARIA NORIZA GARCIA”…  Busy from my futile attempts on my hair, I raised my head, asking, “What about it?” “Noriz, you were just named “Employee of the Year.” I was filled with disbelief. Adrenalin is rushing through my body as excitement and an ounce of nervousness filled my senses. I don’t know how long it took me to get to the front and accept the award. It was like watching a movie where everything is in slow motion.

Not so far down memory lane, with a handful of determination and lots of perseverance in my pocket, I was a struggling young applicant perusing classifieds and braving job interviews. Fate or no fate; luck or whatever you may think of it, there was some force that guided me right to the front of Incoho’s doorstep back on that hot November day. Trudging along Dela Rosa St. when the company that I should go to is in Leviste, I was kind of lost. It’s already 11:45 and I’m tired and thirsty. Not familiar with the vicinity, I felt that I didn't have the luxury of time to get to that company. Standing on the intersection of Dela Rosa and Paseo de Roxas, something dawned into me… “Why don’t I check out the company along Paseo first?” It was Incoho. And here I am today, eleven days before my 3^rd anniversary, still digesting the recognition given almost a week ago.

It's  been 3 years and its a roller coaster ride. You’ll never know how fast or slow the ride will go. And like the real thing, we are engulfed in various emotions; elation when our simple deeds are acknowledged, frustrations for quotas not reached, disappointments, hate, sadness, anger to those customers who cursed and yelled at us over the phone and so many other mixed emotions. In this short span of time, we witnessed people come and go in the company. We are saddened by the farewells of friends, yet, warmly welcome new ones to our circles. These are the spices of life…, maybe work life to be more particular. Work is something to be enjoyed. If we do, it will not be work at all but a productive leisure. It is my guiding principle in whatever undertaking I choose. It makes everything less of a burden and more of an enjoyable activity.

A friend said that 2010 has just been a blessed year for me. Indeed. But, I also beg to disagree. All three years of my stay are equally blessed as each other, to varying extent. One will not exist without the other. Each passing time gave me ample time to train and grow. Important skills and experience were inculcated in me by all the different projects that I have been with. On top of that, I have worked with people – colleagues and team leaders who subliminally contributed to moulding me as an individual.

Work satisfaction for me comes from the simple “thank yous” from customers especially from team members whenever I have helped them out from a tight situation. That’s why being recognized really means something. A simple recognition it maybe, yet it is a reminder that our contribution to the company is not overlooked. I feel elated for receiving the recognition, but surely there are others worthy of recognition. Some are still polishing their acts. Others are simply low key. Each has their unique way of loving their crafts.

Life can take us to the most unlikely places and situations. If not because of that wrong path I took on that fateful November day, I won’t be here today. As I have said at the party, I am humbled by the recognition, yet it is a challenge to even do better.