Key Take-Aways from Intel

Eight months ago, a chapter in my relatively-colorful life ended. I left the the company I worked for (Intel Philippines) as it eventually shut down operations. We blamed it on the global economic crisis (let that be the official record).

I was sifting though some old files and CDs yesterday, doing some housekeeping to dispose of unneeded stuff. I came across several backup CDs of my files from my work at Intel. Reviewing them - my first emails, my first weekly, monthly and yearly accomplishment reports, my last email (a farewell message), my transition reports (Yeah, I was that diligent in archiving all of these), I reliazed that I haven't really closed-down that chapter of my life with a FINAL REPORT.

So here it is, as my previous bosses would have me put it.

My Key Take-Aways from Intel

#5 - The Places:

My first plane ride,
My first out-of-country trip,
Getting lost somewhere in Shanghai where hardly anybody speaks english,
Getting a massage in Chengdu (yeah, that was memorable),
Overspeeding in Arizona,
Getting splashed with orange juice when the plane jerked upon entering a turbulence --- over the South China Sea,
Getting to know Palawan and the Underground River, Bacolod, Baguio,
Grilling freshly-caught fish in a beach in Mindoro.

Ah, those were fun!

#4 - The Trainings - Intel trained me well. The Ric who came out was hardly the Ric who came in. The company really took care of its people. It made me grow technically and personally. The most meaningful trainings I attended (the ones that probably defined me) were the PSI-delivered Personal Leadership Workshop and Management Thru People. These were the trainings (and more) wherein I was at the receiving end. There were also trainings wherein I was the instructor - trainings that made me realize my love of teaching. "To Teach is To Learn Twice", said an adage.

#3 - The Events - building a house for the Habitat for Humanity, hosting a christmas event for poor school childern, the eat-outs, the take-outs, the teambuildings, the outings. "All work and no play makes totoy a dull boy". We didn't get a chance to get around much but these were moments when we threw work out of the window and enjoyed and shared blessings to people and the community.

#2 - The People - Friends, Officemates, Superiors and Mentors. People who made me laugh, who laughed at my corny jokes, who gave advice, who taught me, those who made me feel how good-looking I am, those who shared light moments and hard times - - - not to mention those who gave me a hard time. I always believe that we are all teachers to one another - - - for every person we meet, we pick up pieces of ourselves.

#1 - My family - I met my lovely and loving wife at this company. We now have two wonderful kids. They are the love of my life. The reason why I strive to get the best for them. For they deserve so much more.

All of these wouldn't have happened without work but at the end of it all, it is not the work that gets remembered - not the weekly reports, indicators, yield, cost-savings nor the meetings and the all-hands-meetings. Instead, what sticks are the times shared with the people and the people themselves. It is the humanity in work that gets the front seat when time comes to reminisce. So with that in mind, I bring these knowledge with me to my new adventure.

Thank You Intel! Signing Off.