#2 Feeling Like A Tiny Peanut
Week 1 of my new job | Never Split The Difference | Olympics
Hey guys!
Weekly Roundup
Week 1 in my new job complete! Phew!
Feeling like a tiny peanut right now as FIS is quite large relative to places that I’ve worked at previously (my experience is on my LinkedIn if you want to check that out).
Here are some FIS facts from the most recent annual report:
Serves more than a million merchant locations, 60% of the largest retailers, 90% of the largest global banks and 90% of the top private equity firms.
Supports >350 million active accounts and processes >75 billion transactions worth some $9 trillion.
Although I do feel quite insignificant right now, all I can do is to just focus on myself and the tasks I am given.
Most of the week has been spent getting through an FIS Legal team onboarding checklist and (virtually) meeting people in the organisation as work-from-home remains the default mode of working.
I’ve also attended some work-related meetings (e.g. the Product team explaining the importance of foreign exchange margins in our merchant service agreement contracts) where my feelings have been a mix of “I’m not sure what is going on” and also “I now some idea of why I’m being paid to do my job”. Haha!
My role as Corporate Counsel at FIS sees me supporting the merchant solutions team from a legal standpoint, and I’ll share more learnings as I progress.
I also have a plan to put together a short video about my Day 1 experience.
I’ve also been editing short videos on IG with LumaFusion for the iPad. A new update (3.0) has been released and their short 9 minute tutorial sets out some really good new features including a “Lock&Load” digital stabilisation tool which will be useful in case I forget to bring my gimbal!
That’s all for this weekly roundup. If you’re still reading this, thanks so much for your time!! I’m still experimenting with the format of the newsletter and have added some sections below covering what I’m reading right now and what I’m watching. I’ve set out some of my key takeaways which may be helpful for you!
Until next week(end)!
David
What I’m reading
This book was recommended on a YouTube video featuring my friend, Lily. You can check it out here: How to network with tech execs (w/ tips for introverts) | Part 2
I downloaded it to my Kobo e-reader and am 17% of the way through. I like how it’s not overly long-winded - “[the techniques were] designed in and for the real world. It was not born in a classroom or training hall, but built from years of [FBI hostage negotiation] experience that improved it until it reached near perfection”.
Some key actionable takeaways so far:
Life is negotiation
Your career, your finances, your reputation, your love life, even the fate of your kids - at some point all of these things hinge on your ability to negotiate…Conflict between two parties is inevitable in all relationships. So it’s useful, crucial, even - to know how to engage in that conflict to get what you want without inflicting damage
There are three voice tones for negotiators
The late-night FM DJ voice, the positive/playful voice, and the direct or assertive voice…Most of the time, you should be using the positive/playful voice. It’s the voice of an easygoing, good-natured person. Your attitude is light and encouraging. They key here is to relax and smile while you’re talking…[approach] each encounter as a fun game
Mirroring
For the FBI, a “mirror” is when you repeat the last three words (or the critical one to three words) of what someone has just said. Of the entirety of what the FBI’s hostage negotiation skill set, mirroring is the closest one gets to a Jedi mind trick…your counterpart will inevitably elaborate on what was just said and sustain the process of connecting
Mirroring will make you feel awkward as heck when you first try it. That’s the only hard part about it; the technique takes a little practice
Being right isn’t the key to a successful negotiation
Having the right mindset is
What I’m watching
The Olympics: loving the free coverage provided. Have been watching the swimming, table tennis, volleyball, beach volleyball, badminton and athletics.
My cousin Joe is currently competing in the Modern Pentathlon as I write this! So exciting and fingers crossed for a good result!
Here to Heart: After watching “The Rational Life” on Netflix, this is another Chinese Rom-Com drama series also set in Shanghai. My justification for watching it is to improve my Chinese (or so I tell myself!!)
Singapore Symphony’s arrangement of “Where I belong”: really easy listen and great pictures of Singapore in time for National Day (9 August): Link
Awesome write up David!