In 1986, I joined TNT Express Worldwide as Credit Controller at their Dubai branch in the U.A.E. I was told later, that out of more than 100 applicants I was selected. Strangely enough, I had no experience in Credit. I had worked for several companies in a secretarial capacity and at my last job, I was trained on a Systime 5000 mainframe computer system, doing data entry and looking after this huge computer, ensuring backup, shutting it down and restarting it and helping staff with any computer problems that they had. I had a diploma in Secretarial Practice, and knew a little accounting, but I managed to convince the General Manager to give me the job.
I worked very had to prove myself and prove myself I did. I developed my own style and it proved to be very, very successful. I remember starting out when they measured outstanding debt at over 8 weeks outstanding, when I left seven years later, I had brought it down to less than 4.5 weeks outstanding per month. Considering that credit terms in Dubai were 30 days, and it took a week for invoices to go out, this was an incredible achievement.
I made friends with accountants, general managers, directors and ordinary peons. They would write out cheques and wait for me to call. They were delighted to let me know that the cheque was ready and waiting to be picked up and I always thanked them so profusely for helping me achieve my goals. My couriers also, bent over backwards to collect my cheques and they competed with each other to bring in the 'foloos'. I also had something else that was a blessing - my voice. It was an asset and I guess it was my voice that clinched my getting this job in the first place. I remember I called to find out the status of my interview and I think, just listening to my voice on the phone is what nailed it for me. Underlying my success, was my deep faith that was reflected in everything I did. I learnt that attitude is key to success. Evey person who wishes to be an achievor, should try wholeheartedly to improve their atittudes towards life and people.
From a small team in the accounts department consisting of an ISB (inter station billing) accountant, a Standard Controller (she did the billing) and myself, we grew to a point when I became Supervisor to a team of 3 permanent staff and several occasional temp. staff. I enjoyed my sojourn at TNT and I wielded a great deal of influence in the Company which enabled me to help and train many individuals too. After seven years, I wanted a change. I had three children and wanted more time to be with them.TNT management tried hard to convince me to stay on. They even asked a former boss who was in UK to call me to find out if there was anything that could be done to make me stay, but my mind was made up. I will always remember the send off they gave me. I have with me still, a gold bracelet inscribed with 1986 - 1993 (the time I was employed there) and TNT. The entire office were treated with KFC and my department took me out too for a special meal. I was told that no one ever had a send off like the one they gave me. In addition, I was offered an open door, if ever I wanted to go back.
I had been pondering for a long time, about offering my services on a free lance basis and I did just that after I left TNT. I worked from home catering to some of my former customers. I just experimented for a little while to see if this was workable and it was great. However when I researched the cost of doing this legally, I found I could not afford it. In Dubai, if you wanted to start a company, you had to have an Arab sponsor and the company had to be a 51/49 % split with regard to ownership. To get a sponsor cost an arm and a leg. I was offered employment by one of the Companies I was free lancing for and I decided to take them up on their offer. It was a half day job, paying me more than I got at TNT. The man who employed me was promoted a few months later. (It was something that happened frequently in all the companies I worked at - the managers got the credit for the great cash flow). The new manager succumbed to rumblings from a jealous employee. I was working only half day and getting an exhorbitant salary and this employee had been with the company for many years. The new manager really needed him and his advice, so he let me go. I heard later, that they regretted it but I took my hefty settlement and went on a well deserved holiday.
When I returned to Dubai, I was pregnant with my fourth child. Despite my pregnancy, I was offered a very lucrative package as Manager at DECOL, a new Collection Agency just starting up in Dubai. The location was difficult and I had problems in my previous pregnancy and decided not to risk it, so I turned down the offer. Again, I had another offer, with a Collection Agency located in Abu Dhabi. They wanted to set up their operation in Dubai and wanted a Manager to start it up. It was on a commission basis and having already done this very successfully, I was happy to accept. I could set my own hours which I thought was wonderful. Around this time, my brother had got his visa for immigration to Canada and I applied for immigration too.
I did very well, but I was not happy with the management. They kept changing the terms of the deal that we had. I had by now, Dow Jones as one of my clients and Fedex ready to sign on the dotted line. Several companies, many former clients who knew me from my TNT days, who were on board or ready to come on board. I discovered that this company was not a legal entity in Dubai. They were legal in Abu Dhabi, but the government was clamping down and they ran scared. They closed the office and asked me to work from home with a labor permit from Abu Dhabi and I refused their offer. I had built up a substantial base - but I had to give it all up which was very disappointing. When Dow Jones learned that the company was not legal they cancelled their contract and offered me employment instead. My boss reiterated that he only came on board because he trusted me and my management of their debt, not their company.
This was a dream job. The salary was over the top - I had to pinch myself to believe that it was true. Not only did this wonderful man give me such great remuneration, he allowed me to work largely from home. He asked me to come into the office three hours every day. He gave me huge bonuses when I hit my targets, and you bet I did just that every single month. Then I received the news, our immigration was imminent, our visas were on their way. I held those in my hands with some misgivings. I did not want to leave Dow Jones - this job was one in a million. However, because of my strong faith, I believed that if God had worked it out, then His hand was in the move, so very reluctantly I resigned. My boss did try to help me keep my job. He asked the branch here in Canada whether they would sponsor me with a job here, so I could go back and continue to work there and retain my Canandian immigration status. I thought about it, but decided that I could not leave my husband and kids in Canada and come back to Dubai to work, so I reluctantly said to him that the arrangement would not work out.
More in the next addition to this blog and my employment in Canada....................
