Terence for Episode 1: I'm game... for some reality

Reality in show biz terms is ‘really’ different.

I’ve got a taste of it, and that experience reinforced my assumptions on ‘Reality Shows’.

Honestly speaking, I was game for The Firm: Season 2 at the onset - even though with a ‘real’ assumption that reality TV can’t be perfectly real. I could live with such assumptions. Pretty much like going into a game of football knowing that not all players are gonna play as fair as you’d like them to be and the referee is only human with two eyes on the field that can’t see what spectators see from the stand (and on TV).

I’ve been asked of this question umpteen times by those on set and off set - “Why did you join The Firm?” or in more casual terms like, “What made you join a show like this?”. Well, to put this on record, I did it because I needed the prize monies and job offer very much (?). OK, that’s for reality TV record with a punch of ‘real’ honesty for the viewers.

Why does Terence need to win the prize that badly? How about say, I quit my existing job to join the show, and the proposition of joining the organisation of The Firm’s CEO was too hard to refuse. Now - that’s reality TV for you!. (Are you buying into ‘reality’ so far?)


Minus the glitz and the reality TV celebrity wannabe urges... deep down in the real heart of Terence lies the truth (the real truth) that viewers may find boring with no entertainment value.

I was secretly spying (and learning tricks of the trade) in TV show like directing and producing; I wanted to experiment with live walking creatures - what leadership is when given the camera is pointing at these creatures and the lure of a prize worth more than RM100,000; I was tempted for being given a chance to meet and have engaging situations with ‘colourful’ people whom I first met and then having to work as a team although in everyone’s mind everyone needs to out-shine, out-do, and be out-spoken to remain in the game (and ultimately emerge as the winner).

I wanted to be where the ‘real’ action is.

Reality at this stand point is that any reality show needs viewers’ ratings and the ability to bring in revenue. It’s still show business after all. Some choos direct sponsorships in advertisements while others go with the text messaging (i.e SMS) business model.

It would be unprofessional of me to spill the beans here with privileged behind-the-scenes information to all my readers here (wait a minute). I can’t use the term 'unprofessional' (come to think of it) because I was merely a contestant of a game show - not receiving any fees for his ‘acting’ services here, but merely packed ‘economy rice’ meals during shooting sessions.

Come to think of it - with the monies us contestants ‘invested’ in forms of mileage (petrol) , parking fees, and loss of potential incomes in our normal careers; I can’t help but to really feel that I’m actually a customer paying for a TV appearance experience and a chance to win a prize.

So, for the rest of my writing here on my participation in this reality show, please don’t mention the professionalism aspect of us contestants, as explained - I am not a professional TV celebrity then and now. Professionalism doesn’t come into the picture. This is all personal. (Period)

The Firm: Season 2's Episode 1 was a... "Well edited episode".

"With 50 hours of footage recorded compressed into 45 minutes of TV airtime", please get ‘real’ here and don’t get to factually serious on a 45-minute piece of entertaining work-of-art here. Hehehe.

I shall attempt to write here the truth (and nothing but the truth) what actually transpired behind the scenes and probably some of the 80 per cent of ‘left-over’ footages. I’m attempting to write what really happened - with my limited knowledge and of my team (Asset) only. If you think what you’re about to read may constitute some degree of confession and explanation to justify my actions seen 'on air' - so be it. You can now choose to exit here.

How did I end up being a Team Leader?

The team member with the most decorated CV in F&B was clearly shown as dismayed by my act of heroism (or foolishness). That was the ‘real story’. And with the brief interview clip quoting the team member’s intention in agreeing to be the Team Leader (if no one volunteers) clearly added salt to the drama.

Here’s the real twist to the ‘real story’. I wasn’t the first to speak up when Team Asset’s Corporate Leader (Chan Boon Yong) asked the team for a volunteer. (I’m not that heroic after all...hehe.) There was another team member who spoke before me explaining why she wouldn’t be a good choice for a Team Leader for this task. As predicted, everyone was looking at everyone for some cue or (perhaps) some foolish person to say "I do".

Personally, from past episodes’ point of view, he or she who holds the Team Leader role holds the heaviest responsibility should the team lose. His or her head would most likely be on the ‘chopping board’. From an analogy point of view, the situation at that particular scene was pretty much like a poker game (seriously). The Banker at one end of the table, the first game takes place with seven players - and someone had to decide if he or she would like to 'show hand' in that first game. It was an exciting risk to take. As in poker - it was a game of deception and perception.

I took the exciting risk (by volunteering to be the Team Leader) and was unchallenged for the matter of fact. Everyone was obviously relieved as someone decided to take the first 'foolish' step. What’s in it for me? Well, exciting high risk decision has its benefits (if the result in the end turns out positively), my team wins this task - no one will question my leadership at the onset and I get to call the shots. I practically gambled my survival at that table - which I’ve made a decision for it the night before.

Why did I delegate part of my responsibilities to the two most vocal team members who were against me?

Firstly, I wanted to test their credibility on the said task delegated - one claimed to have more than five years of F&B work experience setting up popular night dining joints in KL, while the other has done event management throughout his working life. How timely, isn’t it? Secondly, I’ve always considered a leader as one who spends most of his or her time on people related matters than anything else - like communication, team spirit and relationship, and ensuring the team moves towards the winning finishing line. In other instances would be to problem solve and challenging the status quo.

So, I decided to give the responsibility in micro managing the specific tasks of dining experience and promotion to the two most experienced (cum subject matter experts) team members. (In my mind) Yes, they were the two most vocal team members against me - so what? Because they are vocally against me that doesn’t mean they were going to be disruptive to the team’s goal of winning the task then. If they jeopardized their given tasks the team will most probably lose - and that is a headache no sane person would wish to have at the first episode.

Lastly, they were the two most eager and passionate team members in that particular forte during brain-storming with Chan Boon Yong in pushing their ideas and proposal across. A leader does not deny enthusiasm and opportunity, do they? Besides, it was too early 'to fight fire with fire'.

Was I actually (really) a wimp leader?

Yes, I was (?) I can’t and won’t deny what has been clearly shown 'on air'...hahaha. Yes, I took the comments on me not working my ass out (like some team members) and perceived to be a wimp leader on my stride. I knew those words were coming out, and it’s a 'reality show' that gives everyone the opportunity for freedom of speech (although not in equal perportions). I knew the underlying reasons for such an act, and also the need for dramatic sequence for the show. It’s a game of individual survival and triumphant, not a family get-together game show.

To set the record right, I had to make some pertinent decisions during the course of being a Team Leader. (Ya, not shown on TV). The team decide on the brainstorming table an affordable indulgence is a lunch set at RM42++. Eventually, that didn’t materialise because that someone with the most F&B knowledge gave an impression to the team it was do-able at the planning stage. The proposal was shot down by the chef because of profit margin factor at a subsequent meeting with the chef. Guess who had to make the call to re-package the set lunch at a much higher price - me, the Team Leader. (I’m not complaining, it’s my role to call the shots remember?)

So, I had to convince the team that we can still win the task although the set lunch was not as 'affordable' as agreed earlier on the planning table. Oh yes, I had to answer a late night call from one of the two delegated managers and give assurance of winning as that particular team member was dead worried our product wouldn’t be able to sell. (I’m not complaining, it’s my role to motivate remember?) In the promo part, I had to put on my Team Leader cap in one occasion and provided alternative plans to counter a stumbling block.

The other manager of mine almost 'broke down' when the team was informed by the shopping centre management that we can’t place buntings at common areas and apply visual stickers on escalators and other fixtures - one of the brainchild proposed by the other manager of mine to create visibility for our event. I called the shots (again) by proposing to distribute balloons on sticks instead. We did just that eventually, didn’t we? Speaking of balloons, I was given the impression somehow that I did nothing holding the balloons walking around... like a balloon boy or clown was (personally) distasteful.

I can’t take credit for doing all the job on the balloon without giving due justice to the other team members Yuen Wai and Kian You on the ground with me pulling (and persuading) potential customers. By the way, who did you think had to run up and down the floors replenishing the more than a hundred balloons to the on-the-ground team (Kian You and Yuen Wai)? The balloon boy cum Team Leader... hahaha.

I’m not a perfect leader. I guess the only time I was a wimp leader was by agreeing to one of my delegated cum empowered manager in charge of the dining experience by letting her choose her dining experience team assisting her in the restaurant - and with the condition that no other team members are to 'interfere' with the dining operations on task day as the others would not been trained and briefed. I was indeed a wimp leader when I didn’t insist for one of the boys to be in the restaurant under her team as I clearly know one of the boys is a persuasive (and charming) communicator able to promote our set lunch better and sooth irate customers. In the end, the dining experience team was made up of the fairer sex only. It proved to be a costly wimp decision - as the dining experience team was eventually short-handed.

Lastly, I believe I was a wimp leader for not leading the team like a macho Team Leader (some of) my team members would like it to be.

What have I learned during the making of this episode?

Every colours of personality do flourish for some people when surrounded by cameras and lights... hehehe. People still can’t (or won’t) differentiate between being a leader and a manager in our Malaysian corporate world.

It’s show business after all - where the 'real' of reality is as real as you want it to be.

All said and done, The Firm: Season 2 deserves your attention. It should be a resource material for our local undergrads in giving them a 'real' glimpse of the Malaysian corporate world.

(Too bad viewers can’t see the real drama that transpired 'off air'. I’m giving you some illustrations for your imagination right now)

Cheers!