Showing posts with label My Life as a Banker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Life as a Banker. Show all posts

Tuesday 29 August 2023

MY FIRST TRIP ABROAD


MY FIRST TRIP ABROAD

After six years of working at Barclays Bank DCO, I was advised that I was entitled to four months long leave in the following year commencing in June. After seven years of service, an employee could expect that break with full pay and a travel grant.  It sounded exciting.

 I told my father about my forthcoming leave and he suggested that I visit my sister and her family in Germany. He said that since the bank would bear the cost of the trip, I should make use of the opportunity.

My sister’s husband was in the Royal Air Force in Wildenrath, Germany.    The Branch Manager told me he knew a girl at another branch who was also going on long leave and who needed a companion to travel.

 I told him I would love to meet her. He arranged for me to meet her to discuss plans. Sylvia had relatives in New York and Toronto and friends in the United Kingdom so we added those places to our itinerary. I convinced my father to allow me to go to those other places. He suggested that we invite her to our home to have lunch, as he and my mother wanted to get to know her.

 Sylvia was a very amiable young woman who had travelled before and my father liked her right away. He felt at ease that I would be in capable company and that she would be my travelling companion. When we sat down to have the meal, my father said a prayer for our safety during our trip.

  I will never forget that year in early June when my father drove me to the airport. My mother and sisters accompanied us. Sylvia was at the airport with her relatives also. It was a tearful occasion for my family because I was the eighth child and it was my first trip abroad.

     When Sylvia and I entered the plane, I said to myself, “Hello world. Here I come.” It was my first trip on a plane and I was very relaxed. The air hostesses served us with lots to eat and drink. It was very different in those days compared to nowadays, where they no longer serve food on a plane.

When we landed in New York at John F. Kennedy Airport, my friend’s cousin and her husband were there to greet us. I was meeting them for the first time and they were friendly. They drove us to their home in Jamaica in Queens New York.

Jamaica was a middle-class neighbourhood where many immigrants live. They had a nice home there and they gave me a separate room from Sylvia’s.

Notwithstanding, I admit I was homesick. I missed my parents, brothers, and sisters.

The following day, Sylvia’s cousin took us to the city on the bus and we went shopping. There were many bargains available. Clothes were much cheaper than in my country. I did not want to spend much money in New York though, as that was just our first stop in the itinerary. I bought one dress for my youngest sister and a few souvenirs.

  When we were returning home on the bus, we had to stand, as there were no vacant seats. A woman came behind me and touched me on my shoulders. When I turned around and she saw my face, she said she was sorry. She said that from my back, she mistook me for her friend who had become a movie star. I felt flattered.

  The next day the whole family went to see a fantastic musical show at the Radio City Music Hall on Broadway, and afterwards, we had dinner at a fancy restaurant. The show was fantastic and the dinner sumptuous.

  Every day my friend’s cousin took us to see a new interesting place and I was enjoying our stay in New York. One day she took us to Chinatown in downtown Manhattan. It rained that day. It was crowded too. Many people were shopping. I never liked crowded places and I felt sick. After buying fish, she took us back to her home. When we returned home I became sicker, and after eating dinner, I went to bed. 

    The next day we boarded a flight to Toronto. I was feverish and cold and wore a sweater but that did not help me to feel better. When we landed in Toronto, it was cold and windy and I felt worse.

 My friend’s brother took us to his apartment. He said the apartment was small and could only accommodate two people. He planned to stay next door with his friend. I thought it was very nice and considerate of him.

He promised to call a doctor to visit me as he saw how ill I was. He told me to lie down and rest and to cover up with a blanket. I did that and fell asleep.

    When I woke up, I coughed a lot and had a swollen nose. The doctor came just as I awoke and Sylvia brought him in the bedroom to see me. She was worried about my illness. The doctor gave me an injection and tablets and told me to rest. He said I needed to stay in bed for one week as I had a bad case of the flu. My heart sank. We were staying for one week in Toronto and I had to be confined to bed. Sylvia was disappointed and so was I. We had planned to have much fun, as her brother was also a fun loving person. What a damper!

    The following day I received a letter from my father. There was no electronic mail in those days. He wanted to know if I was enjoying myself. I could not hide the truth from him and I replied to him telling him I was ill with the flu and confined to bed.

 His reply was quick as I received a letter from him before the end of that week. He said if I wanted to return home I should change my flight arrangements and go back home. I knew I could not do that and leave Sylvia alone so I replied to him and told him I was going ahead with our plans. It was an opportunity of a lifetime and I wanted to go through with it.

  In spite of the doctor’s orders to stay in bed, I joined my friend and her brother for drives around the city in his car. We took photos at Couching Park and Yorkville and walked on Yonge Street.  I could not appreciate the beauty of the city, as I was feeling too weak and ill. I did not even care to look at the shops and did not buy a souvenir there.

  I was still ill when we flew to London. It was a long flight, but I slept on the plane. We arrived there early in the morning and we took a cab to the Royal Overseas League where we spent the week.

The Royal Overseas League is a non-profit Commonwealth private members’ organization, and both my friend and I became members of that League before our trip. It was a beautiful hotel with luxury accommodations overlooking Green Park in London.

We had booked a lovely spacious room for two with a Roman bathroom. The warm weather in London was like home in Trinidad. I felt better right away but still went to see a doctor. He gave me a new medication and within two days, I was as good as new.

    Sylvia was happy that I was well again. We explored all the popular sites in London. Two other friends joined us. We took photos on the Bridge of the River Thames and had fun at Battersea Park. We visited the beautiful Kew Gardens, shopped on Oxford Street, and rode in the double-decker buses. The mini dress and wedged heel shoes were the latest crazes in London, and my friend and I stocked up our wardrobe with lovely mini dresses and wedge heel shoes to take back to Trinidad.

I was having a good time and was glad I did not cut the trip short to return home.

    Soon the day came for our trip to Germany. We took the bus to the airport and that was a big mistake. There was a massive pile-up of traffic along the way and the bus took double the normal time to get to the airport. We missed our flight to Germany. When we arrived at the airline counter, the clerk told us that the flight had just taken off and that they would accommodate us on the next available one, which was leaving in two hours.

    We had no choice but to wait, so we sat down at one of the airport restaurants and had something to eat until it was time to board. Meanwhile, my brother-in-law was waiting at the Dusseldorf airport in Germany for us. He had checked and found out we missed the first flight and would be on the next one.  Soon it was boarding time.

The boarding clerk made an announcement for passengers to board the plane.

 We were excited. The most significant part of our adventures was about to begin. The flight was not long and it was pleasant.

 When we landed at the Dusseldorf airport our brother-in-law was there waiting for us. We apologized to him for having him wait long but he said he understood. He told us my sister was at home. She was looking forward to our arrival. I had not seen Rose in six years since she left to live in London and moved to Germany. I too could not wait to see her.

   As my brother-in-law was in the Royal Air Force, they lived in the camp in Wildenrath in a beautiful two-storey- house. The weather was lovely and it was like home in Trinidad. My sister and her two children whom I had never met before were at the door to meet us.

 She greeted us and hugged us. We did not notice anything different about her, except that she looked lovely in a mini dress.

The children were very nice and talkative. I met them for the first time. We sat down, chatted, and had something to eat. As the house was in an air force base, there were intermittent noises from low flying planes. The windows shook every time a plane flew over the house.

My sister showed us our room and we unpacked our stuff and went back downstairs. When we returned downstairs, we saw my sister with a suitcase standing at the door. She said, “Okay guys. I am going to the hospital.” Both my friend and I looked at her in amazement. “What is wrong with you?” I asked.

 She pointed to her tummy, which seemed normal. She said, “I am having a baby. It is due.” We laughed because we both thought she was joking.

 I said, “But your tummy is barely noticeable.”

She said, “It is time. I better hurry.”

My brother-in-law smiled and said, “Bye. Take care of the children. I will be right back.” Our jaws dropped. It seemed unbelievable.

  When my brother-in-law returned from the hospital, he said my sister would not be delivering the baby until later that night, so he took us all for a drive to see Wildenrath.

All the houses in the camp were similar to the one my sister and family lived in. There was a long building where the single officers lived. We saw a clubhouse, a large airstrip, a shopping centre, and the hospital. Further, down the street, there were cafes and a large forested area. There was not much to see in Wildenrath and my brother-in-law promised to take us to Monchengladbach in Germany, which was close to Wildenrath. He also said that Wildenrath was close to the border and he would take us to Holland. That sounded very exciting to Sylvia and me. 

   The next day, my brother-in-law woke us up. He told us that my sister had a baby boy, and would come home later in the evening. God had blessed them with two boys and one girl.

Sylvia and I helped prepare the meals that day and then we walked around the back of the house. There was an apple tree in the backyard and we picked apples and ate them. We took a walk in the neighbourhood.

It was quiet and there was no one in sight. In the evening, my brother-in-law took us to the hospital to bring home his wife and their handsome new-born son.

   The Royal Air Force was putting on an air show at the airstrip the following day. My sister could not go with the young baby so she stayed at home with the children and told us to go to the show with her husband. He drove us there but had to park the car far away from the airstrip.

We had to walk across in our mini dresses and wedged heel shoes to where the crowds were standing and sitting. As we were walking, we heard lots of hoots and whistles. My brother-in-law said the officers were trying to get our attention.

 When we reached the crowd lots of his friends came around and asked for introductions.

  The air show began and we saw the most amazing air tactics displayed by airplanes. “The Red Arrows” somersaulted dozens of times and air force military jumped out in colourful parachutes before our eyes. It was the most breath-taking event I ever experienced.

  One night Cyrus took us to the clubhouse, which was crowded with Air Force officers. Once again, we heard loud whistles and hoots and Cyrus said the officers were trying to get our attention.  Many of the officers, who did not meet us before, crowded around us for introductions. My brother-in-law, who was a Sergeant in the RAF, was firm with them and kept them at a distance.

I inserted a coin in a slot machine and hundreds of Deutsche marks came tumbling out.

Everyone watched in amazement. My brother-in-law collected them and ordered drinks for everyone.

  It was the practice of the residents of the camp to have parties in their basements. Every night a different couple held a basement party. We attended quite a few of those parties and they were delightful with good music and lots to eat and drink.

One night a couple invited us to a basement party at their home. They told us it was a ‘cave-man’ style party. We thought it had something to do with the food. When we got there, we saw everyone dressed in ‘cave-man’ outfits.

 We must have looked ridiculous to them as Sylvia and I were dressed in mini dresses and high heels. In spite of that, we had a merry time at the party.

   My sister’s home in Wildenrath was closer to the border in Holland than it was to other parts of Germany.

Cyrus took us across the border to discotheques in Amsterdam and sometimes to other parts of Germany. It was my first time going to discotheques and ones in Holland and Germany at that. Cyrus’ two friends from the RAF always joined us on these jaunts. They followed us in their car.

 The discotheques had strobe lights that flashed on and off in time to the music. A large iridescent ball hung in the middle of the dance floor and created a swinging atmosphere. We had fun dancing to disco music. Cyrus’ brown eyes seemed to flash in time to the music when he was on the dance floor. The men always ordered cognac and cola, which seemed to be the “in thing.” I settled for the cola with no cognac.

Once on our way back home from a discotheque in Holland, Cyrus stopped the car at a lovely park, turned on the car radio, got out of the car and danced in the green meadows. He was a fun-loving person.

   Holland is a spectacular place. The scenery is beyond description. The architecture of the buildings, the brightly coloured tulips, windmills, green meadows, and the clean streets all captured my attention. Germany is also a clean and beautiful country. I have many treasured memories of my visits to those places. In later years, I visited Germany again and details of all my travels are in my book Travel Memoirs with Pictures: Exploring the World. 

   Sylvia and I had planned to make the return voyage home by the ss Antilles, which was a popular ship in those days. She received bad news from her family, who wanted her to return home earlier than planned. I agreed to the change in arrangements to travel to Trinidad by air since it would have taken almost two weeks to travel home by ship. We had a small problem in getting a flight from Germany to London to coincide with the date for our flight from London to Trinidad.

My brother-in-law’s boss arranged for us to fly to London in a Royal Air Force Jet, which was going to London on the day we wanted to leave Germany. Travelling on that Air Force Jet was an experience I would never forget.

   With sad hearts, we left my sister, her husband, and the children, but we left with beautiful memories of a wonderful holiday in Germany.

 When we returned to Trinidad my parents, brothers, and sisters gathered around me to listen to my fantastic adventures. I had much to tell them.

   Although Sylvia and I had wondered about the reaction of our relatives and friends when we landed in Trinidad with mini dresses and wedged-heel shoes, we started a fashion trend. All the girls in the bank cut and hemmed their skirts and dresses to make them short.

My younger sisters loved my dresses and I shared a couple with them. My parents never commented that my dresses were too short. I still have many dreams of that trip.

    The Bank changed its policies a few years later and removed long leave from its benefits, so staff members who joined later were no longer entitled to that benefit.

Read more in my book, MY LIFE AS A BANKER available on Amazon. CLICK HERE.

 


 

Friday 7 July 2023

Synopsis for My Life as a Banker: A Life worth Living


SYNOPSIS FOR MY LIFE AS A BANKER


In 'My Life as a Banker' the author Brenda Mohammed combines both History and Geography with her positive outlook to bring her story to life.
The Memoir is the story of a woman's determination to succeed in a profession that did not always favor women.
Set in the lovely Caribbean island of Trinidad. MY LIFE AS A BANKER: A LIFE WORTH LIVING is a fascinating personal memoir.
The book starts with the author’s early life and childhood, leading up to her first job with a Trinidad bank with ties to the United Kingdom.
Her close knit family, her parents, and siblings took care of each other in a special way
Having defied death twice at the ages of eight and nine, she excels and graduates from High School at the tender age of sixteen, and lands a job with Barclays Bank D.C.O. which later became localized.
The book details how the author started at a clerical level and rose to a senior position, solely on the basis of her dedication, hard work and intelligence.
Brenda Mohammad describes how the bank transformed from manual work to mechanization, and then to computerization.
She describes changes in the banking system and changes in the bank's attitude towards its employees throughout her working years, and the important roles she played to bring about changes.
Dealing with customers and their money issues can be stressful, but Brenda proved that hard work and determination pay.
Brenda gradually moved up the ranks, and received several promotions, leading up to senior managerial status.
The Bank assigned her to different branches throughout the island, and she developed a cordial working relationship with her colleagues and staff.
Her farewell party from the staff and fellow workers describes how popular she was during her stay with them
Life is not always perfect and there were sad moments like the death of her parents, brothers, and sisters, that will tug at your heart.
There were also many joyful moments, like her marriage to another banker, and the birth of her two children.
It was a tradition for the groom to write a letter to the bride's father to seek permission to marry his daughter. This is what happened when her husband proposed to her. The description of her marriage is beautiful and emotional.
Brenda travelled extensively to the United States and Europe. Her visits to Germany and Holland are described in a picturesque way.
The scene where Brenda’s father talked to all of his children separately before his death was very touching.
Brenda's belief in God is remarkable.

 

Sunday 13 November 2022

INTRIGUING AND POWERFUL MEMOIR OF A FORMER BANKER


 TOP REVIEW FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM OF 'MY LIFE AS A BANKER'

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 26, 2016
For those of us who are not in the banking industry, and for me, especially living in a country where the capital is the financial hub of the country (perhaps the world) you might think a story called My Life As A Banker would be too dry to enjoy.

Author Brenda Mohammed has written quite a few books across different genres. This book is a relatively quick read but readers can be taken along her life's journey as they turn the pages.

I found myself more interested in the 'Life Worth Living' elements of the book. I congratulate her hard work which allowed her to work in the banking industry and get promoted. But I was more interested in the personal side of things, for example how she met her husband (that's an excellent segment of the book) and also attaining her strict father's support for the marriage.

The author's approach to writing this memoir is direct and therefore one imagines this is how she would speak in real life. But the tale is told with such verve and energy, it is an enjoyable book that people will find much to like.

The real-life stories contained within are things we can all relate to. Things such as ending up in a great city like Toronto, but being sick at the time and told 'you shouldn't go out then. 
But this is not the author's approach to life. If you have read her Travel Memoir With Pictures, you will understand what an accomplished traveler this lady is.

There are some surprisingly gory scenes in the book, tempered by some poignant sadness around certain family members, as well as the central theme of how the author made her living in the banking sector.

It's an interesting and very readable memoir from one of the more creative authors out there.

Tuesday 22 March 2022

Travelling is Fun - Hollywood Boulevard

 


My sister and I checking out the stars on Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.

TRAVELLING IS FUN

In spite of all the many recent changes in procedures for travel, because of terrorist actions, covid 19, and the need for tighter security in airports and planes, I still believe that travelling is fun.
Before 9/11, travel was a breeze.
I live in Trinidad and Tobago, and we needed visas to travel to many countries, but it was never a problem to get them as long as we satisfied the requirements. Some countries have since eased up on visa requirements.
My first trip abroad was a fabulous one. I worked at a bank and got three months' vacation after seven years. One of my co-workers also had three months' vacation and she agreed to travel with me. She had relatives in Canada and New York, and I had relatives in London and Germany.  We, therefore, travelled to New York, Canada, London, and Germany and had lots of fun. We got our visas with no problems.
Details of these trips are recorded in two of my books - My Life as a Banker, and Travel Memoirs: Exploring the world.
Both books are available on Amazon.

Since that trip, I have visited many more exotic places in the world.
Commencing next week, I will be writing a series about my world travels. Until then, have a great week.
Follow Brenda Mohammed on Amazon. CLICK HERE





Monday 7 September 2020

An Extract from 'My Life as a Banker: A Memoir by Brenda Mohammed - Never give up.

Today I am sharing an extract from my book MY LIFE AS A BANKER.
 In the picture, I am standing at the extreme right with the Managing Director of the Bank and my Assistant at a customer party. 
 The large cake was baked by the owner of a popular bakery in South Trinidad - Master Baker. 

  Here is the extract: 

 "While in Los Angeles on vacation, I dreamt that I received a transfer to another branch. 

Upon my return to work in early August, I received a call from the Managing Director’s Assistant who requested that I visit him at the Head Office. 

 I knew that my dream would come true. 

 When I went to see him, I was sure he would tell me about a transfer to another branch. I had no writing paper or notepad with me.

He congratulated me on my accomplishments at the Penal sub-branch and confirmed its upgrading, but said he would withhold for a later date.
He explained that he required my expertise in another area.

 The Bank was seeking to set up the first Corporate Division to deal with large commercial accounts.

 They wanted the first such division in the South.

 He had already decided on the staffing for the division. 

He had already told the Senior Corporate Manager and the Corporate Manager of their new appointments. 

 They were proceeding on vacation and would not be available to give me any help until the date scheduled to open the division in September. 

 My new job would be Senior Credit Analyst, of the Division. 

 He wanted me to do all the groundwork to make sure that the division could throw open its doors in September. 

 He advised me of the names of the other staff members and said none of them could leave their current duties until the opening of the division. 

It was my full responsibility to ensure that the Division was ready for opening on the scheduled date.

 Without handing me a sheet of paper to take notes, he opened a large file and related further details of how he expected the division to operate. 

 I was stunned that he was giving me such an awesome assignment to complete in such a limited time.

 This was early August and he wanted the Division to be set up and running on 6th September. 

While I was astounded that he placed such confidence in me, I questioned myself. 

Can I do this? 

 He asked if I had questions. 

 I was in a daze and could think of none. 

 That situation was such a new one and he caught me unawares. 

He shook my hands, wished me the best of luck, and told me to hand over the sub-branch to the new Manager before starting the project. 

 As I drove back to the South after that meeting, I realized that my dream had come true. 

Thoughts crowded my mind. 

 How was I going to handle this assignment on my own? 

 Was this a test? 

 Should I have told the M.D.’s Assistant I could not do it in that short time? 

 Suppose I failed? 

Worse yet, I had taken no notes and had to rely on my memory. 

 I once again prayed to God for his aid. 

 I was not the kind of person who gave up easily. 

 My motto was and still is, Never give up. Reach for the sky

When I returned to the branch, I advised the staff of my transfer and new assignment. 

They were sorry that I had to go. 

 The sub-branch had accomplished a great deal under my management and they felt it was too soon for me to leave. 

The new Manager reported to the branch as scheduled and I handed over to her. 

 The Manager’s Assistant, Administration organized a lovely farewell party for me. 

 They gave me an unusual tall ceramic vase for my home as a parting gift. 

 I appreciated the kind gesture. 

  CORPORATE DIVISION 

 When I went home, I worked out a plan as to how to proceed with my new assignment. 

 I reported to the High Street Branch the next day to plan and execute my strategies.

 It was another challenge in my career and I was going to accomplish that feat. 

 I was not going to fail. 

 It was necessary for me to identify the accounts and request the files of the corporate customers from every branch in South. 

 That meant meeting with all South Managers at their branches to go through the files. 

 I met with them, exchanged discussions, did the paperwork, and obtained the files. 

I designed the systems and procedures for dealing with the customers and their accounts and prepared a Handbook. 

 With the permission of the manager, I worked in the kitchen of the Pointe a Pierre branch because I had no office. 

 I also had to supervise the construction of the building. 

 The building, which was to house the new Corporate Division in Pointe a Pierre, was still under construction late in August. 

 The Premises Manager in Head Office ordered the furniture from an office furniture store in Port of Spain. 

 To my surprise, the owner of the office furniture store was my friend, Sylvia, who had travelled with me to New York, Canada, London, and Germany. 

She had left the bank after the trip and opened her own business. 

 We had lost contact with each other because of our busy schedules. 

 Sylvia had exquisite taste and she ensured that the furniture matched the decor. 

 On the day that the Corporate Manager took up his assignment at the Division, the furniture arrived and Sylvia came to help to arrange them. 

 When I showed the Corporate Manager the work I did on the systems and procedures, he complimented me on a job well done. 

 When the Senior Corporate Manager turned up for work, he commented that the Division looked as if it always existed. 

 He too complimented me on the Handbook I prepared and the customer files I selected from the branches. 

The next day when the other staff members reported for duty I again received kudos. 

 The secretaries had desks and materials to work with, and the other analysts found their workspace well laid out. 

 They were happy to work in an office where everything was in place. 

 The biggest test was when we threw open the doors to the customers and everything worked smoothly. 

The Managing Director’s Assistant came to visit the Corporate Division one month after we opened to the public.

 He was impressed and told me I did an excellent job and he would bear that in mind. 

 In October, my dear mother passed away. 


 All the family missed Saturday evenings we spent at her home. 

 We all gathered at her home every Saturday without fail. 

 She never wanted us to leave without having dinner. 

Her helper prepared the meal. 

Many bank staff attended her funeral. 

I had lost both of my parents. 

 I threw my energies into my work to rid myself of a deep sense of loss. 

 As we had a small staff in the Division, we became a close-knit unit. 

 On special occasions, we each took a dish and had a hearty lunch together. 

We invited the bank's attorneys to join us sometimes since we had a close association with them.

 They handled mortgages, debentures, releases, and other legal matters for the bank’s clients. 

 We had fun while we worked and I recall those days with pleasure. 

 The Corporate Division South was a great success and the Bank decided to open a North office. 

 The Managing Director’s Assistant sent a staff member, who worked in one of the north branches to learn from me the various procedures for establishing the North Division. 

 She got the job of Senior Credit Analyst when the North Division opened." 


The Managing Director's Assistant was promoted to the Managing Director of the Bank. 

[He is in the picture above] 

Monday 25 November 2019

WRITING WAS NOT MY CHOSEN CAREER

My father was a school principal and he had a huge library of books.
In that library, he had a large section for children's books, and I must have read every one.
However, I had no desire to become a writer.
English and Mathematics were my strong points and I wanted to work in a bank, which I did.
I received several promotions and when I was transferred to the loans and overdraft department I helped my superiors write Financial proposals for customers to our Head Office.
Many times we received clean sanctions, ie no questions were asked and the proposals were approved.
My superiors at both the branch and Head office recognized my ability and promoted me to managerial status.
I was then required to visit my customers' businesses and submit written proposals for required finance.
Customers, staff, and Head Office all benefited, as the village where the branch to which I was assigned developed rapidly.
The once insignificant village turned into a bustling town.
The bank's profits increased and I was promoted to a bigger branch.
I kept on getting more promotions until I took early retirement and moved into the Insurance field.
However, I was struck by cancer and almost died.
I sought medical treatment in Miami, and after being laid up for more than seven months, I miraculously recovered.
I wrote the book, I AM CANCER FREE to tell people in similar positions that cancer does not have to be a death sentence.
The book became a best seller and won two awards.
I was then encouraged to continue writing and wrote twenty-four books to date.
You can find more details about my banking career in another one of my publications MY LIFE AS A BANKER.
CHECK OUT MY BOOKS ON AMAZON. CLICK HERE.

Monday 22 July 2019

LIFE IS A STORY - MAKE YOURS A BEST SELLER


LIFE IS A STORY - MAKE YOURS A BESTSELLER.

Have you ever wondered if your life is worth living?
Have you ever wondered what’s your reason for living?
Each Life has a purpose and we’re here to fulfill it.
Pause a moment and reflect, Life is a precious gift.
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However, life is not forever, but does it matter?
It is a time for preparation for a life in the hereafter.
Never for one moment think your life is meaningless.
Make every day count and start each morning afresh.
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We are here to live this earthly life only once.
Let us, therefore, be wise and make it count.
Time is a fleeting thing and running away.
Make valuable use of each and every day.
**************************************************
Let us contemplate on the brevity of life.
We must do our best to keep away from strife.
Living as good sisters and brothers rather.
Life is a story, make yours a best seller.

Copyright@BrendaMohammed

READ MY BOOK - MY LIFE AS A BANKER: A LIFE WORTH LIVING.
PAPERBACK CLICK HERE
KINDLE CLICK HERE
FOR MORE OF BRENDA'S BOOKS CLICK HERE

Saturday 12 January 2019

My Life as a Banker: A life worth Living

REVIEW:

"My Life As A Banker is a fascinating, intimate story.
The author has an engaging writing style that draws you into the story and you feel as though she is talking directly to you, the reader.
There is a nice balance between the professional and the personal and while I found the professional aspects rewarding, the highlight for me was reading about the author's interesting life.

The social history aspects of the book also fascinated me, particularly the descriptions of life in Trinidad and I would imagine that this memoir will serve as an important document for social historians in years to come.

This might sound strange to say about a book with Banker in the title, but the author demonstrates quite vividly that there are far more important things than money in life."

FOLLOW BRENDA ON AMAZON

Monday 1 October 2018

Excerpt from the book My Life as a Banker- Dealing with an Irate Customer



Today i want to share a short excerpt from my book My Life as a Banker: A Life Worth Living.

DEALING WITH AN IRATE CUSTOMER

"Every time I faced a difficult situation on the job, I prayed to God for the wisdom of King Solomon to deal with it.
One day I heard an irate customer quarreling loudly with a male staff member and asking to see the Manager.
He was cursing, using obscene language, and carrying on because his employers did not send his salary to the bank.
I heard the staff member trying to explain to him it was not the fault of the bank and that he should check with his employer, but to no avail.
The staff member was scared and he asked me if I would speak to him.
I must admit that I was scared too but I agreed.
After all, I was the manager and it was my responsibility to ensure that customers were satisfied
When the customer entered my office he seemed shocked to see me.
He covered his mouth with his hands, then apologized profusely for the disturbance he caused.
He repeated a few times, “Miss, I am so sorry. If I knew such a young girl was the manager I would have behaved myself. Please accept my apology. I will do anything you say.”
After offering him a seat, I chatted with him and explained that sometimes there were delays in receipt of salaries from Government agencies. He said he was a teacher and he once worked with one of the best headmasters at the Penal Presbyterian School.
He was unaware that he was speaking of my father.
When I told him that Dr. Khan was my father he was even more apologetic.
He was happy with our conversation and left the bank in a good mood."

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Thursday 28 June 2018

My Life as a Banker: A Life Worth Living



What is a Life Worth Living?

This reviewer puts it in the following words:

Interesting read!

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

MY LIFE AS A BANKER

Although the title of the book I was prepared to read was about the author’s life as a banker, this book is so much more.
It a memoir written in journal accounting as the author takes the reader on the journey almost from birth to adulthood.
Throughout there are various scenarios of life on the island of Trinidad, where the story is set.
I’ve visited several of the islands in the Caribbean; however, Trinidad is not one of them.
Maybe one day.
But after reading several of the author’s books some set in Trinidad, I feel as if I’ve visited the place in person, so vivid the descriptions.
The other thing that needs pointing out about this accounting is the way the author took the reader to work with her, from her first job to her movement up the corporate ladder, and her ultimate position as a Bank manager.
There are lots of brief descriptions of her family life, being courted by her husband and the wonderful ceremony of her wedding.
This book has a bit of everything and will keep the reader’s interest until the end.
Very interesting read!

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Tuesday 8 May 2018

My Life as a Banker and dealing with Irate Customers



As a Bank Manager, every time I faced a difficult situation on the job, I prayed to God for the wisdom of King Solomon to deal with it.
One day I heard a customer quarreling with a male staff member and asking to see the Manager.
He was cursing and carrying on because his employers did not send his salary to the bank.
I heard the staff member trying to explain to him it was not the fault of the bank and that he should check with his employer, but to no avail.
The staff member then asked me if I would speak to him and I agreed.
When the customer entered my office he seemed shocked to see me.
He covered his mouth with his hands, then apologized profusely for the disturbance he caused.
He repeated a few times, “Miss, I am so sorry. If I knew such a young girl was the manager I would have behaved myself. Please accept my apology. I will do anything you say.”
After offering him a seat, I chatted with him and explained that sometimes there were delays in receipt of salaries from Government agencies.
He was happy with our conversation and left the bank in a good mood.

I handled many irate customers in a calm and similar manner and they all left satisfied.

Read My Life as a Banker: A Life Worth Living. It is available on Amazon for #2.99. CLICK HERE

Sunday 11 March 2018

Is this Hardly a Life worth Writing about?



Winner of Metamorph's publishing Summer Indie Book Awards in Bio/Members second place, here are extracts of what Reviewers are saying about MY LIFE AS A BANKER.

To read the full reviews go to Amazon Universal Link.

MY LIFE AS A BANKER

1. A monument to the author's successful career in banking as she rises from a bank clerk to several managerial positions.
2. This book would appeal to readers who enjoy memoirs, insider stories of a different age and different cultures, and anyone looking for confirmation of the strength that can be gained from an upbringing that fosters a belief in God.
3. My Life as a Banker: A Life worth Living]] is a wonderful story detailing how the author started at a clerical level and rose to a senior position, solely on the basis of her dedication, hard work, and intelligence.
4. It is an unforgettable account of the crisis, choices, and challenges she faced in her life. It's about facing impossible circumstances, knowing there is a flicker of hope, and realizing that God is closer to you than your own skin. Great writing with such an interesting premise and structure.
5. A quick, easy read, this engaging memoir provides a glimpse of life few of us have seen. Both history and geography combined with the author's positive outlook to bring her story to life. Most enjoyable
6. My Life As A Banker is a fascinating, intimate story. The author has an engaging writing style that draws you into the story and you feel as though she is talking directly to you, the reader. There is a nice balance between the professional and the personal and while I found the professional aspects rewarding, the highlight for me was reading about the author's interesting life.
7. The book "My Life as a Banker" is a memoir about Brenda Mohammed's early decision to become a banker and the successful career she forged throughout her life.
8. She did not give up, and her success was well-deserving. This book is an encouragement and example to all. Happy reading.
9. It was interesting to see how banking was in another country than the United States. Being a banker myself, I found it interesting and could relate to several tasks that are mentioned. I like the way her family was woven into the story.
10. 'My Life as a banker '' by Brenda Mohammed was an inspirational journey. The author's faith guided her through tribulations and threatening circumstances, and she rose above them. The way she faced challenges was exemplary and was reflected by the guidance of her upbringing and her close connection to her family
11. Don't let the title with the word 'banker' in it fool you into believing this book is for finance professionals only. It is actually the true and inspiring story of one woman's immense faith and family that helps shape her into the powerful, yet humble woman she would become.
All the above reviews are five-stars.
Readers, there is only one critical review.
It is a one-star and the headline is Hardly a life worth writing a book about,
You be the judge of that and tell me what you think.
I look forward to your comments.
Read the reviews on Amazon.

Look at the Video Book Trailer.

Monday 23 October 2017

One book ends with Retirement, the other starts with Working at Living.


Here is a new review for My Life as a Banker: A Life Worth Living.

My Life as a Banker: A Life Worth Living"
A Life worth Living] is a wonderful story detailing how the author started at a clerical ...
By Amazon Customer Five Stars
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
My Life as a Banker: A Life worth Living is a wonderful story detailing how the author started at a clerical level and rose to a senior position, solely on the basis of her dedication, hard work, and intelligence.
Brenda Mohammad describes how the manual work was transformed to computerization, her working at different branches and working relationship with her colleagues.
Her farewell party from the fellow workers describes how popular she was during her stay with them.
It was interesting to note, as a tradition, the groom used to write a letter to the bride's father to seek permission to marry his daughter.
This is what happened when her husband proposed her.
Description of her marriage is so beautiful and emotional.
Brenda had an extensive travelling of the United States and Europe; I enjoyed her visits to Germany and Holland the most.
Close knitting in her family and how her parents and her siblings took care of each other is worth reading;
It was touching to read how her father talked to all of his children separately before his death.
Brenda's belief in God is remarkable.

This review is for Retirement is Fun.

Retirement is Fun: When one door closes, another opens
An enjoyable account of retirement from an amazing author!
By Kelly on October 16, 2017, Five Stars
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
"Retirement Is Fun" is an enjoyable account of life after retirement, written by an amazing author, Brenda Mohammed. Ms. Mohammed recounts in great detail her decision to embark on a totally new career, with its ensuing challenges and rewards, after retiring from a successful career in banking.
"Why not?" was her mental approach as she entered the world of insurance, quickly rising to the top of the profession as she continually worked tirelessly to increase her skills and abilities.
"Retirement Is Fun" is not only a testament to her success, but to her absolute enjoyment of life and everything it has to offer. Ms. Mohammed writes about her professional successes, but also of her personal life. The reader gets to know her extended family as they are such an integral part of her life. She enjoys her family, travels often and extensively throughout the world, revels in her grandchildren and is a marvelous example of how much one can achieve in life. Such an enjoyable read!

Sunday 3 September 2017

Press Release by Readers Favorite for My Life as a Banker by Brenda Mohammed


For immediate release:
Author's new book receives a warm literary welcome.
Readers' Favorite announces the review of the Non-Fiction - Memoir book "My Life as a Banker" by Mrs. Brenda C. Mohammed, currently available at Amazon.
Readers' Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the "Best Websites for Authors" and "Honoring Excellence" awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.

"Reviewed By Sarah Stuart for Readers' Favorite

The Foreword to Mrs. Brenda C. Mohammed’s My Life as a Banker: A Life Worth Living has been written by one of her six sisters, Florabelle Lutchman. She describes it as an account of Mrs. Mohammed’s life, and that is exactly what it is. It opens with the author's earliest memories that, incredibly, date prior to her third birthday. The account follows her development from a child, the eighth of ten born to parents of Indian extraction living in Trinidad in the early twentieth century, to the very different world the island and the business of banking had become by the time she retired in 1999. The message throughout is the strength she draws from her belief in God.

My Life as a Banker: A Life Worth Living is as intriguing as it is inspiring. Mrs. Brenda C. Mohammed succeeds in her aim of showing how much can be achieved with God’s help, and she leads the reader through two very different worlds. One shows the development of Trinidad from a place that relied on lamps for lighting, and fires for heating and cooking, to the world we know today. The second is the fascinating inside story of banking from the very bottom to the top, and its development from the days when everything was done by hand to the computerized system we now take for granted. This book would appeal to readers who enjoy memoirs, insider stories of a different age and different cultures, and anyone looking for confirmation of the strength that can be gained from an upbringing that fosters a belief in God."
You can learn more about Mrs. Brenda C. Mohammed and "My Life as a Banker" at Readers Favorite where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.
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