Reflecting on my first job in the export industry, it was technically my second job, but my first foray into the private sector. I was an International Sales and Marketing Officer for Thailand’s largest chicken exporter, a position that pushed me to grow—a lot. And I’m not exaggerating.

Although my title suggested I was just handling sales and marketing, the reality was far more hands-on. I oversaw the entire process, from negotiating pricing and quantities to managing export timelines. It sounds straightforward, but things got tricky quickly—especially with my “special” customer, a demanding client who had ties with the company owner’s son. This is where I learned a vital business lesson: there are no hard rules, just money and connections.

One incident still stands out. The customer wanted a container (40 ft./24 mt.) of frozen BLK chicken in August, but the production schedule was already full until September. Logistically, it was impossible without disrupting other clients’ orders. I stood my ground, explaining that the timeline was unrealistic. And then—chaos. The customer went straight to the owner’s son, accusing me of refusing to “sell them frozen chicken.” Next thing I knew, I was caught in a corporate soap opera. The owner’s son, in a dramatic flair, escalated the issue to the CEO, and a meeting was called. Of course, I was the scapegoat, and ultimately, we had to rearrange schedules to accommodate the favored client’s last-minute request, despite the unfairness to other customers. Favoritism was alive and well.

Aside from those power plays, the job itself was good—though demanding. Handling countless export documents daily was nothing compared to the tug-of-war with clients. In contrast, coordinating with the factory was actually enjoyable.

All in all, it was a valuable job, but the 8:30-6:00 grind, paired with the pressure from a client who refused to grasp industry limitations, kept me from fully enjoying the experience. It was hard work, but a valuable lesson in the complexities of business and human nature.