i am at a Crossroad.

[vash]

if you remember, i took a TEMPORARY promotion to prove my worth.

i was told it would be a 4-6 month assignment. it has been a friggen BLUR!! supervising is not for the faint of heart. everyone's problems now now my problems. paperwork everyday, forms, reports, memos, it never ends. the day goes by so fast. the week is gone before i realize it.

my commute is okay at best. 1 hour each way on company gas and truck. i listen to radio and put my mom on speakerphone. i miss eating at home for lunch.

i have been doing the job of two supervisors - temporarily.

my boss pulled me aside and told me the permanent positions are advertising soon, and he gave me quick tips while he could. (he cant speak of it when it advertises). he said, "i know you have been so busy, there will be two supervisors, your work will be cut in half". i took it as a positive sign that i didnt suck during my short term. he also said he would transfer me to my home-town when that position opens. maybe 2 years from now.

i dont need the money. that isnt my motivation at all. the commute makes my afterwork fishing trip a distant memory. i cannot get home on time. no home lunches, no home court advantage with bathroom visits.

i am really wrestling with this. more $$, more responsibility, more stress, less free time, yada yada yada.

it is tough to imagine going backwards to the regular grind. i have peeked behind the curtain, and i made a difference in my short time so far.

anyone of you turn away from a promotions and didnt regret it??

[asphaltgambler]

So clearly you get something out of it, which is good! As men, we are all called to lead, only some...…. respond to that. I could not imagine not working, contributing, accomplishing something at the end of each day. But as I get older (62 now) what moves me is changing.

I think you should ask for clarification when the new position is expected to be filled. Then adjust your sights as to whether it's worth 'it'...……...or not.

[Norm K]

I've turned down multiple opportunities that would've meant more money - a lot more in a couple of cases - but that would've also disrupted our lives to an unacceptable (to us) degree.

There's a lot of truth behind the old adage, "Work to live, don't live to work."

At the end of the day, Vash, the only right decision is the one that makes the most sense for you and for your family.

Best of luck.

_

[oldE]

Vash, I don't know where you are in your life, but I remember 17 years ago turning down a position with more responsibility and a bit more renumeration. My reasons were: I had been there, done that and had the T shirt.
I didn't want to go back to that kind of work load.
You have said you don't need the money and you miss the fishing. Will you need the money later?
There is a great deal to be said for quality of life.

Best
Les

[Bill Douglas]

GT3RS, 911GT3RS.






Think about what the extra money can buy...




It must be nice to be wanted.



.

[pwd72s]

All we really have in life is the time we're given. We have choices on how to spend that time. To many, the money and the comforts and luxuries it can buy are highly important.

To others, not as important as long as basic needs are met. These people are willing to accept less in money and stuff in order to pursue other things.

Only you can decide which is most important to you...how you wish to spend that time we are given.

[javadog]

I don’t know the specifics but in general, I would always move forward.

[ramonesfreak]

i don’t care about more money if it means i’m giving up more of my time and increasing my work-related stress

i could have made a ton more money in my life if i had been willing to work late, work harder, been more involved with my profession blah blah

i chose to learn to live with less in order to have more time to do what i want and have less work-related stress

that’s not to say that having less money than i could have had hasn’t caused it’s own type of stress….at times it absolutely has

but i don’t regret being a slacker……yet



go with your gut feeling

[Erakad]

My son and daughter went through the same dilemma. My son, like you, took the raise and tried the managerial thing...hated it. Hated the personnel issues, but especially the nonsensical/never ending paperwork that accompanied it. He's an electrical engineer. He took the step back to his technical roots...and has loved it. He enjoys more in solving technical issues and sees no value in the political managerial career field. For him, money wasn't the issue, rather, doing what he enjoyed was. He doesn't need or want the extra money (wife is an attorney), and right now is working and saving towards early retirement. My daughter on the other hand wrestled with advancement to management. She enjoyed the technical aspects of her job, worked with the union, and her coworkers. She's an air traffic controller...money was not the issue. She asked my thoughts (as did my son) and my answer was the same to each. Do you want to be part of the problem, or do you want to be in a position to influence the outcome to the problems, both locally and on a larger scale. She chose the management route and has loved the challenges (and there are many). My advice to you is the same.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

I have and never had one day of regret, my best ever career move,

I may not have as much money as my peers that chased promotions but my life and family's life experiences have been all the more richer for it

Sounds like you need more fishing in your life and less work

[CalPersFatCat]

Originally Posted by vash

i dont need the money. that isnt my motivation at all.

anyone of you turn away from a promotions and didnt regret it??

Does this job have any benefit increases that will manifest themselves during retirement?

Pension increase? health insurance stipend increase during retirement? additional 401k dollars each pay period? additional 401k annual kicker? (or 357b if you are a government employee)

I had a choice to make during my government working life. Promote and beat my head against a bureaucratic steel door at every turn? Or use the skills, information, contacts and training to build my own business after retiring from government service?

In the interest of diversification, I decided early on that I should build my own business outside of government. I'm really glad that I didn. W2 income sucks.

DL

[cassisrot]

It’s just another rung in the ladder. I’d take the promotion if I were you.

[rfuerst911sc]

Overall happiness in my opinion is almost priceless . In my career I turned down some promotions in my last 5-6 years before retiring . More $$$ and more pressure wasn't high on my list , I was already making good money . And I was one of the " go to " guys for many years so I already had enough pressure/responsibility.

Only you know what drives you and what makes you happy . None of us knows our expiration date but we all have one . Good luck with your decision .

[HardDrive]

I live it every day. People management is brutal. I went from a very techie individual contributor role to have 12 direct reports, including some contractors. I don't mind managing people, and I enjoy promoting others careers in the organization. But yes, you are taking on a LOT more responsibility, and that can push out the things you love about your job.

My friend and colleague handed the team to me because he hated it. Went back to being an individual contributor. I mean....he hates that as well now....but for different reasons

[porsche4life]

What would you do with the extra money? If you took it, would you have time to enjoy that extra whatever anyways? You can’t take it with you. If the higher role is stressful and works you to death, is it worth it?

[Scott Douglas]

As someone who used to commute for a living, I'd ask you this, is the time spent on the road worth the extras the job provides?
When I think about the time I spent in a car commuting it fries my a$$. It's time I won't get back, ever.
Good luck with your decision.

[tabs]

All i care about is regularity and watching reruns of Gun Smoke.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by tabs

All i care about is regularity and watching reruns of Gun Smoke.

Metamucil to the rescue. My only problem with Gunsmoke is I've seen 'em all. Can't think of a single episode I didn't like. Well, maybe the one where an innocent man was condemned and executed.

Everybody explaining their decisions on Vash's question. Problem is...only he can decide. Which is as it should be because only he can set personal priorities on what's important to him.

[Norm K]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

...is the time spent on the road worth the extras the job provides? When I think about the time I spent in a car commuting it fries my a$$. It's time I won't get back, ever.

I don't know your age, Vash, but if you're still in your forties or early fifties you might look at things a little differently than those of us who are in our sixties or seventies.


Two hours per day, five days per week = 10 hours per week.

Ten hours per week times, say, 48 weeks per year = 480 hours per year.

480 hours divided by an eight hour work day = 60 work days per year.

or ...

480 hours divided by a full 24 hour day = 20 full days per year.

In a car.

Not to get to a great fishing spot, mind you, but driving to and from work.

_

[ckelly78z]

You aren't going to be lying on your deathbed decades from now, and lament about not working/making more. Doing what you love can also mean being home more !