Do you live to work or work to live? - Page 2

legion · 05-24-2006, 11:31 AM

The only time I come in on a weekend is if there is a major problem or a big software implementation. That's it. Of course, if there is a major problem, rounding up all of the necessary people usually doesn't happen until Monday...

scottmandue · 05-24-2006, 11:40 AM

I like my job and consider myself to have landed this job but I am honestly only here to pay the bills. If I could walk away I would keep busy, do some volunteer work at the local aquarium, take some classes at the local collage, join a band and do some casual gigging, and he11... maybe catch up on all the projects with the house and car for once in my life!

Jims5543 · 05-24-2006, 11:44 AM

Its hard to understand what someone is saying on the internet sometimes. I was thinking you were doubting we worked that much.

We both agree it sucks and is a load. I will never do it again.

It really did almost cost me my wife and son. I never saw them for 18 months. How long can that go on before it hurts your relationship. The only reason she put up with it is because she is the one that pushed me to quit and take that job working 80 hours a week. The pay was VERY good and we actually got out of debt while I worked there. If it was not her prompting me to go there she would have protested earlier. I am the one that said enough is enough this is BS and layed my plans to get out and start my own business.

Quote:

Originally posted by masraum
Don't get me wrong. I'm not scared of work, and I have worked like that before. I quit college before I finished and in 2 years worked my way up to manager of a retail auto parts place. I worked as much OT as possible when I was hourly. When I got promoted to manager I put in a lot of hours to turn the store around, the norm was 60-70 hours a week (the mgr schedule was for 50), and that was for about 6 months. I then put in a couple months of 70-90hr weeks, all salaried making 21k a year plus bonuses (about 4-5k a year). At that point I wasn't sure what I needed to do, but I knew that I needed to get out of that crap.

Now, not happening. No way. Bragging about how much unpaid overtime you have. Not! I'd be bursting their bubbles, "Really, I only have X, I was able to leave the office and have a life. What do you have? No more money and a year that's lost that you can't get back." Nope, I've been near/at the bottom, I'm not going back if I can help it. At least you realized it was a problem and got out.

Paul T · 05-24-2006, 11:57 AM

Jim,

Just out of curiosity, did you start your own business in a field related to what you had been doing, or was it something completely different?

Hugh R · 05-24-2006, 12:02 PM

Jim

It sounds like a place I used to work where the adage was if your not coming in on Saturday, don't bother showing up on Sunday.

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

Work to live

I could easily slack for the rest of my life. I've spent just about all of my 32 years in school or training. And while the job I have is one of the most rewarding in the world, the journey so far has sucked. I shoulda goofed off more along the way.

Jims5543 · 05-25-2006, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul T
Jim,

Just out of curiosity, did you start your own business in a field related to what you had been doing, or was it something completely different?

Yes, I own a business in a field that I was currently working in. I was licensed at the time but afraid to take the financial risk to go out on my own.

Hugh R - I left a job where I worked 50-55 hours a week and was the company hero. when I got to this place I felt like I had to keep up. It was a joke looking back and I wish I had just did my 40 hours and went home. You live and learn. I would never hold a job in a place like that again.

austin552 · austin552's Garage

Work to play. I could live without working. Couldn't work without living though...

Moneyguy1 · 05-25-2006, 10:25 PM

One has to be reminded that in most companies, there is no loyalty by the company for its employees. They would dump you in a heartbeat if it helped the bottom line. Don't believe it? Look at the reductions in medical coverage, the transition from defined benefit to defined contribution retirement plans (figure how much money someone has to put away per month and for how long to have $2 mil for retirement).

I was lucky. Been retired, due to a fortunate combination of events: A defined benefit retirement plan and the sale of my financial planning business. Happy to be out of the rat race.

Do I miss any of it? Some of the people, but not the stress, the character assassins and the (like someone else pointed out) demands on your so-called "free time" simply because you are "exempt".

My wife, who was also in business, wonders how, as busy as we now are, did we ever have time to waste working!!