damn. hitting the work-wall this morning.

[vash]

i cant get motivated.

been a crazed year. apocalyptic rain (not to diminish what is happening to TX) washed out 600 million worth of roads. first time in my career my vacation requests have all been quashed. PLUS- my badass, swing for the fence attempt at a promotion resulted in me getting beat out by two people that i still help on a day to day basis on how we do regular business..whatever.,

i've been going hard since last october. one year of long hours. the more i do, the more they give me. i dont have the ability to take a dive and make a mistake. my direct supervisor thinks they didnt promote me because i am too effective where i am. hahaha..

this weekend is four days off!! i managed to convince my contractors not to work saturday..it is the deer archery opener. my backpack is stuffed and i am good to go..but i cancelled the trip. i just havent had enough quality time with the wife to justify taking off. i prefer to spend it with her. she is happy i cancelled..

i AM going to pick up a fishing kayak this weekend. see what the fuss is all about. i'll start off on a local lake first..then see if i can get someone to show me how not to die in the ocean.

(2018..get here soon bud. dont bring much rain with you)

[ckelly78z]

I hear you buddy, I think everyone is hugely busy in this growing economy. I have been working 10-12 hour days for the last 2 months, and more overtime this year so far than any other year, and hardly sit down at my rubber auto parts prototyping job. My wife is juggling 8 home building projects (20 this yerar so far) as a project manager/engineer, and has been driving 600 miles a week getting to job sites, and on the phone non-stop scheduling contrators.

We have only been out in our camper twice this year so far, and I have every Friday off as vacation for the next 2 months (whether I can take all of them is another issue).

I would like to work less, but don't want the economy to tank, so i'm not complaining too much

[look 171]

Nice to hear you are spending time with your wife. I know, sometimes its not the most exciting thing to do (Usually things she likes to do), but its the time spent with her that's important. Hunting will come next time around, but as long as you get some "Vash time" it should be all good like Kayak fishing. I have a ocean kayak, but have not done any fishing off it yet but kayaking is FUN.

Iam a working stiff too. Two weekends out of a month are usually spent seeing clients. That's the only time they are home and not working. My men gets a Sunday off, that's about it. This year, since my dad passed away, I am able to get in a small vacation with the family. thinking about a long trip to Asia for 5 weeks (really want to see Japan) next summer to get some of "our time " back because the kids are growing so damn fast. My only "Me" time is the Saturday morning bike ride with an occasional ride or two during the week. When daylight saving times come, that weekday ride will be over.

Tell you the truth, I am not if things are going to get better for me unless I tune things back and not take some of the projects. I am learning how to make play / family time as I get older. You are in a different situation with the new job. Give it a year or two, you will get that promotion. I know all about boss dumping loads of work on ya. I always dump it on one of my guys because I know he will not break down and will come through. He's the one I will give my company to when I am done with this. As for now, he get a big christmas check. You hang in there,Cliff.

[wdfifteen]

Vash, please take time for yourself. Work will chew you up and spit you out and not look back at you - and I say this as someone who worked for his own company for 30 years. There is something about work projects that is relentless and demanding and ungrateful and it doesn't make any difference if you are the boss or a conscious employee. If you get to the point where it's not fun step back, go fishing, go hunting- do things for you.

[NutmegCarrera]

Cliff
Good to hear that you are spending time with your significant other when given the opportunity and choice.
That makes a real statement.
I'm thinking that doing so will reveal itself as an investment during years to come.

Do have a beer over the weekend!!

[legion]

This seems appropriate here.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by vash

i cant get motivated.... (1)
i just havent had enough quality time with the wife to justify taking off. i prefer to spend it with her. she is happy i cancelled.. (2)

Two thoughts (not that my opinion matters)

1) When on straight commission sales, I used to never take time off from work. I thought I "couldn't afford it" because it meant less sales. Low a behold, after a few years, when I finally took time off, I realized that I the time off helped me to work smarter not harder and I ended up making more money. Burnout kills creativity, productivity, and motivation.

2) The true measure of success is what your spouse and your kids say about you. Investing time in the family is worth more than money and time with her instead of camping sure beats marriage counseling or divorce.

Hang in there. Do the right thing consistently and it will work out.

[Mad Max]

No one on their death bed says" I wish I could/would have been at work longer."

Life is short so please enjoy it while you can. People take family for granted spending too much time chasing the federal dollar.

You appear to be a good person but constantly helping people at work is a counterproductive. You become their crutch. Something needs to change whether you decline their constant requests or you tell them 'your plate is full' so find someone else to give the work to. Making waves is sometimes good, so you are noticed and not taken for granted. Good luck with your hunting trip.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

I did exactly what you are doing on an under resourced project. My workload was all consuming and took over everything, had very little time for my family and no time for myself.

The long hours and stress caught up with me a couple of months ago and I'm sure were a contributing factor to me suffering a cardiac arrest that killed me.

I'm not writing this from the other side as I was lucky enough to have survived and to carry on with a 2nd life.

As said before it is good to say no and push back if you are overloaded, your wife will thank you and

[RonDent]

Vash,

Thanks to you and all others at CT. The state's highways were a mess after this last winter's storms. We can finally drive the back roads of the Santa Cruz mountains. I just have one thing to ask, Can I please have Highway 1 back? I miss Big Sur.

[rusnak]

When I hit the work wall I take on more stuff to take my mind of of it. I need a better answer. Sort of like that mid-morning coffee breath. I drink more coffee.

[LWJ]

Por_sha911 said it. Life work balance. In that order. I had a great year. Worked less than any year I can remember. Made more. Feel guilty but not that guilty. My college buddy died this week. Life is short. Take care of yourself.
Larry