Work. My boss was just fired/laid-off. I'm safe, though. When the sales department doesn't hit their goals consistently for a couple of quarters, the Executive team leans out the operational costs - AKA, the non-revenue-producing middle-management layer - until the Execs remember how much they hate managing day-to-day operations, and hire a new middle-management layer to do the daily work again. And the cycle repeats. Fortunately, my boss was an old friend of mine, and was here long enough to get my role properly compensated, and brought visibility of my myriad contributions to the Executive Team and the denizens of the C-suites. So I'm in a good place. And without a manager. Or really anyone who understands what I do here... everyone just knows that my job is finicky and annoying and should be three people, and I do it happily as one, so they just let me do what I do, and stay out of my way. Home. Tomorrow the oil heating system gets replaced in my home with a ductless heat pump system. And Friday. And Saturday. (It's going to be complex.) I think they are going to have to partially demolish all the work I did in the downstairs with the new reclaimed barn-wood ceiling and walls, because they are going to have to run electrical across the entire house. :-( I'll know more after they show up in the morning, and we talk through Their Plan. Motorcycle. I began the tear-down of the old VX800, in preparation for doing the airbox, spark plugs, and compression testing. Turns out someone wants all the plastic I took off the bike, so the $600 motorcycle is down to $300. I might break-even on this thing, even before I begin working on it in earnest! Rugby. Going to San Diego for the Seattle Seawolves vs San Diego Legion championship game. We are coming in VERY strong, and they have two key weaknesses that we are set up to exploit. The pundits are thinking that Seattle wins this by a slim margin (2-3 points), but that no matter who wins, it is going to be a great game. Our mascot - Rucky the Seawolf - has transformed this season from an awkward dude in an ill-fitting suit, to a real character with a fully-developed personality, and the fans have embraced him whole-heartedly. The team can't afford to take Rucky with them, so the fans pooled together yesterday in an epic FB Messenger thread, and bought his airfare, hotel room, and meals, so he can come with us. It's fucking heartwarming. Seriously. Mid-life Crisis. It progresses apace, and according to all the predicted models and historical precedence. Except I'm not getting a convertible (already have a car I love and a motorcycle, so that box is checked), and don't want/need a mistress. But I am absolutely convinced that I am going to finish writing one of the 4 books I have in the works, or finally get down to drawing seriously and refining my technique, or finding a visionary job where I am fully appreciated - and ridiculously well compensated - for pulling together the exact mixture of weird experience and history that will make some company give me a swanky corner office and a secretary and some highly conceptual job that actually doesn't require much work. Everything is going perfectly to plan. (At least, until it isn't, of course.)
Just be careful. They might decide they know better. I worked for a company that was named to the Forbes Fastest 500 the year before. They held a board-level meeting to figure out what to do with the fact that I was overworked and nobody knew how to do my job. Their solution was to lay me off because it was easier than thinking. It ended up costing them about $21m in lost business. Losing that job was among the best things that ever happened to me but I still lost it on their terms, not mine.So I'm in a good place. And without a manager. Or really anyone who understands what I do here... everyone just knows that my job is finicky and annoying and should be three people, and I do it happily as one, so they just let me do what I do, and stay out of my way.
Good point. Do you know a 20-25% turnover rate is TYPICAL for a tech company? We are at the low end of that, but after 3 years and 2 months, I am more senior than all but 3 of our C-suite residents, and more than half of the other employees in this 400-person company. It's ridiculous. I'm actually going to be petitioning them to close down my job, and move away from the government contracting business. It's not in line with where the company is heading, and I could be a wicked-ass Key Account Manager, or Product Launch Manager. Both of which they need more than a government proposal writer, and both of which actually have a career path. Q2 is ending right now, so I'll be meeting with my leadership next month to make plans, and put together the annual plan for next year. That'll be my opportunity to pitch a job change or move.
KICKS ASS. I've been watching some highlight videos... like: do you know if this game will be televised? EDIT: also - if you ever come to Colorado to watch your team womp all over Glendale, let me know. We'll host you! and yes... by womp all over I mean 53 to 36... The team can't afford to take Rucky with them, so the fans pooled together yesterday in an epic FB Messenger thread, and bought his airfare, hotel room, and meals, so he can come with us. It's fucking heartwarming. Seriously.
Going to San Diego for the Seattle Seawolves vs San Diego Legion championship game.
Glendale is absolutely on my list of away games to go to next season, so we will hit you up! I also have a LOT of burningman friends in Colorado, as well. So I'll need to plan several days, it seems... And hey... the Raptors will get into it again. They just burned out the clutch the first season, and need to do some work in the off-season to get back in shape again. They'll do it.
yah man... lots of burners in Denver... I wonder if the ones I know, know some of the ones you know... or maybe even know you! six degrees of goobster. You know... I watched a fair amount of rugby in college (had a friend on the team) and have watched a bit since, but now that my kids play - I am loving it again. And watching my kids' team play on the raptors field for the championship game (which they won in overtime and was amazing) just made me want to attend their games. I didn't even realize we had a pro team until this season. Getting amped for next year. And SUPER looking forward to watching the national championship game if I can find it. EDIT: I know you didn't ask... but if you want to watch a few minutes of REALLY exciting rugby... Regulation time expired in a tie. First five minute overtime period ended in a tie. Time is running out fast in the second 5 minute overtime period... then this... hmmm. begin at link didn't work. hit the 1:42:38 mark: