Sep
5
5 days in
Filed Under Making changes, Work | Leave a Comment
So, at the end of the first week I have these things to say:
- This is a much bigger hole than was described.
- Employees don’t seem to get anything done.
- Management is in denial.
- These are not my problems, they are the company’s problems.
- My life-outside-of-work has become euphoric.
I can see now that The Company is in dire need of a new direction. I am to be the spearhead of that new direction. This is going to be so cool!
I am having a little bleed over of work into my life but I think that is a symptom of how I used to do self-employed work. I’m striving to keep that under control. Well, I’m trying not to care too much about work stuff after work. The results are great, but I still feel a little dirty purposely not thinking about work outside business hours. Core hours. Such a quaint idea.
The department consists of the Lead Programmer, a Consultant Programmer, a Trainee Programmer and two Indian Programmers. It’s an interesting idea, what The Company has done here. After working for a week, this is my assessment:
- Lead Programmer
- Doesn’t lead at all.
- Maintains some of the worst code I have ever seen.
- Consultant Programmer
- Spends more time talking about what he is going to do than actually doing it.
- Is 100% billable to our client.
- Trainee
- Follows instructions.
- Asks questions.
- Produces measurable output.
- Indian Programmers
- Brilliant, intelligent people who can understand what is required, describe what they will do and then do it.
- Are keeping me sane.
So, for the moment, the company pot is quietly simmering along.
Next week I will have a better idea of the management team.
Sep
1
Papa’s got a brand new Bag!
Filed Under Making changes, Self Discovery | Leave a Comment
I’ve gone and done something wild.
Something crazy, irresponsible and silly.
I got a job. A full-time employed job. I’m working for The Man.
It was a big decision, but a great one. I was so lonely and unhappy in my own business. Sure there was money to be made and my own hours to keep, but I missed PEOPLE. I’m so far over here, working away at my niche that there is no one else around to talk to. I wasn’t in a group, I couldn’t share my ideas, ask for help or socialise just by turning my head and talking to my office neighbour. What a weird idea. It’s been creeping up on me for a while now.
Essentially I wasn’t able to make the changes I needed to fix the problem in my own business. So I found a business who needed what I had and jumped ship. I’m still doing my own stuff after hours, but it’s not a priority any more. I plan to sell the source code for all the various systems I have created to the clients who use them and have done with it.
The result of all this is that I am so much happier with life, it’s spooky. If I had known then what I knew now…. well, it probably wouldn’t have been the same, but I’m just glad to have made the switch.
I get to wear a suit too.
Yes, it is fantastic!