Weekend Warrior
If it seems to you I have not been not around blogland much except on weekends, it’s because that is the case. I already was working a lot before our hiatus; and the amount of work to be done has only increased since then. We’re nearing the finish line; but I still have a couple more weeks of long days. In the career I have chosen, the long days come and go. Unfortunately, I’ve been assigned to two projects whose success is vital to our business back to back.
I “like” being selected to work on high visibility projects because it’s an acknowledgment of my skills and accomplishments. But, I do need a low key project from time to time. The good thing about working on critical projects as opposed to low-key tasks with open-ended timelines is that, assuming you get finished on time and under budget, you don’t have to worry much about being laid off. The bad thing is that you end up surrounded by a lot of nervous directors and VPs. And, of course, there is that whole not spending enough time with your family thing. In a way, the other members of the project team and I are victims of our own success.
I’ve always been good at what I do and expect to succeed; so I don’t have a true understanding of what is like to be a chieftain and basically have your future in the hands of an extremely capable but very overworked and somewhat irritable project team. All they can do is watch and hope. I think I would be nervous too if I was in their position; but, as hard as it is to do, the best thing they can do is leave us alone to do our job. And feed us when it gets late.
When the long days and nights are over, I’m going to take some very well deserved time off and do something nice for the family. And California Girl and I will probably have some very “interesting” photographs for the blog. 
Tags: Life, Philosophy, Work
May 10th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I’m the same way - when I’m not selected for the high profile, high crunch projects - I feel left out! But I need a normal project from time to time too - in order to keep my sanity!
Keep Sane!
May 11th, 2008 at 2:40 am
Now that we are retired, I share Jerome K. Jerome’s attitude: “I like work. It fascinates me. I could sit and watch it all day.” We look forward to the photos when you get time off for good behaviour.
May 11th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
MCB i can understand the pressures of long hours and overwork.with one going to college and another one
almost to college age one must do what one must do.hope you and CG get some time off soon.take care we’ll be watching for your return to a less pressured life
judy and bill
May 11th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Kelly: Thanks for stopping by! I hope that all is well with you and yours. Honestly, I’m nearly insane. We haven’t been able to find enough good help. We can find people to play around the edges; but no one that can just go off and do things without any supervision. If we do, it’s a bigger mess to clean up than if we had just done it ourselves. And people generally don’t like losing tasks/responsibilities. So, we’re even more stressed out than we would be otherwise.
Alfie: It’s going to be a long time before we can sit and watch other people work. But hopefully, I’ll get a break very soon.
Bill McCool: The pressure of work goes in cycles. It’s just magnified by the fact that I am so keenly aware of the fact that the kids will not be around forever.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:47 am
I could understand where you’re coming from.
I have a new person I’m working with. If she fucks up, we all get fined by the state. So I’m on her ass 24-7.
May 13th, 2008 at 2:13 am
Kate: Most of the team is outstanding; but one bad person can cause a lot of problems; especially if they aren’t used to the stress. We live and die together (figuratively speaking). Sometimes, rookies just have to trust the veterans. We’ve got a lot of scars from mistakes we’ve made over the year and don’t want to repeat them. Unfortunately, that that hasn’t always been happening which is adding to MY stress.