Live to Work - Work to Live??

[TheTramp]

Originally posted by Gus
Oh yes ... work can kill you ... and thats why I just quit my contract about 6 hours ago

Gus....

All the best in whatever you decide to do in the future now. Hope things work out for the best for you.

Steve

[fruitcake]

Well done Gus, there's nothing more soul destroying than working with people you can't stand or doing a job you can't stand.
I start University next week, at the age of 42 cos i'm fed up working in the NHS.
God knows what I'll do when I'm finished, but I will have a choice, which I don't have at the moment, as I am in a decent paid job and cannot afford to take in less money(will continue to work).
You now have the freedom to choose, so good luck to you. Did you get anything off your chest when you quit,eg, "you a a lot of **** *&*&**", for example?
Fruitcake

[Gus]

Originally posted by fruitcake
Did you get anything off your chest when you quit,eg, "you a a lot of **** *&*&**", for example?
Fruitcake

No ... because, despite the image I have on the Forum, I'm still (trying to be) a professional ... and I actualy feel sorry for the few managers left behind who have to complete the project ... its a very bitter sweet time.

Lots of plans .... helping the family business get its processes and marketing in line, FINALLY getting round to selling all the NZ art I imported last year ... and getting rid of this 'middle-aged' spread thats crept up on me in the last 9 months ... now a 34" waist ....and Sheena would never forgive me if I couldn't fit into my orange tousers again

PS .., thanks for the support ... especially Andy's PM .. just not sure its physiavlly possible in the next 24 hours

[stewart38]

Originally posted by fruitcake
I must say mixing with truly negative people can be quite trying, especially if one has to work with negative miserable people who moan all the time.
Thats why I love Ceroc, cos everyone is happy to be there and has a good time. I also like it bbecause there ae no drunks!!!
his saying is SOoooo corny but true, "smile and the world smiles with you"(yeuch! )
Hazel

On the subject of work. IT have told my manager I have been spending too long on the internet on 'non business sites'

I guess my time on here is numbered

Very interesting thread,I'm fed up with the city work and lack of fullfillment I need to start my own company any ideas ?

[Lounge Lizard]

Originally posted by Gus
Oh yes ... work can kill you ... and thats why I just quit my contract about 6 hours ago

Must admit its a bit scary .... 6 years trying to build up a consultancy business and now may have flushed it all down the pan as I'm effectively walking out on a contract (though I will stay to perform a handover)

So ... why thow away a very well paid contract and hit the streets again ..simple ... just couldn't hack it anymore! As Paul and others have pointed out it was costing me too much as a person to put up with individuals who deserved to be garrotted rather than facilitated (ummm .. maybe an anger management course should be my next stop-off )

Anyway, it was quite literally going to kill me ... had a 'cold' for 5 months, cant sleep and WORSE OF ALL ... wasn't able to get any dance practice in

So ... soon be another balding, middleaged accountant out of work ......... must think of a slightly more positive slant on that ... any ideas

Hiya
For the last 10 years I have run my own building company at one point I employed a team of forty with turnover in excess of £1m pa
The last year or so have been crap, problems with labour, contracts etc So I have closed the company.
[last year I hit a bad spell when a client 'forgot' to pay me, I temporary laid men off for 4 days, paid them to stay at home and it cost me £1200 in dismisal case]

I woke up this morning with all labour gone, no customers complaining about builders knocking the wrong wall down (joke)
and it is GREAT, not sure how I will earn any money but will take a month or so, out to sell equipment etc. then look for something to do.
Possibly consultancy, or corporate entertainment. have even been offerd a great venue in my home town so may open more Jive venue's.
Dont know, dont care....the only thing that worries me about all this......I may end up spending even more time on this FORUM

So good luck Gus, I think you have made the right choice.

peter

[Martin]

Love the new piccy LL, looks so much more like you

Marty

[bigdjiver]

Originally posted by Gus
Oh yes ... work can kill you ... and thats why I just quit my contract about 6 hours ago

I remember my first day ona contract, replacing a guy off sick. The phone rang on the supervisors desk. "Oh, yes, he's out of hospital now, but he thinks his right arm is his father, and he won't use it."

About the same time there were reports in the computer contractor magazines of suspected foul play after a run of six suicides amongst a defence contractors software staff.

If you ever get around to thinking "I was a fool", think ", NOT".

MJ is one of the best stress relievers I have ever known.

[Martin]

Originally posted by bigdjiver

MJ is one of the best stress relievers I have ever known.

He he he, even got one of the most staunch defenders of "Ceroc" calling it MJ now

[Gus]

Originally posted by bigdjiver
MJ is one of the best stress relievers I have ever known.

I used to do martial arts and sport as a stress busyter. Its only 4 yaers ago I was doing regular 10 hour days and living on Red Bull ... but I didnt through it cause the gang of kids I was working with (Kiwis, Aussies and South Africans) were real party/sports animals and their fun attitude kept me going.

The difference now is the people I'm working with. Everyone can only take so much .... even if they've been in this field as long as me. I'm increasingly meeting peers who have gone for total career changes forced on them by (near) breakdowns. I think everyone owes it to themself to read the warning signs before they get that far and not give in to macho-bullsh*t.

The dancing does help ... but its the old chalklenge of feeling too tired at night to go out

The question I have to face, like many self-employed .... do you take a break then go for another contract that looks less stress full or try to totaly move away from what you know?

[bobgadjet]

Originally posted by fruitcake
his saying is SOoooo corny but true, "smile and the world smiles with you"(yeuch! )
Hazel

I have a saying in my club.....

If you don't turn up with a smile on your face, we'll give you one to take home, but you mustn't keep it.

[bobgadjet]

Originally posted by TheTramp
and a 110 mile round trip to get to Stirling on a Wednesday when it starts. Steve

Is it a different distance if you get there when it doesn't start?

[bobgadjet]

Originally posted by Gus
Oh yes ... work can kill you ... and thats why I just quit my contract about 6 hours ago

Very brave but probably the most positive statement on this thread.

I know how you feel. I was (some time ago) an avionics engineer for monarch Airlines. Well paid, good job, good prospects, free flights, etc etc. Got a little back trouble so went to a couple of specialists in Harley Street (don't they know how to charge?).
One said" your job is killing you", but that wasn't good enough, then I listend to the other who said " if you don't change your job, you will die"
Guess what I did?
After moving into light aircraft engineering I realised I wasn't quite as happy and needed something different. In 1982 I chucked in a 19 years carreer in avionics and stepped into a tool van (not Snap-on) with £3000 worth of tools and NO customers.
At the time I had a mortgage, two kids, and a wife to support.
I took the chance because you only have one life, and it's not really that long.
If you don't try a change, you don't know how successful, or unsuccessful it will be.
But if you try and DONT succeed, at least youve tried.
If you try AND succeed, more power to your elbow.

My mobile tool business progressed into a shop, then a shop and workshop, and now I work from home for as long as I work, when I want to work, and I enjoy most evenings of the week out doing something I like, whether music, or dance.

I count myself very lucky to have what I have, and be where I am, and know the very nice people I have met thru dance.

MONEY, I'll worry about that when the bank runs out of it ! ! !

[TheTramp]

Originally posted by bobgadjet
Is it a different distance if you get there when it doesn't start?

Well. Until it starts on the 11th of Feb, there really isn't a lot of point in going

So, yes, it'd a different distance!

Steve

[bobgadjet]

Originally posted by TheTramp
Well. Until it starts on the 11th of Feb, there really isn't a lot of point in going

So, yes, it'd a different distance!

Steve

AH, now I understand

[Debster]

And what is the most important thing? The advice I received from the experts is 'fulfillment'. And we need to chase that and avoid anything that gets in the way of achieving that fulfillment. What you find fulfilling is going to be different for each person, you need to make plans about your route to fulfillment, but you should never give up the plans you have to achieve that goal

I really like this... and not only is it different for each person it can also change for each person. I have changed hemispheres looking for that and it has worked for a while. Especially in regards to dancing - Thanks guys!

But now I find that living in London is reaching the end of its purpose, I can no longer bear to be surrounded by so many negative people (obviously I don't mean dancing - unfortunately it only counts for a few hours out of my week) and worrying about making ends meet.

I'm about to take a bigger chance, chasing my fulfillment... moving countries again without any idea of what job I will be able to do but certain something will sort itself out.

Don't worry - I shan't disappear too soon, still a few things to finish, and I won't go without making a big fuss either

Now for all you others who have been searching for what to do - you might be interested in a book I've been reading lately:
"What colour is your parachute?" see: http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/

It's got some good advice about how to find a job that suits you perfectly.

BTW - Well done Gus! Good luck!

[bigdjiver]

Originally posted by Martin
He he he, even got one of the most staunch defenders of "Ceroc" calling it MJ now

I have always considered myself a Modern Jiver. I got told off twice last week for inadvertantly using Ceroc signals for non-Ceroc moves I garnered from elsewhere, and I try to invent my own. I sometimes describe myself as a Cerocer, being lazy, and often as a "Cerocaholic" to beginners.I have held and promulgated many of the "Ceroc could do better" views that I now oppose in the light of experience.

I have enjoyed every MJ event I attended, except one where I was responsible for a girl getting hit on the head with an elbow. That includes Franco's (I have defended him on this forum) Le Jive, Le Roc, some charity events, Jive Party, 3rd Floor, Jivin Bedford, Jook Jive, and N&N's blues.(of those that I recall)

[bigdjiver]

Originally posted by Gus
The dancing does help ... but its the old chalklenge of feeling too tired at night to go out

I felt too tired to go out last week, but went to the class anyway. As posted elsewhere we had a storming night, and I did not get to sleep until after 4am, with the adrenalin circulating.

I just work part time, self-employed now, and thoroughly enjoy life. Apart from the fact I cannot afford week-end events. Hopefully this is a temporary problem.

[bigdjiver]

Originally posted by bobgadjet
I have a saying in my club.....

If you don't turn up with a smile on your face, we'll give you one to take home, but you mustn't keep it.

Like the bumper sticker says "If you can't enjoy yourself, enjoy someone else"

[bobgadjet]

Originally posted by bigdjiver
Like the bumper sticker says "If you can't enjoy yourself, enjoy someone else"