Discussion on:

Resolutions report card for one IT consultant

It's hard to believe that we're almost in 2010. What resolutions, if any, will you be making this year?

Around this time every year, I sit down and set out some personal, financial and career based goals. Probably my two biggest career goals is to take on a new class (to teach) and to learn more about our Telecom since it is part of my new job.

If only it didn't take so much time and pay so little.

I agree that as far as a full time job, it doesn't pay well but as far as a part time job, it is very cool. Plus as a part timer, you don't worry about all the political B.S. that occurs.

A) Get my business more steady

B) Do more networking

C) Get that app finished so I can try and sell it.


I get a D for last year. I made little progress toward becoming totally independent from working for others...which is my ultimate goal.

Working for someone else sucks. I need to remedy that.

A goal like (C) requires you to set aside some time for it. I imagine that's difficult when working for someone else.

As it is with not only being the sole money earner, but my own handyman and what not...I don't get a lot of spare time.

To be honest, I wish I had just a little computer shop with a robust enough clientele that I could support and provide for as a business. I don't need to be bleeding through my orifices in business. Just a good enough stream that I can keep bills paid, food on my table, a roof over my head, and get to take a vacation once a year.

I haven't had a vacation in almost 4 years now. And, I get frowned upon for having taken time off to do things I couldn't manage during weekends or after hours.

I like the idea of having the flexibility to set schedule and meet it and still have the freedom to pick up and leave for a week by just not making any appointments and letting the client know I will be out of pocket and who they can call in an emergency in the unlikely situation that one happens.

God, I am starting to slobber now wanting my own business. Argh.

Well, I'll admit that I took a lot more vacations when I was working for the man. The last time I took off two weeks in a row was back in 1997. Since then, I've never taken off more than a week, and even then the recovery is a bitch.

for personal vacation was February 2006.

the last two times i had a week or more not working, i took 2 weeks off in between jobs last time to work on my house and organize stuff.

and then the last one, i was in the hospital for 10 days and had back surgery.

i don't get many vacations. i end up using vacation time throughout the year to deal with home/personal/family issues.

that's life though.

And if I started a computer shop, what I'd do is schedule vacations about 3-6 months ahead and tell my customers "If you have any doubts about your machine, get it in here and we'll do a quick check." Pop it on the bench, stick in a CD, let some diags run while you do other business, and when it stops show them if anything is wrong.

If I had some staff that could run the shop, then a 2 week vacation wouldn't be out of the question. I could always be in touch if an emergency happened.

Anyways, I'd make sure the client knew I'd be out of pocket one way or another. And if needed, I'd set up alternative support for them with another vendor I knew did quality work so they wouldn't be left in the cold.

I keep hearing of them and also people talk of Holidays but I have no idea what they mean.

The last time I had any Time Off work was in 1976 just before the daughter was born. Event hen I had to walk SWMBO all over town on the Wednesday before I returned to work to get the quack to stick her in the Meatworks and induce her.

Spending time with a heavily pregnant female defiantly has to be experienced to be believed. Needless to say that didn't ever happen again.

Col

I did it once: my sister. I had to take care of her, due to my parents insistence that I had the least to do and that it was my duty as her brother.

I regret having helped her, since she is a real b1+ch.

But, the best thing in my world came out of it: my niece, who I adore more than anything.

BTW, I plan on someday getting married and having kids and being tortured, Col.

Thanks for the warning

But you need to remember as after the event it's way too late.

OH and if this helps things don't get better they start out Badly and get Worse.

When the son turned 34 he moved back home but brought his wife with him and they are still sleeping on the Sofa's in the lounge 2.5 years latter. They refuse to even consider going into a bedroom that has been allocated to them as they don't want to Cramp their computers which are in there.

He's not too bad as he starts work at 07.15 but she is terrible and sleeps all day so we have to tip toe around not to wake her up.

I'm still trying to figure out a way to kill both of them and not go to jail for murder though as time goes on the Jail is looking better all of the time.

Col

Reminds me of when my oldest sister moved back home for a few years and went back to college.

When she wasn't in classes, she was in her room with a book learning, a stick of crackers, and beer. And if you made too much noise (and you weren't mom or dad), you were bothering her "studying".

BTW, I will never let my children move back in after they move out and tell me when I can and can't make noise in my own home.

It will be my house, my rules, my office hours, and if they don't like people being up by 8am, tough cookies. If they don't like it, they can find another domicile to inhabit. But, I won't be bossed in the home I paid for and built.

See, Col. That makes you a saint toward your kids. I'd be a much bigger pain in the arse to them.

It;s not possible to actually happen.

Particularly when the Wife which is actually an acronym of Annoying the Hell out of you to get their way takes the side of the kid in question. For the sake of a quite life it's easier to just put up with it, believe me.

Col

"I need to do something completely nonproductive -- and not feel guilty about it."

That is part of the answer I will refer to a friend who asks why I left making my thoughts, and the communication of those thoughts, the business of my life.

You do indeed, Chip, have a serious problem. Attend carefully to it. One day when you are old you may wake to wonder, "Where have I been?"

There is a great Brad Paisley called "Time Well Wasted" (which is also the name of the album that song is on). The song talks about this point. I believe that the key to happiness and contentment is finding balance in life. Obviously, we have to work and make money. We can't pay our bills with smiles and rainbows. On the flip side, how much of our income is spent on wasteful things like hi-tech toys that we get bored with or eating out when we could just as simply make something at home.

Our office is full of people with noise cancelling headphones playing music... I wonder why?

Very good point.

Perhaps if interrupting me were a lot more difficult, they'd give up.

Lighting your Hip Pocket the cost of the devices to make it harder to attract your attention. I can guarantee that it will have no effect on the number of times that you get asked

Well while you are here can you look at this for me?

Save your money and just put up with the interruptions.

Col

Really spot-on, enjoyed it. Unfortunately it's all too true. How to improve on it is the challenge!