Workin' For "The Man"
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After working for five years as an independent consultant, getting tired of delayed remittance for invoices, growing weary of working in relative isolation, I started a new job today with a local company as a full-time employee. I feel somewhat ambivalent about the whole deal. My wife feels very good about the gig, especially since every benefit that they offer starts today (health benefits, 401K, etc.). I feel good about it because everyone there seems pretty dam' smart. They do/have the things that I like: pair programming, lots of interesting ideas in their product, coffee available 24/7, no mandatory dress code. Already, though, I miss working on my porch; their offices take up the top two floors of a high-rise and I just don't get that same "fresh air" feeling. While I've tried to maintain a presence on the CP fora for the past couple of months, I regret that my browsing time will get severly limited for the next couple of weeks/months. Ach weh! In short, thanks for doing such a great job everyone. I respect most of the folks on the site and wish all of you the best. I'll drop by as often as possible to answer those questions that I can. I have another article almost ready, too, on a data structure used for searching large metric spaces. I'll try to get that up before the end of the month. Peace and contentment be with you all! "we must lose precision to make significant statements about complex systems." -deKorvin on uncertainty
I imagine there's a big adjustment, but I'm sure you'll get used to it. Any chance for working from home on occasion? Just remember the hassles that drove your decision to switch back. BW
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.
-- Steven Wright -
After working for five years as an independent consultant, getting tired of delayed remittance for invoices, growing weary of working in relative isolation, I started a new job today with a local company as a full-time employee. I feel somewhat ambivalent about the whole deal. My wife feels very good about the gig, especially since every benefit that they offer starts today (health benefits, 401K, etc.). I feel good about it because everyone there seems pretty dam' smart. They do/have the things that I like: pair programming, lots of interesting ideas in their product, coffee available 24/7, no mandatory dress code. Already, though, I miss working on my porch; their offices take up the top two floors of a high-rise and I just don't get that same "fresh air" feeling. While I've tried to maintain a presence on the CP fora for the past couple of months, I regret that my browsing time will get severly limited for the next couple of weeks/months. Ach weh! In short, thanks for doing such a great job everyone. I respect most of the folks on the site and wish all of you the best. I'll drop by as often as possible to answer those questions that I can. I have another article almost ready, too, on a data structure used for searching large metric spaces. I'll try to get that up before the end of the month. Peace and contentment be with you all! "we must lose precision to make significant statements about complex systems." -deKorvin on uncertainty
I can sympathize with the need to put food on the table, have medical insurance, etc. And I'm sure, if things got bad, I'd be commuting to NYC to work for the man as well. But geez, I hope it never comes to that. Being an employee feels like a form of prostitution-rape-slavery. On the other hand, being a consultant can feel like a lonely-poor house-king without a kingdom. Marc Pensieve
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I can sympathize with the need to put food on the table, have medical insurance, etc. And I'm sure, if things got bad, I'd be commuting to NYC to work for the man as well. But geez, I hope it never comes to that. Being an employee feels like a form of prostitution-rape-slavery. On the other hand, being a consultant can feel like a lonely-poor house-king without a kingdom. Marc Pensieve
You know, Marc, the lonely part really got unbearable. I guess I'm not as much of a loner as I thought.... And, everyone at the workplace seems pretty cool. I'm a pretty fast and accurate judge of character. It's just getting closed up in the office that bothers me so much. And, if that's it, I'll just take an hourly break to take the elevator down to the ground, go outside, walk around for a couple of minutes, and head back up. "we must lose precision to make significant statements about complex systems." -deKorvin on uncertainty
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You know, Marc, the lonely part really got unbearable. I guess I'm not as much of a loner as I thought.... And, everyone at the workplace seems pretty cool. I'm a pretty fast and accurate judge of character. It's just getting closed up in the office that bothers me so much. And, if that's it, I'll just take an hourly break to take the elevator down to the ground, go outside, walk around for a couple of minutes, and head back up. "we must lose precision to make significant statements about complex systems." -deKorvin on uncertainty
Curtis S. wrote:
the lonely part really got unbearable.
I found that I don't so much need "peer" contact, rather, I occasionally need simply social contact. So I every week or so go and work in a coffee house most of the day. But I also have a couple really great clients that (besides paying invoices on time) are also great friends, and even though one's in Ohio and one's in San Diego, and I'm here in NY, I get a lot out of the relationship, both professionally and personally. It's a very lucky situation to be in. Marc Pensieve
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Curtis S. wrote:
the lonely part really got unbearable.
I found that I don't so much need "peer" contact, rather, I occasionally need simply social contact. So I every week or so go and work in a coffee house most of the day. But I also have a couple really great clients that (besides paying invoices on time) are also great friends, and even though one's in Ohio and one's in San Diego, and I'm here in NY, I get a lot out of the relationship, both professionally and personally. It's a very lucky situation to be in. Marc Pensieve
Gosh I must be really bad. I could work in a dark hole for months with no light and be happy as anything. I've got my wife and kids at home and I guess for me that's enough. I love it. But then I got burned pretty bad by my last employer and maybe that was just perfect really. If I had to go back and work and be social I'd go nuts. I think that was one of the things that counted against me at times (oddly enough). I never wanted to talk. I just wanted to work and then leave. I was nice enough when discussions were necessary but I didn't stand around the open newspaper and lament for 45 minutes about some stupid athlete or sports team. I think that didn't work real well for me.
Oh well, I'm much happier now. :)
Some assembly required. Code-frog System Architects, Inc.
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Gosh I must be really bad. I could work in a dark hole for months with no light and be happy as anything. I've got my wife and kids at home and I guess for me that's enough. I love it. But then I got burned pretty bad by my last employer and maybe that was just perfect really. If I had to go back and work and be social I'd go nuts. I think that was one of the things that counted against me at times (oddly enough). I never wanted to talk. I just wanted to work and then leave. I was nice enough when discussions were necessary but I didn't stand around the open newspaper and lament for 45 minutes about some stupid athlete or sports team. I think that didn't work real well for me.
Oh well, I'm much happier now. :)
Some assembly required. Code-frog System Architects, Inc.
I'm with you. I do have a day job, and I do thrive on the social aspect of it, but I'm equally happy to play with my family, and lock myself in my room with some loud heavy metal and bash code out for hours at a time. Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++
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I'm with you. I do have a day job, and I do thrive on the social aspect of it, but I'm equally happy to play with my family, and lock myself in my room with some loud heavy metal and bash code out for hours at a time. Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++
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I've done the opposite, left the office and took it up on my own. The solitude suits me fine but I have found that I tend to work more hours, a lot more hours.
Me too. But it sure is easier to do. At work 80 hours of work = 40 hours of pay. For myself 80 hours of work = 80 hours of pay. Something seems right about the second equation something seems very wrong with the first equation...:suss:
Some assembly required. Code-frog System Architects, Inc.
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After working for five years as an independent consultant, getting tired of delayed remittance for invoices, growing weary of working in relative isolation, I started a new job today with a local company as a full-time employee. I feel somewhat ambivalent about the whole deal. My wife feels very good about the gig, especially since every benefit that they offer starts today (health benefits, 401K, etc.). I feel good about it because everyone there seems pretty dam' smart. They do/have the things that I like: pair programming, lots of interesting ideas in their product, coffee available 24/7, no mandatory dress code. Already, though, I miss working on my porch; their offices take up the top two floors of a high-rise and I just don't get that same "fresh air" feeling. While I've tried to maintain a presence on the CP fora for the past couple of months, I regret that my browsing time will get severly limited for the next couple of weeks/months. Ach weh! In short, thanks for doing such a great job everyone. I respect most of the folks on the site and wish all of you the best. I'll drop by as often as possible to answer those questions that I can. I have another article almost ready, too, on a data structure used for searching large metric spaces. I'll try to get that up before the end of the month. Peace and contentment be with you all! "we must lose precision to make significant statements about complex systems." -deKorvin on uncertainty
When you're self-employed you end up having a range of responsibilities that often detract from what you want to do - CODING! Being an employee you get to focus on what you're best at. And yeah the isolation can be a killer - luckily I've been sharing an office with another independant programmer. Not sure how long I'd last working in isolation... although CP is a great place to hang out and stay "in the loop".
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I'm with you. I do have a day job, and I do thrive on the social aspect of it, but I'm equally happy to play with my family, and lock myself in my room with some loud heavy metal and bash code out for hours at a time. Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++
Christian Graus wrote:
lock myself in my room with some loud heavy metal and bash code out for hours at a time
Christian, you make it sound as if it's forced labor. :^) And I hate metal. X| Cheers, Vikram.
"When I read in books about a "base class", I figured this was the class that was at the bottom of the inheritence tree. It's the "base", right? Like the base of a pyramid." - Marc Clifton.
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Me too. But it sure is easier to do. At work 80 hours of work = 40 hours of pay. For myself 80 hours of work = 80 hours of pay. Something seems right about the second equation something seems very wrong with the first equation...:suss:
Some assembly required. Code-frog System Architects, Inc.
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I can sympathize with the need to put food on the table, have medical insurance, etc. And I'm sure, if things got bad, I'd be commuting to NYC to work for the man as well. But geez, I hope it never comes to that. Being an employee feels like a form of prostitution-rape-slavery. On the other hand, being a consultant can feel like a lonely-poor house-king without a kingdom. Marc Pensieve
Marc Clifton wrote:
Being an employee feels like a form of prostitution-rape-slavery. On the other hand, being a consultant can feel like a lonely-poor house-king without a kingdom
The proverbial double edged sword :doh:, but even given the "challenges" of working for one's self, the thought of returning to permanent employment send shivers up my spine :omg: Phil Harding.
myBlog [^] | mySite [^] -
Marc Clifton wrote:
Being an employee feels like a form of prostitution-rape-slavery. On the other hand, being a consultant can feel like a lonely-poor house-king without a kingdom
The proverbial double edged sword :doh:, but even given the "challenges" of working for one's self, the thought of returning to permanent employment send shivers up my spine :omg: Phil Harding.
myBlog [^] | mySite [^]Not me. It makes me want to throw myself in front of a train. I'd rather be dead and I mean that. I'll never go back.
Some assembly required. Code-frog System Architects, Inc.
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I can sympathize with the need to put food on the table, have medical insurance, etc. And I'm sure, if things got bad, I'd be commuting to NYC to work for the man as well. But geez, I hope it never comes to that. Being an employee feels like a form of prostitution-rape-slavery. On the other hand, being a consultant can feel like a lonely-poor house-king without a kingdom. Marc Pensieve
Marc Clifton wrote:
prostitution-rape-slavery
Some of us have learned to love the whip. :-O
Software Zen:
delete this; -
Marc Clifton wrote:
prostitution-rape-slavery
Some of us have learned to love the whip. :-O
Software Zen:
delete this;Gary Wheeler wrote:
Some of us have learned to love the whip.
While others enjoy whipping themselves. ;P Marc Pensieve
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Gary Wheeler wrote:
Some of us have learned to love the whip.
While others enjoy whipping themselves. ;P Marc Pensieve
Is that an example of the singleton design pattern? :laugh:
Software Zen:
delete this; -
Christian Graus wrote:
lock myself in my room with some loud heavy metal and bash code out for hours at a time
Christian, you make it sound as if it's forced labor. :^) And I hate metal. X| Cheers, Vikram.
"When I read in books about a "base class", I figured this was the class that was at the bottom of the inheritence tree. It's the "base", right? Like the base of a pyramid." - Marc Clifton.
Vikram Shannon wrote:
Christian, you make it sound as if it's forced labor
*grin* No, I'm locking the interference OUT, not me IN
Vikram Shannon wrote:
And I hate metal
It's OK, you appear to have good taste in other areas.... :P Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++