Spanky's Place

Comments

1 - I do know exactly what you mean. Lot's of us do it & we can never get that time back. I wonder how many don't realise until it's too late.

Posted by Jason Hook At 09:08:46 AM On 07/13/2012 | - Website - |

2 - Good for you and good luck, Devin!

Posted by Chris Blatnick At 09:15:38 AM On 07/13/2012 | - Website - |

3 - Devin

If you learned from it, it's not a waste. I do understand how you feel though. You can never get that time back .

Press on !

Dan

Posted by Dan Soares At 09:16:33 AM On 07/13/2012 | - Website - |

4 - Congratulations on making a very wise decision!

Posted by Lars Berntrop-Bos At 09:20:44 AM On 07/13/2012 | - Website - |

5 - Trying hard to learn that very same lesson myself Devin. Good decision, Sir!

Posted by Stuart McIntyre At 09:33:33 AM On 07/13/2012 | - Website - |

6 - Congratulations on your decision! You won't regret it.

Posted by Bill Dorge At 09:33:56 AM On 07/13/2012 | - Website - |

7 - The key is that you've learned the lesson. You can't get time back but you can refocus and reprioritize on the future!

And the future looks bright!

Posted by David Leedy At 09:39:20 AM On 07/13/2012 | - Website - |

8 - Congrats on the new job and working with our other friends. Like a good beer, all one needs is time to appreciate the sweetness in life.
And as my wife says, Lotusphere is not vacation, unless you take the family with you.
Enjoy!

Posted by Keith Brooks At 09:42:48 AM On 07/13/2012 | - Website - |

9 - I went through that same thought pattern myself back in January.

I haven't looked back.

Congrats on your change.

Posted by John Lawren James At 10:08:42 AM On 07/13/2012 | - Website - |

10 - It's not that 40+ hours are bad, having a few 50+ hour weeks is pretty much "normal" for IT folks. The problem comes when it is expected or becomes the new normal. Everyone talks about balance, but few do anything about it. Thankfully, your family reminded you of it before it was too late to do anything about it. Congratulations and good luck in your new position.

Posted by Gregg Eldred At 10:17:31 AM On 07/13/2012 | - Website - |

11 - Remember a few things

- your job won't be the last one you'll have.

- your employer gives you vacation as part of the package. Take all of it!

- Keep it to the agreed 40 hour a week so you and your employer can properly gauge your work load. If you're working to much you need more man power.

- This isn't the 90's anymore. :)

Now get the F#$2 out there and have fun!

Posted by Richard Gray At 10:35:46 AM On 07/13/2012 | - Website - |

12 - Brother, I burned the candle at both ends in my last 2 jobs, plus I was very active with the Knights of Columbus, the Columbian Squires (their youth group) and assisting on a campaign to get a friend elected to a state position in the K of C.

Finally, my wife and family reminded me that I won't be here forever, and asked me if I wanted them to miss me like I missed my Dad when he was working, volunteering at the church and with the Knights of Columbus. THAT slapped me right in the face! I started cutting back on the K of C stuff, and made sure that my vacation days were used for things I wanted to do.

With this current job, I won't get all of the vaction days I had working for my previous gig (I miss financial holidays), but seeing my kids at a reasonable hour each day, and not spending 2+ hours each day in drive time is more than making up for it!

Ferris Bueller said it best:
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

I'm glad you're stopping and looking around...

Posted by Ray J Bilyk At 11:26:27 AM On 07/13/2012 | - Website - |

13 - Can't agree more with you, dude. 100 years from now, how will you be remembered? I'm pretty sure for me it's not my mad Domino Admin skillz, nor do I want it to be. I'm hoping two things stand out.
1. My love for my family.
2. My photography.
We do what we do, (work), to survive. It's the extra stuff is what makes us a human being. Congrats my friend. I hope you find all that you need in this next step on your journey.

Posted by Andy Donaldson At 12:30:27 PM On 07/13/2012 | - Website - |

14 - Never say never. Good decision, Devin. Live your life like this is your last year on earth.

Posted by Volker Weber At 05:08:08 PM On 07/13/2012 | - Website - |

15 - My wake up call was about 25 years ago. Wife, young son, and I were driving past where I worked. Young son said, "Look, Mama, that's where Dada lives"

My heart dropped.

You are a wise man, sir!!! Good decision.

Posted by Joe Litton At 06:01:54 PM On 07/13/2012 | - Website - |

16 - Delighted for you Devin. Revisit your feelings on work life balance in a few months after you settle in the new job. You will wonder why you ever bothered with the old one.

And this makes me a hypocrite I know...

Posted by Paul Mooney At 10:11:53 AM On 07/14/2012 | - Website - |

17 - Amen.

Posted by Kevin Pettitt At 09:08:32 PM On 07/15/2012 | - Website - |

18 - Congratulations on the new job and what a great one it is! I know what you mean. I've worked 55 or more hours a week with no vacation for over a year.. This weekend my Mom was hospitalized and I emailed my manager with vacation dates this morning. Beginning this Friday until August 3rd I'm on vacation. Family is more important. Cheers to you! I'll drink a good beer tonight in your honor!

Posted by Mary Whalley At 05:55:31 PM On 07/16/2012 | - Website - |

19 - @Mary - Your mother is in my prayers. Hope she is ok..

-Devin.

Posted by Devin Olson At 08:02:31 AM On 07/18/2012 | - Website - |