18 months must be my limit

[susandennis]

For years, when I worked at IBM, I changed jobs about every 18 months. Most of the time that meant also changing time zones. But, sometimes it just meant a different building, different manager and different duties. I worked at Microsoft for three years - two different jobs. I worked for a dot com for three years - two different jobs. I have now been at this company, in this for for 18 months. And it's getting skanky.

But, there is no job to change to and I'm not ready to give up the sweet commute. I'm going to have to dig in my toolbox and see if I can find a way to get past my 18 month wall. Maybe I'll consider kyrielle's bribe idea. Think of some really big reward for making it, successfully, through December or through next Spring...

I remember once when I first started working for IBM. I had actually been on that job for 2 years and I wanted a promotion and I wanted to move - I wanted to go to HQ in the worst way. They kept telling me soon. I knew that if I didn't trick myself, I'd quit out of frustration. So one day, on the way home from work, I bought a new car. With car payments. I figured if I was in some serious debt, I would be not as prone to toss away a nice paying job.

I thought to myself that a car payment of $300 a month would be enough to feel but not too much to hurt. I pulled into the first dealership I came to and looked for the model with the most options. Found it in a color I liked and told the guy to start talking. We went into his little office and he started punching at the calculator. He said the monthly payments would be $310. I gasp because this was clearly doable! He thought I was horrified at the price and he went back to calculator and came up with $290 a month.

I drove the car home, and stayed with IBM another 12 years. (Oh and the new car and I moved to HQ about 6 months later. I drove that car for 15 years - it was a good one.)

The car payment ploy won't work this time but I think the concept is the same. I just need to come up with the prize.

Comments

why was armonk so compelling?

[henare.livejournal.com]

couldn't possibly be the town :)

Re: why was armonk so compelling?

[susandennis]

Oh I was so young and I had my tasteful stilleto hooked on to the corporate ladder... I was headed for the top. And then I got there and discovered that the fucking latter only took wingtips! 18 months later I was out of HQ and off to much more fun and rewarding duties elsewhere.

[pheon.livejournal.com]

My threshold must be slightly longer than yours. I tended to last 2 or 2-1/2 years in a job before I went looking for something new to learn. [My sig line for years was --- and still is when I use one --- "If you know what you're doing, you're not learning anything."]

I stayed with Tektronix and Xerox for 25 years, but I held --- excuse me while I count --- 12 different jobs during that time.

[susandennis]

That is a great line you have and so true. I think that's just my problem. But I also think that my manager suspects a problem and is working to fix it. If anyone can, she can. I am very lucky. It may not take a new car fix after all!

[joyofmacs.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of a bribe. What FUN.

But on a more serious note, my usual time served per employer is 3.5 years. And much shorter if I could advance elsewhere.

Now I work in a place filled with disfunction, petty behavior. Worst managed place I have ever worked in. I keep finding new things to learn as my reward. My other reward is to see how long I can live with it vs. running. To try to duke it out and live it my way as the jerks run around being mean to each other.

For some ungodly reason it has turned into a giant challenge for me to stay.

I am now approaching 3.5 years and I hope I can stay a number of years more. Just to prove it to myself.

That said, if the situation becomes so toxix as to ruin your mental/physical health, well I say start looking.


Then again a vacation to a tropical place would be nice.

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

I did the same thing in the late 70s. I bought a 1977 Toyota Corolla, brand new so I wouldn't just take off. I upgraded to the car I really wanted which was the Celica in 1978. That was one of my favorite cars ever. I drive an "Old Lady" car now. 4 door sedan (Buick) The last car I had was my first "Old Lady" car. A Corsica. These two are the only automatics I have ever owned. I feel old!! (and lazy)

[susandennis]

Ok, you do win the 'most behind in movies' prize, but I get the old lady car prize... 4 door Ford Escort 1999 model currently with 4,000 miles on it (yep, that's 4,000) - the first automatic transmission I've ever owned. I can hear the used car salesman now "this old lady only went to the grocery and the doctors and then only once a month or so"...

Re:

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

You win. Mine is a Buick (199) with 51000 miles. Since I moved here, I put very little mileage on it, but your's has got to be a record.