Managing by crisis

[pioneer98]

Was it worth what it cost?

My employer paid for it, so all it cost me was my time. I worked full time and took internet classes. It was tough. It's hard to know if it has gained me anything directly yet. I did take 2 lateral moves since then, so it may have helped me get those, hard to know for sure. It's kind of more of a wild card or an intangible - it sure can't hurt anything, and may give me an small edge down the road.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

I am stuck in the same kind of deal. Software development though. And driven by the fact that we don't generate enough revenue so many execs are inking anything at any price just to book revenue for the current quarter. Its a death spiral. And you are in the same situation if what you describe is correct. That model is simply not sustainable.

How did American business - you cite MBA's and masters degrees and I believe it - get to this point?

Anyway I am dealing with it as healthfully as I can. I've got 3 phone screens this week and a contracting gig that is just waiting for me to say 'yes' in my back pocket. I won't be in this situation by the end of the year. And you should promise yourself likewise and then follow up to insure it happens.

Good luck.

We are in a very weird business. We are profitable. Our "base equipment" is very good, probably best in class. So that is our foundation. Where we fail is in options and aftermarket. There are always smaller players that can bring in some add-on feature way faster than we can. One of our competitors will partner with or buy out one of these small outfits and start offering things that we don't...If we wait too long to respond, then it will start impacting our foundation. It's like playing whack-a-mole. We'll go after the feature hurting us the most. By the time we get that project done, a different competitor will be killing us. And so on.

Part of our profitability probably has to do with the fact we are staffed surprisingly thin for such a seemingly large operation. I feel like Newman.

FWIW, I turned in my notice today. Hope things are working out for you pioneer.

[lukethedrifter]

back to Portland?

[Joe Shlabotnik]

back to Portland?

Not yet - but I'm working on it.

[Radbird]

Hope you end up in a better environment, Joe. Regardless of where you end up, we're only a click away.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

Hope you end up in a better environment, Joe. Regardless of where you end up, we're only a click away.

Oh yeah. I have a local offer but I'm talking with a company in Eugene involved in machine-to-machine wireless tech that I'd kill for the opportunity to work for. I really hope the interviews go well there!

[pioneer98]

FWIW, I turned in my notice today. Hope things are working out for you pioneer.

Good luck and thanks! I hope your new opportunities turn out to be great.

For me some days are better than others. The main source of my angst is just this one project. Unfortunately, it won't be totally behind us for about another year, with the peak activity between now and roughly June.

[Jocephus]

thought this was about matheny




/ive always wanted to live in eugene, you better take that gig

[Valpo Cardinal Fan]

thought this was about matheny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnP5iDKwuwk

[Joe Shlabotnik]

thought this was about matheny




/ive always wanted to live in eugene, you better take that gig

In a New York Minute Joce. Funny thing is, I've got an offer from a competing company here in Huntsville. And these guys from Eugene happened to contact me on Monday to talk to me (I sent my resume a month ago). Just HR so far. I'm definitely going to wait to accept the local offer until Eugene plays out. Or, if it takes a long time for them to get the process done, do I take the local offer and then skeedaddle? Hmmmm.... Good problem to have.