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My manager wants me to deal with a major client. (a company known all over the world, I'll look up how important they are and edit). Edit: by revenue top 100 in the world, closer to 50... Not a small fish)
I have been given notes, and screen sharing.
I still have to learn said client, there is an heavy workload as well.
I have all my other clients to deal with.
I'll send an email before Tuesday morning explaining all the work for now.
Then, I have a choice: try my hardest ever, or quit.
Everyone is going to say "try your hardest", is it that easy? The pressure is unbelievable, the client requires an attention to details near perfection. I have a few strengths, but attention to details has never been it. And with that client, being careful, checking twice.former, taxing as hell... Latter, there is no time, the amount of work is just too high.
If I do fail, the company could lose millions.
I'm even starting to think what kind of lawsuit I could be facing (I think that's a bit extreme, don't take this one seriously).
I was planning on leaving at the end of July, finish a degree, then come back.
So, if I leave now, I have a plan B, but then nothing after that. (the degree is just for the title, and family matters, don' t start telling me that I could work in that field, it's not even guarantee I could graduate, but I have to put an end to my studies, and having this degree is better than quitting).
I have all of tomorrow to figure out if I quit now or not. (Easter is a day off tomorrow).
If you've chatted with my username, or taken a look at my blogs, you already know that my mental state is not the greatest.
With that in mind, working extremely hard and dealing with pressure could put me back in a terrible state.
Lots of people on here do great things and love a challenge, I'm a guy that was happy being a basic office employee for the rest of his life.
I think I'll try to find a less comfortable job.
I know, why asking advice on TL... I asked a guy, and my only other option is reddit.
I'll probably make clear the situation is critical, but try hard, and see how it goes.
Life is not supposed to be easy, but if I were tailored for this situation, maybe I would have been doing different things in the first place.
I'm glad someone is thinking I would be good enough for such a client, but I'm thinking they are not aware enough of my countless, constant, mistakes.
Thank you for any advice.
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Canada8988 Posts
I'd say before anything, just keep in mind that in the next few months/years companies may layoff more then engage new people, just count your bucks before doing anything to drastic.
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United States4883 Posts
On April 13 2020 00:32 Nakajin wrote:
I'd say before anything, just keep in mind that in the next few months/years companies may layoff more then engage new people, just count your bucks before doing anything to drastic.
I think this is really good advice. Just sit down and do a budget calculation for how much you definitely need to survive and make sure you have enough savings to get through six months. Try not to burn any bridges in case whatever you decide to do doesn't work out. It sucks, but worst case scenario, there's always the option of begging for your old job back.
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Before quitting, explain to your boss how you feel. Maybe he can help. If not, you can always quit after.
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Lots of people on here do great things and love a challenge, I'm a guy that was happy being a basic office employee for the rest of his life.
If this really is you, quitting doesn't sound so terrible. But another solution could be to try to talk with your boss to reduce some of the pressure. If the case is as important as it sounds, chances are he/she will think that you are a responsible person for talking about the problem rather than just pushing on and risk losing a lot more. And if you're quitting anyway you might as well take a chance with talking to your boss.
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On April 13 2020 04:43 Sr18 wrote:
Before quitting, explain to your boss how you feel. Maybe he can help. If not, you can always quit after.
This is kind of what I was thinking as well, do what makes you happy! Just make sure you can afford it.
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First you should probably figure out what your personal priorities are and in order to do so you need to be thinking clearly.
1. Do a fear setting exercise: https://medium.com/@checkli/fear-setting-free-checklist-download-template-tim-ferriss-dd9773a270d1
2a. Figure out what your ideal scenario is (within reason) i.e. say NO to taking on this current client because your current workload is too high and too stressful. You'll probably want to maintain a job for a while in this economic climate, but also explore your options. There is a $600 federal stimulus for unemployment (ON TOP of your state's unemployment) in case you decide quitting is best for your mental health.
2b. Figure out what your ideal lifestyle looks like (try reading The Four Hour Work Week...this book is not about working 4 hours a week btw)
3. Prioritize (create a short list of goals for 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years from now)
4. Take actions (slowly) towards those goals.
"Then, I have a choice: try my hardest ever, or quit."
There are almost always more choices, you just have to engage in conversation and learn the skill to handle those conversations...it takes time and trial and error, but now is as good as any other time. Many times, people zoom in on what they think are their only options or they take on too much emotional responsibility when there is no need to. It's good to zoom out and really look at the big picture.
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On April 13 2020 00:32 Nakajin wrote:
I'd say before anything, just keep in mind that in the next few months/years companies may layoff more then engage new people, just count your bucks before doing anything to drastic.
There are so many red flags in his post, but yes, trying to figure out what own goals should be priority number one.
To me, it sounds as if it's uncertain what you actually want to do, especially when you aim to finish your educational career while saying you're not sure you'll ever work in that field. Why do you try to get a certificate then, or did I misunderstand something completely?
As for your employer: I often hear complaints like yours from employees and employers alike in my job, it's definitely something to look out for. It's never a good sign that few people have to manage multiple tasks, it's too stressful and a hint the organisation itself isn't organised very effective. What I find most curious is the discrepancy between your self-described skill-level (no certificate and still signed up for college / university) and still your boss hands out a highly important task on top of your usual schedule. The only reason that might make some sort of sense is if your employer is seriously understaffed. And even then, that can only be an emergency solution short time. However, it might be the task he wants to give to you is a lot easier than you think and only the name of the customer is scaring you - that could also be the case.
You should definitely talk to your boss and try to communicate your worries, before saying a definite yes or no. Don't view this as do-or-die scenario, rather than a let's-try-and-hope one.
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I would say it's just a job and the way I look at things in life, the job is not essential to my happiness. So from my pov, I would just quit this place and find something else.
post scriptum: I saw something about fear list and checking and I clicked the link. There it stated that Stoicism is accepting things without showing emotions. This is utterly wrong and come nowhere near close to what Stoicism actually is. It's a most beautiful and developed school of philosophy from ancient Athens. The interesting part of it is its virtue ethics, it is not about accepting things without showing emotions, not at all.
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On April 13 2020 16:21 GeckoXp wrote:Show nested quote +On April 13 2020 00:32 Nakajin wrote:
I'd say before anything, just keep in mind that in the next few months/years companies may layoff more then engage new people, just count your bucks before doing anything to drastic. There are so many red flags in his post, but yes, trying to figure out what own goals should be priority number one. To me, it sounds as if it's uncertain what you actually want to do, especially when you aim to finish your educational career while saying you're not sure you'll ever work in that field. Why do you try to get a certificate then, or did I misunderstand something completely? As for your employer: I often hear complaints like yours from employees and employers alike in my job, it's definitely something to look out for. It's never a good sign that few people have to manage multiple tasks, it's too stressful and a hint the organisation itself isn't organised very effective. What I find most curious is the discrepancy between your self-described skill-level (no certificate and still signed up for college / university) and still your boss hands out a highly important task on top of your usual schedule. The only reason that might make some sort of sense is if your employer is seriously understaffed. And even then, that can only be an emergency solution short time. However, it might be the task he wants to give to you is a lot easier than you think and only the name of the customer is scaring you - that could also be the case. You should definitely talk to your boss and try to communicate your worries, before saying a definite yes or no. Don't view this as do-or-die scenario, rather than a let's-try-and-hope one.
very true here.
I'm also suspecting that it's a perspective thing, perhaps it isn't as big of a deal as you think it is OR they are seriously understaffed and mismanaging OR you are somehow very good at a niche skill without a background in it.
Either way, zoom out and gain perspective, no one's life is at stake here.
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On April 14 2020 01:39 JoinTheRain wrote:
I would say it's just a job and the way I look at things in life, the job is not essential to my happiness. So from my pov, I would just quit this place and find something else.
post scriptum: I saw something about fear list and checking and I clicked the link. There it stated that Stoicism is accepting things without showing emotions. This is utterly wrong and come nowhere near close to what Stoicism actually is. It's a most beautiful and developed school of philosophy from ancient Athens. The interesting part of it is its virtue ethics, it is not about accepting things without showing emotions, not at all.
I posted that link, i'm not expert in stoicism nor was i trying to promote it - that was perhaps the author's preamble to the article...but the exercise of fear setting is very powerful. you might want to message the author and correct him.
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Any particular reason your boss decided to assign this Big Fish to someone who also has other responsibilities? Seems to me like you would assign a dedicaded employee to this client. Heck, I'd assign 2! Sounds like sub-optimal management to me.
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On April 14 2020 03:31 vyzion wrote:
I posted that link, i'm not expert in stoicism nor was i trying to promote it - that was perhaps the author's preamble to the article...but the exercise of fear setting is very powerful. you might want to message the author and correct him.
I had no idea about the value of this exercise, I withhold all judgment about it. Nor am I reproaching you in any way; I have myself to admonish for such a wide variety of topics that I will likely have no time in my life to look at other people. I guess I just pointed at a certain flaw in the article, I am not trying to play a censor or something. Have a good one 
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United Kingdom10443 Posts
probably a bad time to be quitting a job tbh.
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United States4883 Posts
On April 14 2020 07:10 KelsierSC wrote:
probably a bad time to be quitting a job tbh.
Depends on what you're willing to do. Amazon is always looking for more people to break their backs at minimum wage during this time of financial crisis.
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Ask your boss for a raise. If you're being given extra workload with an important and demanding client, you are worth more.
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On April 14 2020 06:10 JoinTheRain wrote:Show nested quote +On April 14 2020 03:31 vyzion wrote:
I posted that link, i'm not expert in stoicism nor was i trying to promote it - that was perhaps the author's preamble to the article...but the exercise of fear setting is very powerful. you might want to message the author and correct him. I had no idea about the value of this exercise, I withhold all judgment about it. Nor am I reproaching you in any way; I have myself to admonish for such a wide variety of topics that I will likely have no time in my life to look at other people. I guess I just pointed at a certain flaw in the article, I am not trying to play a censor or something. Have a good one
No offense was taken good sir! i appreciate that you pointed out flaws, as flaws should be pointed out! I do have meditations by marcus aurelius and a few books by ryan holiday that i'd like to read eventually...but as of right now i know nothing about stoicism...i also want to become a grandmaster in SC2 but i don't have the time for that either 
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On April 14 2020 16:50 vyzion wrote:
I do have meditations by marcus aurelius
Tbh, Marcus Aurelius for me is by far the worst one to start a dive into Stoicism. I would suggest Letters from a Stoic from Seneca and if you like them, go for Epictetus and then Gaius Musonius Rufus.
As for M. Aurelius and Meditations, when I read them, it seemed to me like they have been written by a man who has been trying to become good and yet failing severely every time, it brought some nasty feeling of hopelessness and despair which was utterly lacking in Seneca and in Epictetus. The latter is the most austere of them all but has a way to show the defects in character in just a few words; so brilliant!
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On April 14 2020 23:01 JoinTheRain wrote:Show nested quote +On April 14 2020 16:50 vyzion wrote:
I do have meditations by marcus aurelius Tbh, Marcus Aurelius for me is by far the worst one to start a dive into Stoicism. I would suggest Letters from a Stoic from Seneca and if you like them, go for Epictetus and then Gaius Musonius Rufus. As for M. Aurelius and Meditations, when I read them, it seemed to me like they have been written by a man who has been trying to become good and yet failing severely every time, it brought some nasty feeling of hopelessness and despair which was utterly lacking in Seneca and in Epictetus. The latter is the most austere of them all but has a way to show the defects in character in just a few words; so brilliant!
amazing, i'll take a look at those as well! IIRC I believe M. Aurelius was very wealthy and powerful, so in a sense he was probably learning and trying to become good? I'll probably start off with seneca
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just quit, easiest way out.
Or you can say... fuck it, i will try my best.
up to you. GL
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On April 15 2020 02:57 vyzion wrote:
I believe M. Aurelius was very wealthy and powerful,
He was actually a Roman Emperor, so yeah, pretty powerful. Like, the most influential man of his time, I would say.
On April 15 2020 02:57 vyzion wrote:
so in a sense he was probably learning and trying to become good?
Indeed, it's an ongoing life effort.Idk, maybe I am wrong and I did not enjoy it as much because his diary (the Meditations are like extracts from a diary) lack the finesse and style of Seneca as well as the power of Epictetus. I mean he was one of the decent emperors but I know he was reluctant to become one so it seems likely to me that this internal conflict between philosophy and having to wage wars and take heavy decisions that impact millions took its toll on him.
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Im probably a bit late but this is from my own recent experience.
I handle alot of smaller fast moving projects at my firm 12-16 some of them i am the project manager for my firm and on other i just work on design. (im a mechanical engineer BTW). In addition to these smaller projects i was given a monster project for an extremely important client. I thought i had the same options as you. suck it up and plow through the work, or quit. I took both options. I plowed through the work, worked 24 hrs multiple times, and made myself generally miserable, while i started looking for work outside of my firm. when i received an offer from another company that was decent, i went to my boss and told them i am doing too much, and if i dont get help i am leaving for this other company that just made me an offer. in response i got a raise and help.
Despite getting the raise and the help i realized that i was failing at managing up. I wasn't communicating with my boss well about the level of work load and the impact that it was having on my personal life and how it was starting to lead to issues on other jobs. The overwork was my own fault. if you tell them that the work will suffer due to the work load they will listen. I would personally tell your boss the following:
"i am very excited and looking forward to taking on this client. I'm sure you know as well as i do that they're not a client that can be taken lightly and i'm going to have to give them alot more attention. I don't think that is going to be possible with these other smaller clients, and I think it would be worthwhile to transition those clients to someone who can give them the time they deserve as well."
something like that. Good Luck! most of the time our suffering at work is determined by how much we are willing to accept the status quo rather than ask for what we need.
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I asked for help without quitting.
At first I was not even given an answer.
Then I was told, and started to figure out, that one task does not take a full week at all.
Later last week, I found out that another person is supposed to deal with a task (that takes a bit of time). I think I'll have to do some later this month, but that's only because that person is on holiday.
Today (Friday), it turns out that another task is not going to be done whilst we are working from home. (I don't know if it's because I took a bit of time or if it's really because it's useless, I did not take that much time really...).
I still have a few things to discover, and I'll have a few cases each week that I'm really not comfortable with doing (and that I should know by now...).
I think I did a bit of extra time everyday. Maybe two hours one day, and roughly 3 hours 40 today, the two other days I don't remember...yeah, 12 hours today was a bit intense for me.
I also have a few things I have to look out for, I hope I won't lose too much time on it.
Working overtime, and the lock down, both make me question a bit what I am doing with my life.
I don't want to leave my job in July.
I don't know what's the point of it all.
Tomorrow, I'll have to fight the laziness to wash some clothes (by hand), try to go grocery shopping, or I'll do that on Sunday, cook a bit, I should do some cleaning as well... Lots of sleeping, and... It will be Sunday evening already.
Maybe I did not understand what I was told, maybe it was before, but I was almost quitting everything, thinking suicide again, all of that over... Nothing. That person had their last day, I sat next to them for a couple months and never spoke to them. We also can't ask anything regarding the client anymore, I think I'll ask access to their mailbox, especially for the incoming stuff.
It should be better next week, 5 days instead of four, one big task gone until next month.
Apparently everybody is swarmed with work, and I guess no one new is going to be hired during the lock down (more because of the logistics than because of financial reasons I think, but I have no idea how we are doing in terms of business).
I could get a bump in my workload, but it's unlikely, and I'm not sure how I would deal with that...
Let's hope I won't have to do 2 hours of overtime everyday... I don't have the stamina for that.
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I have a extremly demanding job, just like you.
I'm also suffering from insomnia, perhaps also related to the job sometimes.
We are expected to XYZ in the amount of time where only X and perhaps Y is possible, but most of us are completing our tasks to the best of our ability - but it's never good enough.
Gotta do more, gotta do it better etc.
We are hitting record high sales month after month.
It's still not enough. We need to be immaculate.
We need to be the gods in our field.
I was thinking about quitting, what keeps me there is because the money is good, and I like a challenge, but a challenge should not impossible.
At this point of time quitting is not a idea for me but if you have the option to do it u should do it. However from my own experience most comfortable jobs are always underpaid.
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EPT
