Sometimes after a really long bad day at work...

You nailed it.  

 

It's so easy to get wrapped up in our careers, wanting to excel in stuff and do everything that often the great things in life pass us by.  Without us ever realizing it's happening!

 

I had a tragic event several years ago and from that moment on, my family is all that matters. 

 

You two have fun in the train room and enjoy!

Boy isin't that the truth.

Well said.....

     I am retired from a real job, but I do some part time work, make train money, but there is no "Chaos from the boss"

I get irritated by people (nobody here that I've ever seen) who go on and on about the career shouldn't be the most important thing, in regard to all the overtime and such.

They always make it sound like it's not the employer who often makes the employees do all that extra time!

In this age of companies realizing its easier and cheaper to make you work countless OT than to hire someone else and give them all those benefits, many people are forced to work longer hours than ever before and it's rarely ever by choice.

A workaholic is someone who can't bring themself to leave the office, for whatever reason. Those of us who are told we gotta stay no matter what we want to do, these days, are simply called 'employees'...

Heck, where I work, we so rarely get time off for anything that I once had a time off notification for jury duty denied!  No, I'm not kidding. I had to find a manager to override that.

I was denied for time off for the NMRA convention this year. My parents turn 80 next year and I was denied for time off for going down to Florida next year for either of their birthdays because we have a moritorium next year for a company transition that will last several months. Some of my co-workers are getting close to 'use it or lose it' vacation time and are just told to 'figure it out' to keep it from happening, but they're still denied most of their requests for time off anyway.

My point is that it's easy to say to stop and smell the roses and all that, but your employer will often make a point of making that truly difficult (if not impossible).

Amen. That's why God gave me my grandson! My train buddy.

Now that's what I'm talking about! 

 

 

 

Sounds like my job.  At least my 3 weeks of vacation this summer have been approved!

 

I wouldn't be at work if I didnt have too and most of us feel that way if we love our jobs or not.

I just retired in June of 2014.  I loved my job.  I did it for 33 years.  Many times I did not want to be there.  Many times I was on call 24/7.  During emergencies I was forced to work 12-14 hours.  I just wasn't married to my job.  It's all relative.   I respect that everyone's situation will be different.  And...I know what it feels like not to have a choice as to whether you work extra or not.  As they travel down their career road, most people know when it's time and they make that decision to retire...love of job or not.

Matt 

As I failed miserably at office politics, it became clear long ago that I was not going to reach the top of the corporate ladder. However, I did develop a reputation as a guy that gets everything done, without any prodding, and without any need for real supervision. Using that to my advantage, I've been able to manipulate my schedule in any way I please, so I've never missed an important moment with my sons. We've got at least 2,000 employees, and I'd bet I am the only one that gets away with the things I do. I've even changed bosses a few times, and I'm still left alone. I had my boys a little later in life, and being able to spend so much time with them really does mean everything to me.

 Sadly, they have reached the age where they aren't really interested in running trains with me anymore, but boy did I love it when they did.

Right on-Well said

Brent

I guess I was one of those odd balls that loved his job and the people he worked with.  I wanted to work until I was 70 and the company was sold and that didn't happen.  I left at 62 and felt sorry for my self for a couple years.  I love my family and was able to always spend quality time with them too.  I always was able to take all my vacations but it became difficult as they got longer.  Enjoy your working career while you can, you only get to go around once in this world and enjoy it all to the fullest while you can.

 

Art

Life is too short.  There are lots of jobs out there for people with marketable skills (and a good work ethic is a marketable skill these days).  If that's how you're being treated, vote with your feet - you deserve better.  

Matt, you know your best times working were with me on the 2472. Don

I agree 100%

I never heard of anyone on their deathbed saying "I wish I spent more time at the office."

 

I'm very glad I am retired. All my "careers" were just "jobs" I had to do to pay the bills. I found out rather early that we are all "disposable" and "replaceable" and the harder you work, the more work they give you. And the promised future advancements never came. Use um and abuse um. Not many today work for a company for 40 years and get both a watch and a pension. Now it is "don't let the door hit you on your way out, sucker."

 

Bitter old man, Paul Goodness

I wish I could've continued my career as a Sound Man.  I was getting ready to join the union!  Matt

Your shared experiences encourage me.  Being self employed since age 23 there have been times early on when I had envied those in 9-5 type jobs.  Typical greener grass syndrome.

 

Reading the posts of those constrained at work reminds me of the freedom entrepreneurs share in their unique pursuits.  When you work for your self every client is your boss.  When you get a bad boss you simply fire them.  Sometimes you do not even take them on. 

 

Think about how can you take your skill set and interests and create your own paycheck.

 

When you do what you love your effort is no longer work.  Your product or service is one of pride and creativity.  Your next opportunity is derived by word of mouth. 

 

I have not "worked" for decades.  It may be something to consider.

I wouldn't call that being bitter - it's just a reasonable realization of the BS inherent in the system.  You can't hold out for future promises.  That's why it's important to enjoy your friends and family, take trips, and participate in hobbies NOW.  And be sure to save some for a rainy day and future retirement.  

We are too busy making a living, we forget to live...

 

I tried to treat and teach the my men, that family was #1. Never denied them vacation, or time off for a family function. Keeping 15 men and their families happy was kinda easy for me. I always seem to get more from them than other supervisors and never seem to have any troubles..

 

 

JD

good message. The important thing is, there is ALWAYS a work life balance. We all have good and bad days on the job and good or bad we should leave the issues at the office. Your little man certainly has a million dollar smile and him wanting to spend time with you in the train room is very precious. Take advantage of it and treasure those moments.

 

Nothing wrong with workin' hard. After all, thats so you can provide for your son as well.

 

Just gotta make sure you play just as hard.

No matter how tired you are, your son at the door is the most important part of your day. Sure, the trains are a wonderful way to take the pain out of everything else that may not have been perfect otherwise, but you son, priceless.

 

I did my best with my son in similar circumstances that you describe. I never regretted it, and when he was taken from us by a drunk driver at an age far too young, I to this day can look back and say I did my best to be a great dad.

 

Best advice I can give any Dad, take the time to spend quality time with your kids.

 

Ha!  When I read this it reminded me of a job I had many years ago while working for some friends who had a funeral business and cemetery. I sold 'pre-need' plots and laid out the lettering on the headstones. I used to joke and say the same thing - I never once was asked to engrave "Gee, I wish I had spent more time at the office"  on a headstone!

I have been retired now for almost 18 years but I can still recall those times at work when the starch really came out of my sails.  Designing, building , expanding and modifying my layout along with running trains was a great stress reliever and I thank God my parents and Grandparents introduced me to the hobby.  I can honestly say that for me it was and still is very a great form of therapy.  I highly recommend it.   

Grandkids and toy trains:" nothing restores me faster.  

 

Still, a career was important, but I never let it preclude time for me, family, and just taking time off.  But there were years when it did get a lot of priority: necessary in order to pay for college educations, etc., and to save for now, when career comes dead last.  

"..........dead.......last.",  words to ponder.

A very nice post.  I go to work and do what I have to do so I can come home and do what I want to do.   

Jdevleerjr, I think just the happy smile on that boy's face would be enough to make me forget the job for the night.  Precious!

Employers these are days are making that statement less true every day.

Warning: Gonna vent on this point, you were warned!

Where I work, "work life balance" can never be said without several people breaking out in laughter.

They've told us that there might not be any options for taking any time off from February of next year until... they don't know when. It might be almost a year with all requests for time off being denied. We're going through a restructuring right now and their answer is to deny time off for people as a means to make sure they'll have the staffing they need.

Just came out of almost 5 years straight with OT in every week of that. We worked over 2 years of 20+ hours overtime every single week. And if you took time off for anything, you had to make it up later (yes, even for emergencies. We had a guy take off some days for his brother's funeral and the day he came back, was told he had to immediately make up for the OT when he was gone). Things aren't that bad still, but they aren't great.

All this has been dictated from corporate level in another part of the country, so there's nobody to complain to where we are about any of it. There's nobody within several states who has anything to do with this, so all the bosses will shrug and tell you it's not their call.

The problem is my wife works here too and our company pays the most within our industry. I'm coming up on 15 years and my wife is coming up on 20. We can't quit and start over without taking a massive pay cut, probably to the tune of giving up almost 3/4 of our salary.

The above message is a perfect example of the need for unions. Say what you will but no union employee was ever treated in such a way..

and before you go off I'm in sales management and still feel that way..