Money.

[Joe Wordsworth]

I am a total capitalist. I am. I always have been. I am the very model of your common, over-achieving, work-aholic, tall, dark, handsome charismatic with linguistic penache and good teeth. I've never truly failed at anything important--school, occupation, investment in my future, etc. I am a throwback to the mid-eighties when money was God and business suits were flying off the racks.

But, hell, even I know money can't buy everything. Can't buy love, s'true. It can buy happiness--so long as things that make you happy also cost money. I like director's gallery movies and expensive toys, they make me happy--money buys them. It's not hard to figure that one out.

My company (whom I don't really like, as they are Model T's in a world of Escorts) is cooking up a new job for me. They're tight lipped about it... I have to hear it through the backdoor, so to speak. It'll be nearly twice what I make now (I'm on the management level, the job is on the executive level), and I make a pretty penny now.

But, I think I'm going to have to turn it down. And every fiscal fiber of my being is screaming out "You total loser!". But, what can one do?

I'm tired of being on the road six months at a go. I miss my girl. I miss teaching. I miss doing "worthwhile" things. Money is fun, making money is the most fun game I have ever found. It's better than Candyland and Monopoly and Risk all put together. It's exciting and dramatic and practical and a huge, giant rush. But, it's not "noble". Just "respectable".

I think I'll go back and get'a my PhD. Most rewarding thing I ever did was philosophy.

 

[MissBri]

 

[impressive]

I don't have any fiscal fiber.

 

[Recidiva]

I have had a lot of money...but it didn't buy me happiness, I'm afraid.

Been a bit of a nomad ever since. I think having kids makes a huge difference in my ambitions, I've got a job that makes enough money to support them, and the rest of my time is spent with them.

If I were alone, I'm sure I'd have more energy for ambition and less reason to stay happily at home going paycheck to paycheck.

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

I've never understood why the hardest work usually nets you the lowest pay, unless you're a union construction worker.

Demand and supply. There are just fewer people capable of doing, and doing consistently well, managerial functions than--say--labor functions. There are fewer people capable of executive functions than managerial functions.

Laying tile... tacking carpet... putting up drywall... all of these are easily trained and the number of people who can perform the tasks competantly is staggering. Thus, they're worth less money.

The number of people with positive, trust-worthy backgrounds, who can demonstrate financial planning, problem-solving, human-resource initiative, and are willing to work and live up to salaried positions just aren't as many.

 

[MissBri]

 

[Liar]

Used to have money back when I was an office slave. I had all the money I could spend. But spending it right became a chore, so I didn't.

The thing was, that after those mind-numbing soul-draining workdays, I didn't have the energy to go out and spend my earnings on the stuff that would (or that I imagined would) give me happiness. I would have wanted to travel, but I never had the time. I thought about buying a reasonably cool car, but never got any further than buying some motor magazines. I could afford going out with friends whenever I wanted to, have fancy dinners, throw parties, whatever. I never did, but wasted away in front of the TV instead.

If I had made three times the figures I did, I would have still been just as apathetic about making the effort to buy happiness.

These days, un a student's budget. I can't travel places, I can't afford a veichle, and I have to turn down a pub round ever so often. But at leadt now I have an excuse.

 

[LadyJeanne]

But, I think I'm going to have to turn it down. And every fiscal fiber of my being is screaming out "You total loser!". But, what can one do?

I'm tired of being on the road six months at a go. I miss my girl. I miss teaching. I miss doing "worthwhile" things. Money is fun, making money is the most fun game I have ever found. It's better than Candyland and Monopoly and Risk all put together. It's exciting and dramatic and practical and a huge, giant rush. But, it's not "noble". Just "respectable".

I think I'll go back and get'a my PhD. Most rewarding thing I ever did was philosophy.

I hear ya. I'm contemplating a similar change. I love the money - what's not to like? - but the travel is making me nuts. I miss being home so I can actually live my life. Major changes ahead...

 

[Liar]

The number of people with positive, trust-worthy backgrounds, who can demonstrate financial planning, problem-solving, human-resource initiative, and are willing to work and live up to salaried positions just aren't as many.

The sad part is though, I never seem to find them in the management positions you speak of. Maybe corporate culture works differently elsewhere, but the places I've experienced it, the phenomena of 'rising to your level of incompetence' is omnipresent.

The best, most problem-solving oriented, management sector of a company I've ever seen were a bunch of 40 engineers and programmers at a tech development company, who basically took turns being in charge. And applied the common sense and lateral thinking (that is central in technical problem solving) to that part of the organization too. I've never seen an operation run as smoothly as that place did.

 

[LadyAria]

Demand and supply. There are just fewer people capable of doing, and doing consistently well, managerial functions than--say--labor functions. There are fewer people capable of executive functions than managerial functions.

Laying tile... tacking carpet... putting up drywall... all of these are easily trained and the number of people who can perform the tasks competantly is staggering. Thus, they're worth less money.

The number of people with positive, trust-worthy backgrounds, who can demonstrate financial planning, problem-solving, human-resource initiative, and are willing to work and live up to salaried positions just aren't as many.

I guess that is why the sailors ignored the philosopher kings in their idle stargazing. Most only comprehend the physical effort.

 

[Tom Collins]

The sad part is though, I never seem to find them in the management positions you speak of. Maybe corporate culture works differently elsewhere, but the places I've experienced it, the phenomena of 'rising to your level of incompetence' is omnipresent.

The best, most problem-solving oriented, management sector of a company I've ever seen were a bunch of 40 engineers and programmers at a tech development company, who basically took turns being in charge. And applied the common sense and lateral thinking (that is central in technical problem solving) to that part of the organization too. I've never seen an operation run as smoothly as that place did.

Sweet Jesus!! We need the names and addresses of these people immediatly. They have to be hunted down and exterminated before they manage to spread the madness! We also need the address of the place of work so we can burn it to the ground...just incase they might have taken any notes on how they've organized this.

 

[Huckleman2000]

Demand and supply. There are just fewer people capable of doing, and doing consistently well, managerial functions than--say--labor functions. There are fewer people capable of executive functions than managerial functions.

Laying tile... tacking carpet... putting up drywall... all of these are easily trained and the number of people who can perform the tasks competantly is staggering. Thus, they're worth less money.

The number of people with positive, trust-worthy backgrounds, who can demonstrate financial planning, problem-solving, human-resource initiative, and are willing to work and live up to salaried positions just aren't as many.

That said, it's the business travel that really does most people in. It's just an incredibly difficult lifestyle to maintain, not that businesses don't cater to it. It's nice to get better airline seating and upgrades, not have to wait in lines, get a nice rental car, get a room with a view - but really, those things make it just barely livable very soon into the grind. I've known very few people who last more than a few years at that sort of thing. Three years into it, my only friends were at places that I went to once a month or so, and they were co-workers. The best thing about coming home was sleeping in my own bed and not having to get dressed before I logged onto the network in the morning.

Then in 2000, the company cut travel budgets, and then 9/11 happened, and lots of people who worked remotely got canned. Times get hard, and Consultants are the first things businesses decide not to spend money on.

I don't know what to tell you, Joe, except that it's highly cyclical for guys who are good at those sorts of things, and when the cycle turns down, it's every man for hmself. If you make some big money, stash as much as you can, and recognize when you're starting to burn out. You want to leave before that happens, not the other way around.

 

[English Lady]

I am a total capitalist. I am. I always have been. I am the very model of your common, over-achieving, work-aholic, tall, dark, handsome charismatic with linguistic penache and good teeth. I've never truly failed at anything important--school, occupation, investment in my future, etc. I am a throwback to the mid-eighties when money was God and business suits were flying off the racks.

But, hell, even I know money can't buy everything. Can't buy love, s'true. It can buy happiness--so long as things that make you happy also cost money. I like director's gallery movies and expensive toys, they make me happy--money buys them. It's not hard to figure that one out.

My company (whom I don't really like, as they are Model T's in a world of Escorts) is cooking up a new job for me. They're tight lipped about it... I have to hear it through the backdoor, so to speak. It'll be nearly twice what I make now (I'm on the management level, the job is on the executive level), and I make a pretty penny now.

But, I think I'm going to have to turn it down. And every fiscal fiber of my being is screaming out "You total loser!". But, what can one do?

I'm tired of being on the road six months at a go. I miss my girl. I miss teaching. I miss doing "worthwhile" things. Money is fun, making money is the most fun game I have ever found. It's better than Candyland and Monopoly and Risk all put together. It's exciting and dramatic and practical and a huge, giant rush. But, it's not "noble". Just "respectable".

I think I'll go back and get'a my PhD. Most rewarding thing I ever did was philosophy.

In reading that, I can see you've already made up your mind. Do what will make you happy, and you know exactly what that is. I am sure "My Girl" will be happy to have you back around on a regular basis.