I feel stuck (lack of time)

[LWr]

Alright here's my situation:

I have an ok job working 40h/week, doing an ok salary. It's not a dead-end and I'm about to get a raise. I also have a side-income which, in 2008 when I was putting a lot of time into it, ended up earning me more than twice as much money as my 'real job'. I have since put very little time into it, because it involves working in front of a computer, something I already do at my real job, and I can't stand staring at a screen 60h+/week anymore.

My real job bores me too much. I simply do not want to do this anymore. The problem is, it's taking way too much of my time and energy.
My way out would be to put much more time into my second income and put enough money aside to be able to quit my full time job.

I'm already stuck at this point, because to do so would mean no more time for my girlfriend, my friends, my family, and my hobbies. Not to mention, my side-income isn't something I would want to do long-term either, just a way out.

I have a lot of ideas/imagination and I'm talented enough in quite a few things ; with enough time I know I could turn my interests into something profitable.

I have many other hobbies/interests that I want to put time in (MMA, 'producing' music, salsa dancing...) because I really enjoy them.

I don't know what to do. There's simply not enough time in a week to fit work/2nd job/social activities/hobbies, unless I stopped sleeping completely. I'm lacking time. The only solution I see is to put a lot of things aside for at least a year so I can finally quit my job. However I'm pretty sure my girlfriend, friends and family wouldn't like it. Taking a lot of time to study etc and have very little social life while working on your career seems acceptable to most people when you're a student, but working 60h+/week when I'm already living decently will be seen like greed. I also fear I would burn out if I gave up my hobbies and social activities completely.

Anyone else went through this? How did you work your way out of your full time job?

[ssandra]

I´m not sure what your side-job is, but can you not hire somebody to do some of the work for you? Yes you will earn less, but you will also have more time.

If your second job is already earning as much or more as your full time job, I see no problem in quiting your full-time job, and only running your second job...

[LWr]

There is no way I can hire someone to do my 2nd job for me.

I am a semi-professional poker player. I play 6 to 8 tables simultaneously of 200NL to 1000NL online.

The reason I cannot simply quit my job and would need more money aside before doing so is that, at the levels I play, it is normal for a good, winning player to go through breakeven stretches of 40-50,000 hands. That means fifty thousand hands of poker with a bottom line of 0$. We call this 'variance'. Last year I would play about 30,000 hands a month ; that's about 15 to 20 hours of play per week. Right now I barely play 10,000 hands/month because I can't stand staring at the screen anymore.

Note that even professionals rarely play more than 50,000 hands a month because it is a very draining job.

[ssandra]

Ok I understand.

Might it be possible to talk to your current boss to ask for a part time job?

Like you said, you can make more money in less time with the poker playing, so you wouldnt need to do that full time. If you can do both part-time, it might be your solution, until you have saved enough money to start doing what you really really want.

[LWr]

Well, I was promised a raise 6 months ago, turns out they want me to wait until December... which is not gonna happen.

I'm about to quit my job.
This is pretty stressful and liberating at the same time.

[martinogg]

Do you enjoy playing poker?

With your job, could you employ any personal development skills to minimise the amount of time you spend at work, whilst still getting the required work done?

[LWr]

Originally Posted by martinogg

Do you enjoy playing poker?

With your job, could you employ any personal development skills to minimise the amount of time you spend at work, whilst still getting the required work done?

Actually, I do. When I'm in the middle of a session I almost never want to stop.

I can't minimize the amount spent at work as I am paid by the hour. Not being a full-time employee is far from beneficial as I would lose paid vacations, insurances, etc.

[LWr]

I just told my 'supervisor' that I am quitting.
(yeah, I am writing this from my job, whatever)

I don't want to start a new thread about it, but now I have a ethic problem/dilemma.
I like my supervisor and don't want to leave him with a mess.
That means I'm not giving a 2 weeks notice and leaving ; there are just way to many things that only I know. Quitting right away would leave many people here in trouble.

The problem is, whoever they hire to replace me will earn a higher salary than I. It infuriates me that they want me to wait a full year to get a raise (was first discussed in January, now I'm being told to wait until December)... But they somehow can snap-hire someone else at a higher cost.

I don't want to do it, but I don't want to leave a mess either.
I don't know what to do.

[cylon]

It's good to be conscientious.... but you are burned out. By doing it this way you don't have to stew for 2 weeks ruminating on how unfair it is that your replacement will make more money than you, and you can avoid all the office drama that usually ensues when someone is leaving.

They will survive. I've done the same thing, leave jobs and have them get mad that I left loose ends..... SO WHAT.

If this is the worst thing you ever do in your life, you came out ahead.

Good luck in your new life. Avoid getting burned out again at all costs.

[amj]

Originally Posted by LWr

Alright here's my situation:

I have an ok job working 40h/week, doing an ok salary. It's not a dead-end and I'm about to get a raise. I also have a side-income which, in 2008 when I was putting a lot of time into it, ended up earning me more than twice as much money as my 'real job'. I have since put very little time into it, because it involves working in front of a computer, something I already do at my real job, and I can't stand staring at a screen 60h+/week anymore.

My real job bores me too much. I simply do not want to do this anymore. The problem is, it's taking way too much of my time and energy.
My way out would be to put much more time into my second income and put enough money aside to be able to quit my full time job.

I'm already stuck at this point, because to do so would mean no more time for my girlfriend, my friends, my family, and my hobbies. Not to mention, my side-income isn't something I would want to do long-term either, just a way out.

I have a lot of ideas/imagination and I'm talented enough in quite a few things ; with enough time I know I could turn my interests into something profitable.

I have many other hobbies/interests that I want to put time in (MMA, 'producing' music, salsa dancing...) because I really enjoy them.

I don't know what to do. There's simply not enough time in a week to fit work/2nd job/social activities/hobbies, unless I stopped sleeping completely. I'm lacking time. The only solution I see is to put a lot of things aside for at least a year so I can finally quit my job. However I'm pretty sure my girlfriend, friends and family wouldn't like it. Taking a lot of time to study etc and have very little social life while working on your career seems acceptable to most people when you're a student, but working 60h+/week when I'm already living decently will be seen like greed. I also fear I would burn out if I gave up my hobbies and social activities completely.

Anyone else went through this? How did you work your way out of your full time job?

Having many talents is a good thing. With talent it's easier to make money. Think about that... With talent it's easier to make money.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by LWr

I just told my 'supervisor' that I am quitting.
(yeah, I am writing this from my job, whatever)

I don't want to start a new thread about it, but now I have a ethic problem/dilemma.
I like my supervisor and don't want to leave him with a mess.
That means I'm not giving a 2 weeks notice and leaving ; there are just way to many things that only I know. Quitting right away would leave many people here in trouble.

The problem is, whoever they hire to replace me will earn a higher salary than I. It infuriates me that they want me to wait a full year to get a raise (was first discussed in January, now I'm being told to wait until December)... But they somehow can snap-hire someone else at a higher cost.

I don't want to do it, but I don't want to leave a mess either.
I don't know what to do.

They only do it because they don´t have another choice here. If they could do it differently they would. It is no reflection on your work or on what they think you are worth!

I would give them a deadline: 2 weeks might be too short, but say 2 months? Within 2 months you are gone, somebody else hired or not... This gives them a deadline and you something to look forward to.

[LWr]

Well I'll be officially a poker pro as soon as they find someone to replace me.

I'll finally be my own boss, working (or not) whenever I want, and I will have no one to answer to.
I'm really looking forward to this new freedom.
Last time I had similar kind of freedom, I was still living with my parents.

This is frightening and exhilarating!

[Benny21]

Congrats! That must an exciting. I'm sure you're nervous but I'm sure you'll be happier.

[FazK]

Let me tell you something if you really want to achieve something or make a better life for yourself you are going to have to work and work HARD. Just remember "Today i will do what other will not so that tomorrow i can do what others cannot" And if this means working 60 hours weeks so that you can lie on the beach all day in ten years time then i say GO FOR IT

Set goals make plans and think about the where you want to go and what you want to accomplish.