Random thoughts...

[Ben Staad]

Sept11.jpg

[Ben Staad]

Congrats! Sounds like a very nice win for you.

So the phone screening turned into a full interview on Thursday, which turned into a job offer Thursday afternoon.

Like I said, I wasn't looking for a new job per se, but things happen. For the record, I still haven't heard anything about the first opportunity that presented itself.

The new offer was more money, but it's not all about money. Yeah, more is nice, but there are many other things to consider.

I spoke to my current manager yesterday morning, and long story short, my current employer has matched the salary offer, no questions asked, and not that I was looking for it, but I got all sorts of validations and appreciations from my manager, his manager, her manager, and finally her manager. It was unexpected and appreciated.

So I'm staying. And I'm going to enjoy that 14.5% pay raise I'm getting out of it.

[RonClinton]

So the phone screening turned into a full interview on Thursday, which turned into a job offer Thursday afternoon.

Like I said, I wasn't looking for a new job per se, but things happen. For the record, I still haven't heard anything about the first opportunity that presented itself.

The new offer was more money, but it's not all about money. Yeah, more is nice, but there are many other things to consider.

I spoke to my current manager yesterday morning, and long story short, my current employer has matched the salary offer, no questions asked, and not that I was looking for it, but I got all sorts of validations and appreciations from my manager, his manager, her manager, and finally her manager. It was unexpected and appreciated.

So I'm staying. And I'm going to enjoy that 14.5% pay raise I'm getting out of it.

All's well that ends well. Congrats on the kudos and the pay hike...now you just get to sit back, relax, and decide which what books to spend your windfall on!

[TacomaDiver]

I have a phone screening call with another organization in about 10 minutes.

I wasn't looking for a new job, but two opportunities came calling so I figured what the heck. Have to look out for yourself you know?

So the phone screening turned into a full interview on Thursday, which turned into a job offer Thursday afternoon.

Like I said, I wasn't looking for a new job per se, but things happen. For the record, I still haven't heard anything about the first opportunity that presented itself.

The new offer was more money, but it's not all about money. Yeah, more is nice, but there are many other things to consider.

I spoke to my current manager yesterday morning, and long story short, my current employer has matched the salary offer, no questions asked, and not that I was looking for it, but I got all sorts of validations and appreciations from my manager, his manager, her manager, and finally her manager. It was unexpected and appreciated.

So I'm staying. And I'm going to enjoy that 14.5% pay raise I'm getting out of it.

[Martin]

I must not forget that companies are not looking out for YOUR best interests. No matter what you think, they're in it for themselves. It's sad to say.

My wife's dad doesn't like that thinking. He got a job at Boeing out of college. Worked there until he retired. Got a watch. Definitely not for me.

My first job in Management I worked for a long defunct retailer named Jafco. They were based out of Bellevue Washington. My manager in Beaverton Oregon was concerned because I was working too much, I was a bit of a workaholic in my youth. To the point that my employees said they only new it was my day off if I was working without a tie. My manager told the corporate personnel director of her concerns. He drove from Bellevue to Beaverton to discuss it with me. I do not remember the extent of the conversation but it profoundly changed how I looked at work life balance. He also made me take a week without coming into the store. The week was fully paid and did not come out of my vacation time. He continued to call me every couple of weeks just to talk and make sure I was maintaining that balance. That continued for a couple of years until he left the company. I do not remember his name or the entirety of our conversations but I know that he changed my outlook on life. Prior to that event I had called him when an employee had a complaint of sexual harassment against a person who was my boss. I was unsure how to handle it. The next day he showed up at the store with a team. Several interviews were conducted throughout the day. By the end of the day the manager was terminated and escorted out. He did not mess around but he genuinely cared about every person who worked for him.

I have no illusions about the company that has employed me for over 30 years. I am an expense line. If they could maintain the systems I support without me I would not be here. The team I work on was over thirty people at one point. We now have four with the actual development happening in India. I will ride it out because I am on track to retire early in about 5 years. Also if they do decide to cut me I would get about a 1 1/2 years pay, enough cash to buy health insurance for a year and other benefits in a buy out package. Best case scenario is they can me in about 4 years!

[TacomaDiver]

I must not forget that companies are not looking out for YOUR best interests. No matter what you think, they're in it for themselves. It's sad to say.

My wife's dad doesn't like that thinking. He got a job at Boeing out of college. Worked there until he retired. Got a watch. Definitely not for me.

[Ben Staad]

You are very correct. I learned that lesson the hard way during the last recession. Always have been a company man but now look at things a little differently these days. Good luck to you.

I have a phone screening call with another organization in about 10 minutes.

I wasn't looking for a new job, but two opportunities came calling so I figured what the heck. Have to look out for yourself you know?

[TacomaDiver]

I have a phone screening call with another organization in about 10 minutes.

I wasn't looking for a new job, but two opportunities came calling so I figured what the heck. Have to look out for yourself you know?

[TacomaDiver]

Luckily we were not in the direct path of hurricane IDA but last night and this morning we are getting some very nasty weather associated with this storm. Good gusts of wind and heavy rain for extended periods of time. Typically, with this type of weather, we will see some downed trees in the area before long.

Everyone here okay?

Glad to hear you weren't in the direct path - these storms just get worse from year to year.

[Ben Staad]

Luckily we were not in the direct path of hurricane IDA but last night and this morning we are getting some very nasty weather associated with this storm. Good gusts of wind and heavy rain for extended periods of time. Typically, with this type of weather, we will see some downed trees in the area before long.

Everyone here okay?

[RonClinton]

I completely agree with your thoughts on that. I will say that calling it a follow-up to SAM HELL sets the bar very high and may backfire on them.

I thought precisely the same thing. Pairing them up like that sets high expectations for the second (non-genre) book to meet, and from the plot description I’m afraid it may fall short… which in a vacuum may still result in a satisfying read, but if SAM HELL is the bar then it has farther to reach and harder to fall.

[Martin]

I have to admit, this one sounds less compelling than SAM HELL, but he built up a good amount of goodwill and trust with me on that one, so I’ll give it a shot.

I completely agree with your thoughts on that. I will say that calling it a follow-up to SAM HELL sets the bar very high and may backfire on them.

[RonClinton]

Thank you! I have been waiting on his next Robert Jenkins book but it isn't out until next year. Somehow I completely missed this one.

I have to admit, this one sounds less compelling than SAM HELL, but he built up a good amount of goodwill and trust with me on that one, so I’ll give it a shot.

[Martin]

Martin , thought you might find this of interest…coming in a couple weeks, THE WORLD PLAYED CHESS:

Bestselling author Robert Dugoni returns with an emotionally arresting follow-up to The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell.

In 1979, Vincent Bianco has just graduated high school. His only desire: collect a little beer money and enjoy his final summer before college. So he lands a job as a laborer on a construction crew. Working alongside two Vietnam vets, one suffering from PTSD, Vincent gets the education of a lifetime. Now forty years later, with his own son leaving for college, the lessons of that summer—Vincent’s last taste of innocence and first taste of real life—dramatically unfold in a novel about breaking away, shaping a life, and seeking one’s own destiny.

Thank you! I have been waiting on his next Robert Jenkins book but it isn't out until next year. Somehow I completely missed this one.

[mulleins]

That is one reason I essentially disengaged from social media. I had so many author "friends" voicing their opinions that it just ruined my day and in some cases changed my outlook on supporting their work. Heck I even left a book collecting forum because I couldn't get away from political/societal stuff.

So now I am only on FB with no friends and only subscribe to a few book collecting groups. My feed is mostly drama free.

Amen! I did the same.