Dial Emma. What should I do?

[fossyant]

Weigh up 'free time'.

I took a £10k pay cut just over 2 years ago - was a Financial Controller for a £200m construction company. Downside, long hours, loads of travelling, lots of pressure and very little cycling.

I'd had enough, then went contracting for about 3 months where I got my current role, a lot lower position, but the work's OK, not particularly challenging, but I get good holidays and it's reasonably secure. I'm not working silly hours, and I get to ride to work where the facilities are OK. I'm home at a good time to, with 'training' done, so get more time with my family.

For me, my 'non-work' time is important.

 

[ColinJ]

I would want either a really rewarding job which made up for the loss of liberty that taking it entailed OR I'd want a dull job that didn't restrict me much and I'd look for my excitement outside of work. The thing is, you have a choice between exactly those two types! Only you can decide which suits you better.

What I'd absolutely hate (and have had before) is a job which is demanding and stressful, but not rewarding.

It's a job I've done before so I know all the ups and downs so it's not like I'm stepping into the unknown.

Ah, well why did you stop doing that job before? If giving it up was your choice - did you regret making that choice. If the answer is 'yes' then take the new job. If the answer is 'no', then don't! When you left the old job - did you really miss it?

I have the opposite problem - I can think of hundreds of things that I'd like to do with my free time, I just haven't got any spending money. If somebody would pay me at least £10/hour to work 20 hours a week from home on t'interweb, I'd be really happy! [PS If anybody out there just happens to be able to put that kind of work my way - drop me a line! ]

 

[Crackle]

That's a bit cruel!

It was strictly tongue-in-cheek and I'm quite sure Mr.B can give as good as he takes.

Besides there was a semi-serious side to it. I'm sure PaulB knows the answer. He doesn't want to stay in the job he's in and this sounds exciting. Sometimes though, you reach a point in your career where you need a change but something which you might have taken on once is no longer something which may suit because you know exactly the demands it will make and even though you could do it, the sacrifice is too great. Maybe this is why Paul is hesitating: Maybe not but I suggest it as a hypothesis. I'm in a similiar boat, there are many things I could do but I've done enough of them to know I no longer want to do them even though I could. A change is needed but it's a move sideways not up.

 

[4F]

It was strictly tongue-in-cheek and I'm quite sure Mr.B can give as good as he takes.

Besides there was a semi-serious side to it. I'm sure PaulB knows the answer. He doesn't want to stay in the job he's in and this sounds exciting. Sometimes though, you reach a point in your career where you need a change but something which you might have taken on once is no longer something which may suit because you know exactly the demands it will make and even though you could do it, the sacrifice is too great. Maybe this is why Paul is hesitating: Maybe not but I suggest it as a hypothesis. I'm in a similiar boat, there are many things I could do but I've done enough of them to know I no longer want to do them even though I could. A change is needed but it's a move sideways not up.

I think you have hit the nail on the head crackle.

 

[Globalti]

I am also un-stretched in my present role but the position is ultra-secure and I actually enjoy being able to do a good competent job in sometimes difficult circumstances because after 30 years doing it there's not much I haven't encountered before.

I would HATE to lose that feeling of self-confidence at my age.

 

[Mr Pig]

I heard a quote some years ago that I thought was quite good. "Few people will lie on their death beds wishing they'd spent more time at work".

 

[HJ]

So my dilemma is; should I stay or should I go?

Go!

 

[PaulB]

Go!

Warum?

 

[Dayvo]

Exactly, work to live not live to work.

Or even better: live to live!