When is the right time to leave a job?

I've been with my current employer for just over three years. During that time, I've learned a great deal about a different side of the hospitality industry. That knowledge is valuable and I do not regret any of my time spent here. I've also developed some new friends and valuable mentors that hopefully will be lifelong relationships and friendships.

This experience has also shown me what type of work environments that I thrive in and what types do not really work for me. I'm a good self-starter and love to be given a task and then given time and space to do the task. Micro-managers also don't quite work well for me as there are many ways to skin a cat and get a job done. My current company is a single owner small company with no HR department and not a lot of current and active SOP's. That means that the rules change every day - and heaven help you if you don't know that the rules have changed. It also means that you have to roll with the rules (and the changes) even if you don't understand them - and you better act like you do. It can make for an interesting work environment.

In small companies, there is also A LOT of favoritism. And that favoritism is not based on your production - it's based on some of the most arcane and convoluted ideas. OR, it's based on how well you kiss ass. Since I've never been good at that, know that I'm not a favorite in my company. Well, the truth is that I'm not a favorite of my vice-president as I'm seen as constantly challenging her authority. It is interesting that asking questions is seen as challenging authority instead of just trying to gain knowledge and understanding.

What I've also come to realize is that people seem to find me intimidating. Not sure why but I've heard it said a couple of times. One person that I serve on a local board of directors with says that I keep people honest. It's so interesting how the perceptions of others can help or harm a person.

So back to the original question - when is the right time to leave a job? Is it when you find yourself doing anything but your work b/c your work simply does not inspire you anymore? Is it when your boss attacks you verbally and anything you say (whether in apology or in defense of yourself) is used against you? Is the right time when your boss calls you "arrogant, rude and cocky" and tells you that you have an "attitude" when all you did was answer the phone in a professional manner but it was not deemed perky and enthusiastic enough? Is it when you have finally gotten your main money-maker accounts into a smooth rhythm and the client is very comfortable with you but your boss is making the workplace a hostile environment?

What to do..... I love helping my clients have terrific programs and enjoy working with them. But when you have to fight and claw your way within your own company to get the job done and no appreciation (monetarily or otherwise) is given for the long hours put in to get the job done and criticism given when you send a second request that was not pleasant enough for everyone, maybe it's time to think about changing one's location of employment. It's definitely food for thought.

The race is on to make the April 15th deadline.....or is it?

Not really. Since I have not owed taxes in 5 years, I'm going to take a chance, NOT file an extension and turn in my taxes late so that I can take my time and get these receipts done without having to stay up all night. So here I am again, just clicking away and avoiding doing the inevitable...putting in my tax receipts!

Anyway, had a good meeting with one of my favorite clients today. The meeting lasted WAY longer than expected but it was good and fun so......can't complain. I have a meeting tomorrow with one of my problem children. My main client contact is neurotic and a worry wart and very cheap so it makes things interesting when we meet with her. Fortunately, my CS manager is quite charming so I'm letting him do all the talking! It could be worse, though, b/c my other client that I don't care for is so secretive and withholding of key information. It's a pain in the REAR!

OK - back to the grind. Pray for me.

Taxes....a necessary evil...

So here I am, procrastinating as usual. I'm just now starting to put my receipts in order to get my taxes to my accountant. Fortunately, I am more than likely due for a refund so I won't be penalized for turning in my taxes late. However, if I do end up owing taxes, then....I'll just pay the taxes and the late fees. So yes, it's a gamble but I'm pretty confident that it will be a refund so......we're just gonna go with that.

Now, if I only would keep track of my receipts throughout the year, then we would not have this problem. I bought Quicken over a year ago and still have not been tracking my expenses, etc. However, with the recession coming on, I need to buckle down. That may just get me started on tracking my expenses to get rid of the wasteful spending and start saving more money. I'm not too concerned at the moment of losing my job; however, I want a safety net just in case..... Also starting back up the Weekenders business so that I'm ready to go.

OK - back to the grind of gathering my receipts. Wish me luck.

More Updates on Cherai......

It's a shame, isn't it? That I have to keep giving you updates as opposed to just staying current! Good grief.
Well, since January 2008, let's see what's been going on:

February was kinda quiet with just one quick day trip to Boston - than then took all day to get back. It was a large storm and I ended up having to be routed from Boston to DC (National Airport) to Chicago to eventually get back home. I did not bring my computer on that trip b/c it was literally a QUICK TRIP and then sat in the Admiral's Lounge all day long with no computer! I read a book instead. If it wasn't the stress of trying to get home, it would have been a peaceful day. The grandmother of one of my sorors passed away and I participated in the Omega Omega service for her. That was sad. Also did the MPI-CAC Ed-Con, that was fun.

March 2008 - lots of travel. Went to DC for a meeting of minds with my sales colleagues. That was fun. Then went to Philadelphia for 8 days for my client's meeting at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and at the Marriott Philly. Tough city to do a meeting. Labor is terrible and expensive. You know, it's not so bad to have expensive labor when it's good labor. It's when it's expensive and not good that it really sucks. I also relaunched my Weekenders business as it had been pretty dormant for the past year. Check out the website: www.weekendersusa.com. Really cute clothes this season. I'll be doing some shows soon.

April 2008 - was in DC the first week to do a tradeshow called Springtime in the Park. That was fun to see some of my colleagues that I used to work with in DC and Miami and New Orleans when I used to work the DC market. I also saw the contact for one of my biggest bids to date - hope we get that meeting. We'll see what happens. It's been a busy time in Chicago just planning stuff for my clients. I travel to Seattle for a site inspection April 21 - 22. let's hope that American Airlines has their stuff together for the trip b/c these cancellations of planes are a pain. I mean, I want to be safe and all but really - let's get it together. I also had a 24 hr bug that put me down for the count for about two days. Hate being sick.

Everyone is my life is well and/or surviving. My brother and his wife Laura suffered a miscarriage so that was tough. They were supposed to come visit to tell my Mom & Dad in person but since the baby was lost, they did not come up. I hope to see them on my next trip to DC. I tried to see them this past trip in April but they were kinda keeping to themselves - which is understandable. Ah well......I do understand.

My parents are well. Dad turned in his resignation at the Elkart Council on Aging. Mom and I are happy about that. He's going to do some consulting and be really retired. Mom is still principal at Brown Middle School. That's good. She seems to be doing well. She's also gotten active in the sorority again - I'm so pleased. My roomie is back!

Brian is thinking about joining the Peace Corps. He left the newspaper (Springfield News Leader) in December 2007 and has been teaching a class at the university and writing freelance. I told him that he's a great person to do the Peace Corps volunteer work. God Bless Him.

I've been looking at other folk's blogs and it's nice to catch up with people's lives - especially when you don't get to talk to them. My college roommate Meghan is looking to adopt a baby from Russia so...that's really interesting. She's blogging about the process. I'll share the address if anyone is interested. My sister-in-law's sister just had a new baby and it was fun to see the new pictures on their blog of their little boy. So since I appreciate seeing other people's lives up to date, I will do better at keeping my blog more up to date. There are some things that I want to discuss anyway so I'll do my best to keep it up.

Gotta start the taxes thing now. Since I should get a refund, I'm not stressing over the April 15th date but...I could use the money so let's get on point to get these taxes done!