by "E90M3" (e90m3)
Published 11/01/2017 at 07:36
by "E90M3" (e90m3)
Published 11/01/2017 at 07:36
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STARS: 10
is what the about me section on my former company’s “career network profile” said. This is not true, I hated everything then.
Yesterday I turned down job where I would make at least 40k more, per year. I turned down a job to go to a competitor, of my former company, and do basically the same job; I couldn’t do it. I remembered how miserable I was and couldn’t do that to myself again. On Sunday morning, 10-29-2017, I remember starring at my car and thinking wouldn’t be worth it. My car, my beloved E90 M3, wouldn’t be worth having if it meant I had to go back to oil to afford. Money doesn’t buy happiness and I agree with that.
"Arrivederci" (arrividerci)
11/01/2017 at 07:50, STARS: 0
What was so terrible about that old role? I can understand disliking a job (my wife hates hers most of the time), but that extra earning power can buy you opportunity in the future.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
11/01/2017 at 07:58, STARS: 2
It was in the oilfield working shifts. This would be a return to the same, except the schedule would be a little different; two weeks on, one week off. I would have also had to live in a small Texas town, and after my experience last time I lived in a small Texas town, I thought it was best to decline the offer and try and find a better job here.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
11/01/2017 at 08:36, STARS: 1
Happiness is far more important than the money you are making. You already own one of your dream cars outright and if you can support yourself on what you are making now why torture yourself going back to something you hate just for a bigger paycheck?
"TysMagic" (twjeffery)
11/01/2017 at 08:51, STARS: 3
I support this life lesson!
My wife left her job a year and half ago because the money let us do everything we wanted but we got 0% of the joy out of it. It was killing us as a couple. It was a tough lesson to learn. She just recently found something that fills her with energy and makes the drive in to downtown Nashville almost worth while.
I applaud your thinking through the value of your happiness and not falling to the pressure of the dollar to do something you hate.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
11/01/2017 at 09:00, STARS: 0
Wow. That’s a pretty serious realization. $40k is no small amount! - more than many your age make per year. Good for you, choosing quality of life over chasing the “almighty dollar”.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
11/01/2017 at 09:01, STARS: 0
Would you consider a job in the industry if it was in an office with regular hours in Houston/Denver/Dallas/Tulsa?
"Stapleface" (patrickgruden)
11/01/2017 at 09:09, STARS: 1
I think you made the right decision. I get why you were considering it, as a 40k salary bump is not chump change. But, you have to be happy in life, above all else.
Here’s hoping you can work something out with your current employer to move into a position more in line with what you would like to do.
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
11/01/2017 at 09:59, STARS: 2
Well, congratulations! As someone who’s about to turn 50 in a few months, believe me, money is nice, but the most valuable commodity in life isn’t money - it’s time. Your supply is limited, you can’t go get more of it, and every day of it that you waste in a job you hate is a day you’ll never get back.
Good luck trying to make improvements to your current position, or moving into your next role, or wherever you choose!
"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
11/01/2017 at 10:18, STARS: 1
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt, and that’s all I have left after getting rid of the Porsche and BMWs. I once had a 6-figure income working IT in the entertainment industry in Beverly Hills, and despite the money it was miserable. I’m now making a fraction of what I once did but am infinitely happier. Never again will I equate money with happiness, and if that same decision ever comes up again I assure you that I will choose happiness every single time, full stop.
"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
11/01/2017 at 12:40, STARS: 0
I remember hearing something like “money isn’t happiness, but no money is sure to make you unhappy” or something like that. I’m going to be leaving school soon and looking for coop placements to start my career in the auto business industry, and I keep thinking about how I want to orient my self in the future in terms of how much money I want to make and what I want to be doing, but I guess it will all depend on the job specifics and whatnot. My father was the most unhappy when he was making the most money he’s ever made in his life at IBM, even started taking anti-depressants, definitely not a healthy way to make a living. Needles to say he isn’t working there anymore.
I’d say it takes a lot of balls to deny a pay raise that large, but I think it’s very reasonable, especially considering you have an M3 to keep you company for now ;)
You’re not thinking of selling are you? I’m hoping during my career in the future I can make enough to own something unique and fun, have enough to maintain it and not too much else.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
11/01/2017 at 15:25, STARS: 1
“money isn’t happiness, but no money is sure to make you unhappy”
I would agree with that. I make enough where I am now and still have plenty of money left over from when I made a lot more. As far as your career goes, don’t worry so much about they money, worry about liking your job. I used to make 3-4 times what two of my friends made, and they were both way happier than I was.
I have a paid for M3 to keep me company now. I have no plans of selling it, unless someone offers me a ridiculous amount of money for it. This job would have bought me a turbo Porsche, but I remembered how miserable I was when I was at my old job and decided I couldn’t that to myself. I said I wanted out a normal job with a normal schedule, and I’m going to pursue that. I’m going to quit looking so hard for happiness and just let it happen.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
11/01/2017 at 15:35, STARS: 0
I ironically didn’t set out to chase money; I took the only job offer I had coming out of college. I ended up making stupid money, what 25 year old has a paid for M3? That he paid for all on his own. I still wasn’t happy, the things that went along with that job made me miserable. I’m not happy here either, but it’s better than where I was. I was only thinking about going back because I dislike my current job that much. My current overall situation thought, that’s pretty damn good.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
11/01/2017 at 15:38, STARS: 1
Yeah, I figured I wouldn’t make the same mistake again, waste 2-3 years in the field being miserable. Money is nice and while I would like more of it, it’s not the most important thing in my life.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
11/01/2017 at 15:40, STARS: 1
Absolutely. That was the main reason that I was thinking about going back to a job in the oilfield as one day I would have a normal job in oil. However, I don’t want to spend the 2-3 years in the field before that. If you do know someone hiring engineers and want to get in touch off of oppo let me know and I’ll give you my handshake email address.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
11/01/2017 at 15:41, STARS: 0
It was not an easy decision and I antagonized over it for several days.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
11/01/2017 at 15:42, STARS: 0
It was more about the future positions that this job could lead to, but I couldn’t take it knowing that I was almost guaranteeing that I would be miserable for 2-3 years.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
11/01/2017 at 15:42, STARS: 1
What role would you be best suited for? Production engineer, I assume? I’ll keep my eyes & ears open.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
11/01/2017 at 15:44, STARS: 0
Probably Production Engineer, which, ironically, is my title now.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
11/01/2017 at 15:57, STARS: 1
Well, perfect (can’t hurt).
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
11/01/2017 at 16:06, STARS: 0
I can imagine. We may have discussed this, but do you feel like you’re pretty well set up and “on your way” as far as long-term retirement savings go?
"E90M3" (e90m3)
11/01/2017 at 16:08, STARS: 1
I was when I got laid off, and haven’t really gotten that set back up, I just became eligible at my current company to start contributing.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
11/01/2017 at 16:12, STARS: 0
A piece of advice: don’t turn down a much-better-paying job that you’d really dislike for a job that you just dislike less. It sounds like you’re looking to make a change, either at your current workplace or in the area - that’s good to hear. Now that you’ve chosen happiness over $$$, make sure you’re getting the happiness part (not always an easy task, I know).
"E90M3" (e90m3)
11/01/2017 at 16:17, STARS: 0
I turned it down because I was absolutely miserable there. I lost 20 pounds in a month because of stress/depression. I’m not sure I would have survived round 2. I am looking to make a change and I took this job because of location and I needed a job, I had one other offer and I’m pretty sure this other place was going to make me an offer.
As far as the happiness part goes, I’ve decided I’m going to stop looking so hard for that and just let life happen. This week has actually gone way better, it’s almost as if this job offer has given me some self confidence.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
11/01/2017 at 16:25, STARS: 1
Contribute as much as you’re able (like 15-20%, and max out your 401k, if at all possible), and get your old 401k rolled over somewhere so you can keep track of it. Getting your savings built up (long-term and liquid short-term) goes a long way to getting you in the frame of mind to choose work that’s rewarding to you (not just monetarily).
"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
11/01/2017 at 16:26, STARS: 1
Makes a lot of sense to me, I think after a certain salary threshold there are so many cool cars out there you don’t need hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy more and more, if you know what I mean, can just stick with one or maybe two less expensive cars that are cool enough.
As for looking for happiness, I’ve heard a lot about being happy as a state of mind and not a result of a multitude of external factors (money obviously being a major one). I’m waiting to start working full time to purchase a car but it will be interesting how much I let my love for cars play a role in my happiness, so to speak. Hopefully things will go well for you at your current job, I know through the summer and part time jobs I’ve had that the people I work with can be the biggest factor in how much I like work, so I’m keeping in open mind for my future.
Also, like you mentioned, I’m more looking for placements that will put me in the part of the industry that I want to be in surrounding myself with good upward potential and interesting people doing interesting things, and worry about money later.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
11/01/2017 at 16:29, STARS: 1
Nice. Good to hear. It is always nice to feel wanted. Contentment is a big thing, and you’ve got a lot to be happy about (good job, nice cars, etc.). If your current job can be a great place for you for some time to come, that’s fantastic.
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
11/01/2017 at 16:40, STARS: 1
The nice thing is that you got an E90 M3 and probably some good stories out of it. But good to have it in your rear view mirror.
The first job out of college for me was as a production supervisor for GM in Dayton, O. I took it because the money was great, and was miserable for that year, until I bailed out. Great experience, and I still have lots of amazing stories about that year, but man, it sucked.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
11/01/2017 at 17:47, STARS: 1
I also got a lot of really good experience out of it too. The stories are hard to tell to some people because they have no idea what I’m talking about.
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
11/01/2017 at 17:59, STARS: 1
I could have written a book on it, if I had taken notes. In fact, there’s a guy that did.
https://www.amazon.com/Rivethead-Tales-Assembly-Ben-Hamper/dp/0446394009
That book came out around the time I left GM - and although he was hourly, at a different plant, I experienced pretty much the same things he talks about.
I’m sure you could write a book on it, too—