Life update on the new job

"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce) 03/05/2019 at 22:16 • Filed to: None

33

45

So, a little less than a year ago, I posted about !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! at a car wash/car care chemical company. For those who haven’t seen recently, some bigger changes happened and I just wanted to put words to uh. digital paper, I guess. Hope it helps someone.

Not to be blunt, but I just can’t believe I’m actually typing these words out - I was made vice-president of the entire company. I head up the car wash/detergent side. Another VP heads up the pharmaceutical side. I was told the title was “eliminated” to kick out our old VP, but effectively I am head of R&D, Manufacturing, QC, environmental, and purchasing. In other words, everyone reports to me.

....I am 29. Twenty. Fucking. Nine. This was what I was gunning for as a position in my 40s. Nope. Apparently we’re moving all that up. And to top it off, I have been seeing some professional development coaches/therapists to help with the transition. I have been for the past 3 months or so and I heard today that my suspicions were correct - They *chose* me. Not just an arbitrary selection after sacking a woefully underperforming VP.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand I am good at this job, but I wish the transitional period would be smoother. I’m still our sole R&D chemist so I’m trying to move our product lines forward while literally running most of the company. It’s been a trying couple of weeks, so far.

But for all the issues and stress? I’m glad I pulled the trigger. Less than a year in and I made VP. As a chemist. Who spent a fair amount of his day with the manufacturing labor, making the production line more efficient. To those who encouraged me to go for it....Yeah, that was 100% the right call. I had dinner with my old boss last week to put a cap on this. My old company went to shit and the old coworkers I liked are asking if there are positions at my new place. And turns out I now have the power to hire and fire >:)

But anyways, just wanted to say thanks, Oppo. The past year has been a roller coaster and the next year won’t be much smoother. But I may have found a place to call my own for a while. And hey, if anything else happens, I might be in line to lead the company in my early 30s! That’s something, right? Considering I was hired 100% from the outside and am not a shareholder or family member.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 22:20

4

Congrats are in order, but more importantly IMO, good luck adjusting to your increased importance. You clearly are insanely good at what you do.

All the best, it’s gonna be a crazy ride for you!  And don’t be a stranger here ;)

bob and john > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 22:22

4

well that escalated quickly :) 

shop-teacher > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 22:23

1

Wowzers! Congratulations man! That was certainly a good move. 

BaconSandwich is tasty. > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 22:24

1

That’s awesome!

It's nice to hear things like this on occasion. 

Chuckles > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 22:27

1

That's awesome! I'm glad things are going well. I've been a Chemist since 2012 (in the pharma industry), so I'm glad to hear that you are moving up un the company.

Svend > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 22:35

1

Very well done sir.

Keep up the good work.

TheRealBicycleBuck > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 22:38

1

Congratulations!

MM54 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 22:41

1

Congratulations! Keep u p the good work!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 22:44

1

Great news! I like it when people share the good news more than the bad news.

someassemblyrequired > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 22:47

2

I believe we call that a Corporate Svending.

Good job sir.

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 22:49

2

That’s great! It’s funny how things work out sometimes. I changed jobs last fall, and I’m now making about 1.7 times what I was making a year ago. (Different company, similar role.) More importantly, it’s a healthier work environment with greater challenges/responsibilities and more room for development.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 22:51

1

Well that definitely was unexpected in a good way. Congrats on the big promo! 

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 23:09

1

Congrats.

Unfortunately, it just helps to remind me every hour of unpaid overtime I’ve ever put in was a total waste. Fuck this industry so much.

And that if things hold to pattern again, current gig will conveniently ‘forget’ the number they were told was the minimum to get me to go permanent. And act all hurt when I say a number 15% lower than contracting rate is absolutely not acceptable, especially when they were told the contracting rate was a one-time ‘get me in the door easier ’ offer .

WilliamsSW > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 23:20

1

Nice! Clearly you’re doing something right! Congratulations and keep up the good work - don’t forget to smell the roses on the way up!!

AestheticsInMotion > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 23:30

1

That’s incredible. Seriously, cangratulations! Y ou just need to make it past that transitional period and hire more help. Those 23 hour days will end! How old is the company? 

Chariotoflove > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 23:36

1

I’m totally taking my share of credit for your decision.  Remember all that I did for you when an old biochemist loses his grants and needs a job. :)

gettingoldercarguy > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/05/2019 at 23:53

2

Congratulations, it's wonderful when good talent and hard work are recognized and appreciated.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > AestheticsInMotion 03/06/2019 at 00:53

0

40ish? But it was acquired by new owners about 3 years ago. 

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 03/06/2019 at 00:54

0

I have my own office now. I can oppo in peace if I so choose.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > TheRealBicycleBuck 03/06/2019 at 00:55

0

Thanks!

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > MM54 03/06/2019 at 00:55

2

Don’t tell me what to do!

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > shop-teacher 03/06/2019 at 00:56

1

It’s getting there. I’d like to abuse my power to make ceramic coatings and stuff in-house so it’s cheaper for my car but we shall see....

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Chariotoflove 03/06/2019 at 00:57

1

Are you good with writing QC procedures? Because I could really use someone to help write QC procedures.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks 03/06/2019 at 00:58

0

Unpaid overtime, to me, has become proof a company knows it can abuse good employees and get away with it. I posted before about how my old company had me spending my time shipping UPS packages instead of doing R&D work. But my performance reviews were solely based on R&D and I think that was to push me to do unpaid overtime.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > bob and john 03/06/2019 at 00:59

0

Yes. Very.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > WilliamsSW 03/06/2019 at 01:00

1

My career secret is to be the only person who knows the technical side of a technical field. I’m the only person who knows an acid from a base (right now) so everyone is just like “Well.....fuck it, that sounds smart, let’s just do what he said”

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > gettingoldercarguy 03/06/2019 at 01:00

0

To their credit/detriment, I’m the only person with deep chemical knowledge at a chemical company. It helps :P

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/06/2019 at 01:06

0

I’m “salary” and “exempt hourly” so years and years of 70 hour work weeks because they refused to hire anyone even remotely capable of doing the job, much less enough of them.

And what’s it gotten me? Fucking nothing.

If I could go back and do it again? I’d just kill myself when I was 15.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/06/2019 at 01:59

0

This is a good thing. You've done well. Hopefully it continues to bigger and brighter things.

My bird IS the word > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/06/2019 at 02:34

1

Best of luck. Keep in mind management is a skillset of it’s own. Plenty of people learn nothing in business school but there is much to be learned if you are willing.

A great professor I had told me something that I still remember: seek out failures and learn from them, as successful people often don’t know what actually made them successful , and failures know exactly what screwed them up.

random001 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/06/2019 at 06:25

0

This....is awesome. You are awesome.

Also, triple yellow!

Arrivederci > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/06/2019 at 07:59

0

Badass!  Congrats man!

Manny05x > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/06/2019 at 08:40

0

This is awesome thanks for sharing. I am in my 30s still trying to find a place i can feel i want to stick around.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/06/2019 at 08:46

0

Holy shit!!! That's so awesome!!! Congrats!!!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/06/2019 at 09:14

0

Fantastic! Happy for you.

Alternate title: The Man With Sauce Gets More Sauce

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/06/2019 at 09:15

1

I laughed. 

Chariotoflove > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/06/2019 at 10:02

1

Absolutely! That’s like second nature to me. How much does it pay?

Brb, googling QC procedures. 

Curtmon03 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/06/2019 at 10:53

0

Ccongratulations themanwithsauce! I followed some links from today's 200 NP 20v and it seems like you own one! That proves your a true audi fan as I know what headaches they are, I have a 3B audi s2 I imported from UK, I'd love to invite you to drive it! In KC. Let me know.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/06/2019 at 15:41

0

Congrats man! Kudos and all the hard work paid off! :)

Longtime Lurker > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/06/2019 at 20:51

0

Clap clap clap! Damn impressive! 

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Chariotoflove 03/06/2019 at 21:42

1

It pays...uh.....nothing? Cause I have no staff budget right now. So I write QCs and expense the beers afterwards. Then the next night I fix the typos and expense those beers too. It’s a great system. 

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > My bird IS the word 03/06/2019 at 21:44

0

I actually have an accounting/business minor and took some additional classes to prepare for an MBA later in life. I might still get mine, but this place won’t do tuition reimbursement (yet). 

Chariotoflove > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/06/2019 at 22:08

0

I work in academia. That’s a raise.

Just kidding.

Well kinda not. I can’t expense alcohol. 

My bird IS the word > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/08/2019 at 11:24

0

That’s great. Honestly, my intro to management class is one of the most valuable classes I have taken, as I see so often it’s rules ignored to everyone’s detriment. There’s an upper level but I think the most critical thing is the fundamentals.

Tohru > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/10/2019 at 01:56

0

Having worked briefly at a Blue Beacon Truck Wash, I sincerely hope having someone in charge of the pharmaceutical side at your business means something very much different than what I saw occurring .