I have been less active in cryptoland than I'd like to be. I hope that changes soon, because I feel like the future it promises is where my heart is at. I'm just checking in with my fine followers on Hive from time to time until I have the time and energy to regularly post again.
Government Contracting Can Be A Shit Show
This is just a rant about how busy I've been at work. I can't get specific, but there are a lot of panicky middle management folk running around like chickens with their heads chopped off. This often happens in the world of government contracting as a contract winds down and new bidders swoop in to try to take that business away. The good news for tech heads like me is, we usually keep our jobs because our knowledge is what's valuable to the customer. Middle management on the other hand often get wiped out when a new vendor comes in. They are expendable, and it's often their failure to lead that enables a new company to swoop in and take the contract.
So during that window of time as the existing contract is winding down, there's a lot of pressure to perform, and correct any shortfalls in the contract deliverables. That pressure tends to roll down hill. The incentives are misaligned, because the people who must do the work have much less risk to their jobs as those imposing schedules.
What I've Been Up To
So I have numerous projects, which are all 'top priority' depending on who you talk to. I've worked the last 3 Saturdays in a row, because many major changes on IT networks must occur outside of business hours. To add to this, the changes I am implementing are getting pushed through a lot faster than my slow methodical modus operandi is comfortable dealing with. This leads to added stress. For me, stress manifests itself in all sorts of ways. I have trouble sleeping, my eating habits take a nose dive, and it zaps my motivation for things like creating blog posts on Hive.
Don't get me wrong, I am thankful to have a job, especially with a baby on the way. He will be here in a couple of months, then after that, I have serious doubts that this is sustainable.
Go Independent Or Look For Another Wage Slave Job?
I will be looking for a situation with a much less frantic pace, assuming I don't decide to do independent consulting again, which to be honest I prefer over working for someone else. I can say that once you've been your own boss, it shatters the appeal of working for someone else. Working for yourself can be stressful, but it never really bothered me in the same way as the stress created from being in a top-down driven situation. When you are independent, if you're not getting along with a customer, you can fire them as easily as they can fire you. It's just a different mindset. Assuming you give yourself enough financial cushion to make those decisions, it makes you more free.
What I Enjoy Doing For Work
Building is at the top of my list. If I can create a network from scratch (also called a green fields network), sign me up. Sometimes a green fields network can be just a single functional area, such as a new data center or wide area network (WAN). In these cases, I get to use my own creativity to solve problems for the customer, and I can choose from a menu of options for technology.
Second to building I like to solve complex problems for customers. An organization often lacks the resources and expertise to solve some of the more difficult problems on their networks. It's easier for them to just engage with a consultant to fix it. These opportunities, usually begin with a discover phase, where I attempt to characterize their problem. Next comes a proposal phase, where I determine and present what I think is the best way to fix it. Finally comes the implementation phase, where I assist the customer in deploying the solution.
Thanks For Reading My Rant
I hate to sound ungrateful. I know there are many less fortunate than me. That being said, I know I am capable of living a much more fulfilling life, so my current situation is disappointing. I'm kind of stuck until junior comes, but rest assured at that time I'm going to spring into action pursuing the best life possible for myself and my family.
