But a new wrinkle has appeared; An AMF rep also wants a meeting with me on Thrusday. He has a center close to where I am right now that needs a head mechanic. I met him in Alaska a year or so back when I was closing up shop when he was up there to see if AMF might want to bid on our machines. He was impressed with the condition I had kept the 50 year old machines & said he would keep me in mind if a head mechanic posistion ever came up. And now something has come available.
When it rains it pours....I should be happy that there very well may be a bidding war very soon, but i'm not. I'm not cut out for this kind of stuff, self-promotion, negotiations, planning, desisions, weighing options, accepting change, etc. I just turn wrench. Well, I used to. Lately, it seems I am a professional test-taker, by continually being put to some test or another, and relitivly poor at it by the way.
I'm too old for this shizz. And i'm in well over my intelli-gunce lebel.
"When you go over something again and again and again and again like I have, certain question get answered. Others spring up. The mind plays tricks on you. You play tricks back! It's like you're unraveling a big cable-knit sweater that someone keeps knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting..."
[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 04-20-2011).]
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04:45 AM
Patrick Member
Posts: 36401 From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Registered: Apr 99
But a new wrinkle has appeared; An AMF rep also wants a meeting with me on Thrusday. He has a center close to where I am right now that needs a head mechanic.
I was hoping something like this would happen. You need an agent.
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Originally posted by Patrick:
Just keep this in mind during the negotiations. If handled properly, this can only assist you in getting the best deal (even if that entails not returning to Alaska).
Reminds me of an old roughneck (oilfield) I once worked with. He knew all the ins and outs of drilling--he had done it for decades and was happy as a rat in a feed bag right there pulling slips and latching tongs all day long. Didn't want to be the driller--didn't even want to work full time in the derrick or as a motorman--just wanted to be a floorhand. They even wanted to make him a toolpusher, which is the guy in charge of all the hands and the rig itself. He didn't want it, tho he was the guy the pusher and even the company man went to if there was a problem. He was about your age. No matter what they offered, he turned it down, but because he had so much experience, they kept pushing and pushing wanting hime to move on up. He finally quit over it and went to work elsewhere, but it was the same story there. It wasn't that he couldn't do it--he just didn't want to, because he just didn't want the headache or any responsibility for the PEOPLE that would be working under him, and he didn't want the headache of paperwork, morning reports, accident logs, drilling logs etc. He finally just got too old to do the floor work and they let him go. There he was, around 60, with no job, no skills other than oilfield, and still had a family to support. He coulda had it easy the last 15 years of his working life, sitting in a toolpusher's trailer filling out reports and overseeing operations, clean hands and a nice income but instead, he had to live off his savings and wait till he was old enough to file for Social Security............. think about it.
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05:06 AM
USFiero Member
Posts: 4873 From: Everywhere and Middle of Nowhere Registered: Mar 2002
The "Peter Principle" was a book that I read some forty years ago about you rise to your level of incompetance. People need to work where they are comfortable and are good at it. Many times people advance up to jobs where they are incompetant in that position. They stagnate there, because the people who advanced them to that position, don't want to admit that they made a mistake. While in the incompetant position they frustrate their co workers and are unhappy.
The caveat is that they may be better at a higher position of responsibility, but will not get that chance or they can "backtrack" to their previous position. You need to find your happy place in the workforce.
But Boonie it is nice to be wanted. Best of luck with your decision. What are to cost of living differential between Alaska and where you are now? That was one of my considerations when I relocated to Florida from NY. It was about 30% less expensive in Florida that where I was living in upstae NY. But I was retired and was going on a fixed income. I couldn't afford to live in that NY area.
Looks like it might be OUR year after all, Boonie Don't do what I have always done: undervalue yourself because others have told you all your life 'you ain't worth a barrel of '..whatever Stand tall...you will be surprised how tall you ARE!! And so will everybody else Took me 64 years to work THAT one out! Nick
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08:42 AM
Rallaster Member
Posts: 9105 From: Indy southside, IN Registered: Jul 2009
I did my negotiations with Alaska. After everything was said and done, they tried to lowball me. The deal had so many hiden cavets in it, I was dissappointed. For someone that wanted me so bad, the deal just didn't show that, where the rubber hits the road. I said I will crunch the new numbers and get back with them.
I then went to the other Head Mechanic interview here in Washington. The place is beautiful, nice workshop, very nice management, very good pay (almost what the Alaska one offered BEFORE the lowballin'), and they like me & think I will make a perfect fit for them. They are very respected, very busy, and out in the country a little farther, kinda. So I wouldn't have to spend $9,000 relocating, it's closer to where I live right now, and they are going to hand-hold me until I get to full speed.
I took the job on the spot. I start in two weeks.
Now I have to tell my current job, which is not going to be easy. They really gave me a chance at learning new machines and they were pretty nice to me. All I can give them is 2 weeks notice and a big thank you from my heart. But they are not going to be happy.
And I have to tell Alaska. They are going to be PISSED. But if they had not tried to change the deal and lowball me, they coulda' had me.
Then all the people that called me from Alaska to say they heard I might be comming back. They will be dissappointed.
So alot of people are going to be not too happy with me.
But all my logic told me to take this job and stay right here. And I pray I make it work, for a good long time.
I hope I did the right thing. Mi Vida Loca...strange days indeed.
[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 04-21-2011).]
Way to go, sounds like you thought it out and made your decision. Can't do much more than that.
As for the place you are leaving? You have a better opportunity when has that ever been a bad thing? You don't think they would think twice letting you go if their situation changed do you?
This new place sounds great. Congrats...celebrate your decision.
[This message has been edited by newf (edited 04-21-2011).]
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11:23 PM
Flamberge Member
Posts: 4268 From: Terra Sancta, TX Registered: Oct 2001
Now I have to tell my current job, which is not going to be easy. They really gave me a chance at learning new machines and they were pretty nice to me. I can give them 2 weeks notice and a big thank you from my heart. But theu are not going to be happy.
Why? The last I heard was that they were on your azz about not progressing like they thought you should.
quote
And I have to tell Alaska. They are going to be PISSED. But if they had not tried to change the deal and lowball me, they coulda' had me.
Their loss. Better to find out now than after you had pulled up stakes and dragged your azz (and your family) all the way back. My opinion? Farg 'em.
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Then all the people that called me from Alaska to say they heard I might be comming back. They will be dissappointed.
They'll get over it.
quote
But all my logic told me to take this job and stay right here. And I pray I make it work, for a good long time.
I hope I did the right thing. ...
Based upon what I've heard, I believe you did. So much easier than moving X-thousand miles, or putting up with people who are not satisfied with how you're meeting their expectations.
You have a great deal to offer. Please give yourself some credit.
Ohhh.... CONGRATS, dude!
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11:27 PM
Boondawg Member
Posts: 38235 From: Displaced Alaskan Registered: Jun 2003
Originally posted by Boondawg: I took the job on the spot. I start in two weeks.
Congrats. I think you did the right thing. As far as Alaska and your current employer being upset, heh, don't feel bad. You are a business. Whose mission is to take care of yourself and family. Your time and expertise is your product. Every business wants the maximum return on it's investment and your time in mastering your craft is an investment just as much as if someone spent their time going to college. We get to bowl for free, yes ? By the way, what's up with having to have special bowling shoes ? I hate renting them suckers.
The head manger at my work was pisssssssssed. He wouldn't talk to me & dirty-looked me all day. For trying to better myself.
The other 2 mangers were slightly bummed, but understanding.
I called the new job to let them know that the hammer has been dropped, and they went on & on about how excited they were to have me and they have all ready told the mechanics that will be under me how great I am going to fit in.
They almost got me covinced that I like MYSELF! When I think about me I touch myself.......
WARNING! ~ Never buy into your own P.R.!
[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 04-22-2011).]
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11:29 PM
$Rich$ Member
Posts: 14575 From: Sioux Falls SD Registered: Dec 2002
Only time will tell who was right and who was wrong! The important part is you're trying to better yourself. I'd rather say "I tried" then "It was too hard so I died in a pit starving", y'know?
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12:13 AM
Patrick Member
Posts: 36401 From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Registered: Apr 99
Looks like it might be OUR year after all, Boonie 
Took me 64 years to work THAT one out!
