Opportunity or curse?
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Opportunity or curse?
I have an opportunity that has been presented to me, but the timing stinks. I have been asked to go to California for my company. The assignment duration is unknown, but may be from two months to possibly longer. It is a very important assignment, which reflects highly on their confidence in my abiities. There are some cons... I would be seperated from my wife except for one weekend per month when they fly me home, I graduate college in February so I wouldn't be able to leave until then, my wife and I will be taking a trip to Maui in April (which could be worked, but may extend my time in Cali.), we are planning to start trying for a baby in April, and our one year anniversary is in May. Pretty bad timing, but it is hard to pass up the opportunity. My wife is understanding, although we both know it is going to be hard for both of us. I have to make a decision by Wednesday morning. What to do? What to do?
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From: North Central Rural Sask.
I would go for it man. Everything can wait, women can wait, acting on an opportunity like you have a chance for may set you alot better for your future. And imo, if you set yourself for the future now, your life will be alot better later.
Gone but not forgotten.
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If opportunity knocks, answer the door. From my own experience, I regret the things I didn't do much more than the things I did.
Dono
Dono
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
Originally Posted by dono
If opportunity knocks, answer the door. From my own experience, I regret the things I didn't do much more than the things I did.
Dono
Dono
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From: North of Boston MA
I say go for it - especially if you plan on staying with this company. They may tell you they won't hold it against you for saying no but they will remember. Besides, it sounds like they want you to go. It would suck to see their second choice go instead, excel and come back as the company hero....
Take the trip to Hawaii, plan your weekends at home for times when your wife could get pregnant and your plans shouldn't be changed much. Yeah, sucks to be away from the bride but if it makes the future better, then it would be a good investment.
Take the trip to Hawaii, plan your weekends at home for times when your wife could get pregnant and your plans shouldn't be changed much. Yeah, sucks to be away from the bride but if it makes the future better, then it would be a good investment.
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From: Long Island USA
I read this, and moved on to other threads because I didn't want to put any sort of damper on this, but I came back because I gotta say this:
Beware what they ask of you next time.
After this Cali thing is over, how long before there's another "important" assignment where you need to go away for a few months?
If it were me, I would certainly bring up the subject of "not another one of those for at least a year" or whatever period of time you consider reasonable. Remember, if you do have that baby, your wife is going to need a lot of help and you can't possibly be there enough for her if you're on the other side of the continent.
If they agree to a year (or whatever you specify) and they don't follow through, run. Run very fast.
I've been a consultant to a few different large corporations, and each one had it's own "atmosphere". Some of them use you up until you're dead. Some take very good care of you. The rest of them are a hodge-podge of those two extremes.
Don't get me wrong, it sounds like a great opportunity! Just don't let them keep doing it to you especially when you're already planning a family.
art k.
Beware what they ask of you next time.
After this Cali thing is over, how long before there's another "important" assignment where you need to go away for a few months?
If it were me, I would certainly bring up the subject of "not another one of those for at least a year" or whatever period of time you consider reasonable. Remember, if you do have that baby, your wife is going to need a lot of help and you can't possibly be there enough for her if you're on the other side of the continent.
If they agree to a year (or whatever you specify) and they don't follow through, run. Run very fast.
I've been a consultant to a few different large corporations, and each one had it's own "atmosphere". Some of them use you up until you're dead. Some take very good care of you. The rest of them are a hodge-podge of those two extremes.
Don't get me wrong, it sounds like a great opportunity! Just don't let them keep doing it to you especially when you're already planning a family.
art k.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Broken Arrow, OK.
Take it and go! It sounds like a good opportunity. I don't think that there is ever a good time to have a baby because there is always something going on with your time, or your finances but people do it all the time! By taking this it will give you more to put on your resume later, have fun with it and enjoy the adventure. Take your wife with you if possible, she can hang out with you in the hotel or apartment, which ever the company is going to provide you with.
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Thanks for the advice guys. I would love to take the wife, but she does have a ful-time job. I wouldn't have to worry about unexpected trips just springing up in the future. I've been here 5 years and this is the first time it has come up. I can't get into specifics of the job, but I am sure this is not going to be an ongoing issue. Which is one reason it is such a good opportunity. I have commited to go from early March to the second week of May with time off in April for my Maui trip. This works around all of our concerns and gets me home for our anniversary in May.