Reply to: Enlightenment

[BrilloPad]

The best ones stop and the mediocre carry on cocking up ...

I wish I did not keep on cocking up. It might lead to fewer divorces.

I am now at 32 years in IT. Nearly 30 years in IB. And nearly 28 years since my first contract. There have been a few changes in that time.

[vetran]

I thought that made you go blind not give up contracting..

he moonlights for NLYUK its the RSI in his wrist after pleasing those sailors.

[DimPrawn]

The best ones stop and the mediocre carry on cocking up ...

Ain't that the truth.

The best ones earn the big money, buy property, fill up their ISA's, a bit of pension, and other investments, don't get divorced, and are able to semi retire in their late 40's.

The tulip ones post their daily trials and tribulations on here.

[sasguru]

How long before Suity joins this "giving up contracting" thread?

The best ones stop and the mediocre carry on cocking up ...

[DimPrawn]

How long before Suity joins this "giving up contracting" thread?

[Bacchus]

I think I am a little bit ahead but on the same curve as you @oliverson.

Contractor for twenty years, loved it, great clients and some really great gigs, but it comes to the time when enough is enough.

I declined an extension last year and decided that I would rather die poor than spend another six months on some project which was, in the grand scheme of things, a waste of time. I'm not poor, obviously I would have taken the extension if I was seriously poor. I can't afford to retire but I can afford to transisition; investment income of about twelve hundred a month doesn't allow expensive skiing holidays but it keeps the wolf from the door and allows longer hols - a month in the motorhome, a few weeks on the boat... It's also amazing how cheaply you can live when not commuting, buying coffees and lunch every day, and giving huge chunks of cash to the taxman! I've written one novel and working on two more, also just sharpening my chisels to do some work on a new bathroom. Alles gut.

Life is FAR too short to peck around at something just to pay "the man".

I still lurk on this forum though, I do like the contractor banter (as a group contractors are slightly more "go getter" than many (or is that opinionated...)), and funnily enough I get loads of approaches for work. I am not ruling another gig out, just not chasing it.

[sasguru]

I really don't enjoy it anymore. I think developers have their shelf life and in this discipline you have to keep reinventing yourself. It comes to a head and as you enter middle-age you lose the will to keep on doing it. Then you look at the way the industry is heading (has been heading for several years) as a whole, with the offshoring, nearshoring, visas, HMRC vendetta and the London IB sector which has been my bread and butter but now it's gone. I guess I've just burnt out with it all if I'm honest. I've been on a process of re-skilling to remain current and it's been hard this time around, though I feel I've chosen wisely and on the crest of the next big wave but I haven't the appetite for it, not the traditional 5 days a week on site anyhow. You wake up in the morning and think to yourself "I can still do this" but as you look for new opportunities and read the adverts, it makes me feel physically sick. Not where I want to be anymore. Somebody else's turn.

oh, and travelling, bench time, relentless interviewing, living away from home for years on end have all contributed.

Therein lies your problem. Change sector ...

[oliverson]

Well it seems a measured and sensible decision. We live this lifestyle for the flexibility and that includes getting out.

You never know, I'd it looks like its going to be bad next Apr many more experienced guys will snap up the tasty perm jobs before and sit happily watching the fall out.

Forgot to add that I chalked up around £ 25k expenses per year, and that's without the bar bill, making the London thing happen and even as a Limited company, that seems increasingly under threat. I have a possible slant on what I already do that wouldn't feature being on site and thereby nullify the expenses along with the SDC issue to some extent. I'll post something up when I get around to finalising the website/offering and publishing the website URL. Hopefully it's a niche that may interest some of my former clients. Cheers for the support.

[northernladuk]

Well it seems a measured and sensible decision. We live this lifestyle for the flexibility and that includes getting out.

You never know, I'd it looks like its going to be bad next Apr many more experienced guys will snap up the tasty perm jobs before and sit happily watching the fall out.

[oliverson]

Sorry to hear that. If you are still here would you care to share what's brought it to a conclusion. Travelling, constant change of clients, time on the bench? I'd be genuinely interested to hear.

I really don't enjoy it anymore. I think developers have their shelf life and in this discipline you have to keep reinventing yourself. It comes to a head and as you enter middle-age you lose the will to keep on doing it. Then you look at the way the industry is heading (has been heading for several years) as a whole, with the offshoring, nearshoring, visas, HMRC vendetta and the London IB sector which has been my bread and butter but now it's gone. I guess I've just burnt out with it all if I'm honest. I've been on a process of re-skilling to remain current and it's been hard this time around, though I feel I've chosen wisely and on the crest of the next big wave but I haven't the appetite for it, not the traditional 5 days a week on site anyhow. You wake up in the morning and think to yourself "I can still do this" but as you look for new opportunities and read the adverts, it makes me feel physically sick. Not where I want to be anymore. Somebody else's turn.

oh, and travelling, bench time, relentless interviewing, living away from home for years on end have all contributed.

[jamesbrown]

Sorry to hear that. If you are still here would you care to share what's brought it to a conclusion. Travelling, constant change of clients, time on the bench? I'd be genuinely interested to hear.

IIRC, the OP works for IBs. From what I gather (mainly from following the news and the occasional posts here), it's an area that has been spiraling into turd-dom for a while. Much like oil and gas, although perhaps not quite that bad.

[northernladuk]

For me, its the incessant masturbating.....

I thought that made you go blind not give up contracting..

[stek]

Sorry to hear that. If you are still here would you care to share what's brought it to a conclusion. Travelling, constant change of clients, time on the bench? I'd be genuinely interested to hear.

For me, its the incessant masturbating.....

[northernladuk]

Sorry to hear that. If you are still here would you care to share what's brought it to a conclusion. Travelling, constant change of clients, time on the bench? I'd be genuinely interested to hear.

[flamel]

After 12 years contracting I have just come to the conclusion that I simply cannot stand it anymore.

Actually that's a lie. It's been a gradual descent to the point now where I just have to get out for my own sanity. Money alone is not enough.

Good luck everybody.

I know what you mean, I'm in the same place. If I didn't have responsibilities I'd give up tomorrow.
Once I finish the current contract the last child will have left home and I'm going to be bankrupted by HMRC so am planning to go to college for a year and do something different.

Which reminds me - I must remember to hid my fly fishing gear.

After that, I'll probably be bored stupid and go back to contracting again!!