Reply to: Would you?

[The Lone Gunman]

Step back, have a think and adjust my own own attitude from time to time.

I might adopt that into my sig.

[Rookie]

It is all about attitude.

Indeed it is and it wouldn't do any harm for me step back, have a think and adjust my own own attitude from time to time.

Good luck LG.

[Mich the Tester]

This way I can also buy my Aston Martin and the Fiat 500 for she who must be obeyed.´

I am interminably grateful to the FIAT group for their welcome return to producing small affordable cars that attract the attention of females. Since the introduction in NL of the Lancia Ypsilon and the Fiat 500, Mrs Tester’s attentions have been turned away from exceedingly expensive BMW and Mercedes cabriolets to small, cute Italian fashion articles that cost less than a quarter of her earlier preferences. Perhaps I can actually get myself a decent car now.

[The Lone Gunman]

Really good advice, LG. I can appreciate your POV. You've had tough decisions to make and handled them admirably.

I suppose the golden rule is not to accept a contract if you have no intention of seeing it through to the end. Obviously some things can crop up mid contract which are out of our control.

I have seen a number of contractors deal admirably with horendous circumstances over the years and that adds to my determination to do the right thing. It also adds to my ire when I hear about people who just walk away.

I think most people have every intention of honouring a contract when they take it. The problem is that they do not have a business mind set when it all goes tits up.
There is no wonder most of the world thinks of us as cowboys.

All of my issues have (thankfully) turned out to be short term(ish) issues and I have had the support of clients in dealing with them.
There are some contractors out there, and a couple of them are regulars here, who deal with long term sickness and disability, either their own or a close relative, on a daily basis and I doff my cap to them.

It is all about attitude.
From Cool hand Luke. "Just gettin my mind right boss".

[Rookie]

If it's any consolation we all have such ups and downs. They can be mastered though, and you'll come out the other end better and more experienced for it. All I'd advise if you stay up north is to get involved in the local life a bit.

....like setting fire to cars on the local estate so that you can brick the fire engines?

[tino]

If it's any consolation we all have such ups and downs. They can be mastered though, and you'll come out the other end better and more experienced for it. All I'd advise if you stay up north is to get involved in the local life a bit.

yup, get lashed up in the pubs every night as I do in the Sunny Midlands

[Doggy Styles]

It's good advice. I guess I seem a little ungrateful really. I get like this on Monday mornings, having to say goodbye to tearful kids and wife. Chin up. Count lucky stars etc.

If it's any consolation we all have such ups and downs. They can be mastered though, and you'll come out the other end better and more experienced for it. All I'd advise if you stay up north is to get involved in the local life a bit.

[suityou01]

Really good advice, LG. I can appreciate your POV. You've had tough decisions to make and handled them admirably.

I suppose the golden rule is not to accept a contract if you have no intention of seeing it through to the end. Obviously some things can crop up mid contract which are out of our control.

And that there is a correct and professional way to go about leaving.

[Rookie]

It has been my experience that there are few circumstances that can not be dealt with properly.

Most clients will deal with emergencies quite well and will understand that your circumstances mean that you can no longer commit.
The professionalism comes from dealing with how you walk away.

Really good advice, LG. I can appreciate your POV. You've had tough decisions to make and handled them admirably.

I suppose the golden rule is not to accept a contract if you have no intention of seeing it through to the end. Obviously some things can crop up mid contract which are out of our control.

[SuperZ]

The concept of the client coming first seems to be lost on you lot despite the avalanche of business that has left these shores.
.

You keep on refering to 'these shores' as of contractors solely are responsible for outsourcing. I very much doubt the odd contractor cutting a contract short would cause any outsourcing.

I understand the points you`re getting at. A contract has notice periods both sides. Providing both parties keep to that there shouldn`t be a problem. If I`m given a 12 month contract and the client runs out of work, I accept it as long as they keep to the notice period. If I issued notice on a 12 month contract, that client will 99% of the time accept that without any issues either and so they should.

Most agents though, if their candidate was asked to leave in one week even though a four week notice period is in place, MOST agencies don`t give a toss as they`ll do anything to keep client co. happy.

Personally I have left one contract prematurely although I served my notice period. My reason for that were many but mainly I saw the client being unfair to other contractors (giving one week instead of the four week notice) and because the agency employing those contractors did nothing for them. I was treated very fairly partly because I know I was really liked and also they desperately needed me. However, I couldn`t work in such an environemt, I served my notice and left under good conditions however (I served my notice and with total complete honest detailed my reasons why I had to leave and actually they understood).

I don`t think client should come first for agencies and agents but they do. Agencies should look out carefully for both parties but they don`t, they`ll do anything to keep client co on their books. Ethics I say.....

[The Lone Gunman]

<snip>Actually it quite interesting because when I am away, she moans that I'm away yet when I can do work from home, she moans that I'm under her feet, you can't win

Amen to all that dude.

[The Lone Gunman]

That was clearly a hard thing to do, and a sobering thought. I agree there is a right way to go about quitting. This is the purpose of this thread ie Would you quit in these circumstances, what are the consequences, is it ok to do so, in what circumstances?

A lot of these issues have been addressed, and I have loads to think about. As I said earlier, it's probably just a case of needing to get my chin up and stop being so bloody dour about it. I have an income, and a good reputation and good skills.

I am truly sorry to hear what you have been through, and wish you many happy and trouble free years ahead. It is admirable what you did.

Thanks for that, you are making me blush.
I understand your circumstances. It really sounds like you need to be at home. As I said earlier, talk to your client. I think you will find an amicable solution.

For the record: I am not happy in my current gig. I can not get home at weekends (due to air lines changing flight times etc). I have just taken a 4 month extension because it is better than being on the bench. I want to ride my motorbike and play with my kite buggy but I cant. I am hardly seeing the wife.
We are making the best of a bad job by the wife visiting me at weekends. She is having regular shopping trips to Southern Germany or we are meeting up where the cheap airlines meet. There is usualy an up side.

[darmstadt]

Well with around 10 years now of spending on average 3 nights away from home (so far this year I am on my 12th different hotel) I can sympathise somewhat. I think that I have missed a rather important part of my sons life (8-17) but my family agree that its more important to keep the money flowing because, somehow, without it I think life would have been pretty intolerable. There are times when it is difficult but I have always made time to be there for the important things, always tried to be there at weekends but in the long run my customers and therefore my business reputation come pretty high up on the list of life. Without that my family would not have the comfortable existence that they have and they know and appreciate it. I will say though that I am slowly getting tired of the travel and would really like to be at home more but it ain't going to be although I am getting more time to work from home.

All my recent projects, the customer has always asked if working away from home is a problem (Germany have a tendency not not really move about much) and my willingness to do this is very much appreciated by the customer, in many cases with repeat business. I do point out that working from home is also a viable proposition and slowly am getting more of that but must be on-site for a number of days. Sadly I was contacted to day about increasing my hours and 'er indoors has told me to do it and with another impending project on the cards, it looks like even les time at home. This way I can also buy my Aston Martin and the Fiat 500 for she who must be obeyed.´

Actually it quite interesting because when I am away, she moans that I'm away yet when I can do work from home, she moans that I'm under her feet, you can't win

[The Lone Gunman]

You have my utmost respect - I'm glad she's ok now

I wouldn't have been so amiable to the clients needs in that circumstance though and if that makes me a "fly by night" contractor then so be it.

Fly by nights are the ones who walk at the drop of a hat, usualy because they have been offered a better rate etc.

It has been my experience that there are few circumstances that can not be dealt with properly. Most clients will deal with emergencies quite well and will understand that your circumstances mean that you can no longer commit.
The professionalism comes from dealing with how you walk away.

I have been in this business for 10 years and on various bulletin boards since 2000 and have seen so many proposing or supporting the idea that it is OK to walk. My attitude has not changed. Those people should go and get proper jobs and stop damaging the reputation of the rest of us. Park yourself in the US or THEM camp as you see fit.

[suityou01]

I nursed the wife through breast cancer (she is OK now) and never missed a day by her side without getting my client offside. It was not easy, but it is my nature to make sure I do the right thing. I worked from a distance, I trained my replacement at my expense then took 9 months off. Nearly lost everything I own to make sure the wife was OK. Been back at the same client since last July.
Long and difficult road, but I never let either side down.
There have been other less dramatic circumstances too.

edit: My hard line is NOT that there are no circumstances under which you should quit. It is that there is a right way to go about quitting.

That was clearly a hard thing to do, and a sobering thought. I agree there is a right way to go about quitting. This is the purpose of this thread ie Would you quit in these circumstances, what are the consequences, is it ok to do so, in what circumstances?

A lot of these issues have been addressed, and I have loads to think about. As I said earlier, it's probably just a case of needing to get my chin up and stop being so bloody dour about it. I have an income, and a good reputation and good skills.

I am truly sorry to hear what you have been through, and wish you many happy and trouble free years ahead. It is admirable what you did.