I'm not going to WoWquit, but...
Amenn — Sun, 07/20/2008 - 00:48
Something has to change.
I need to talk this out, and this seems like the right forum.
Missing the LF1M Archimonde kill hurt my heart, I wanted to be there so badly. However, real life has to come first, and there was just no way I was making raid that night.
The job I have now, with the promotion I got, is a HUGE opportunity for me. If we can ship this project on time it will be a huge boost for my resume in a very short time frame. It will let me write my ticket for my next job, ideally with a less insane CEO. In less than a year, it could put me places I expected to spend 2-3 getting to. But that very short time frame means a huge amount of work, and that means long hours. On top of that, I'm doing a whole bunch of things I've never done before, like managing people, and it's taking a lot of time and energy.
It's after midnight on a Saturday, and I'm still at work. What's worse, I could work literally all weekend and not be even close to out of things to do. I spent 4 hours running Kara this afternoon. I don't regret the Kara run, that was fun, but I really should have spent that time working. I'd be a lot further along, a lot closer to getting out of here.
What's worse, what's a whole lot worse, is that I haven't been to the gym since I started playing WoW again. It started out as a medical thing (Doc said take 2 weeks off), but it quickly turned into just not going. WoW's not responsible for that, but it's sure as hell not helping. I'm trying to get in early, so I can leave early, so I can play WoW, instead of coming in an hour later after hitting the Gym, and staying an hour later. Or coming in at the same time and hitting the gym after work.
Could I do both? Yes, I could. I could get up ass early, hit the gym, get to work early, get out, raid, go to bed. But that's not going to happen. I don't do ass early on a regular basis. I know myself, that's not going to happen.
So what does that mean? I love raiding, I had to skip it this week (for good reason), and I missed it like hell. I like my job (I'd love it, if I didn't spend half my time fighting the crazy man in charge), and I'm damn well going to take advantage of this great opportunity to put myself into a job that I will love a year from now. I need to start working out again.
Given all that, I don't know what I'm going to do. Work can only bend so much. I'm letting my health bend a lot more than it should. I think WoW is going to have to yield the right of way. I don't intend to stop playing, but I just don't think I can keep up a 3 night a week raid schedule. I don't know.
I haven't made any decisions, but that's where I am.
Life first! I've had to take
carno — Wed, 07/23/2008 - 07:54Life first! I've had to take a 2.5 week break myself and a month or so ago I just sort of disappeared.
Just as important, don't let your work burn you out either. It's VERY difficult, but keep constant communication with your managers and/or CEO. I've been through 6 ventures and burnt out in all but two. Only one venture yielded real results for me, my employer, and my future. All of the others either fell through because of a 3rd party or my employer was a dick hole who was *really* good at using a carrot on a stick.
Make sure that compassion as a career leads you to real fiscal results and not just an idea or something on your resume. Of course this is really none of my business, but I read your 2nd paragraph and I've been there, done that, and have the tshirt.
As you manage people, advance your career, and perform your art, you'll find that "business" is just as important as your work. Don't sell yourself short, maintain communication about expectations and ambitions, and don't be afraid to take risks.
As morbid as all this sounds, I wouldn't do anything differently. If I knew then what I knew now, I might have made a bit more money, but that wasn't my prerogative.
Hopefully I'll still be
Amenn — Tue, 07/22/2008 - 10:56Hopefully I'll still be around on weekends and the odd weeknight.
Good luck on your project -
Dufe — Mon, 07/21/2008 - 17:44Good luck on your project - we'll look forward to the day you're able to come back.
Do us all proud Amenn Yes, I
jaibyrd — Mon, 07/21/2008 - 16:21Do us all proud Amenn
Yes, I like to heal. No, I've never been shadow.
Thanks guys.
Amenn — Mon, 07/21/2008 - 16:16Thanks guys.
Good luck <3
Saja — Sun, 07/20/2008 - 14:08Good luck <3
WoW is kind of that great
garreth — Sun, 07/20/2008 - 02:13WoW is kind of that great "constant" in a lot of our lives. It's a social and emotional connection that we all have and love. However, it takes time and time isn't what a lot of aspiring folks have.
There have been three times that I took extended leaves from WoW. One of them was the final 3 months of my MBA. I quit cold turkey, handed off the guild during that time and said "See you guys when I'm done." It really was the ONLY way I did well or graduated.
I love me some WoW. You've all heard me on vent. But at the same time, WoW is that dessert we get to enjoy after a job well done in life. I have a life right now that affords me some pretty good WoW time. But that's only because I busted my balls to get to this point.
You're doing some once-in-a-lifetime stuff, Amenn. Seriously, stuff that I'm jealous as all hell about. You're going to be busting your balls pretty hard over the next 12 to 18 months. Do eeet. Get that shit done. Log in to say "Sup!" and run some quick runs. In time you'll move to a point where WoW fits in nicely into an evening schedule.
No one - I repeat, NO ONE - will flip you shit for putting the hammer down at work or school. As a matter of fact, I'm happier to lose a guildy temporarily while they get their stuff done because when they come back, they're rock solid and at a really good place in their lives because they were successful.
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No need to apologize
Shihli — Sun, 07/20/2008 - 01:13No need to apologize man.
Take care of yourself, worry about the rest of us when life gives you time to do so.