DILEMA

bertieduff · Post by **bertieduff** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:13 pm

Best I can add- If you can, work for yourself. I'm in the architecture line, have worked stupid hours for companies where you were expected to 'suffer for your art', no overtime etc. B***ocks.

Went self-employed two years ago. Never looked back.

Still have to work silly hours sometimes, but now it's my choice, and I see the benefit, which is a huge difference. The freedom to make decisions and suit yourself proved a bigger bonus than I expected- although workload is the same the stress is far less.

As a result I think I'd struggle to work for someone else again...Plus it's the only way I can afford the purple peril..

renmure · Post by **renmure** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 5:08 pm

RDH wrote: I'd love to leave at 5.30 every night - but it's just not done, ie as Greg says - you'd remain at the bottom of the ladder - lawyers, accountant, doctors - any a few others i'm sure - all are, rightly or wrongly, expected to put the hours in!

Just as a contrast..
Wendy is a senior British & European patent attorney with one of the largest and most successful pan-european patent and trademark firms. Having just turned 39, she is pretty much as high up the corporate ladder that it is possible to be. This has been achieved within 9 - 5 working. She did have collegues who, particularly when she was working in London, worked standard 12 hour days but she made the conscious decision not to follow that route. When she moved to Glasgow to head the Patents section of her previous company she made sure that one of her principle rolls was making sure that employees worked within a sensible and reasonable timeframe. Her current company positively encourages that work is done within 'core working hours' and constantly monitors that this policy is adhered to.

I suppose I am saying that it is possible to 'do well' and 'have a life' and work within an organisation which recognises that there is a benefit to having happy and balanced individuals working for them.

Jim

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 5:55 pm

Damn right Jim! Sounds pretty similar to my company's philosophy on the matter of working hours. I, and plenty of other people, have got places in the company even though we don't do 12 hour days. Just shows you don't have to work yourself sick to get places in this world, but I guess it's very career-dependent.

Bert, that's exactly what I hope to do one day. Would love to work for myself, but just want to build up more experience and contacts in the Telco industry before I go for it! Can't wait til the day where I can work from the comfort of my bed!

Did you do all your own accounts when you first started working for yourself or did you hire an accountant?