Updated: Back To Slinging Hash (Again And Again)

[TapperMike]

My internet job is winding down.  Jobs in my field have all but evaporated on this side of the globe.  As a result I've gone back to cooking for a living.  The short of it is I'll be around here less.

Edited September 11, 2015 by TapperMike

[john]

Sorry to hear that Mike. As long as you have something to pay the bills, that is the main thing.

What was your internet job?

[Mahesh]

I'm sorry to hear that my friend. Good wishes to you from this part of the world.

[TapperMike]

I am a support tech for a company called SWiSHzone which produces a swf authoring program similar to adobe's flash.  I perform several functions behind the scenes but what people know me for most is ... helping them get their swish software back after things like new computer/ reformat/ recovery / change of email etc.

[Just1L]

Sorry to hear Mike… although hopefully the cooking job isn't all that bad, aside from having to work more. I guess all I can say is keep an eye out for fitting tech jobs. Hopefully one will pop up.

[TapperMike]

Cooking doesn't pay what it used to.

Back in 2000 I was making $20 USD per hour putting in 60hr weeks.  Today I'm making $10 nudging by on a 35 hour week.

[john]

Just an idea, but what about supplementing your income doing some session / dep work?

It might take a little while to build up regular work, but, nothing ventured nothing gained

[TapperMike]

Session work is beyond me with my current situation and the current situation in the metro detroit area.

 

I have no car and haven't had the need for one in years.  Almost everything for personal needs can be found within a 2k range.

 

All the studios I have worked with in the past have now shut down.  There are very few left and only a few artists / producers be it commercial / industrial or artist.   Those that remain work on a bare bones (one man as engineer) platform even though they might have a very expensive and outdated production set up.

 

I had entertained work as a remote soundman for outdoor venues but the majority of the work requires heavy lifting. I'm small of frame and height and they don't send out roadies for setup.

[starise]

I wish you the best in looking for a favorable situation.FWIW to this day I don't work a job I especially like, even though it isn't a bad job. Sometimes I think it might be a blessing to be fired, but I keep doing well at it;) One of these days maybe someone will hand me a pink slip and I'd be like..thank you Jesus!

If I were in your shoes I would make a grand attempt to remake myself. A perfect opportunity with plenty of time to use that creativity to do whatever you want to do.....I have come across some of the craziest business ideas...things like dog walking services.No lie, this exists in New York and is profitable to the owner. I know of a person who takes care of fish aquariums in posh executive offices. My niece just started selling homemade bath bombs online. Whatever you start you're the CEO....you get to make the decisions.

[TapperMike]

I laugh at how bad the work situation is.  The work is work I can live with that just fine.  I've never been ashamed of honest hard work for decent pay.

 

The pay is deplorable,   I've been ripped off both in pay for hours I've worked and rate (they promised me much more then they are actually paying me) The level of unprofessionalism by the owners, the kitchen manager and many a co-worker has me stymied.  I put on a happy face and take it all in stride.  To me the job is just a stepping stone to get my "sea legs" back. 

 

I'd get into greater details but... I'm tired of complaining and every time I vent a little bit of me accepts the unacceptable.

[starise]

Best wishes TapperMike in getting those "sea legs" back again. I was trying to put the most optimistic view on it possible. I make it sound much easier than it really is. I certainly don't want to leave you with the impression that I don't get the hardship involved in something like this. Getting from point A to point B can be a challenge at times. I always looked at it like an opportunity, but sometimes opportunity looks more like hardship during the transition phase....I wish you all the best.

 

The whole mentality of employment bothers me to think about sometimes. Many employers look at their help like a means to an end and not a human being. Sounds like you have the right approach though....don't give up. If you give up you'll stop looking and if you stop looking you won't ever find anything. As I understand it here in the states a lot of computer work is sent over seas now. Is this what happened or did the product stop being successful?

[TapperMike]

Thanks,

 

Yes, I'm aware that looking at problematic situations is best done as challenges to rise up to.  Some situations are untennable.

 

I always refer back to St Francis

 

God grant me the courage to change the things I can.

The humility to accept those I can't 

And the wisdom to know the difference between the two.

Edited September 4, 2014 by TapperMike

[starise]

One thing I'm finding is that I can't change 95% of those things...I only seem to find the wisdom to know the difference after a lot of trial and error. Is the humility to accepting those things the same thing as giving our direction away? And if so, why do we have direction at all? Sometimes I think I would have made a much better robot.

 

The bright spot is that we still have some measure of control and maybe it's that small amount that makes all the difference.

[TapperMike]

So here's the update.

There is a problem with our ecommerce system for where I currently work. That may be the sign that the doors are finally closed or it may be a glitch which is too expensive to fix. Every month for the last few years I've been sitting in a holding position that this may be the last. Well.... I've got my invoice in for the last month and haven't seen payment (it goes from the 20th to the 20th) So I could be out cold without money. My boss has always been good to me over the last 11 years so I'm hoping he'll honor it and the time I've worked since submission.

Also...

I have an interview tonite at a coney island. It's not far from me and I'm really really hoping that they'll hire me full time.

Wish me luck I really need it.

Mike

[TapperMike]

Thanks Steve.

And now the good news. I just got done with a job interview. I start on Tuesday!!!

It's not a fortune but enough that I can live within my means.

[Just1L]

Congratulations Mike, that's great. I hope it lasts a long time and you get to give your mind a little peace for a while.

Edited August 24, 2015 by Just1L

[Rudi]

So glad to hear this Mike.

 

I have just returned from holiday and this is the first thing I noticed.

[starise]

Wonderful news!

[Jim622]

Good Luck with the new job. Hope it works out. I was going to suggest you giving lessons. You seemed to have the knowledge and the talent. Just a thought if you can make time and need some supplemental income.

Best of luck.

 

Jim

[TapperMike]

I've taught guitar before. Competition is tough. The first students go to the teachers with the highest seniority. And if you aren't into a particular style (heavy metal) you then it's harder to get students. Overall I liked teaching to supplement my income.

Another problem I have now is... Transportation. Even if I maintained both jobs for an extended period of time it still wouldn't be enough to support a car.

It's still early on cooking after my first week. I know that things can change month by month. My next few weeks will be low hours. I'm told it's a seasonal drop off. I'm not bothered by it for the short term. If however time reveals something different I'll have to augment my income with another hourly job.