| Topic Name: |
% in town vs out of town |
| Message Name: |
True..True... |
| Date Posted: |
02/07/2006 |
| In Reply To: |
and where you live. Since I have spent my career in 2nd tier cities at levels about consultant, I have spent 100% of my time on the road. 100%...
It is a great lifestyle for awhile - but can get old very fast. ACN and all firms never sugarcoat the travel part. When/if they say 100%, they mean 100%. It is a never-ending grind and you can kiss many parts of your life goodbye - Wed night club/church meetings, impromptu family gatherings, etc.
In fact, I have found on the road with ACN that the people traveling actually have a better quality of life than the people who are staffed locally. Say you live in Chicago - in the city - but are staffed in the suburbs. Those people have a grinding commute - work horrendous hours - and get to drive home and get up the next day and do it again. Stinks. At least if you are from out of town, you are in a hotel near the client site. So don't assume that being staffed in town is better. At least when I travel M-Th I come home Thursday night and can dedicate 100% of my time to my family Friday-Sunday. But - working Friday's/weekends (whether you do or don't) is another thread... |
| Message: |
Home-based projects can definitely be tougher due to a mis-alignment of expectations from family & friends as well as from yourself. I've always found it easier working on the road, it just sets the right expectation with family that I CAN'T be home by 7pm, and you do actually get into a 'routine' of the M-Th cycle.
Its almost comical to watch SEs fight over in-town work, as they've spent their entire careers mostly on the road and now seek to 'balance things out'.
The sad part is, you usually end up working MORE hours on in-town projects, especially if the client knows you are local....they expect to see your bright, shiny face on Fridays even though everyone else is working in their skivvies watching Oprah...Take Care.
|
|
