Suboptimal dayjob performance

[dntoll]

I have worked two jobs for more than a year now. Lately I have prioritized the gamedevelopment so the dayjob suffers from that. Which now reflects in the workreviews. :mad:

I really would like to work fulltime as an indie, but that feels pretty distant so I need my dayjob to provide for me and my family. So the plan is to stick with the dayjob for as long as the indie-trail feels unstable and cutback on it when/if I get an income from our games… :cool:

This is nothing new and I guess many of you are doing the same thing…

So the problem is that I feel that I perform less than optimal at my dayjob but still acceptable by the “company standards�. But I´m used to perform much better so I get these feelings of guilt and worry that some will see me as lacy… :eek:

Is anyone else torn between their two jobs?

[PoV]

I imagine it's tougher having a family to support, but one option is to build up some significant savings to take it full time. But with a family, I imagine it's more important to establish ones self first, rather that jumping ship like some can do/did. Really, I think it boils down to, if you were to lose that job, how much it would hurt you and your family, and maybe how strong your credentials are if you were to need a new job. It's certainly no easy choice.

[Cicero]

Forget guilt - do what you have to in your day job to build a stable foundation for your 'indie future'. You owe it to yourself. Do you think your boss cares about your aspirations? No, he likely takes care of his own.

Also, as far as I know the indie route will always be unstable so don't wait for it to change or you'll never make the leap.

That's my take on it. :)

[DrWilloughby]

The moment anything in the indie world becomes stable, bigger, stabler companies will lock it up. The whole reason there is opportunity here for us is because of the instability and the risk.

Don't let your day job suffer for something that you aren't prepared to do yet! Build up some finances first...

But really, if your day job isn't enjoyable, perhaps you should just look for a new one? (I know, I know, it's tough to do that with a family)

Ooh this rock is uncomfortable. Oh, but this hard place is uncomfortable too...

[Abscissa]

Is anyone else torn between their two jobs?
Yes. If I'm in the middle of any sort of project at home, than I'm mentally checked out at my day job. Of course, I do web stuff, so I'm normally mentally checked out at work anyway :( . God I can't wait to ditch this...

[dntoll]

I tossed and turned in bed yesterday and the only solution I can think of is to step down in time at my dayjob maybe work only 75%.

That would give me an extra full day indie work! :D

With 75% of my salary I can still support my family and I think it can up my performance at my dayjob too... I think the fact that I work 8+4 hours a day is the main reason for the bad performance...

The dream senario would be to step down to 50% dayjob :D, but then I would need some money from the games...

[gpetersz]

I absolute understand your position. My indie projects crawls slowly (because it shares my free time with my "artist's career") and I sleep a lot while I travel to work... Though my daily performance did not fall too much, or at least my boss is still content with the results. I do hate my daily job though... :o

[cliffski]

I sympathise massively, and I say this as someone who is currently sat on home because he told his boss to F*** off early today and drove home. Whether or not I still have a job tommorow is a subject of speculation right now.
My advice (As someone who has quit jobs a staggering 5 times in his career so far) is this:
Have belief in yourself and your abilities. People who are insecure about what they can achieve or are worth will always be exploited and trodden on by their boss. I'd still be sawing wood if I didn't think I could do much more.
Never believe anything your boss tells you. Your boss doesn't give a damn what happens to you. You exist purely as a way to further your bosses career and the earnings of shareholders. I've believed far too much hype and nonsense from bosses over the years. There are exceptions, they are rare.
If your only problem right now is guilt about work performance rather than actual threat of losing your job, then I'd just get over it. When you have a thriving company of your own in 5 years time you'll look back on those guilty feelings and wonder what the hell you were worried about.
I say this as someone who has worked darned hard at his day job and basically been treated like dirt. Your mileage may vary...

[dntoll]

I told my boss today that Im going to apply for 75-80%, 5 min before I went home... :D
I got no real answer... but I will do it!