Why keep gambling.
13 replies (most recent on top)
All you retired people thank your lucky stars. The company gets worse every day. Be glad you are gone.
Such long-winded talk from successful retirees.
It is very encouraging.
I think it worth sticking around just so I can also catch my breath as I expire.
Thanks, achacosos. Or the bengalaru equivalent.
Just bc your boss ranks you doesn’t mean in reality that’s where you are. Yes it’s a game. You cannot be naive and think that if you perform well that you will be ranked well. No. First of all you have to make your work known early to your boss. Let them know who you are helping as well “oh Bill asked me to take a look at his simulation.” Smile as much as possible and make sure to be friendly to all managers. You have to self promote; get your name out there. When you see another boss around, be sure to introduce yourself and smile. Ask them about themselves and remember it so you can bring it up next time you see them. Then don’t make any major work mistakes like shutting a job or plant down for days. The quality of your work does not out your ahead, as long as you go along, are happy, and don’t make mistakes you are good. People don’t like resistance. If the boss thinks you are a resistant person that means more work to them and they don’t want you around. Don’t believe vibes form your boss. Juts because the boss smiles, jokes, laughs with you for at me a they like you or even want you around. Don’t believe in yourself but in the work you put in which I outline in the sentences above. Perception management is all ranking is. Make sure you look good, are not low or high on the boss’s radar and be friendly and you are golden.
@1lfn+19kxzYRz Amen to that. We are not promised tomorrow, and if we get tomorrow we are not promised it will be good.
Like you, my life was changed all in “one hour” to use a phrase. In a weeks time I had lost a family member that was devastating and also my job. This was followed up with the loss of another frankly member a couple of weeks later. It resulted in me losing everything. I was very good at my job and enjoyed it. I was doing everything right. I am still recovering and nothing has or ever will be the same again. I lost everything, everything except four people in my life . I’m basically alone to this day. Financially, morally, planning wise I thought everything was good to go. I was looking forward to the future.
Blindsided out of my control.
Learn to code and how to build solar panels. Going green, baby. And not just in my nose.
Impressed that you got so many senseless thoughts in one post. You have no idea how long you will need to work or will even be able to work. Life is full of surprises, some great and some really bad. You seem to think you are invincible. Think again. My life turned upside down in about 5 seconds with an accident. What you make today is of little consequence compared to figuring out what you want to make in 10 years and developing a plan to get there. Living in the moment is for children, not adults. Health and youth are nice, but you would have to be naive or shallow to think those are measures of a successful life. And lots of “old folks” accomplished more in their careers than you can even fathom, and they didn’t do that by being a yes man. You are insulting and dismissive, but that’s pretty common these days. Most of us seasoned folks look back and cringe at just how unprepared we were for life coming out of college, as well as how what we thought was wisdom and knowledge turned out to be exactly the opposite because we lacked the experience and maturity that life provides. What really works for younger folks is to listen and learn a lot, and speak sparingly until you have a clue. You are not there yet. But no offense.
Whats point of bringing up stuff from 30 years ago when clearly XOM has gone through drastic changes in the last few years. The whole industry has, but moreso XOM in particular.
Just pull up the XOM stock price chart and set time range to max. That ship has sailed.
I hope you don't break that hip while gliding. It won't get back together. My dad, passed away at 74 after he fell while hiking in Appalachian trails. So YMMV, good luck.
work till 65 because there is no reason to give my life for a company and then chew on prunes for last 10 years of my life.
Ha! You are only living until you are 75 and chewing on prunes after retirement. Your expectations are very low indeed. I am approaching 73 and enjoy fixed wing guiding in Nellysforth, VA among other activities (including skying in Wintergreen, Va.)
Maybe some like chewing prunes and dying young. Not me. Ha!
My plans include living forever. So far I’m on track.
Okay here are my thoughts: My goal is not to die rich but to enjoy my youth and work.
- Target getting out of the regular workforce 15 years early. I am never going to work till 65 because there is no reason to give my life for a company and then chew on prunes for last 10 years of my life. The party at 65 is not really a party, it is more like Luby's at 5 pm, or celebrating your hip replacement.
- All that matters is how much you are paid today, not 10 years from now. If your pay is not on par with what you can get anywhere else, you need to leave.
- Health and youth are the rarest treasures you have. Don't give it up for cheap to some weird boss or a blood s—ing company. Don't compromise. Too many does and the company knows it.
- No disrespect to older folks. What worked for you for being a no question asking company man, will not work for the younger folks. Probably we value our time more than you ever did.
During my many years with ExxonMobil I have known plenty who have had successful careers and retired happy. But, as someone pointed out below, if you don’t feel like a team player and your contributions aren’t significant then EM has probably already identified as expendable (via the many formal AND informal evaluation processes). In this case, you’ll never make retirement; it just won’t happen. Work somewhere where you feel good about it and can make a real contribution.
Be careful, do not overrate yourself. There is always a few that had no clue that they s—ed at their job (but, believe me, your co-workers notice). You need to be smarter than that and leave on you own schedule not EM’s.
Someone once posted that ‘you should never stop looking for the next job’. That is really excellent advice.
I did it. 35 years was enough. 65 years old when I retired. My super asked me to stay on a few more years but my wife (of 50 years) had a better idea. I went with her idea. Now, for the next +20 years (fingers crossed), life will be a party.
The pension is real nice indeed. Maxing out 401K savings plus moderately agreessive 401k investments over a period of many years, allowed my 401K to reach levels I never thought possible, not in my wildest dreams. Wow.
It's interesting, I never really thought about ranking. Year after year, I filled out the stupid form and my super and I would have a discussion (I had many sups during my 35 years). A complete wast of time. But I played the fckng game.
If you can't fit in and don't fill a real need, EM will cut you sooner or later. You'll never make the pension. Just leave. There are plenty of others ready to take over you 6 figure salary.
Every single year the PIP becomes harder to survive. Just. Numbers game. Do the math.