I know it's been a while since I last wrote something, there's been a lot going on in the last 18 months that made sure that "down time" is as rare a commodity as platinum is to gold.
However, I will try to summarize things down, if not just to document them for my own reference.
I held two full-time jobs in 2012, one was consultancy and the other a regular post.
I took a step in that direction, against common sense and advises from family and friends, because I thought the pay will afford me higher savings chances while at the same time I'd be personally see if I can manage more than one jobs. I was curious as to how other folks can hold down 2 even 3 jobs and wanted to see for myself what's the real story about. The other job is a regular local job here in Manila from one of the world's top companies in technology.
The consultancy job is telecommuting work, but the challenge is around availability (24x7) while the regular job is a straight 9-5 deal that requires you to be present in the office premises.
Right off the bat, I should have known I was making a grave mistake. But, being the stubborn, cocky, highly motivated prick that I am, I thought I could make it work; besides, the money was good!
I slowly regretted the decision since the both jobs are critical roles, meaning it demanded a lot of everything, time, resources, ability, etc. I failed to make concessions early on and ended up making a half-baked decision at the last minute.
The setup does afford me better financial returns, however, it took away a basic commodity that we all thought so little of nowadays - TIME.
The work literally demanded my every waking (including sleeping) moment - and since the regular job requires me to be present in the office during operational hours, I had to "develop" personal scenarios in order for me to be allowed to telecommute, since it would be odd to hold meetings in the office for the other job. I learned that not only is it a statistical impossibility to be able to manage 2 meetings at the same time without skipping a beat, it is also just damn to hard to concentrate when 2 complete groups for 2 complete topics are talking at the same time.
Keeping tabs of two major activities at the same time is hard enough, but being in 2 different meetings at the same time (remote meetings, one earpiece per ear), while discussing two very different matters in front of 2 very different global teams is next to impossible. I remember forgetting to mute the other mic while I was talking in the other meeting --- I'll leave the details to you folks on how I explained myself to the mostly confused and unsettled audience on the other end where I forgot to mute.
I honestly tried to hold out as long as I can. I even went as far as to "reprogram" my entire body clock just to meet the demands of the two jobs. I had to learn how to live by with just 2-4 hours of sleep everyday (including weekends), take 5 minute lunches, and 7 minute showers. There is absolutely no holidays, no vacation leaves, and no sick leaves.
After 10 months of "surviving", the effects on my self-inflicted punishment started to show. I no longer feel that there is any value to what I was doing. I was mostly cranky (at work and home) and find focusing on even minor things at work difficult. I was making crappy decisions left and right both personal and professional. I think the exhaustion just finally took a hold of me around that month, plus I was also running out of alibis to tell the office why I still can't come in during regular office hours even after being on medical leave for a couple of months.
Shortly around the 11th month, driven mostly by fatigue and low morale, I made a hasty decision to finally call it quits with the regular job I was holding, based irresponsibly from the compensation (the remote consultancy work was paying me better).
I though I would be seeing happy times - big f#cking mistake!
Around January 2013, things became financial difficult for the consultancy job. I was brought into a meeting with the executives where they revealed that the company is in the red, financially. Most of the clients were are managing is having financial woes. One was even at the brink of filling for bankruptcy. It was clear that time that I would regret choosing this one from the regular job.
Surely enough, company executive decided to bring in "experts" and my role was the first one to be "reviewed". Having sensed the inevitable, I opted to part ways with that company but managed to secure a deal to safeguard the jobs of the team I was working with. I felt I got a bad deal shortly afterwards, cause then things started to bounce back - the client I was managing updated their books and managed to pay some of its debts. However, I made a big issue before I left, citing that the "experts" they brought in are not just costly, but incompetent since they recommendations are the same as the ones that I am already executing. I just lacked the "sales" skills to bring home the bacon.
In any case, I did manage to get another job last March just before leaving. This one is a regular post job. I thought it'll have to make do since I had to find something quick to augment the sudden loss of income. It was just supposed to be an "in-between" thing since the compensation was grossly disproportionate to what I needed to finance my requirements. I am however thankful for this job. I felt that my expertise in the field of technology has finally been applied for a greater purpose. I actually became part of some thing that I can consider a legacy as the last project has impacts on the national (and even international) level.
Don't get me wrong, I never stopped looking for better job offers. As I write this, I am scheduled to come in for a job offer tomorrow. Honestly, I am still thinking about doing the same "2-jobs-at-the-same-time" deal if it is indeed possible. However, I'm not sure whether I want to go through all that drama again.
I'll try to post any development on this soon.
