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Additional Posts
Anyone else working through the holidays?
Where do you go for career advice?
That DCA morning grind
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Yeah :) I switched firms from one where I was traveling to the other side of the country every other week (Sun - Fri) to a firm where we make heavy use of video conferencing. I might have one trip every 2 months now and that’s probably overstating it. I thought I would miss having airline & hotel statuses/points but being able to sit on my couch every night and read a book while my dog cuddles next to me, my husband watches TV, & my kid does her homework at the coffee table is so much better than the “perks” of business travel.
Literally the name DXC gives me PTSD flashbacks. Worked with them as a counterpart for a while. Pure misery. Everywhere there was pretty miserable too
Haven’t had client travel suspended yet, but I thought it would happen this last Saturday and I saw myself smile so big and my eyes light up so much on the FaceTime call with a friend when talking about it. I miss my industry life when I had such a fulfilling and enriching life outside of work - sports teams, dinners with friends, engaging hobbies, etc. we have seasons and reasons in our lives. I make 3x as much as what I made a couple years ago and I’m (almost) doing some of the same work. The salary is helping me right now big time so the travel (I’m single) is fine for me. But I would love a long local project lol
Exact same situation. I don’t mind the travel (I still find it rather exciting actually!) because the salary is really helping me and my partner right now, and where we live now isn’t home (no office there, and closest one wasn’t recruiting). Having a mix of local and travel projects has helped massively
little things that I realize I absolutely love and don’t want to miss out on anymore. For instance:
- Attending a PTA meeting and met my kids teachers volunteering for the spring fling
- Picking up my niece and daughter from soccer practice and sneaking them a McDonald’s treat on the way home on a Tuesday
- Meeting colleagues at my firm’s local office who, it turns out, don’t live far from me and discussing local issues
- The smell of the salt air coming thru my ac vents on the way into the office in the morning
- My spouse singing in the kitchen making breakfast
- Helping my kids with their homework after school
- Walking the dog after dinner down to the dock
- Noticing how old said dog has gotten and feeling sad I’ve missed so much time with her
- The way the sunlight hits my kitchen at dawn and my sunroom at dusk
- Being a member of a community again rather than a transient traveler with no roots
- Eating home cooked dinners and talking about our days
- The headache of traffic and the expense of fuel
- Leaving the office at a healthy time and not feeling guilty about it because I have people and things that await me
There’s no place like home. I’m not looking forward to going back to the Mon-Thurs travel. In fact this experience tells me it’s time to go if I have to keep doing it. I can’t keep missing out on life to sit in hotels and airports, huddled needlessly in client conference rooms in another city every day.
I love my clients, I can sell, I can drive change and I can get a team to solve big problems. But if this is the life I have to live to be in consulting, I don’t want to be in it any more.
Is anyone else feeling this way?
MDA- the reason I hear cited the most for this lifestyle is “the client needs to see us on site” (ok but that doesn’t need to be every day and every person) “we want them to think of us an extension of their team” (their team is oftentimes scattered) and “we want them to be able to walk down the hall and talk to us or just start whiteboarding on a whim” (ok so you wanna start vibing out with your client? There are collaboration tools for that like jamboard, zoom, bluejeans, and webex and Teams has this capability built in.)
Quick he knows too much get him back on the road ASAP!
Maybe this explains Accenture's botched-up response to date. They're scared many will have this same epiphany.
I did, about a year ago. I’ve been trying to figure out and execute my next move ever since. I have now, I’m home 100% and I’m so, so much happier.
I switched to something internal temporarily that will allow me to work on something I’m passionate about on the side. During this time I’m figuring out how I want to proceed once the internal thing is done (we’ll see how the side thing goes, looking into some other options).
Love this post. Thinking many of these same things. That's the problem with the rat race, at the end of it you're still a rat.
I jumped and get this on so many levels. The grind / lifestyle is addicting but man I love my doggie. I don’t know if he feels the same...
Is this grandpa or your dog
I had men break up with me quoting consulting lifestyle, and went on a month long vacation and realized the financial security I get is at the expense of a shitty life I spend in airports, rental cars, hotels and sometimes conniving colleagues. Not worth it. Come what may I’m not ok with one more early morning ride to the airport and wondering when will my life get better.
I feel you
Been in consulting for 1.5 years and that’s the reason why I’m leaving, watching my Managers FaceTime their kids in the morning and evenings with homework help, bedtime checklists, teeth brushing (young kids) is not my kind of life I want to live
These are all wonderful moments to be treasured. Check back in 2 weeks when you get that travel itch.
Late Sunday or Early Monday, depending on where client is
Someone report this guy to HR
Yep, can’t appreciate this post more as I get to spend more time with this guy and my partner
No, we had a pep rally this afternoon with Dr. Oz. Our dear leaders say everything is fine, nothing to worry about...just get on the plane
Glad everyone is realising this is what you have been missing.
It seems like most folks are planning their exit. I am actually missing being on the road and hating the gridlock
OP's post makes me smile, but I'm with you, M2. I've designed my life around the assumption of travel - for example, having an apartment I use more as a storage space than a place I enjoy being in for much more than sleep. I love my roommates, but I think they've also gotten used to me being present just on weekends. It's a little jarring being back for me and for them, and I'm looking forward to being on the road again.
I wonder if you (we all) could travel three weeks out of the month and then 2 nights of the week would we achieve the balance we all long for.
Thoughts?
How many extra nights at home per month is that? 2? Or are you saying travel 2 nights a week for 3 weeks per month?
Is it possible to ask for a local project? I traveled for 6 months and I became severely depressed. I was honest with my firms leadership about my situation and they were extremely accommodating. I’ve been local ever since and have been promoted. Your job may work with you
Where are you based out if I may ask?
You should watch “Click” starring Adam Sandler. Is this a comedy or drama? I’ll let you decide.
Could not agree more
Does PWC have a travel ban?