A question for you all
First up, the background:

Last year I quit a promising but dull career in local government for what at the time seemed like a dream job. A friend of mine who I'd met at uni seven years ago had sold his IT company and come into a serious amount of cash. He asked me to be a director of a new company he was going to form to help him invest the money, with a really good salary, pension and a 15% stake in the company. Naturally I jumped at the chance.

After a couple of months of pretty hard work, the problems started. In order to keep his remaining stock in the company he'd sold (which will be worth a fortune when it's floated in a couple of years) he was contractually obliged to do work for them. This changed from the odd task here and there to working almost full-time for his old company, totally pinned down by his 'golden handcuffs' deal.

So our new business ground to almost a complete halt, and I had less and less to do. It's now got to a situation where I'm being paid a good wage to sit on my arse and do nothing. Sometimes I go a week without speaking to my boss.

He has quite openly said that he can afford to pay me to do nothing forever, as my salary doesn't even make a dent in the interest payments on his massive amount of wonga. He'll be able to start work properly when the company is floated, but that won't be for a year or two. In the meantime I only have enough work to fill two days a week, sometimes less.

Now being (well) paid to play Rome Total War, practice guitar and post on b3ta all day, all with the approval of your boss, may sound like heaven, and for the first week or so it was. But not doing anything significant for week after week starts to eat at you. I didn't feel I was making a difference to the world, that nobody noticed me and that it didn't matter whether I lived or died. I've been unemployed before, and this situation is producing the same feelings of uselessness, just without the poverty.

I used to think that people who won the lottery and went back to their old jobs to "have something to do" were crazy, but now I think I understand.

So, with all this in mind, yesterday I applied for a local government IT job that I'd pretty much walk straight into. I'd be commuting again, losing my shareholding and working very hard for about 20% less money, while coping with the kind of dullards who infest local councils.

But if they offer me the job I think I'd accept it.

My question to you is this:

Am I completely insane?
(Axeman Jim, Mon 26 May 2008, 21:06, 27 replies)

Why not make the most of it?
Surely you have hobbies outside your job? Spend more time on them. Do up an old car/bike, learn to paint, do a course in something totally outside your field. I bet you'd soon wish you'd not took the job if you do go for a new one.
( Greenbat, Mon 26 May 2008, 21:13, closed)

Sure
I'm taking guitar lessons again, using the time to really learn to shred like Slash on speed, and I'm in 3 bands in total.

But I still feel like a bum.
(Axeman Jim, Mon 26 May 2008, 21:15, closed)

You're off your ruddy chump!
Find a project you can sink your teeth into. If you're a coder, get stuck into some Open Source stuff. If not, volunteer or something.

Absolutely do not give up a well paid job with a future (once your boss gets his finger out) to go back into IT support. Are you insane?Er... yeah, if you make that move.
(weedom, Mon 26 May 2008, 21:15, closed)

bat shit insane
use the time to do freelance gigs for extra money or do some online business stuff.
( rob, Mon 26 May 2008, 21:18, closed)

@weedom
it's not IT support, it's information management.

I'm not *that* mental...
(Axeman Jim, Mon 26 May 2008, 21:18, closed)

yes, you are insane.
Keep the current job.
Keep the current wonga.
Go and do some volunteer stuff in the name of your current/new company. Don't give them money, give them time and effort. Time and effort to which your current/new company's name will be attached.

Great PR for current company when it gets off the ground (I hear certain companies like Barclays actually encourage employees to participate in voluntary 'community' things, it looks that good), you'll be using your skills, plus, you'd feel like you were making a positive difference to people's lives and doing something worthwhile, which I doubt you'd get in local govt IT.
( Batsgirl, Mon 26 May 2008, 21:19, closed)

Yup, you're insane
And I agree with what they ^^^ said too. Find something to do during working hours which is connected with your job and make the most of it.

Any more jobs going there?
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Mon 26 May 2008, 21:29, closed)

christ
you're supposed to be a director. the title itself suggests you might be able take more than a little initiative and find some sort of direction for the organisation rather than just scratching your arse waiting to be told what to do.
( 100% kitten better than ever, Mon 26 May 2008, 21:50, closed)

@kitten
The problem is that he'll only put money into the company when he's ready to do something, which he isn't. So I can't spend any money. He has to sign the cheques and I've suggested a million things that he's too busy to approve/pay for.
(Axeman Jim, Mon 26 May 2008, 21:54, closed)

blimey..
learn some stuff. Do an MBA in the time while you wait for him. This is such a chance to learn all sorts of cool work-related stuff.

Or if you're really bored, do some charity work somewhere while you wait for him. But you're mental if you jack this in.
(inflateable, Mon 26 May 2008, 21:58, closed)

If he is a really good mate
Talk to him about it. Pin him down for at least 3 hours, preferably a whole afternoon/evening and tell him how you feel.

If he can afford to pay you to do bugger all, he can afford to ...

a) take a couple of days out to sit down with you and decide some concrete goals to lay down the foundations of the new company.

b) give you a reasonable budget to do it with.


If he is not prepared to do this, then it does not bode well for the future.

If he is prepared to listen to you and give you the resources to keep your sanity/pride and start things rolling then it sounds like a chance too good to miss.
( RadG Drinking Mojitos in the sun, Mon 26 May 2008, 22:12, closed)

This should be a platform
for *you* to develop the new company. After all, aside from the friendship, there must have been some reason why he went to you? If you've got nothing to do, go and get the work to do.
(dxg, Mon 26 May 2008, 22:20, closed)

Become
a writer. Or do an open uni course. Think about what you might want to do in the future and learn something that's constructive to that, while you have the chance.
( Madam Marlboro wonders if you've found her yet, Mon 26 May 2008, 22:26, closed)

hmm
Is there nothing that you can pursue on your own initiative to further the new company? If not sod it take in a book and stop feeling guilty
(andythepieman Is surfing the waves of indifference on, Mon 26 May 2008, 22:31, closed)

Failing him giving you a budget to work towards,
why don't you use that extra 20% that you'd lose working for the govt to fund mini projects within the company?
(Belgaer is, Mon 26 May 2008, 23:32, closed)

What they've said
You're mad to leave.

Use the time to DO stuff for the company and yourself. Find out what exactly your mate wants to do, and set about gaining the knowledge to DO it.
(buzzmong procrastinating since 1987, Mon 26 May 2008, 23:49, closed)

If you really want to leave your job
Then I'll replace you. For half the money.
( Cawl, Mon 26 May 2008, 23:54, closed)

You could
write a business plan, if there isn't one already, or take a course to improve your directorial skills.
(apeloverage committed the vile act of onanism on, Tue 27 May 2008, 5:23, closed)

yep, nutty
you have been given a gift--a comfortable living and copious free time. don't waste it by insisting that your paid work fills and defines your life. instead, fill your life with what makes you happy and whole, count your blessings, and give a little bit back in terms of charity or volunteer work. you *will* regret taking the government job.

and let's not forget about the ownership stake...
(grundig Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!, Tue 27 May 2008, 7:36, closed)

I can see where youre coming from.
If I won the lottery I am one of those that would probably go back to work. Or I'd at least start my own company and wouldnt care if it made a loss. Just to give me something to do. Just had the bank holiday weekend and yesterday I was bored stiff!! Was only off work 3 days. Now Im back at work and Im... bored and wished I was at home. But no boss in yet so posting on b3ta :D
(Miggyman, Tue 27 May 2008, 7:50, closed)

Voluntary work
Why not keep doing the job with your mate, but if there's sod all to do ask him if you can do some voluntary work with a charoty or organisation?

YOur time is talken up with rewarding work and you still get paid?
(Fuckarma was masturbating into your handbag, Tue 27 May 2008, 10:20, closed)

You're insane.
I can see where you're coming from, but I agree with all of the above responses. There's no sense in giving up a lucrative job with a good future.

Write a book.
Compose some songs.
Teach yourself another instrument.
Take up sketching.
Do some volunteer work (helping out in a charity shop once a week or something).

The thing is, you're actually in a perfect position to make a great deal of difference to the world. If you've got the time and don't need to be working every day, do some fund-raising or something. Find a charity that you really believe in.

If you take a pay cut to work longer hours, and lose the chance of being able to do any of the things I've just suggested, then you really are insane.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Tue 27 May 2008, 10:34, closed)

Thanks chaps
Some good points to think about there.

To those who have basically said I'm lazy and should develop the company - do you honestly think that I would be considering doing what I'm doing if I hadn't exhausted those sorts of options?

I think perhaps one point that I didn't make clear in the OP was that I'm also losing faith in my boss and his ability to keep his promises. At the beginning he told me that I would have "more work than I could possibly do" and that he'd be involved full-time. Now at the time he said that he must have known about his obligations to his old company. So either he was lying to me or hadn't thought things through properly - neither is a good basis on which to jack in your career.

But I do take the point about finding more of an outlet in a way that can help people and give my life a bit more meaning without jacking in the money and (somewhat vague) future prospects. I'm already taking a part-time MA, but there's the prospect of getting involved in a couple of community websites that would help, as well as my writing.

So thanks all, if anyone's interested I'll let you know how things go.
(Axeman Jim, Tue 27 May 2008, 12:44, closed)

my two cents
I think it's better to take the job! If you get the opportunity to take it, it's probably better. When the guy gets the company up and running he may decide he wants different people as he's changed his mind about the direction of the company or something, and then you'd be out of a job, when you could have had one
(deadly_sinners, Tue 27 May 2008, 13:17, closed)

So let me get this straight.
You're employed, you have lots of free time, and you want to give it up for 20% less money just because you feel you're not making a significant contribution to the world? You sir, are completely insane!!!

If you’re worried about making a contribution to the world, spend the free time writing a book, working on an open-source project, or even bringing to life that idea for a computer-game you’ve got floating round your head or anything that will make you feel like you’re making a contribution (even posting on b3ta gives you an opportunity to put a smile on people’s faces). This is a pretty unique opportunity – don’t waste it!

If you later get given some work to do and you don’t like the direction the company is heading in, you can always resign later. At least you won’t have a gap on your CV.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Tue 27 May 2008, 14:03, closed)

yes, you are, but I understand the brain munging
do your best to take advantage of the time and money, do courses and shit "continuing professional development", even stuff not directly related to what your intended function will be, OU/local college/uni springs to mind, you can always get extra qualifications, and you never know they could help with professional memberships and networking that would be beneficial to your company

in the position you're in you really got as much "free" (as it were) work for yourself as you want to make, and it's a really handy position to be in, if motivated

but local authorities? "not my job" "eee, do you know what 'him' just said about 'her'" and all that ongoing juvenile crap that feels like it's a fucking school for your working life? how many years is that? 30+? (fuck me I hate those kind 'offices' with the god damn lifers at the same grade forever with annual increments, meh)

the lottery folks are just bored and have probably never really had enough time for themselves, especially if they had a crappy job+shit commute where they were no doubt had a fair bit of their soul burned out, maybe by working for the council :D

one thing I've learned about opportunities is that if you bin them, they really stop turning up.

Good luck in what you decide.

Also, got any vacancies available? :D
( discomeats This canoe, Wed 28 May 2008, 21:44, closed)

I don't..
Know what sector you're in but there are always creative ways of working towards the company getting going in more of a direction that will keep your time filled - and obviously develop the comapany...

I truely understand your brain drain atm, it can be truely disheartening - but although you say you have exhausted all possible outlets for the business, I truely doubt you have...

Theres always a millino things that should be done... from developing the market sales wise for the future, brand comapny development - to creating or inventing new products/services.

As a 15% stake holder you could turn the whole enterprise into a quite a nice little earner in a matter of a few years, but also have developed a strategic plan for when the boss man is fully on board.

I think that half of the problem is that your boss is probably up to his eyeballs with the other company and simply doesnt have time to think about what you're doing... so I think its initiative time...

Hell.. open the gambit here - we can all brain storm...

I think local government jobs will see quite a change in the next few years - dont they operate a last in first out attitude to employees - either way, they arent likely to remain as lucrative as they have been in the past.

So I say during your 9 to 5 put your thinknig cap on, but really appreciate the time you have, and look forward to when the green light stops flashing... :D
(feedingtimeatthezoo day 1 of his bikini diet started, Thu 29 May 2008, 14:22, closed)