How have I ended up as a project manager?
Discussion
I’m 28 and have been with a software company since leaving university, I have gone from a support role to a technical role and now I am a project manager.
Now I’ve been managing smaller projects for over a year and yes I have mostly enjoyed it but for some reason my employer has seen fit to hand me one of the company’s largest ever contracts at £1.1 million (estimate 2 year duration) and I have no idea why.
I’ve been warned by our most senior PM that I am going to have to eat sleep and breathe this project, and work evenings and weekends.
Obviously I’m flattered and I’m going to give it my best shot but at the same time I am not sure if it is the road I want to do go down.
I enjoyed my previous technical role because it was decent pay, I got told what to do, I did it and then I went home on the dot at 5pm. Minimal stress and a good work life balance.
With the project management I have to engage my brain a bit more, step outside my comfort zone, and generally pester people into doing the job they are assigned to, and then generally pester them some more when they negate to tell me they've done it.
That latter point is more my main grievance as although my communication skills are excellent I dislike managing people especially petulant colleagues, I'm also a bit of an introvert which doesn't help.
Anyway, I'm just going to man up about that last bit, I was just looking for some advice or stories from other PM’s.
Now I’ve been managing smaller projects for over a year and yes I have mostly enjoyed it but for some reason my employer has seen fit to hand me one of the company’s largest ever contracts at £1.1 million (estimate 2 year duration) and I have no idea why.
I’ve been warned by our most senior PM that I am going to have to eat sleep and breathe this project, and work evenings and weekends.
Obviously I’m flattered and I’m going to give it my best shot but at the same time I am not sure if it is the road I want to do go down.
I enjoyed my previous technical role because it was decent pay, I got told what to do, I did it and then I went home on the dot at 5pm. Minimal stress and a good work life balance.
With the project management I have to engage my brain a bit more, step outside my comfort zone, and generally pester people into doing the job they are assigned to, and then generally pester them some more when they negate to tell me they've done it.
That latter point is more my main grievance as although my communication skills are excellent I dislike managing people especially petulant colleagues, I'm also a bit of an introvert which doesn't help.
Anyway, I'm just going to man up about that last bit, I was just looking for some advice or stories from other PM’s.
Ollie123 said:
I enjoyed my previous technical role because it was decent pay, I got told what to do, I did it and then I went home on the dot at 5pm. Minimal stress and a good work life balance.
I guess everyone is different but that's my idea of hell.Take the positives - they clearly think you're capable of doing it.
Or they think you meet their minimum requirements and they do not want to pay extra.
Stick to what you have, a good work life balance with manageable stress.
Eat, breath, sleep the project with loads of unpaid over time!?
Tell them to take a hike.
Without being deliberately offensive, they see you as a capable guy, but a bit of a mug who will "step outside of the box-comfort zone" and work like a dog for nothing.
Do not be conned by the "career enhancer" carrot
Stick to what you have, a good work life balance with manageable stress.
Eat, breath, sleep the project with loads of unpaid over time!?
Tell them to take a hike.
Without being deliberately offensive, they see you as a capable guy, but a bit of a mug who will "step outside of the box-comfort zone" and work like a dog for nothing.
Do not be conned by the "career enhancer" carrot
Edited by SirBlade on Sunday 4th October 12:20
SirBlade said:
Or they think you meet their minimum requirements and they do not want to pay extra.
Stick to what you have, a good work life balance with manageable stress.
Eat, breath, sleep the project with loads of unpaid over time!?
Tell them to take a hike.
Without being deliberately offensive, they see you as a capable guy, but a bit of a mug who will "step outside of the box-comfort zone" and work like a dog for nothing.
Do not be conned by the "career enhancer" carrot
Ha, why I do thank you for the honest feedback.Stick to what you have, a good work life balance with manageable stress.
Eat, breath, sleep the project with loads of unpaid over time!?
Tell them to take a hike.
Without being deliberately offensive, they see you as a capable guy, but a bit of a mug who will "step outside of the box-comfort zone" and work like a dog for nothing.
Do not be conned by the "career enhancer" carrot
What is funny though is that I am infamous in our office for not doing unpaid overtime, unless it really is mission critical (hardly ever) then I just get up and go the moment the clock strikes 5.
Our MD said what I give to the company (excellent work and consistent dependable results) I take away (by not doing any overtime).
Anyways, salaries are reviewed next month but do not come into effect until the new year. I'll put on a keen face and see what happens.
If it really is one of the company's largest ever contracts they presumably wouldn't risk it by handing it someone they thought would screw it up.
The work life balance part is something that of course comes down to personal preference, but I'd take the fact they want you to do it as a complement - if you want to be the sort who just gets told what to do and then f
k off at 5pm then fair enough I guess.
The work life balance part is something that of course comes down to personal preference, but I'd take the fact they want you to do it as a complement - if you want to be the sort who just gets told what to do and then f
k off at 5pm then fair enough I guess.Hoofy said:
It's typically the way to climb the career ladder and make more money. However, if you're more hands-on, you may actually prefer to not climb the ladder and make more money - it might not be better for your wallet but it will be better for your health.
I had the usual post graduate enthusiasm of wanting to do well, climb the ladder and earn more money.But now at 28 I just feel jaded about the whole thing. Maybe I have become a bit of a bum.
Ollie123 said:
Hoofy said:
It's typically the way to climb the career ladder and make more money. However, if you're more hands-on, you may actually prefer to not climb the ladder and make more money - it might not be better for your wallet but it will be better for your health.
I had the usual post graduate enthusiasm of wanting to do well, climb the ladder and earn more money.But now at 28 I just feel jaded about the whole thing. Maybe I have become a bit of a bum.
If you lack enthusiasm now, wait until you're over 40. You're gonna be truly hating working. And you won't have much money either. Sure, money doesn't bring happiness but it brings options. Like options to live comfortably without working your arse off in your 40s because you've lost enthusiasm for your career!
Right now, I'm doing something I love; the money isn't great but I can afford to choose to do what I want (money buys options). People often say to me that it sounds like I've retired simply because I don't have to chase money any more.
I’m glad I’ve posted made this thread because during the course of today I’ve done some thinking. I was told to start work on this new project this weekend and I haven’t, what does that tell you? 
But now at 28 I just feel jaded about the whole thing. Maybe I have become a bit of a bum.Your age is one issue I'd be concerned with - simply because at that age you should still be full of enthusiasm, energy and a desire for greatness, willing to work your arse off to rake in as much cash as possible.
If you lack enthusiasm now, wait until you're over 40. You're gonna be truly hating working. And you won't have much money either. Sure, money doesn't bring happiness but it brings options. Like options to live comfortably without working your arse off in your 40s because you've lost enthusiasm for your career!
Right now, I'm doing something I love; the money isn't great but I can afford to choose to do what I want (money buys options). People often say to me that it sounds like I've retired simply because I don't have to chase money any more.Thank you for your point of view, however I completely disagree.
In previous years I have worked so hard and to some degree alienated myself from friends and family because I was always working.
The result is I'm now in a strong financial position but I’ve learnt that possessions are immaterial, life is for living and not working more than 35 hours a week.
Hoofy said:
Ollie123 said:
Hoofy said:
It's typically the way to climb the career ladder and make more money. However, if you're more hands-on, you may actually prefer to not climb the ladder and make more money - it might not be better for your wallet but it will be better for your health.
I had the usual post graduate enthusiasm of wanting to do well, climb the ladder and earn more money.But now at 28 I just feel jaded about the whole thing. Maybe I have become a bit of a bum.
If you lack enthusiasm now, wait until you're over 40. You're gonna be truly hating working. And you won't have much money either. Sure, money doesn't bring happiness but it brings options. Like options to live comfortably without working your arse off in your 40s because you've lost enthusiasm for your career!
Right now, I'm doing something I love; the money isn't great but I can afford to choose to do what I want (money buys options). People often say to me that it sounds like I've retired simply because I don't have to chase money any more.
In previous years I have worked so hard and to some degree alienated myself from friends and family because I was always working.
The result is I'm now in a strong financial position but I’ve learnt that possessions are immaterial, life is for living and not working more than 35 hours a week.
So what do you plan to say to your boss tomorrow? It could get interesting if you turn the project down, maybe time to move on?
I went through a similar situation years ago and the one thing you cannot get back is lost time with family. That is one of my biggest regrets in life. As long as you are ok financially they should be your priority in my view.
Good luck anyway.
I went through a similar situation years ago and the one thing you cannot get back is lost time with family. That is one of my biggest regrets in life. As long as you are ok financially they should be your priority in my view.
Good luck anyway.
Ollie123 said:
In previous years I have worked so hard and to some degree alienated myself from friends and family because I was always working.
Ollie123 said:
What is funny though is that I am infamous in our office for not doing unpaid overtime, unless it really is mission critical (hardly ever) then I just get up and go the moment the clock strikes 5.
??dave123456 said:
Ollie123 said:
In previous years I have worked so hard and to some degree alienated myself from friends and family because I was always working.
Ollie123 said:
What is funny though is that I am infamous in our office for not doing unpaid overtime, unless it really is mission critical (hardly ever) then I just get up and go the moment the clock strikes 5.
??Ollie123 said:
dave123456 said:
Ollie123 said:
In previous years I have worked so hard and to some degree alienated myself from friends and family because I was always working.
Ollie123 said:
What is funny though is that I am infamous in our office for not doing unpaid overtime, unless it really is mission critical (hardly ever) then I just get up and go the moment the clock strikes 5.
??Ollie123 said:
Our MD said what I give to the company (excellent work and consistent dependable results)
Good. That's what you're paid for, that's what you're delivering. Sounds even like you're exceeding expectations.Ollie123 said:
I take away (by not doing any overtime).
No. fk that. Tell him to fk right off with that comment. He isn't paying you for that extra, you don't want any part of that extra, you're already delivering on your commitment to him and his business. fk that mealy-mouthed passive-aggressive manipulative st.Ollie123 said:
I’m glad I’ve posted made this thread because during the course of today I’ve done some thinking. I was told to start work on this new project this weekend and I haven’t, what does that tell you?
But now at 28 I just feel jaded about the whole thing. Maybe I have become a bit of a bum.Your age is one issue I'd be concerned with - simply because at that age you should still be full of enthusiasm, energy and a desire for greatness, willing to work your arse off to rake in as much cash as possible.
If you lack enthusiasm now, wait until you're over 40. You're gonna be truly hating working. And you won't have much money either. Sure, money doesn't bring happiness but it brings options. Like options to live comfortably without working your arse off in your 40s because you've lost enthusiasm for your career!
Right now, I'm doing something I love; the money isn't great but I can afford to choose to do what I want (money buys options). People often say to me that it sounds like I've retired simply because I don't have to chase money any more.Thank you for your point of view, however I completely disagree.
In previous years I have worked so hard and to some degree alienated myself from friends and family because I was always working.
The result is I'm now in a strong financial position but I’ve learnt that possessions are immaterial, life is for living and not working more than 35 hours a week.
My point still stands. How strong a position are you in? Could you really take a pay cut tomorrow? Mortgage paid off?Hoofy said:
Ollie123 said:
Hoofy said:
It's typically the way to climb the career ladder and make more money. However, if you're more hands-on, you may actually prefer to not climb the ladder and make more money - it might not be better for your wallet but it will be better for your health.
I had the usual post graduate enthusiasm of wanting to do well, climb the ladder and earn more money.But now at 28 I just feel jaded about the whole thing. Maybe I have become a bit of a bum.
If you lack enthusiasm now, wait until you're over 40. You're gonna be truly hating working. And you won't have much money either. Sure, money doesn't bring happiness but it brings options. Like options to live comfortably without working your arse off in your 40s because you've lost enthusiasm for your career!
Right now, I'm doing something I love; the money isn't great but I can afford to choose to do what I want (money buys options). People often say to me that it sounds like I've retired simply because I don't have to chase money any more.
In previous years I have worked so hard and to some degree alienated myself from friends and family because I was always working.
The result is I'm now in a strong financial position but I’ve learnt that possessions are immaterial, life is for living and not working more than 35 hours a week.
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