lukewarmfusion's Journal: Goodbye cruel stability

On Monday of this week, I gave my two weeks' notice. I gave my bosses a letter announcing my departure from the company and stating my reasons for doing so... I was surprised that they had less of a reaction. I felt like they might have known - or at least suspected something - but in the meeting they were clearly knocked off guard. There was no yelling or crying... they didn't seem mad or upset. But they didn't seem to expect it at all.

I told them that I am starting my own company, but I played it down - that it was really just a way to pay the bills while I tried to figure out my life. I also told them the name of my new company, in hopes that I would get a little contract work from them after I'm gone.

In the meantime, they are understandably concerned with getting things finished up before I go. This means completing projects as fast as possible, documenting the things that only I know how to do, and helping to make the transition to an eventual replacement.

The funny thing to me is that there's no way I could do all of this in two weeks. I spent this past week finishing up one project, and have another full week's work on another. That leaves no time whatsoever for documentation, training, whatever. They're shooting themselves in the foot.

One of the ways to obtain job security is to make sure that you're the only person in the world who knows what in the hell you do. As a web programmer, server administrator, security consultant, network manager, etc., there are thousands of folks out there that could do my job. But in a company of five, where I am the only person capable of doing these things, it is imperative that they find a replacement quickly. For the money they're paying me, I seriously doubt that they will find anyone with these skills in the next week. It can all be learned, of course, but it can't be learned in a matter of days. Before I leave, I am going to tell them that I'll be willing to help out - contracts, training, consulting, whatever - but I will charge them. They won't like it, but they'll take my help because they're screwing themselves over now.

All in all, I'm anxious to get started on my own. I'm looking forward to long nights of work and sleeping in until nine. And to the ulcers that come with knowing that your next house payment relies on whether you get this contract. But mostly, I'm looking forward to doing good work again.