Harry,
I can’t weigh in on whether or not SA is a good place to live, as I’m not familiar with that area.
What I can say is that any man with a bit of a “type A” personality will always look for the next challenge after a period of contentment. Given that, you have to wonder if you won’t be in this position again relatively soon. From what you said, it isn’t a matter of when you leave your company, but when.
If you aren’t entirely comfortable with San Antonio, it is possible it will grow on you. Also, you have to consider the growth opportunities with the new company. Perhaps after a year you will get more flexibility? You can broach the topic of working remotely say twice a month with the new boss, it isn’t unreasonable as long as it is equitable.
I’d vote do it, but that is just based on the general sense of the situation.
I can’t weigh in on whether or not SA is a good place to live, as I’m not familiar with that area.
What I can say is that any man with a bit of a “type A” personality will always look for the next challenge after a period of contentment. Given that, you have to wonder if you won’t be in this position again relatively soon. From what you said, it isn’t a matter of when you leave your company, but when.
If you aren’t entirely comfortable with San Antonio, it is possible it will grow on you. Also, you have to consider the growth opportunities with the new company. Perhaps after a year you will get more flexibility? You can broach the topic of working remotely say twice a month with the new boss, it isn’t unreasonable as long as it is equitable.
I’d vote do it, but that is just based on the general sense of the situation.
Networking has always been an important component in the business world, but IMO never more so than today.
Per your mention of long hours working alone at home - yes, you still interact via phone & cyber but face to face interactions and working alongside others in physical proximity introduces multiple dynamics.
These dynamics are sure to energize you and create positive personal expansion that would likely not happen were you to choose to simply repeat grooved in job tasks for the next ?? years.
I worked mostly by myself and from home w my gardening biz/online education for nearly 15 years. It was great and helped me meet people via phone/cyber nationwide and in multiple countries. But my active face to face was with a core group of maybe 75-100 clients.
2 1/2 years ago I began constructing a network of outdoor service business owners for who I provide an outsource advertising/sales service. We started with the three of us and now have nine owners and 26 people overall. I get to engage not only w the owners but meet 40+ new potential clients every week. It has almost doubled my net income and has been incredibly refreshing. The expansion in personal/business relationships in just these 30 months is indescribably awesome.
Two cents......plus a nickel
BEST to you however you elect to proceed
It sounds like you are REALLY happy with your current situation, and the only upside to the new offer is financial. It sounds like you are doing well already, and have the potential to do much better when/if the Ownership stake comes, which again you make it seem pretty likely. You also have lots of negatives about San Antonio based on your own experiences, so it's not likely that's gonna change.
Extra money can't buy happiness, unless it's totally life changing money, which this doesn't sound like, and again, it seems you are really happy. Tough choice, but it seems you're trying to talk yourself into staying, so that's probably what you want to do deep down. Good luck whichever way you go.
Extra money can't buy happiness, unless it's totally life changing money, which this doesn't sound like, and again, it seems you are really happy. Tough choice, but it seems you're trying to talk yourself into staying, so that's probably what you want to do deep down. Good luck whichever way you go.
BOL Harry, I would never trade working from home and being one of the top players in your company to doing 40 hours in some office with some people you dont have an idea if you'll get along with... from what we have spoken before sounds you are financially super stable and also, your current employers have made very good efforts to keep you and to help you have a better life, that respect and that appreciation, that is worth way more than any sign bonus or tax cuts. I wish you the best, the loyal and respectable thing would be staying IMO.
Really difficult to project how you would enjoy living in a place you have never lived.
Even if you visited many times.
Yes I've only visited San Antonio and Birmingham so I trully don't know for 100% fact which of those places I would rather live.
I have visited the place where I live now many times before moving where I live and my honest opinion was that I thought I was gonna hate it but it turns out I don't. I love it here.
And if memory serves me correctly I think I remember you saying you was dreading moving to Birmingham back when you lived in Chicago.
Turns out you liked it after all.
Hard to judge how a places lives vs how it visits.
So with all this being said I would almost make my decision 100% based on the job itself and nothing else.
Many people in your shoes would be hand tied for an advancement like this with wife and kids.
This could be your last chance for upward mobility without having to bring many other factors into the picture.
Just imagine having this same decision with a wife and 2 kids?
Many people in your shoes would be hand tied for an advancement like this with wife and kids.
This could be your last chance for upward mobility without having to bring many other factors into the picture.
Just imagine having this same decision with a wife and 2 kids?
I've done all the financial breakdowns.
Including tax break, increased base and bonus at new job, and increased employer 401k match...it represents a 39% increase in take home pay and a 38% increase in annual 401k contribution.
This is excluding the signing bonus.
So it's not a small difference.
Including tax break, increased base and bonus at new job, and increased employer 401k match...it represents a 39% increase in take home pay and a 38% increase in annual 401k contribution.
This is excluding the signing bonus.
So it's not a small difference.
More to the original query, I would confidently submit that Happiness is a state of mind that - with practice (if needed) - can be cultivated at will regardless of one's environment.
So if you one who more often chooses happiness, you will find it just as easy to feel that way in Texas as you do now in Birmingham.
All other 'fears' (and I use that word very lightly in this context) are of course utterly imaginary. Should you deliberately choose to find reasons for happiness, Texas will be just as fun and satisfying as your current home. And it appears you will have a fatter bank account
So if you one who more often chooses happiness, you will find it just as easy to feel that way in Texas as you do now in Birmingham.
All other 'fears' (and I use that word very lightly in this context) are of course utterly imaginary. Should you deliberately choose to find reasons for happiness, Texas will be just as fun and satisfying as your current home. And it appears you will have a fatter bank account
When I left Texas in 1997 in pursuit of True Love I did so with the condition (stated to the fledgling SheBar) that "we make the most of our time in Florida (to help her career path) and then we will return to DFW within 18 months"
I did not go back for over eight years.
And have only been back maybe a dozen times in past decade.
We not only made the most of our 18 months, we just figured out how to make it continually awesome and now it's 18+ Years
Next stop....Costa Rica for 3+ months a year....no hesitation
I did not go back for over eight years.
And have only been back maybe a dozen times in past decade.
We not only made the most of our 18 months, we just figured out how to make it continually awesome and now it's 18+ Years
Next stop....Costa Rica for 3+ months a year....no hesitation
They are taking shape in my vortex of creation. Having a lot more fun w my business than as recently as 2012, so my interest level in hanging here full time has been reinspired
A key is expanding my network to where it can produce reliable income even when I am not actively engaged. I am connected w some real winners, so that will develop sooner than later
Fun Fact -- one of my two most prominent business partners is a married lesbian Republican...we have had some hilarious chats though I don't go there (political smak n chat) very often these days
And being from Cape Cod, she is a Bosox fan and will broach no smak on that topic, either
And being from Cape Cod, she is a Bosox fan and will broach no smak on that topic, either
