Writing is fifth on my job list. I know it doesn’t seem very fair, particularly because it’s what I want to do more than all of the other things on the list.
(Not Quite) Full-Time Job
The job at the top of my priority list is my full-time job. I guess technically it’s not a full-time job. When they made me the salary offer, I commented that it sounded more like 3/4 time based on our earlier compensation discussions. Their response was, “sure, that would work.” So I go to work every day around 11am. At least I get to design plastic consumer products again (My last job had been technology manager – a.k.a. maintenance technician).
They Make Me Stand at the Front
On Tuesday and Thursday mornings, I teach a one-hour class at my alma mater (BYU) in mechanical engineering. I basically teach the students to do what I do for my (not quite) full-time job. I don’t really have any plans to make it into a full-time job (though plenty of people ask if I want to), but I do enjoy teaching more than I thought I would. I once had a neighbor ask if I was living in the neighborhood because I was in school. I told him I was, but that they made me stand up at the front.
Old Full-Time Job
When I gave notice at my last employer, we arranged that I could transition for a month doing half-time at each place. Then I made the mistake of mentioning that my new job was only 3/4 time. They asked if I could stay on indefinitely for one morning a week. So that’s what I do on Wednesday mornings.
Consulting Job
About twelve years ago, I quit my full-time design engineering job at Estes Model Rockets to start my own product development consulting business. I loved the freedom of working on projects whenever I needed to throughout the day. I also had the flexibility of doing other things (like attending my kids’ school stuff in the middle of the day). Unfortunately, it was not consistent enough to support a family on. Eventually, I took the adjunct faculty position to supplement my consulting work. Now I’m to the point I only have a handful of clients on and off. That’s why this one is #4 on the list.
Writing (like the wind)
Which finally brings up to the #5 spot. This is where I squeeze as much writing as I can into whatever free time I have. I try to save my Monday and Friday mornings for writing, but that can easily get filled with other things (like hanging pictures on the walls). I suppose my entire goal is to turn this priority list upside-down, but I’ve had enough experience in start-up businesses that I’ve finally decided to not quit my day job until I know for sure I have a steady income from my side endeavor. Unfortunately, that means my writing is coming along very slowly (sorry to those of you out there who aren’t patient).