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January 27, 2006
You know you're on a death-march project when...
I'm out in California this week, and it's super-crunch time, but things are at least looking better these days, and I'm getting past concerns of stability to focus on performance tuning instead. But still, it's a lot of long hours, which inspired me for...
You know you're on a death-march project when...
- You feel guilty for knocking off early after only working 11 hours that day, and yes, that's after subtracting out the time for meals.
- You've said, "I think I'm going to take Saturday off."
- You've followed that by saying, "but don't tell my boss -- he doesn't know."
- You have more unused vacation days than teeth.
- You're working so late that the facilities department is shutting off lights and A/C because no one would be in the office at that time of night.
- You're checking your email before breakfast.
- You're doing it at the office.
- You're taking the laptop back to the hotel to work in bed.
- And you're actually working in bed.
- It's easy to find your car in the parking lot when you leave. It's the only one there.
- You're afraid to show off your art at work, not because it's risque, but because you don't want to have to explain how you found the time to make it when there's still so much left to get done.
- The big social event of your day is when dinner arrives in the conference room.
- You want to take advantage of the chair massages being offered, but just like everyone else, you can't fit it into your schedule.
- You start to feel healthier just because your stress-induced health problems aren't as bad as your boss's stress-induced health problems.
- You speak fondly of the shorter hours you had back at your start-up company.
And the way you really know you're on a death march project...
But no, I'm not feeling burned out or bitter. Not at all.
(Feel free to add your own entries in the comments.)
Life in General by Dan at January 27, 2006 12:10 AM
Comments
Ouch.
(*HUG!*)
Take care out there and come home healthy.
Posted by: Tanya the Happy Tester at January 27, 2006 08:56 AM
You have more unused vacation days than teeth.
That one took the cake!
Posted by: Julia at January 27, 2006 07:34 PM