BREAKING NEWS !!!

Posted on 2006/06/08 10:41:18 (June 2006).

BREAKING NEWS

[8th June 2006]

Can't keep it in anymore, I need to write about it, I have been ordealing since Monday afternoon and it's time for a bit of "outing".

In short, I am going to quite my job at the present company.


It was a sunny day in Florence on Monday morning, I had an interview scheduled with a company in Prato (near Florence), still in the textile field, quite well known in the industry. I had met the Asian salesman during my last trip and he told me that they were going to start a new line soon and that they were looking for someone to employ.
Of course I told him that I would have been interested, but then it all died out since I wasn't going to be back before the 29th of May.

Then, before coming back I got this e-mail from him, asking to schedule an appointment with his bosses last Monday.

I duly went and to my surprise I was offered the job ON THE SPOT. I think that this is because they didn't find anything better than me, or maybe they weren't convinced about the other people that they interviewed, fact is that I walked out with the proposal in my hands.
The new line is going to be targetted to the lower segment of the market, I have to follow Asia, USA and Italy as markets and the qualities are designed by this spanish guy which is quite famous in our field, who has an interesting approach to the collection.
Basically he goes out and buys a bunch of garments, then tries to predict WHAT type of garment will be in the trends next season. They then proceed with studying the fabric according to the style that they must make, a total different approach from the artsy-pansy wya that we have now (i.e. "I make the design because I KNOW that I am a great designer so I AM RIGHT").

As I said the line will be a low one, completely opposite from what we are doing now (more of a luxury market).

I will also earn less, not massively less, but less. At least to start. They said (of course) that if the collection goes well then there will be windfalls for everyone, but I'd better not count on those too much.

Work-wise I have been waiting for a good opportunity, in a serious company, but I have been quite unlucky in the past. I did get offers but nothing special, this one is a bit different. It is one of the best firms in the Prato textile area, they have a sound project, or at least they are trying to do things in a different way.
I felt that it was time to take the leap and try. I have no experience for a lower market product, and I have little acquaintance with fabrics in this segment and their technicalities (read: PROBLEMS). I will be leaving a world that I know like the back of my hand for something that it's completely different, from the textile IBM to the almost-family run business.

In short I am scared.

I could be entirely crap at what I will do, or everything will go pear shaped even if it's not my fault, but still, sitting on my arse and complaining without taking action I think it's even more wrong. This is probably what made me take the decision of leaving, I need to feel alive again, here in my present company I am getting old ahead of my time. And I'll be back near Florence with all my friends and family there, my parents will be happy, and at least someone of the family will be near. They are still young but they have a lot of physical problems that might require the help of a person around them.

Problems are not over here though, as you might imagine, my friends.

Marta....

She is happy at me leaving, because she knows how much I miss Florence and all the Florentine jet set. On the other side after 5 years of living together we have to part, and that's not easy both for me and for her.
She's been crying her eyes out since I arrived back on Monday, no matter how hard I try but I really can't stand seeing her unhappy especially if it is because of me. I blame myself on the present state of things, I didn't want her to be hurt or anything bad, I have been feeling shite since Monday night, as if I had done something terrible to her (which I did), and no way to make up for it.
Things are not going to be easy, she is starting her new job soon, so she has to stay here up north, I assume that she'll be engaged in quite a lot of travelling at least in the first year, she has to learn the job anyways.
On my side I tripled the number of markets, which means a LOT more of travelling, at least in the first period.
As you can imagine I am starting to worry that we can actually see each others at all !!!
Marta wants to continue the story, and then we'll see what happens, we say in Italy "se son rose fioriranno" (if they are roses they'll bloom), meaning that if we are meant to be together we'll understand from this period. It is a bit my point of view too, if the distance is unbearable then she could move to Florence with me and look for a job there, of course this will mean a strong chance of getting married, but that's something that I am not thinking about at the moment.
If the distance is bearable then probably we were never meant to be, and it's better to take different paths anyways.
In any case is a WIN-WIN situation, as the relationship will arrive at a deciding point.

What is not easy is leaving. I didn't think it was so hard, and we are not even at the closing stages, it's just the beginning. This has to do with the routine in which we fell, a sweet routine, but still evil in its roots. I hope that it will not be harder on us in the near future.

Technically speaking I still need to resign.
I am really stressed about the fact that I made up my mind but that I haven't got the ball rolling. I am waiting for the letter of intention from my new employer before resigning, it's my insurance that when I quit I'll have a new job. A legal aspect but I want to do things in a proper way, it'd be unpleasant to quit this job to find that they are not going to have me there because they found someone else!

There is also another source of stress. My notice is 3 months, holidays not included, but I really need to go in 1 month. Normally there isn't much fight about it, it's pointless for them to keep resigning staff until the end, but I fear that my case might be different because of the past "fights" and the fact that usually resignations are seen as a terrible backstabbing treason to the management here... (plus I am actually getting very good results lately so me leaving it's going to hit the market in a negative way, as I have a strong influence in Asia among the customers).
I can leave earlier but I will loose a lot of money if I do so, and since I am also going to earn less and I'll have higher espenses (not sharing the house anymore), I must think about this aspect too.

Anyways, I spilled the beans now, I am having really bad sleep, i.e. I sleep but I wake up even more tired than the night before, my parents don't know anything yet (better tell them when it's official), but if all goes according to plan I might relocate to Florence in a month, starting this new adventure.

I just hope I won't regret it, I feel like I felt a gazzillion times (all the times that I moved somewhere), scared, worried, excited... alive!

ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND???! Quit your well-paid job for another one which offers you a lower salary???! YOU DAFT PRICK!!!!

And your boss???! Did you think a ninute about the poor old sod who will be completely at a loss without you???! Hu? Hu?

You know what? You are... you are... arh! Forget about it!!!

Posted by Sheri at 2006/06/08 13:06:54.

I'm bitterly disappointed at you!

Posted by Sheri at 2006/06/08 13:07:43.

Sheri: You are right. I have given it a good thought and I have decided not to resign because my boss will probably be broken hearted and in total distress if I did...

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/08 13:14:17.

Go for it Lox. For many months now you have been so unhappy in your job. You will be going home Lox, and that is always good. From the photos, Florence looks a beautiful city. It seems that you spend a lot of time apart from Marta now, with both of you travelling. It just means it will be a bit more. Another expression is che sera sera, (and I don't suppose for one moment I've spelt that correctly).

Posted by Mad Mumsie at 2006/06/08 15:08:53.

MM: I guess you are right, "che sarà sarà " but I am resolute to go for this opportunity (of course the previous post was on the sarky side)... I don't think that it can be worse than things here...

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/08 15:14:28.

Well, I was close, wasn't I.

Posted by Mad Mumsie at 2006/06/08 16:01:18.

MM: Quite so! You correctly trascribed the way you sing the famous song in english speaking countries! :)

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/08 16:06:42.

What can i say lox... I'm happy for you because I knew you were unhappy with your job, I'm a bit puzzled about you and Marta. I don't know if it will go on, i'm very skeptical, but I give both of you my best wishes anyway. Only time will tell.

Posted by Federico at 2006/06/08 16:09:39.

Wow Lox! The job change sounds like an exciting opportunity, for sure! I hope it all pans out for you!

I suppose you could ask your present employers if you could move to Florence and "work from home", then if they say no threaten to resign!!

Since you have had good sales recently they must actually be loving you at the moment!! :)

Posted by Nigel at 2006/06/08 16:19:39.

Hi Lox. Congrats! What will you do when you get a counter-offer from your boss?

Posted by Tim at 2006/06/08 16:29:07.

Fede: Well you are right it's going to be hard with Marta, but let's see how we get through this period and we'll make a decision later... Thanks for the wishes anyways! :)

Nigel: I still have to tell them. I guess that they could make a counter-offer but I don't think that they can include Florence in it, it's just not their way of thinking... Anyways let's see what is their reactions. Recently I have been speaking with my boss about future collections, numbers, sales prospectives... I wish I didn't have to pretend like this, but until I have the official letter in my hands I cannot resign...

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/08 16:31:25.

Tim: Mmmmm let's see if they get to that point... I do not think that they can offer me a move to Florence BUT, never say never! If they do I'll evaluate the offer, it would be quite an hot spot for me as my mind is set that I am leaving this place... Oh well... we'll see.. .:)

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/08 16:33:03.

WHAT!?!?!?!? Crappa!

Posted by Lox's Boss at 2006/06/08 16:56:53.

Congratulations, Lox! You must be good at what you do. Follow your instincts, I say, and do what makes you happy.

Posted by Tim's mum at 2006/06/08 19:51:09.

Tim's mum: Thanks! I don't know if I am THAT good, but I always try to give it my best shot... I will go back to Florence, tomorrow I will break the news for my boss too, even though I have not received the official letter from the new employer... It's too wierd to be in the company knowing that I want to go pretending that I am staying forever...

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/08 20:04:05.

Well Lox, congratulations on having finally found yourself a viable exit strategy!

I'm impressed that the other company offered you the job on the spot like that - obviously it was your outstanding skillset and abundant natural charm!

However, it does seem there may be tough times ahead - how your current employer takes it, whether or not you're forced to work a long notice period, having to get used to a new company which will no doudt have its own trials and tribulations... not to mention the sheer unpleasantness of moving house etc...

...oh and of course most of all, how this will affect things with Marta. Not sure what I can offer for advice here. Chie and I were apart for about 9 months, the latter part of 2002, after she graduated from university, and went back to Japan to start a job there. By the start of 2003 though she had got sick of it and decided to go back to England. The situation is not quite the same, but fundamentally it is in the same ballpark - we lived apart for a bit, and both just coped with it I suppose, then eventually we decided we'd be happier if we lived together again.

So yes, like you say, "se son rose fioriranno", and only time will tell. I think Marta is great though, so I hope there can be a happy ending somehow or other.

Posted by John at 2006/06/09 05:24:43.

John: Well, the fact that they offered me the job on the spot can only mean that they had no other good candidates. As I say several times, with little modesty I have to admit, my CV under the travel and languages point of view is quite peculiar. They told me that for them it was hard to find someone who would speak GERMAN, so my carnet of languages must have seemed Godsent... Anyways I have got the job so it doesn't matter.

Certainly times ahead are going to be tough. A new company, a new product, new markets, new house... Fortunately the place is well known to me, and I'll have someone there to start.

Things with Marta will require some time to adjust, as I said many times it will be a good test to see if we were meant to be together or not, but in any case also that aspect it's not going to be easy to manage...

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/09 07:55:47.

Sorry Lox, can't remember where you are living and working at the moment, but how far is it from Florence.

Posted by Mad Mumsie at 2006/06/09 10:43:56.

It is about 400kms, 3 and half hours with the car normally (the highway is quite congested even in normal days). To be honest it's not a huge distance but I can assure you that the prospect of travelling back every weekend is a no-no.

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/09 10:57:06.

Doesn't the road go both ways?

Posted by Mad Mumsie at 2006/06/09 11:05:03.

Sure that's an option of course, and I believe that we'll have to sort out the way of seeing each other... Not easy (especially when the two of us do a lot of travelling on normal basis), but it will be done..

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/09 11:29:32.

You could meet half way sometimes.

Posted by Mad Mumsie at 2006/06/09 11:51:20.

MM: Unlikely... there is very little to do "in the middle" unless we have some days of holiday in that case it's easier to arrange a tour or something.

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/09 24:32:10.

Breaking news indeed, Lox. If you need someone to lean on your boss, let me know. It will be expensive though. Best of luck with whatever you decide.

Posted by Travis at 2006/06/09 22:10:45.

Travis: No need for boss leaning I think.,.. I have decided to tell him on Monday, then I will send the letter Tuesday morning. Let's see what happens after that. It's a big step but I keep telling myself that I HAVE to do it. I have moved so many times, and I have taken "bold" decisions before, so I am a bit used to these feelings, but I also feel that I'd like to set roots a bit, and this could be the good occasion...

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/10 22:28:08.

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