Burnt out...........

To be clear, my boss is not a bully. He's a good man.

I don't disagree that I may have an inflated opinion of myself. I will also admit that the worse my attitude gets, the more my production suffers.

> If I thought my compensation level was an honest oversight, you'd have a good point. However, he knows exactly what I make and exactly what everyone else makes. I fully believe that he is giving me exactly what he thinks I should be getting.

> Also, a couple of years ago we exchanged words over some comments I made about someone being hired on with inferior qualifications to mine, but at a higher pay rate. I was told that if I ever brought it up again, I'd be fired. So I haven't, and I won't.

I think that's what precipitated the bully talk

and you just hit the nail on the head (been there).

so, not only are you past singed and getting burnt at the core, you risk eroding your own reputation.

Change jobs. H*ll. If your health is good, take a year off and fill in the holes working on a crew for someone else. go fishing. go sell shoes.

I know I can't know the whole story but, just go.

all the best.

There are many good replies to the original post. My Saturday morning philosophy recalls the following:

My Wage

Jessie B. Rittenhouse

I have two responses - you pick the appropriate one.

1. Quit yer bitchin.'

2. Glad to hear you are committed to improving your circumstance.

Or, is it possible that both are appropriate?

"I've got an evil, wrong-doing woman and a slave driving boss." -BB King

No one is coming to save you !

You must save yourself..

SIT in PA here, 50k isn't that hard near the cities. Multiple licenses should throw you up to 6 figures, or less with some stock options. There are way too few active, quality surveyors to meet demand, much less make so little money with years of experience.

If he threatens to fire you over expecting to get paid as much as a new hire with inferior qualifications, he is absolutely bullying you. you should be making more than that person, and any decent boss would agree.

Well, the decision has been made. For years I had said that I had no interest in running my own survey company. The past couple of years that stance has softened and now I am on the verge of pulling the trigger. I'm at the point now of getting my ducks in a row.

Thank you all for your advice.

We're all prisoners of our own circumstances that we took a hand in creating. It's simple cause and effect. The first step is to accept responsibility for those circumstances and decide on change. At the moment we make a determination to change those circumstances and begin making causes towards that change, the universe will align to support you toward that goal. Everything standing in the way is just an obstacle to be overcome. Overcoming those obstacles in where satisfaction and happiness lies and the money follows. Good luck.

Land Stealer, post: 301417, member: 7446 wrote: To be clear, my boss is not a bully. He's a good man.

He is apparently making a lot of money off of you.

Williwaw, post: 388440, member: 7066 wrote: We're all prisoners of our own circumstances that we took a hand in creating. It's simple cause and effect. The first step is to accept responsibility for those circumstances and decide on change. At the moment we make a determination to change those circumstances and begin making causes towards that change, the universe will align to support you toward that goal. Everything standing in the way is just an obstacle to be overcome. Overcoming those obstacles in where satisfaction and happiness lies and the money follows. Good luck.

:taco: I wish we still had the thumbs up symbol. Any how I toast you a taco and a beer, nicely said.:beer:

Land Stealer, post: 301315, member: 7446 wrote: If I thought my compensation level was an honest oversight, you'd have a good point. However, he knows exactly what I make and exactly what everyone else makes. I fully believe that he is giving me exactly what he thinks I should be getting.
Also, a couple of years ago we exchanged words over some comments I made about someone being hired on with inferior qualifications to mine, but at a higher pay rate. I was told that if I ever brought it up again, I'd be fired. So I haven't, and I won't.

I have no problem with someone saying they are worth more money. This gives me the opportunity to explain why they make what they make or make an adjustment. I don't want to hear that someone else is worth less money than what they are making. Always approach with what makes you worth more than you are currently being paid. If you believe "I fully believe that he is giving me exactly what he thinks I should be getting" and you go go in everyday expecting something to be different, you are living the definition of insanity. I have more regrets about not going for it than wishing I had not done it.

A couple of questions, are you working there in a Surveyor role or another role, since you said have been in charge and not currently in charge of the field crews?
Are you signing any surveys?
Are you the only Register Surveyor at the company?

If you are the only register surveyor at the company, well you hold a few cards to getting a nice raise, and some added perks.

6 hours to double the pay and less work, yes it will be a big change, but its not that far to go.

There is really only one way to find out if your estimation of yourself is excessively high. Got to put yourself to the test to find out. Pretty soon, you'll figure out if you are worth more than you are being paid. I suspect that you are, but you won't know until you step out. It's all theoretical until then.

Land Stealer, post: 301315, member: 7446 wrote: If I thought my compensation level was an honest oversight, you'd have a good point. However, he knows exactly what I make and exactly what everyone else makes. I fully believe that he is giving me exactly what he thinks I should be getting.

Also, a couple of years ago we exchanged words over some comments I made about someone being hired on with inferior qualifications to mine, but at a higher pay rate. I was told that if I ever brought it up again, I'd be fired. So I haven't, and I won't.

I would have moved on that afternoon. If an employer doesn't value you they will never pay what you are worth.

A man has to prove his worth. You are only worth what you can bring to the table. Do you have clients that deal with only you? Is that client base a substantial part of the overall billings? Can that client base offer the same billiable rate as your employers client base? Those are the true questions to ask when determining your value at a company. If no then you worth is what the boss determines, if yes then like another said before "cut your own line".

That being said be careful you have a real understanding what your costs vs returns are vs what your current pay plus benefits equals.

All we actually barter for is our time. If you feel your's is worth more, make it happen.

I personally have gone from a six figure income that required every waking moment to about a fifth of what I was making, at essentially a part time job. The guy I work with (the way he wants it phrased, never had a problem working FOR someone else) is just as laid back as I am, and both of us are subject to taking days off with no notice whatsoever. If the fishing is good, we go fishing.

We tell every client we take in right off the bat if they are in a hurry, we have a list of highly qualified surveyors in the area, would you like their number? Realtors hate us, yet the same ones keep calling back. We WILL take the occasional rush job, if the money is right, and will crank it out and deliver it on average two days before deadline.

If you are fearless with everyone you deal with, and make quality goal #1, sometimes it works out.

P.L.Parsons, post: 388594, member: 72 wrote: All we actually barter for is our time. If you feel your's is worth more, make it happen.

I personally have gone from a six figure income that required every waking moment to about a fifth of what I was making, at essentially a part time job. The guy I work with (the way he wants it phrased, never had a problem working FOR someone else) is just as laid back as I am, and both of us are subject to taking days off with no notice whatsoever. If the fishing is good, we go fishing.

We tell every client we take in right off the bat if they are in a hurry, we have a list of highly qualified surveyors in the area, would you like their number? Realtors hate us, yet the same ones keep calling back. We WILL take the occasional rush job, if the money is right, and will crank it out and deliver it on average two days before deadline.

If you are fearless with everyone you deal with, and make quality goal #1, sometimes it works out.

Yes! I call it semi-retirement (I am 46 years old, just have about 46 more to go yet, so I have to pace myself).