Before Posting Word Help Questions
please read the pinned/locked threads found
at the TOP OF THE WORD HELP FORUM! You can find them HERE


Search
Word Help
New MTs
Hot Zone
Grammar/Style
MT Biz
Who's Online
2 registered (2 invisible) and 7 anonymous users online.
August
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Page 1 of 2 12>
Topic Options
#96910 - 04/30/08 11:12 AM Time for a change or time to change something?
djmom
Junior Member


Registered: 08/14/07
Posts: 28
Hi gang! I need advice on my current situation. I am currently an IC with a small company. On a positive note, I love the company. Everyone is helpful, and the owner does everything she can to help us out by letting us work the work types we are fastest at working. On the down side, my productivity has reached an ugly plateau. My main account is an acute care account, and I do mostly PN, HP, and CN with some ER and DS thrown in. I also have two smaller accounts that I work on, and I LOVE those doctors, though it is possible one account will be lost due to the physician's health in the near future. I am currently trying to evaluate my situation. Being an IC comes with some flexibility, and my family can get chaotic at times. I am currently averaging about 850 lines a day, which means I essentially have to work some on my days off to make the full-time lines of 10,000 a pay period. Fortunately, the owner has not ever threatened to fire me for not making that count every pay period. Unfortunately, her kindness does not pay my bills. I am depressed because I have been on Productivity Talk and read many posts. I have used a timer. I have entered several good macros for Word. However, I read here about people who can produce 1200 lines or more a day. I also read about companies that offer bonuses and differential pay. We do get a bonus for reaching 10,000 lines per pay period or 12,000 lines and on up. However, it amounts to essentially about $25 or $30 for me if I get it. We do not get paid any differentials for nights or holidays. We have been paid some bonuses for lines during holiday periods. Another positive is that may main account has pretty good doctors, I think, and I have become comfortable with them after about 2 years of transcribing them. Change to a new company would definitely cause a learning curve. I wonder how long it would take to get templates and such all done over. Plus, I work in Word, and I have heard some companies work in Word Perfect. I do know that my macro system is a bit heavy. What I mean is that I am sure that, if I took a good look, there are macros for certain words and phrases that I could shorten keystrokes to achieve. I am not sure how much that impacts line counts. I work in IT and have worked with some glossaries by doctor, but I have not done that extensively. Can someone tell me if that really helps line counts? Another downside is that we do have occasional lulls and times when we run out of work. As an IC, I can work whenever to make up lines lost, so if work is not in at the start of my shift, I can work later at night if needed or work on my day off some. Of course, planning anything outside of work can get hairy when work is short. In case you have not noticed, I am really torn about this situation. We have a large amount of debt that we want to pay off, but at this point, we cannot get any money in savings. My husband, who is currently working a second job to help out, will need a new used car soon, and we have no money put back. Since I am bringing in an average of $1400 to $1500 a month, I feel I am not reaching my full potential. I'm not am I? In terms of the medical side of things, I have really learned a great deal. This company took me on as a newbie, so I am grateful for the fabulous patience and training. Since this is my first job, I have no idea when it is time to quit or when it is time to really examine my work habits, macro system, etc. and make a personal change there. My hours can get pretty crazy since I have to nap in the daytime sometimes because I am up working in the wee hours. I have found that recently my mother needs me to help her out with things, and she simply gets too tired in the late afternoon to do things like clean out her basement or whatever. I am wondering if a change might equal more daylight working hours and give me a better sleep schedule, but then I worry it might also rob me of the opportunity to make up lines later. I have not "clocked in" for a job in many years, so that would be a change for me. If anyone here sees a red flag of why my productivity is down, please comment. Also, if you think the grass really might be greener elsewhere, I would love to hear about that. I somehow keep thinking that some of this is something I am not doing at all or not doing right. My company recently changed to a new platform. I figure there was a learning curve at the start, but that should be leveling out very soon. I think the new system is better and faster than the old. Does the platform have an impact on line counts? Thanks for your time and comments.
Top
#96918 - 04/30/08 12:09 PM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: djmom]
14tonks
Member


Registered: 10/25/01
Posts: 5931
Loc: Only 3rd world country in US
For what my two cents is worth, expanders certainly have an impact on line counts, and platforms certainly have an impact on line counts, but not nearly the impact some people would like to think. That is to say, they are not magic bullets, and if you are consistently making less than 1000 lines per day, your problem is unlikely to be how long the abbreviations for words are in your expander.

Do the math. You say you do about 850 lines per day. Let's assume you get them done in 8 hours. That's 106 lines per hour, which works out to a standard typing speed of around 23 words per minute. Since you probably can actually type something more like at least 70 words per minute, only a third of your working time at most is being spent on actually hitting keys, and that is the only part of your working time that an expander is going to shorten for you. You are already using an expander, so removing a letter from your shorts just isn't going to do that much for you--if you were using a short for every single word you transcribed and removed a letter from every one of those shorts, you'd gain a total of just 21 lines an hour (1381 words per hour x 1 character saved per word/65 characters per line).

Now using more shorts for phrases and fewer for words may get you a bit more than that, but it still isn't a magic bullet. No matter how much you tune that expander, it's only helping you save time one minute out of three. You need to look at what's happening to eat up those other two minutes. It could be you are spending it on a lot of replay and research because either your ear or your knowledge base needs work. Or it could be that you are in and out of your chair and spending a lot of that time on things other than transcribing. From your description, what's happening in that other two minutes out of three may be taking care of children, running a house, and taking care of an elderly parent. Unless you can carve out a big chunk of concentrated work time that those things don't impinge on, there's only so much work you are ever going to get done. I'd sit down and analyze your work habits to see if you are constantly letting your attention get diverted to one of your other jobs when you are supposed to be concentrating on MT. Then I'd analyze what, if anything, can be done about that. It may simply be that you are already working another full-time job or two that you can't cut back on, so it's unrealistic to expect more than a part-time income from MT until that changes, or it may be that you just need to learn to concentrate on nothing but MT while you are doing MT. Only you can work that one out.

Top
#96921 - 04/30/08 12:14 PM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: 14tonks]
Mojeaux
Member


Registered: 09/21/03
Posts: 2115
Loc: Kansas City
Quote:
It may simply be that you are already working another full-time job or two that you can't cut back on...


Tonks, I know that you've had to point this out to me more than a few hundred times and I have to stop each time you say it, think about it, and go, "Oh. Yeah. What she said."

On one hand, it's frustrating to feel like your earning time is being eaten away by...nothing. On the other hand, when you think about what you're earning in addition to doing one, two, or three other jobs at the same time, it's amazing what you're actually getting accomplished overall. Some days I have to write this down on paper and attach a monetary value to it to keep my perspective.
_________________________
...like bubbles through a sieve...

Top
#96925 - 04/30/08 12:34 PM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: Mojeaux]
14tonks
Member


Registered: 10/25/01
Posts: 5931
Loc: Only 3rd world country in US
Yes, it always bugs me when someone mentions their husband is working a second job and therefore they're feeling guilty and can't figure out why they can't contribute more to the family income from their MT work. Ummm, could it possibly be that you, yourself, are working two and a half to three jobs, and the MT one is at the end of the list? I mean, it's good hubby has that second job and is trying to get that debt paid off any way he can, but I don't have to be a genius to figure out that if he's working two jobs, all the childcare, all the elder care, and all the housekeeping is probably falling on the OP. Now maybe Mom doesn't actually need as much time as she's sucking up at this point, and adult members of the family need it beaten through their head that you are working, not free to socialize and/or run errands or do little favors for them. On the other hand, maybe Mom seriously needs a lot of help with day-to-day living at this point, and there's just nothing to be done about that because no one can afford to hire someone else to help her cope. Same goes with children--maybe they need to learn to stay out of the office and entertain themselves more when Mom is at work, or maybe there is just only a really limited amount of time left for work because of their ages or needs. It sure sounds to me like the OP is working at least two and a half jobs, though, so it's not surprising if the part-time job that's the only one that comes with a paycheck gets short shrift a lot of the time. The general consensus is that you can do this job while taking care of small children and that you can do this job and make $30,000 a year or more, but you probably can't do both those things at the same time.
Top
#96929 - 04/30/08 12:54 PM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: Mojeaux]
djmom
Junior Member


Registered: 08/14/07
Posts: 28
Thanks so much for your thoughts. It is true that I do have most of the household chores to do as well as work 40 hours a week, which can be very stressful. I have begun enlisting my children to do a few chores every day after school (take out trash, empty dishwasher, dust, etc.). They sort laundry but are not quite ready for washing clothes yet (afraid my favorite shirt would shrink to a size for a 1-year-old!). My husband is working 2 jobs, and when he is off...well, he relaxes while he watches me wash dishes or fold laundry or pay bills (when I could be actually working and making more money because I can work as much as I like as long as work is available). I do have days when I feel burned out in general because I feel like I work my other job even when I am "off" from MT. I will say the flexibility of my job has been a blessing at times. My son was out of school ill nearly 3 weeks in February. Unlike a working mom who works in an office, I did not have to call in sick or miss any full days. However, my lines took a hit, for sure. I was glad that I could get up from the computer and check on him while he was sick (make sure he ate, had fluids, took his temperature). I guess my biggest problem is getting people to realize that I am working when I am working. I have seriously considered making a sign for my desk that says, "DO NOT DISTURB UNTIL TIMER RINGS" in hopes of making an impact. I do think working nights is a bit of a problem because somebody has to throw something together for dinner, and that somebody is me. I usually take what would be my dinner break to fix dinner, and then I let everyone else eat. Then I eat when my shift is over. Summer is coming, so hopefully, I can enlist some help from the kids more. Actually, my house is very cluttered with extraneous stuff, and we want to clear out and have a huge yard sale. Unfortunately, going through stuff also takes time, and for me, time is money. It is a hard choice. Although I agree it is hard to work 2 full-time jobs (MT and household manager), I also know that many single parents work 2 jobs and do so very efficiently. Maybe they just go without sleep or eat off paper plates all the time! Better yet, maybe they hire a maid! Going without sleep is not an option for me because my quality and speed really suffer then. I learned that the first few months as an MT. Hiring a maid is out too. Maids don't clean around clutter, for one thing. Thanks so much for your input! It is just another piece of the puzzle to consider. I do know that some of the girls at our company who are single and have no distractions or children to run to friend's houses are making higher lines than I am--not that I am saying I would trade hubby or my kids for lines, just that no distractions usually equals faster transcription.
Top
#96932 - 04/30/08 01:31 PM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: djmom]
14tonks
Member


Registered: 10/25/01
Posts: 5931
Loc: Only 3rd world country in US
If your kids are old enough for school, they are certainly old enough to do regular chores to help the family, and I wouldn't be so sure that they can't learn to do laundry correctly. It's not that hard to grasp sorting by color and fabric and setting the right cycle. At the very least, they can take presorted piles with notes on what setting to use and run them in and out of the washer and dryer for you. Maybe they won't fold laundry and put it away as well as you would--but if you can learn to live with done well enough, you won't have to do it yourself. Just make it clear to them that if they turn all the underwear pink, they'll be wearing pink underwear for the next year or so. \:\) They can learn to do some of the dinner prep as well; I was starting dinner for my mother by the time I was 9 or 10. She just posted a note about what needed to be done when she had late classes. Anyone can bake a potato, and it doesn't take a genius to throw stuff in a casserole or crockpot following a written recipe. Yes, you'll undoubtedly have to do all the planning and shopping, but you can at least limit how many times you have to jump up to check on what's on the stove or in the oven. It sounds like your children are also old enough to understand that they need to wait for a work break before asking you something, and you absolutely have to enforce that if you expect to do anything about increasing productivity.

Single parents cut a lot of corners--on sleep, on dishwashing, on all kinds of stuff. They also expect their kids to pitch in and help with things. I know single moms who have made a living at this business, but I don't know any that made it without a lot of sacrifice and compromise. Some of them may make it look easy to outsiders, perhaps, but I don't know any who actually found it easy.

Top
#96934 - 04/30/08 01:38 PM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: 14tonks]
BlankKeys
Member


Registered: 04/09/08
Posts: 467
Loc: New York
I'm reading this to my kids tonight.
Top
#96940 - 04/30/08 02:08 PM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: BlankKeys]
14tonks
Member


Registered: 10/25/01
Posts: 5931
Loc: Only 3rd world country in US
Quote:
I'm reading this to my kids tonight.


LOL! I confess I'm childless, so probably need to watch my mouth, but it really bugs me to see mothers trying to do it all while the kids are slurping sodas in front of the TV. (Let's not even get into husbands--I'll accept that they're probably at a less trainable age when acquired, which is probably why I never felt the urge to acquire one.)

I always used to call and talk to my nephews on a Sunday morning. Why? Because even talking to your aunt is preferable to doing the vacuuming, so I knew they'd be delighted to come to the phone and talk to me for 10 minutes on Sunday. \:\) Sunday morning was my SIL's clean the house time, and although she supervised, she sure as h*ll wasn't doing all the vacuuming, dusting, and mopping herself. They bitched, they griped, they played the martyr, but by golly, those two boys learned to vacuum, launder, and get a simple meal for themselves (and my SIL was a stay-at-home mom who just did some part-time piano teaching when they were older). They didn't get any sympathy from their father, either, because he grew up in the same family I did. Children make a lot of the work in a family; it's not unfair to expect them to take responsibility for doing a little of it. My mother never did the dishes and my father never mowed the lawn once there were children old enough to be given those chores, which was not all that old. I'm laughing at the thought of waiting for summer just to get a little help with the housework. We used to dread walking into the house with that last report card, because my father would be waiting to tell us what the summer project was. There was the summer we painted the whole house, inside and out. There was the summer we double-dug planting beds for a big vegetable garden in the back yard. There was the summer we helped to mix and pour the cement for the foundation for the addition to the house. (Ingredients assigned for shoveling to age by weight--cement powder for the younger brother since he was only 6, sand for me in the middle, gravel for the older brother. One part cement, two parts sand, three parts gravel--and you should have heard my older brother suddenly deciding girls were actually just as good as boys, and since I was only a year younger, I ought to get to do some of the gravel, LOL.) There was always some project good for a half day of work for a couple of summer months. And yeah, we bitched and griped, too, because bitching and griping about chores is part of your job as a kid, LOL, but we didn't really feel that hard done by. We got a small allowance for our chores, and all our friends had chores as well. Heck, since we were in a small town in farm and ranch country, a lot of them did a couple of hours of chores every day before catching the school bus and more after they got home. Being "townies," we actually had life comparatively easy.

ETA: Oh yeah, about being "too young" to do the laundry. Why is it suburban American kids with a washer/dryer in the kitchen and mom on hand to supervise are deemed incompetent to do the laundry, yet my neighborhood is full of grammar-school-aged immigrant kids who are quite capable of hauling the shopping carts and duffle bags of family laundry to a laundromat and conducting the whole operation on their own every week? Kids live up (or down) to the expectations placed on them. You can see tweens or teens doing the family shopping in the grocery stores around here, and there are small family stores where it will routinely be a 13-year-old or younger that will ring up your purchases on a Sunday morning or who will be studying at the cash register in between waiting on customers and stocking shelves in the evening.


Edited by 14tonks (04/30/08 03:02 PM)

Top
#96954 - 04/30/08 04:58 PM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: 14tonks]
djmom
Junior Member


Registered: 08/14/07
Posts: 28
Everyone here is so real and so nice! When I started working 2 years ago, it was a slow progression from having me do everything to having my kids help out. Hubby will go to the grocery store if I make out a list. (He likes to eat.) (Apparently, he cannot see that we are out of milk and bread just like he cannot tell if the dishes need washing or not! LOL)On Saturdays, I do have my kids do more chores; and they do moan and groan. My oldest is 15, and he is the best complainer out there. He is always trying to convince me that other kids his age have no chores. I actually know better, and I know he has to know how to wash his clothes! My kids used to get money for chores, but when the money got so tight I was borrowing from them, I knew we had to be realistic about out finances. I do give them a few dollars for school functions as such if they are intended as rewards for good grades or good behavior because I want to reward that too, but as far as chores go, they use the electricity, water, and food up. I feel they can help clean the house and such. Anyway, summer is 3 weeks away, and I am going to really consider everything you said here.

Essentially, what I am hearing is that if distractions and other responsibilities are keeping me from working--really working--during my shift, changing positions won't make an impact on my line counts. Also, if I do not make those lines with a national, I suppose it is quite possible that they would let me go, which is a concern of mine. Am I reading into your comments correctly? I guess I have read about differentials and bonuses elsewhere and thought about how much more money that would be for me ifI could make the lines, and when you are fighting to have the money to pay the 2nd mortgage, it is certainly tempting to consider a change. However, I do not want to jump into unchartered waters unaware of my own weaknesses and sink, finding myself wishing I had stayed on dry land. I thank you for pointing out this possibility to me!

Top
#96955 - 04/30/08 05:18 PM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: djmom]
ahvasquez
Member


Registered: 02/07/03
Posts: 279
Loc: Texas
I think I'd work on getting the line counts up on accounts you're familiar with using some of the suggestions above before considering jumping ship. Going to a new company usually involves learning a new platform in addition to the learning curve with new accounts, formatting, etc., and yes, most of them WILL let you go or at least drop you from full time to part time after the initial adjustment period if you're not meeting your line quota.

(I'm also taking the suggestions given to you into account. My daughter and 6-y/o grandson just came to live with us for a while--my, it's been a looooong time since I've had a small child in the house!! It feels and looks like a tornado went through, and, while it's wonderful to have them here, my hair is also getting grayer by the minute...)
_________________________
Anne

Top
#96958 - 04/30/08 05:34 PM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: djmom]
14tonks
Member


Registered: 10/25/01
Posts: 5931
Loc: Only 3rd world country in US
Quote:
My kids used to get money for chores, but when the money got so tight I was borrowing from them, I knew we had to be realistic about out finances. I do give them a few dollars for school functions as such if they are intended as rewards for good grades or good behavior because I want to reward that too, but as far as chores go, they use the electricity, water, and food up.


I agree. We did get an allowance that went with the basic chore list, but our allowance was expected to cover school lunches every week and any school functions as well as anything in the way of clothes and movies or treats we could stretch it to. It was really a way of teaching us how to manage money. If we needed money beyond our alloted shares of the family budget, there were those staple underage income supplements called paper routes and baby sitting. (And I had my first baby sitting jobs by the age of 10--for a couple of neighbors on either side of us who knew my mother was just a holler away if something came up I couldn't handle. Feeding and diapering and bathing and putting a baby to bed they knew I could already handle fine.) We all found full-time summer employment when we turned 16, and there was one year our "piggy banks" paid the mortgage for a couple of months, so I know what you mean about tight budgets.

If you're not making lines now, I doubt you'll find it any easier to make them with a national. Nationals generally throw you into a pool of hundreds of random dictators and often hit you with a number of different accounts with different style sheets. It's a lot harder to make lines in that situation than transcribing a few dictators on a couple of accounts that you know well. You will also almost certainly have less flex in your schedule. It really depends on why you're not making the lines. If it's because your day is too full, that won't change. If it's just that you find it too easy to get diverted into doing something else instead of getting to the lines that are waiting for you, then a rigid schedule with a national that absolutely requires you to work a set number of hours within a set timespan might work better for you. There's no question, though, that you'll be let go if you don't meet quality or minimum production requirements with a national. Differentials are paid for shifts that would require your family let you either work or sleep undisturbed for a chunk of evening or day time, and bonuses generally only kick in at a production level above what you are doing now, which is less than the minimum to maintain full-time status at most nationals. Only you know the pros and cons for your situation, but certainly the grass is not always greener in the pasture next door.

Top
#96980 - 05/01/08 12:10 AM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: 14tonks]
Wordcraftr
Junior Member


Registered: 02/11/08
Posts: 80
Loc: Midwest coast
Just a comment on kids doing chores. I was 11 when my brother was born, and my mom took me aside and said that from now on I would be in charge of the household. I cooked dinner every night, I bathed and fed and diapered my brother, I washed clothes (in a wringer washer, mind you) and hung them out to dry. Even in winter. I swept every day after school and did scrubby Dutch cleaning on Saturday mornings. When I was 15 I took a sewing class and sewed my clothes and my mom's and my sister's clothes. There was no allowance. I had a summer babysitting job for six kids when I was 15. Oh, and I went to school, too.

When I had kids of my own I confess their chores weren't so extensive, but they did have chores. I did feel my childhood was cut short, so I wanted them to have more leisure than I was allowed to have.

I cannot imagine working 40 hours a week (even at home) and taking care of kids and doing all the other work that needs to be done. I'm exhausted just reading it!! There is just only so much a human being can accomplish, because they just haven't added any more hours to the day.

djmom, I would say give yourself more credit. Be very, very kind to yourself. Sometimes that alone creates a little breathing space, allowing you to see the uncharted waters with a clearer eye.

All the best to you.
_________________________
Gravity. It's not Just a good idea. It's the
Law.

Top
#96982 - 05/01/08 12:22 AM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: Wordcraftr]
14tonks
Member


Registered: 10/25/01
Posts: 5931
Loc: Only 3rd world country in US
Quote:
When I had kids of my own I confess their chores weren't so extensive, but they did have chores. I did feel my childhood was cut short, so I wanted them to have more leisure than I was allowed to have.


Very understandable, since it sounds like your family went too far the other way with too many responsibilities at a young age. However, there's a lot of room between dumping full adult housekeeping responsibilities on a child of 11 and letting a 15-year-old get away with claiming he can't figure out how to do his own laundry. A kid can pitch in to help with dishes and laundry and clean his own bedroom and the bathroom he uses and still have plenty of time for childhood.

Top
#96985 - 05/01/08 02:43 AM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: 14tonks]
whorn
Member


Registered: 01/17/08
Posts: 496
djmom,

Sounds as if you have a lot on your plate! Hubby works two jobs (so that means that he can't help that much with the kids and mom and other things), and you have children and a mother who also needs some help. Add to that the nice recession that we are in and yikes!! For what it is worth it sounds like the company you work with is quite flexible and not too demanding, a plus I would think in your situation. I can't really give any advice, maybe try to tweak up the expander a little, and take it easy on yourself. We can only do so much, and it sounds like, as Tonks said, you are actually working 3 jobs. You have a lot on your plate.

Best thoughts and wishes.

Top
#96992 - 05/01/08 07:20 AM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: whorn]
BlankKeys
Member


Registered: 04/09/08
Posts: 467
Loc: New York
It's definitely a challenge. I too work several jobs (4) and have a 10 and 15 year old and their activities. Sometimes I feel like I'm going in circles. To top it all off,I have a husband who complains I'm "overweight and underemployed." (Yeah, he needs an attitude adjustment - a BIG one.) Anyone else have a spouse who thinks MT isn't REAL work because you're doing it at home?
Top
#97000 - 05/01/08 08:57 AM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: BlankKeys]
Glory1863
Member


Registered: 03/27/08
Posts: 186
Loc: Beyond Antares
DJMom, another productivity determiner is mindset. Are you an MT who happens to be a stay-at-home mom or are you a stay-at-home-mom who happens to do MT?

If you are the former, then carefully explain that to your family (i.e., you feel you need to contribute extra money to pay off debt and not leave it all to your husband; kids are going to have to do more chores; unless they're bleeding or they think a sibling is dead, you are to be left alone while working; you'll help mom, but it has to be at your convenience, not necessarily hers; etc.) and set consistent work hours and consistent sleep hours like you would if you had to leave home and punch in to work. Use your company's flexibility only for major disasters like you would with paid time off. Make the most of the hours you've committed to your company because you aren't going to work overtime routinely because most outside jobs don't offer it; besides, that's family time. Tweak the expander. Use the timer if that helps. Keep a cheat sheet (or write in your reference books) any new words you learn; it helps to solidify learning.

If you are the latter, then maybe you are pretty much doing the best you can. Accept that, be grateful that your company is fine with that arrangement and stop beating up on yourself. That doesn't help productivity, either. It still wouldn't hurt to give the kids more chores; neither would it hurt if they learned to respect your work time. They don't sound like they are infants or toddlers who aren't old enough to understand.

Unfortunately, the more you have on your plate, the more "scheduled" you need to be. At least, that was my experience when I had 3 jobs and was also going to school. I had to have every day of the week planned out fairly tightly, or things got away from me. Would I want to do that again? Not particularly, but I could if I had to and if I knew it was for a particular time period for a particular goal.

If you're worried about money and worried about productivity, that worry itself messes with your productivity, and it's the hardest thing to do anything about. I'm not one who can "don't worry, be happy", so I'm not about to suggest that. Just be aware that this is going on in your head. Make every effort to do the best you can with what you've got. If you can honestly tell yourself that you did, then accept whatever the outcome is and, again, don't beat yourself up for it. That's something good to teach your kids, too.

Top
#97056 - 05/01/08 03:57 PM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: BlankKeys]
LisaKT57
New Member


Registered: 02/20/08
Posts: 18
Loc: VA
Originally Posted By: BlankKeys
Anyone else have a spouse who thinks MT isn't REAL work because you're doing it at home?


After about a year of working on-site, I became a home-based MT (with the same hospital). I remember my (now ex) husband coming home the first day wanting to know what was for dinner and asking if I'd done the laundry that day "since you were home all day." I said... well, never mind what I said. He didn't ask those questions again, though!
_________________________
Lisa

Top
#97080 - 05/01/08 08:35 PM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: LisaKT57]
BlankKeys
Member


Registered: 04/09/08
Posts: 467
Loc: New York
And these are the same guys who are home all weekend and don't do a darn thing but watch sports. Mine has never cooked a meal, scrubbed a toilet, mopped a floor, dusted a table or taken care of a sick child in the middle of the night.
Top
#97081 - 05/01/08 08:57 PM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: BlankKeys]
ahvasquez
Member


Registered: 02/07/03
Posts: 279
Loc: Texas
Originally Posted By: BlankKeys
And these are the same guys who are home all weekend and don't do a darn thing but watch sports. Mine has never cooked a meal, scrubbed a toilet, mopped a floor, dusted a table or taken care of a sick child in the middle of the night.

Man, you guys are making me count my blessings in triplicate!! My BF is a terrific cook (I don't know what's going on in the kitchen right now, but it smells great), took care of my grandson while I worked today, and cleaned out the fridge yesterday. Okay, there ARE sports on the TV, but I'm definitely not complaining. \:\)
_________________________
Anne

Top
#97082 - 05/01/08 08:57 PM Re: Time for a change or time to change something? [Re: BlankKeys]
tropsicleAfter
Member


Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 2056
Loc: MS Gulf Coast
BK, why do you tolerate that lack of help?
_________________________
tropsicle

Top
Page 1 of 2 12>


Moderator:  Annie, LynH 
Hop to:


Google
Web mtchat.com
mtdesk.com

Search MT CHAT Forums

MT Desk


Medical Abbreviations
Search By Abbreviation
Search By Definition
Pharma Companies
www.medilexicon.com