The Swamp

A lot has happened for the ‘gonz in recent months, so I apologize for a vanity post, but I haven’t been around here much. i want to share some of it, as it’s big changes for me.

I got promoted a while back, and made a career shift into production. I’ve worked heavy industry my whole career, but always in a technical role as an engineer or analyst. Our operation is massive. Our plant employs ~1250, brings in roughly $2B in revenue, and generates profits in the $180-240 million range each year. We’re the top earning facility for the company. It’s a big deal, high pressure, and hard work.

My expertise is molten metal and casting. Everything from how to deal with scrap and how we can mix them for our alloys, to furnace design, and all the critical items associated with the casting part. In my job I manage our casting operation so oversee 140+ people (90 union), and manage our operating budget of ~$45 million and ~$18 million in capex spend.

We almost never shut down. The cast house has 11 massive furnaces (125t capacity each), and 5 casting pits. The ingots we make are roughly 17t each, and resemble an aluminum brick 25” x 75” x 200”. The safety risks are intense as we deal with the molten metal and lots of big mobile equipment and cranes. We are world class in our safety numbers, which I take great pride in. Statistically, you are safer in our shop than you are at home. But a real bad day in our industry can lead to multiple fatalities. Just google molten aluminum plant explosion and watch some of the videos.

The job is killing me. About two months ago I thought I had a heart attack. My blood pressure is extreme, and my stress is off the charts. My dads side of the family has a bad heart history, and strokes on moms. Not a great combination for a high stress job. I typically work 6-6 on weekdays, but have to stay connected at all times. I’m also out in the plant for a few hours at least every other weekend. Will be out there for four hours both today and tomorrow as we work through issues. I used to be ultra fit, and worked out regularly. I barely find time for that anymore. I’m legit getting fat, and half my shirts don’t fit anymore.

Bragging, but I’m really good at what I do. There are very few people who have as broad a background of our industry as me, crossing the technical and operating sides. My boss and others call me a unicorn, which is flattering. The item that sets me apart is my understanding of the business impacts on the upstream side. We make half of our earnings on the scrap side, and I’m in a very small group of 5 to 10 who are considered the go to experts in our company for this (we’ve got 12k employees world wide). I personally know our CEO and the president of our division. They have me slated to advance into a director role, and then possibly site president 5-10yrs down the road.

Im leaving. Turned in my notice last week, with next Wednesday my last day. It was a shock for the company. There has been a small exodus of people in recent months, but I’m the highest level one. I’ve also been seen as safe and stable and with my path clearly laid out. But I can’t keep this up. I also had a bad run-in a senior manager three months ago that made me question if I wanted to continue to work with people like that. I love my current boss, but do not like the rest of the senior management team at the site. And my job is hard, with each day being a serious grind. Since the stakes are so high, it’s almost impossible to let up even for an afternoon. So if I’m unsure about the people I would be working with at next step, I just can’t handle it. I’ve also spent over 18yrs at the same plant, and feel close to getting trapped due to my experience and expertise.

Going to a competitor, and will be working on the corporate r&d side. I tried to do this same job with current company, and got to do it for 6mos before they asked me to come back to the plant because they couldn’t make it run. My stress level will evaporate, and I get my nights and weekends back. No direct reports for the first time in well over a decade. I cannot wait. As I said, it was a big shock for the company. They asked me what job it would take to convince me to stay, but my mind is made up. It’s not even about money, as I already feel really well compensated. I do have lots of fears and lots of sadness about leaving; I genuinely love that place and a lot of the people. But I can feel it sucking the life out of me. The fact that I care about it so much has been used as a tool against me.

I get to leave on good terms and with my head held high. That’s good for me, as the burn rate on my current role is ~80%. They also offered open door if I ever want to come back. But I need a change of scenery before I slip too far.

New job will require a fair bit of travel, so I also sold my truck and bought a Tesla (model 3). I can’t stand Elon, but holy shit are those things fun to drive. Mines a ‘22 and has the performance acceleration and extended range battery. Can go over 300miles on a full charge, and can go from 0-60 in about 3.5 seconds. I’m gonna get a lot of tickets I’m afraid. After test driving it, and then getting in my truck to drive home, it felt like I went backwards in time.

Again, sorry for the vanity, and the bragging. It’s been a really weird and hard time though and I felt I needed to spill. I am 100% certain I’m doing the right thing though, and look forward to walking out that last day.

Congrats, Bob. Sounds like you've made the right decision.

I agree. Nothing is worth that stress and working with shitty people.

Congrats on making the move. I’m sure it was difficult to leave after 18 years, but it sounds like the stress and hours weren’t sustainable.

This is how I’m picturing that last day:

That read like how someone who regrets not making the right call for themselves would have written about it had they were allowed a second chance. Congrats and glad you took care of yourself.

All work and no play, etc...

You have to look after you, and if others are not interested, that is their look out and you are doing the right thing for you and those who you care about.

Also, fuck off about the car, nobody needs to hear about how great your new car is...

Good for you! Glad that you decided to make a change.

Good luck with the change. New stuff always invigorating

Hell yeah

Sounds like it was a heart wrenching decision, Bob. Kudos to you for being brave enough to make this move.

I’m glad to be retired.

Good for you, man!! I'm very, very excited for you.

If you hadn't written the type of work you do I could've sworn that you were a military dude at the top of his game just going "Careerism isn't for me. I'm taking my retirement and I'm going home."

Coincidentally, I'm taking my retirement and I'm going home.

This is your post, but dammit if I cannot see parts of my feelings for the Air Force in what you wrote about your company.

Congrats again, Mr. Pentagonz.

Thanks guys. I’m really looking forward to it! Lots in the last week has clarified the decision as being the right one for me.

Wow, really happy for you BobP. Full congrats and it sounds like 100% the right decision.

Happy for you man!!

Congrats Bob and good luck!

That couldn't have been an easy decision - but it definitely sounds like the right one.

Congratulations!

If that means you post here more, than I’m happy for us.

Congratulations, Bobby P! I think it's pretty clear that you made the right decision. Just because you're really good at your job doesn't obligate you to keep doing it.

Did they let you stay on even after you said you're going to a competitor? In my experience that usually results in walking you out that day.

Even if you gave them a way to keep you there they'd probably renege on it eventually and put you right back in the same role.

If you're worried about tickets get one of these:

https://www.valentine1.com/v1-detectors/

Highly recommend.

Thanks gpj, I’ve been thinking about getting a good one.

Shirley, they didn’t walk me out. I expected them too. Exact words from plant manager were that I wasn’t going to learn anything in the next two weeks I didn’t already know. They made clear that they didn’t want me to leave, and that ethically they hold me in high regard. It’s been proven out as I spent time out there both days on my last weekend.

They are making one last moonshot effort to keep me. A previous boss in our R&D group wants to get me a job on his team but to relo to France. It would get me out of my current predicament and away from a bad group. That would be mine and wife’s preference, but they have two days to figure that out. Merde.

Wow. I think keeping you on for your 2(?) weeks shows some integrity. And also is further evidence of your value.

Change jobs or move to France? That's a crazy choice. Wait, would the job at your competitor still be in Alabama (Madison?) or are you moving either way?

If they come through on the France option, my choices are travel back and forth from Alabama to Knoxville, relocate to Colmar or Grenoble France.

What would y’all do? My step son is 24, so it would just be the wife and I.

France in a fucking heartbeat.

Square Rob wrote: ↑Sun May 15, 2022 6:49 pm What would y’all do? My step son is 24, so it would just be the wife and I.

I know the France thing sounds like an amazing opportunity...But...you've made the decision to walk away for a reason. And even though you may be in a different group/division, the same issues that drove the decision to leave in the first place are going to crop up eventually.

My father once told me that once you decide to leave, leave. Don't take the counter-offer, because you'll find yourself in the same shit at some point.

Just my .02...

Square....that is all good stuff. Nice to be wanted and respected. Sounds like you have folks who respect you and appreciate you in both cases.

Speaking of France...what happened to The French Guy Swamper?

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Sun May 15, 2022 7:51 pm

Square Rob wrote: ↑Sun May 15, 2022 6:49 pm What would y’all do? My step son is 24, so it would just be the wife and I.

I know the France thing sounds like an amazing opportunity...But...you've made the decision to walk away for a reason. And even though you may be in a different group/division, the same issues that drove the decision to leave in the first place are going to crop up eventually.

My father once told me that once you decide to leave, leave. Don't take the counter-offer, because you'll find yourself in the same shit at some point.

Just my .02...

DiS, thanks. I really understand that line of thinking and am about 50/50 aligned the same way. Only thing that might sway me is I love our executive level leadership. I think our problems are local, and a euro adventure could give that time to shake out.

France in a heartbeat.

If you think the stepson is ok and your wife is on board, absolutely go for it. Sounds like you’d have a job to come back to if/when you want.

Grenoble is near some serious mountains (Alps) ~looks like it'd be fantastic. You'd be within a few hours of Bern, Geneva, Milan - and they're all within half the distance it'd take to get up to Paris.

Congrats Bob!

(and I think I'd go to France, especially if I lived in the south.)

Good luck bobbyp.

Commuting from Huntsville to Knoxville? No thank you. I've done that drive several times and it's not a particularly fun one.

The opportunity to live in France sounds pretty amazing. But I get the concerns about staying at the same company - and also going back on your word at the potential new employer. Might be burning bridges on both ends (or at least damaging them).

I'm in the minority but I probably wouldn't want to move to France or most other countries. I mean, if I really wanted to do that I'd probably have just done it.

Our business unit president is in the states and on site the next two days. He’s requested a confidential 1:1 to discuss why I want to leave and what it would take to convince me to stay (and he specifically calls out the France option). I’ve made up my mind to be 100% transparent with him, including the bad stuff that reflects directly on some of his direct reports.

*edit to add, mtg scheduled for 430cst today. Wish me luck.

Gunpowder wrote: ↑Mon May 16, 2022 6:48 pm I'm in the minority but I probably wouldn't want to move to France or most other countries. I mean, if I really wanted to do that I'd probably have just done it.

Complicated for me. I’m not the kind of person who would be comfortable just winging it and moving. It would always have to be structured and organized, meaning associated with a specific job.

From my first trip over I’ve always wanted to try it. The thought of being so close to so many historical areas is just intoxicating for me. Add in different cultures and climes… I grew up in a small town, and always wanted to see the world. Here’s a good shot to experience it in a way I never anticipated. Going as an expat is a big deal, as they work really hard to make it a good experience. We’ve had lots of traffic come this way, but very few have done the opposite. My wife is legit almost doing cartwheels she’s so excited at the thought.

At the least you can spin it off into a Bob in Paris show.

Gunpowder wrote: ↑Tue May 17, 2022 6:30 am At the least you can spin it off into a Bob in Paris show.

Wear a stupid hat, and I’ll watch it!

Definitely be completely transparent and open, if they can address all your concerns, it’s worth listening. I feel the same about your feelings on moving to France. I’d need a structured set up to feel comfortable, unless I had enough wealth to retire, but even still, I’d prefer the structure and support to ease into a new culture, especially if you don’t speak French. Since your wife is excited, I’d give it strong consideration. I’d feel bad backing out on the new company, but you don’t owe them anything and after initial annoyance of hiring again, they’ll move on. Just be careful if burning that bridge could come back to bite you. I imagine your industry doesn’t have a lot of players.

I'd do it just for the extra sexy time with the wife.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Tue May 17, 2022 10:39 am I'd do it just for the extra sexy time with the wife.

Is there an exchange rate chart for this?