What were some of your last second huge decisions? Did they work out as you hoped and expected?

2014-12-29T14:02:07-05:00

Today, we were told that we have to sign another 15 month lease to live in the middle of no where. Our old landlord let us stay month to month while we wait for that dream job acceptance before relocating. As we head to Tucson (90 miles away) to possibly sign a lease, I thought, "Wow, is this the right decision?" I mean, do I sign papers committing me to somewhere for 12 months and then get told I have to move for that job? Personally, I pray A LOT and know that God will show me the way, but how many times do we make a huge call and regret it soon after? What were some of your last second huge decisions? Did they work out as you hoped and expected?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 2:23 PM

2014-12-29T14:23:52-05:00

And I'm not just saying this, SFC Mark Merino ...

My biggest last second decision came when I was on terminal leave, about to retire with 28 years of active duty. I was HOME, where I grew up, and living fairly happily with my high school sweetheart and wife of 27 years (at that time).

While on terminal leave, the Army called to inform me that I had been selected for W5 above the zone. Did I want to take the promotion and stay on active duty? I did, and I did.

It worked out for me professionally -- W5, got back down to Fort Meade, where the "action" is in MI (at least one of the places). But personally it was kind of a disaster. My wife had us on the glide path in her mind, the glide path to retirement and life at home (the town where we both grew up).

As my father always used to say, one thing led to another, and I wound up staying at Fort Meade. That, combined with some other issues, resulted in my wife and I divorcing.

Overall, it was partially a win and partially a loss. As I said, on the professional front, it was absolutely the right move. On the personal front, though, the results were pretty much disastrous.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 2:55 PM

2014-12-29T14:55:55-05:00

I'm a very impulsive person, so I tend to curb that intentionally when making decisions, or I'd get myself into way to much trouble. I quit a job once, without giving any notice. I was keeping track of my time, as I felt I was getting shorted, and when I got my paycheck, I was short a few hours. On the drive home, I made the decision to quit. I got home, called my boss, and told him I wouldn't be at work the next day. I didn't have much money saved up, and I had no work lined up. I was a rough next 2 months, but I never regretted it.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jan 2 at 2015 6:00 PM

2015-01-02T18:00:22-05:00

Well, God has spoken. We are getting ready to move to Tuson on the 16th of JAN. Let's hope the job search will be easier there.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jan 2 at 2015 7:09 PM

2015-01-02T19:09:45-05:00

SFC Mark Marino, Best wishes, I hope you and yours enjoy the position and the BIG city. Chuck

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 7:20 PM

2015-01-02T19:20:40-05:00

We had paid off all our debts credit card, vehicles etc except the house two years ago. And last August decided to upgrade the truck (1/2 to 3/4 ton, Chevy of course) and buy a new 30' RV trailer. What the hell was I thinking!!!! But it has been fun so far and can't wait until spring.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jan 11 at 2015 8:20 AM

2015-01-11T08:20:32-05:00

SFC Mark Merino, brother this is a good post! Will use. LOL

Response by 1SG Pete Marcell made Jan 11 at 2015 11:34 AM

2015-01-11T11:34:55-05:00

Mark my wife and I took a flyer on the dream job three years ago and moved from Austin, TX to Oklahoma City. After my second day on the job at said dream job, I came home an told my wife, "I think we made a big mistake." Sure enough my department was eliminated 10 months later. The good thing was I got a call from a headhunter two days later that lead to a great job in OKC. Well after 14 months that company was acquired by another and my position was eliminated with the merger. That was this past July. The good thing was we had rented our house in Austin. When I was laid off the second time the lease was up and we moved back. I just had to make one call back to a prior employer in Austin and I was back at work 6 weeks later. Would I do it again? Yes, I've got the adventure gene in the family, would the wife? Probably not. In fact I'd received a call from a second headhunter for another dream job position in Portland, OR, wife said, "No Go." After the OKC disaster I couldn't argue with her. But man that job looked good.

Response by LCDR Doug Nordman made Jan 12 at 2015 11:30 AM

2015-01-12T11:30:40-05:00

I thought this would be a thread about avoiding collisions at sea. You know, like "always turn to starboard for contacts forward of the beam."

Years ago my spouse was on the glide slope to her own active-duty retirement when the assignment officer called with that "unrefusable offer". Negotiations dragged on for 18 months, but as she approached PRD we found the clause in the MILPERSMAN that said the assignment officer could just issue a set of orders. She was already within 48 hours of that deadline, so she had to snapshot her resignation letter.

It took more than six months for the chain of command to realize that she was serious. During the next couple of weeks we did the financial analysis to conclude that "it was only money", and we had the savings for her to leave it on the table. Going to the Reserves was the best career move she ever made.

However I still regret many of the last-second huge decisions that I made during high school and college. Luckily I survived them.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jan 12 at 2015 1:00 PM

2015-01-12T13:00:10-05:00

After separating from active duty, I spent almost a year in Hawaii trying to find my way in the civilian world. It was a bad place to do that. Too expensive. So, I left my wife and young son house sitting for friends who were seeking their own escape to another paradise, shipped my car to Oakland where I picked it up and started driving east.

I got as far as the outskirts of Denver when a fork in the road made me decide. Did I want central Denver or northern Denver? It seems a simple thing, but I had to stop the car because it was there that I was struck by the fact that I had no plan, no basis for making that decision.

I chose north. As it turned out, that road led me north, ultimately to Ft Collins, Colorado, where a former GE Marketing executive was opening a new ad agency. He hired me on despite my lack of any advertising or marketing experience, and arranged for me to obtain GI Bill OJT benefits to supplement my meager pay.

As it turned out, an odd assortment of very talented people joined us there -- a former radio host from the NBC Monitor New York, a European-trained artist who had worked as art director for major agencies in NY and Chicago, a former research photographer from Kodak, and others -- and these became my mentors in their various disciplines. In time, the agency failed and we all scattered to the four winds.

I ended up in Los Angeles where I met and married my second wife and ultimately formed my own ad agency which thrived for a while.

To think it all started with a decision at a fork in the road...

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jan 15 at 2015 4:49 PM

2015-01-15T16:49:51-05:00

Today's moving status: Uhaul 70% loaded. Back at 50%. It's gonna be a photo finish.