Sometime last week I get a call from a partner in my firm. He states that he has been tasked with something that arguably falls under my role with the firm. He explains what it is and in the course of this provides me with misinformation. I gladly offer to take over this task - as that is both my natural inclination and frankly, it does make more sense for me to do it.

He tells me that he is going to talk to the managing partner about handing it over to me and I tell him I will wait to hear from him.

Days go by and on Monday I receive an email chain between the MP and this partner. The partner asking to hand it off to me. The MP saying sure. Then the partner forwards the exchange to me with a "Thanks, Laura".

I then work in one of our other offices (I'm responsible for 29 offices nationally) for two days. I come back and have a voicemail from him asking what progress has been made.

Realizing that I have been somewhat negligent, I do what was communicated to me on the phone last week.

Unfortunately, I send misinformation - because that is what was provided to me. Then documents are requested that haven't been provided to me. I reach out to the partner requesting documents who then lays into me because he is now fielding calls from the other partners about why I don't have this information and why I provided them with misinformation regarding the candidate.

I mention to him that I simply conveyed what he told me. His reply "Well, maybe that's true but from a customer service standpoint - I don't think it is a good idea. You should have come downstairs and asked me for the documents".

Frankly, I'm under the opinion that if you are going to ask me to take something over - you should provide me with ample (and correct) information to do so.

I've only been here a year and I am being heavily recruited by another company. It is a great opportunity but carries a large degree of risk.

Part of me is completely risk averse and part of me feels like its time to take a chance on myself rather than spend my life catering to assholes.

I realize that 99% of us have to do that for a living and I am no different.

The funny thing is that the risk averse was winning up until about a half an hour ago.

Now, brave chance taking Lola is rearing her lovely head.

Comment, empathize, ridicule, critique. Just give me something.

I recommend you don't consult Tarot cards about it.

I'm risk averse myself, but yeah, that situation sounds like it'd put me in mind of walking away, too, esp. if I had another offer. Is the other position risky as in, you could end up unemployed? Or risky as in, it might not turn out to be a good situation?

Risky because I'll be working as a consultant - which I walked away from for this and I have only been here a year. So, that looks bad on my resume (particularly because I have moved around so much in the last few years).

But I really believe in the opportunity. I guess I am struggling with believing in myself.

This current opportunity really challenges me because lawyers are assholes and never stop coming down on me. (IAANPL) BUT I make a decent wage and there is a certain amount of job security.

Being a consultant requires a much more entreprenuerial mindset. I naturally inclined to laziness. SO, there's that.

What I like about my current situation is that I am finally for the first time in my life making real strides in paying off my consumer debt - bad habit of my twenties. This could be a bit harder to do once I leave. AND then I am looking at about $450 a month in COBRA payments. If I didn't have COBRA - S.O. could add me as a domestic partner but since I will have it available for 8 months...

We will be okay financially regardless - but I imagine that any more reliance on my SO could definitely add tension to our relationship.

GAH!

It's a tough situation to be in, and I'm sorry that the unpleasantness of your workplace ends up making this prospective decision feel like one of moving *away* from a negative thing, rather than freely choosing to move *toward* a positive thing because it feels like the right thing at the right time for you.

On the other hand, for some of us risk-averse types, dire life circumstances have the effect of pushing us to do risky things that are really good for us--that we know on some level are what we really most want to do--because the daily pain comes to outweigh the fear.

The one thing I would throw into your thinking about this is that time and age can make it harder and harder to take leaps like this; if getting back into consulting is something you think you really want to do sooner or later, there's some upsides to doing it when you're younger, rather than letting yourself get more and more settled into the security of the regular paycheck, retirement plan, health insurance, etc. etc. etc. Security makes chains that are hard to break.

Best wishes to you whichever way you decide! (And kicks in the shins all around to your attorneys, who sound like a bunch of horses' asses.)

Sleep on it...give yourself a little time so you're not just reacting to this immediate event. It's great that you've got two solid options for work.

Thanks. I know that I am very fortunate in more ways than not and I really appreciate you "listening" to my woes.

And while I am reacting to this immediate event - this is pretty much par for the course with a few wonderful exceptions.

You're the greatest, Lola_G.

Risk a verse. Songs are boring when they're all, chorus, chorus, chorus.

First of all, HI LOLA!!!

As to the work situation, I don't know... maybe let it cool down a bit? Give yourself at least a week or so to think it over? Lack of a steady income makes me anxious as hell, but then again, if you think you'd enjoy the other job a lot more... I can see your dilemma.

So good to see ya here, though! You and the mr. have to meet up with us again sometime soon... we miss you! : )

Thanks again everyone! I know that I absolutely must get out to see the gang soon. I haven't been drinking! Which might be my greatest problem of all!

Hey Lola_G, how was your par-tay? sorry I couldn't make it, too much stuff going on

Lame. Just as I thought...no worries.

But we do need another DVD night soon!

My advice: Don't consult an online Tarot.