How to get fired?

[webgal]

Originally Posted by JFrenzel

Huh, nevermind. I did figure it out. You are marketing your own product, with all do respect why is that so?


Jose

I actually changed the newer sig to my blog which has tons of free info because the same thing occurred to me. When you change your signature, it isn't retroactive on this forum so the older signatures still have that evil link.

But I do spend HOURS moderating this site and eliminating spammers for $0. I've also spent time dispensing a lot of free advice as well. So shoot me.

[badhank]

Originally Posted by webgal

I actually changed the newer sig to my blog which has tons of free info because the same thing occurred to me.

...

But I do spend HOURS moderating this site and eliminating spammers for $0. I've also spent time dispensing a lot of free advice as well. So shoot me.

We are all free to post our (non affiliate) sites in the sig, no?

Also, lets talk more about getting fired, did the thread started do it or chicken out? updates?

[ChicHippie]

I am also in the same boat. There have been a rash of lay offs at my job and every time I am "spared". I have never been laid off/fired from a job so the thought of it sends me into a panic. Lately, I find myself wanting to be the next to go. My biggest quarrel is that my workload has tripled in the last year without a decent raise and a bunch of promotions to clearly unqualified people. I am the "go-to" person for many different departments and because I am somewhat of a people pleaser, I say yes to way too much. I don't want to quit out of fear of running out of money before I land my next job (even though I do have a little cushion.) I know for a fact that my company gives severance (I've heard about 5 weeks for a similar position to mine.)

My next course of action is to 1) propose that I work at home 2 days a week but doubt they will approve it. If that doesn't pan out, 2) I will have to resort to lowering my productivity. And if they still keep me on, 3) I will have to bite the bullet and quit...for my own sanity.

[fduijts]

Originally Posted by dankenein

I loved everything about the book--it confirmed many thoughts I'd been having as well as (gasp!) gave practical strategies and advice! However, one section that really intrigued me was the advantages of being fired (unemployment) over quitting. I wanted more details on how to make this happen. Seriously. I am poised to quit my beyond-repair job at the end of the year, regardless, but would much prefer the quiet firing.

Unfortunately, I work at an elite university where raises are NOT merit-based (so cutting back on productivity is not a fireable offense) and it's damn near impossible to be fired (you need to embezzle large amounts of money and I don't have access to finances!). Further, unprofessional and inappropriate behavior on the smaller scale (things that would be considered harassment other places) actually seems to be rewarded, not punished. Hard work, smarts, and integrity seem to be punished.

Any ideas? I suspect I'm just going to have to pull the trigger myself.

I don't get you... You work in a place where it doesn't matter what you do, it won't get you fired. What is considered bad behavior at other companies is rewarded there and people who blow out get raises. Why on earth would you want to leave? Stay there and work on your muse. If this gets you fired you got your muse up and running, if it doesn't get you fired you got the money from that 'job' and money from your muse. If you want to make it really fun, see how far you can go. Move your stuff to an empty office and make it your own, tell your boss your need an assistend and make her do your work ,show up late or not at all and if your boss disagrees tell him you are overwhelmed by stress do to the company culture and need a fully paid year of absence. That is... if you want to make it fun

[cvfoss]

I thought he said he was gonna quit anyways and was looking to get fired to help soften the transition.

The one thing I'd say is check back on any contracts you signed when you were hired. Some companies have clauses that any work you do while employed with them they own. I don't know how often they get away with enforcing it, but it might be something to think about.

Otherwise, I follow the advice given above. Ride it out and take as many liberties as you can. I know with me, once I decided I was leaving my last job I stopped stressing out about being late or taking long lunches. I started enjoying life a little more. I also spent a lot of time learning and researching stuff (they can't own my knowledge).

[JFrenzel]

So how many more pro active comments will arrive?????

[badhank]

yea what happened with all of this, please say my advice was followed

[aho2zds]

I've been in the same position as the Original Post describes, just a different type of employer (big box home improvement store). They didn't value hard work, or deliberately taking on more responsibility -- at least in any way that they would financially reward this type of behavior. So I started spending every free second of mine ruthlessly carrying out what I learned from the 4HWW, a la Tim Ferriss. I was absolutely offended when interrupted (even though I was on the company's time). It's hard to Eliminate or 80/20 anything when you work in big retail, and God knows I tried... So I just became as invisible as possible. I could never get fired for not doing my job though. I've since quit and started working on my muse, while living off of self-employed seasonal, modeling, and construction gigs.

It's painfully easy to work on your own stuff while at 'work'. But that's stealing. You have an agreement w/ your employer to do 'X' for $'Y'. If you're still getting paid, but you're working on a muse, then you've faulted on your end of the agreement. This is different than Tim's ice-cream store story. He got all his work done, and literally had nothing more productive to do.

I'm not judging anybody. Like I said, I did the same thing. But it was more to my advantage to just quit and have no reason to get upset (somebody interrupting my muse-related escapades). And it sounds like you could be in the same position.

I think Tim highlights the benefits of getting fired to help us readers do a little Fear-Setting and picture a worst-case scenario. But that's not what he's trying to get us to aspire to. Kamakiri has a great point in that unemployment benefits, as a goal is incredibly short-sighted.

Personally, I don't understand why everybody thinks that having a job and creating a muse are oil/water exclusive. If you're spending even a couple of hours each morning/evening before/after work, the muse will happen. So my advice is to go to work, and do what you agreed to do to actually earn your salary. Then kill it when you get home to actually generate some momentum w/ your muse.

On a side note, I think one of the most entertaining ways to intentionally get fired from any job is to just start showing up really drunk. Don't change anything else. Try to do your job well, and the required results will follow. Let a colleage in on it to secretly record some of the action/conversations for some youtube entertainment later...

[SmartLife]

I would like to get fired from my job too. It would give me some much needed termination pay for a few months at my full salary. I also believe in character. I can't sacrifice my character and purposely put myself in a position where I am looked down upon in such a negative light that I am fired. A lay off is different - though the same as above applies.

Be careful if you go down this road. Are you sure you want to sacrifice your character? Also, remember that in some circumstances, if you are fired for certain extraordinary reasons (look them up in your state/area) the employer may not be required to give you any termincation pay. You may or may not still be able to get unemployment benefits