After a few years working on the project I'd put in some good ideas that led to $1M+ in funding (mostly grants) and lifted the company from hand to mouth to a real thing. And in general I really helped to shape the organization in positive ways. Unfortunately the person with the direct connection to funding really didn't understand development, wanted me to be something I wasn't, and really had poor people skills as evidenced by the trail of people he'd burned over time. So early this year things got so heated that I left. I've been around for a while and from experience might have left without burning bridges, but while I wasn't rude, I made it very clear that I didn't appreciate what was happening.

Eight months later it still bothers me, because I should have seen it coming, and because I wasn't able to change it, nor did I find a way to turn it to my advantage.

Which results in my selling about 20 more t-shirts than I had available. Ouch.

I decided to be open about the mistake and the next day I manually sent an email to everyone whose order couldn't be fulfilled to explain what had happened.

The surprising thing was that everyone was cool about it. Honesty for the win :)

People generally respond well when treated like people. Some don't, which is unfortunate. That's both a popular and silly reason for one (businesses, people with a pulpit, etc) to treat people like unruly masses as a defense.

Company is full of senior management-type guys who have their eyes on the big payout, but because they're well-funded and don't know what they're doing, they want to offshore everything. That's right: they're offshoring a new product that they themselves do not grasp. The only specs are some existing code they bought and whatever comes out of their mouth in a sales meeting. This makes what would normally be just a clusterfuck turn into a royal, 5-star clusterfuck.

I just saw them take 15 people and 3 months to do what 1 guy could do in 2 weeks. And they did it with 20-hour days, yelling, and all the other drama. If it wasn't destroying people's lives like a meat grinder, it'd be a comedy.

Now I have to find a way to ditch these assholes before they ruin my life too.

I need to trust my instincts more & be more cautious with such big moves.

It's some added stress that I don't need and I'm working as much overtime as I can now when instead I should be spending my time studying/preparing for this class.

And the apex seals in my RX-7's engine finally went and it needs a rebuild. :( That's probably not going to get done till at least next year, but now I'm regretting dumping so much money into this car.

Never happened, the client got an awesome product, some free work, and I had no new work lined up afterwards.

Currently in the middle of a cashflow crisis.

This seemed to happen a lot to designers but I've seen them start to take a much more ruthless/professional approach to their business.

I know this doesn't help your situation right now, but this video is some fantastic guidance going forward: "F* You, Pay Me!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVkLVRt6c1U

Just to be clear here though, I said I wouldn't charge for that time, so it was a mistake on MY part.

I did get a great example for my portfolio though.

I honestly don't know what more I could have done. You can give 1000% and keep pushing forward, but if the other person isn't giving anything and keeps putting you two steps back, there really isn't any hope in salvaging.

Remember to talk to your family and friends. If you simply need someone to talk to, just email me via my profile.

A couple of bad clients. Didn't listen to my gut feeling and worked with them. Sucked up months of my time first in working for them and then getting them to pay me. Lesson: upfront payment :) as a sign of good faith.

I think I did okay with friends and family which always a relief to know :)

http://scottberkun.com/essays/44-how-to-learn-from-your-mist...