I know that nobody here knows me. I know that no-one here has reason to express concern but...

I've been here in the lounge for a while. I like most of you and have rarely wished Ill on any of you and they ALL know who they are.

So here is the deal. Tomorrow Is a real honest to god sink or swim moment for me. I want to vomit. I have wanted to all weekend. I can either figure out how to mill 3 or 4 VERY expensive chunks of solid surface material or I will ruin them all and lose my job and ability to support my wife and two sons. I was hired as a sort of expert but I have never worked with this material and if I admit my ignorance or if I fail I can kiss this job (in Detroit!) good bye! And My anxiety is almost crippling.
Please somebody give me some words tonight. Some real encouragement. I am really on edge, maybe THE edge... I don't know what I'm doing! But I have a family to care for! Oooph. I need to get this job done once and for all. I need to be this guy everyone has always thought I was. I need to go home tomorrow night only SLIGHTLY MORE EMBARRASSED than usual and with a job...

OMG I wish i had IRL friends right now...

Sucks to be me...

Get a good night's sleep. Practice on a piece of the material if you can.

I'm betting you'll do fine. :hug:

I'll be thinking about you and praying tomorrow. Best wishes.

These butterflies are just dying HARD tonight.

THANKS for being here.

I do think you'll be fine. And, there's no shame in taking your time.

:hug:

I only say online because it's late Sunday evening. You *can* be the guy they think you are, and there must be something you can do to prep for that. You can do it! Best of luck. Sorry I'm rambling - posting on my phone on a crowded bus.

There must be someone you know (old foreman, past machinists you've worked with) that you can discuss the procedure with. There is no shame in having to "consult" with other "experts" before attempting a tricky and costly project. Try buying a little time to get better prepared before attempting the job.

I MUST steal that phrase. It describes half of what I work with.

I just need to NAIL this one. I kind of think it sucks for my employer to shove this down my throat after only 1 week on the job. I never said I could shit out this kind of work in that kind of time frame...

Fuck it. This is what is required and I have people to care for.

Thanks bluesbassman I really appreciate the advice!

My point was that there is very little that somebody else hasn't got experience working with. Surely someone you know can give you some helpful tips. Sounds like you've got a good background, I'm sure you'll do well. And as for your boss, unless you SPECIFICALLY told him you were an expert on this particular material and milling technique, I'd just tell him you need a little extra time to get prepared. Good luck Bro!

find out. that way you will get it done.

the material is that you'll be milling.

Good luck, I'll be sending good vibes your way.

the material. I think a big part of your stress is coming from that in addition to just nerves. As a previous poster mention consult with someone, there is no shame in that. You clearly have the talent and the skill which has made you an expert and able to support your family. Trust in yourself and in others to help you. We are here for ya :)

Asking for help is tantamount to admitting defeat. It's hard wired.
But now I have to try and produce some half-assed , non-engineered garbage from an architect that couldn't build his way out of a paper bag. I have to create reality out of crude 2d sketches that he himself did not understand when he drew them. Thousands of dollars are riding on my fucking GUESSES being right. This fucking blows. I hate the fucking construction industry in Detroit.

I really needed to vent. Thank you so much Nadine_mn.

:thumbsup:

in any kind of job. This time next month you will laugh about this.

for the Applebee's dish of your choice. Please remember this thread on sept. 10th. I'm bookmarking it now and I MEAN to come through if that's how things turn out. (???)

Thanks for the support.

But BluesBassman is right...There's no shame in consulting someone else who may know something you don't. Part of what makes us experts in our fields is our ability to know when further research and consultation are needed. By contacting someone whose opinion you respect, you honor them. They'll know that one day they'll be able to turn to you for advice.

Try to relax, breathe deeply, and have confidence that you can face this challenge. I'm sure you'll perform the task beautifully!
:hug::hug::hug:

I'll give you my time and a half etc... :)

Keep yer overtime, though. :rofl:

I was in a similar position about two months ago, afraid of losing my own job, and I totally feel for you. I pray that everything works out. Believe in yourself and you might just surprise yourself.

:hug:

Please take deep breathes and then try to calmly do your best. That's all you can do. :hug:

Thank you so very much ThomCat. I need it and I appreciate it.

I hope you take the advice of people here and break down that barrier of yours about asking others for help and advice.

This may be a wake up call for you to do that just so you can avoid these horrendous stresses in the future.

wishing you well for tomorrow.

W.

It's hard to get or keep a job in this town without having some exclusive knowledge of the manufacturing process. It's hard to let go of that monopoly when you have a family looking to you for every possible need. It's a burden. I welcomed the burden but SHIT I'm only human. It's tough in this town. Thanks for the support.

I agree with some of the other posters, and I'm a 100%-er like you; sometimes it's okay to ask for help or ask for clarification. Only you know if that is possible in your line of work, but I am utterly pulling for you and sending 120% vibes your way. All the best to you...I'm sure you can do what you need to do. :-)

I'm sorry you're under such stress, and I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. :hug:

bad Lee Whatever Jr imitation.

You wouldn't be there if you didn't have the skills. Do some positive visualizing, go to bed, and drift off to sleep composing the epic 'I Rock!' post you'll be putting up tomorrow night...

Good luck!

youre kitchen. I hope things work out. Thanks again.

I'm well aware that the construction business is full of architects and engineers who delegate down way farther than they should. And I'm just a measly estimator at an HVAC company. You probably wouldn't be surprised at how many times the engineer wants me to design a job for them instead of just quoting it.

But anyway, do your level best. Be absolutely honest about the difficulty of the job. And try not to be too much of a dick when you explain why this problem should never have come up. He might be someone's son-in-law.

I'm pullin for ya.

:hi:

I used to think I was crazy but now I understand that no matter how big or small any given job is somebodies son in law will always be in charge of it. Good observation!

I've been there before, and I know how it goes... :pals:

Just take one thing at a time.

I'll send you the good vibes smiley, too!

It *always* works!!

Thank you.

...blame it on someone else.

It's the American way.

:patriot:

You can do it. We're all with you... :thumbsup:

Even though you have not done this particular material before, you have skill, and you are a smart individual.

You will relax before you start and clear your head.

You are not doing an impossible task, and you have the resources to get it done.

You will not psyche yourself out.

You will visualize the end product before you start.

If you have questions in your mind on how to proceed, you will solve them before you begin.

You will take your time and do an excellent job.

I would wish you luck, but you do not need luck because you have skill and intelligence.

of them and their love. Do your best at work but the worst thing is to be doing something for the rest of your life that causes such anxiety. It will all work out for the best in the end.

concerning hardware that has to be fit into the fixture that only the architect can
answer. So I can at least pin the delay on her...(lol)

The delay is good and bad. I get to take some more time in the design process and hopefully catch mistakes but it prolongs the anxiety. I just want it to be DONE!

I want to thank everyone for all the great supportive replies the other night. I needed that as I was in the midst of a pretty serious anxiety/ panic attack Sunday night!

:hug:

I have a feeling that everything will be just fine. :)

:hug:

:hi:

my guess: you're doing fine

It's not like I'm fired or anything (yet?) but I have to admit that I really was in over my head and I kind of showed it to everybody at my new job.

The truth is that I choked. I didn't know what I was doing I felt pressure to figure it out rather than admit ignorance and I failed. I just blew it. REALLY blew it.

Nothing was ruined since another guy caught my mistakes (S!)before they made it to the machine but this is a rush job and the delay sort of fucks us and I feel like I was exposed as some sort of fraud.

I don't know how I'm going to show my face there tomorrow so tonight, I'm getting drunk and getting my resume ready (again).

After everyone's very positive and excellent support I thought I needed to share how things turned out.


:(

I'm sure you did your best, so just go in there with your head held high tomorrow. Things have a way of working out, and this will too. :hi:

I'm sure you will do great. In fact, I know it.

on the other hand, I do notice it brings out the best in a lot of people. To be honest, as much as I hate it, I hate all the endless practice nonreality BS that much more.

You will do well. You will show exactly why you are where you are. And when you are done kicking ass, come back and tell us all here how its done.

I'm a machinist and might have a hint or two.

What material is it?

What machines do you have available?

Join and post at Practical Machinist: http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/index.php

In the shop the other day. {youtube 3:53}

Good Luck. :thumbsup:

Not quite as good a CNC machinist as I thought, either. I was working with Corian Solid Surface.

I'm rooting for you; you'll do good ;)

OMG, i care. you will shine tomorow.