Life and stuff | From one Demon to another

In another life, I was an insurance agent. Started as an underwriting assistant, aced the broker's exam, set the company record, I was ready to kill it. By the end I was so broken down by the atmosphere I completely flaked, I wound up walking away from it, no notice, nothing.

I can't speak to what your relationship with the company and the industry was like, since it was a family thing for you. For me, it was hands down the most soulless, sleazy industry I've ever been involved with. Just deeply evil people - like the kind of stuff Mr. Burns would say, the higher ups walked around saying all the time. Because the industry was so heavily regulated in Canada, most providers were effectively identical, so they basically tried to cheat customers constantly as the only way to get ahead of competitors. Managers joking about ripping people off, acting like they were "winning" a game. Employees treated like interchangeable cogs, ground into human-shaped mush. Sleazeball managers breathing down everyone's neck all the time, breathing twice as hard if they were female. The turnover rate was the highest I've ever seen. All kinds of regulations and employment laws stretched and broken. Commissions taken away.

And we were sales, the bright side. Claims? What everyone called the "dark side?" I learned there that if you get ripped off on a claim from an insurer, it was probably on purpose. They would regularly deny claims, hoping the customer didn't know the insurance act well enough to challenge them (they usually didn't).

And this was a major international company who knew exactly what they were doing, not some fly by night outfit. I won't name names, but hey, who likes soccer?

The whole experience left me deeply depressed and I wrote half a Gaiman-esque magical realist horror novel about the experience. It wasn't until I wound up working in tech, then academia, that my faith in humanity was restored, that work experiences didn't have to be sheer exploitation (though that never goes away).

So what I'm saying is, there's a good chance you're going to wind up in a much happier place after all this.

We got audited a total of 24 or 30 times last year. Australia's financial industry is ridiculously regulated. We passed every single audit though. With out fail. With out a single problem. Even got a MS Audit on our software licenses :lol:

I'm currently in claims. And it's amazing what people think is claimable and what isn't. And it's amazing how poor a lot of claims officers are in their education on the legal aspects of their obligations. And it's amazing the amount of fraud we see happen and nail people on. It's how, as a small agency, we were actually profitable. Really tight claims costs management.

And yes. world wide, it is a ... underhanded... industry. There are a lot of back room deals for extra commission, over riders, bulk placements etc. That have nothing to do with the customers best interests at all. And the worst part is the solictor's that are complicit in making a shit fest out of the claims process for no reason other than so they can charge fee's, but not resolve anything. And Judge's that are complicit in the whole process by not making technically correct rulings which would solve a lot of this bullshit from ever going there in the first place, if they'd rule as the law states and not in a "fuck you all for bringing a commercial claim to court" way.

People have said they're surprised and reccomended i don't get out of insurance, because i've been in the inudstry for 10 years, a Manager for 7. But it's too sleezy for me.

Well now I'm sad giri. :( I wish you luck at school. We can both suffer together.

Wait, you're back at school too?

We'll not really lol I'm just going for my bachelors right now

We'll not really lol I'm just going for my bachelors right now

Ahhh, good luck with all your study nori-chan. You get out of it what you put in.

All of this talk about former jobs makes me realize that no matter how tough the last 8 months go, I made the absolute right decision to leave on my own terms. If anything, I regret not leaving sooner.

YEARS sooner.

Thankfully now I've landed in a new gig that has been a really amazing fit so far. But geez, I was miserable at my last place.

Our nurse manager just got fired a month ago so technically we don't have an actual manager. Our Director of Nursing is overseeing things while us clinical managers handle most of the former nurse manager's duties (payroll, scheduling, evals, etc.) Almost everyone I know is asking me to apply to the open manager position. I figured hell to the fuck no because I am definitely not qualified enough nor have the credentials but also the sheer amount of responsibility that a nurse manager has does not appeal to me very much...

In another life, I was an insurance agent. Started as an underwriting assistant, aced the broker's exam, set the company record, I was ready to kill it. By the end I was so broken down by the atmosphere I completely flaked, I wound up walking away from it, no notice, nothing.

I can't speak to what your relationship with the company and the industry was like, since it was a family thing for you. For me, it was hands down the most soulless, sleazy industry I've ever been involved with. Just deeply evil people - like the kind of stuff Mr. Burns would say, the higher ups walked around saying all the time. Because the industry was so heavily regulated in Canada, most providers were effectively identical, so they basically tried to cheat customers constantly as the only way to get ahead of competitors. Managers joking about ripping people off, acting like they were "winning" a game. Employees treated like interchangeable cogs, ground into human-shaped mush. Sleazeball managers breathing down everyone's neck all the time, breathing twice as hard if they were female. The turnover rate was the highest I've ever seen. All kinds of regulations and employment laws stretched and broken. Commissions taken away.

And we were sales, the bright side. Claims? What everyone called the "dark side?" I learned there that if you get ripped off on a claim from an insurer, it was probably on purpose. They would regularly deny claims, hoping the customer didn't know the insurance act well enough to challenge them (they usually didn't).

And this was a major international company who knew exactly what they were doing, not some fly by night outfit. I won't name names, but hey, who likes soccer?

http://www.canaries.co.uk/cms_images/other/aviva-1-4-3132-213303_478x359.jpg

The whole experience left me deeply depressed and I wrote half a Gaiman-esque magical realist horror novel about the experience. It wasn't until I wound up working in tech, then academia, that my faith in humanity was restored, that work experiences didn't have to be sheer exploitation (though that never goes away).

So what I'm saying is, there's a good chance you're going to wind up in a much happier place after all this.

Whoa, you must be ancient, LFK. :evil:

Our nurse manager just got fired a month ago so technically we don't have an actual manager. Our Director of Nursing is overseeing things while us clinical managers handle most of the former nurse manager's duties (payroll, scheduling, evals, etc.) Almost everyone I know is asking me to apply to the open manager position. I figured hell to the fuck no because I am definitely not qualified enough nor have the credentials but also the sheer amount of responsibility that a nurse manager has does not appeal to me very much…

It's a thankless job. On the floors I've worked, there's been extremely high turnover with the nursing managers. Inept nurses, recalcitrant residents, overbearing attendings... nursing managers have to deal with them all.

Whoa, you must be ancient, LFK. :evil:

I think I'm a bit younger than BlackAce, so yeah, pretty ancient. :lol:

American portions are larger because every plate comes with a side of Freedom

Sucks to hear you hit a rough patch though, man...

American portions are larger because every plate comes with a side of Freedom

Sucks to hear you hit a rough patch though, man…

'Murica, wouldn't you say, Speed Bump?

Whoa, you must be ancient, LFK. :evil:

I think I'm a bit younger than BlackAce, so yeah, pretty ancient. :lol:

He's not that old, is he?

Blackace is the same age or near JET isn't he? Thought he played BBall against him in school.

My best friend and I just got approved for an amazing house for rent on an awesome street. Pretty stoked to get out of the suburbs where I'm the only single person above the age of 21 within a 5 mile radius.

We're both shocked that was available for the price in the area. The rental manager told us there'll be plenty of unhappy applicants haha.

My best friend and I just got approved for an amazing house for rent on an awesome street. Pretty stoked to get out of the suburbs where I'm the only single person above the age of 21 within a 5 mile radius.

We're both shocked that was available for the price in the area. The rental manager told us there'll be plenty of unhappy applicants haha.

Grats

Just picked up my assossciate degree from my old college only took nearly 10 months lol :D

My best friend and I just got approved for an amazing house for rent on an awesome street. Pretty stoked to get out of the suburbs where I'm the only single person above the age of 21 within a 5 mile radius.

We're both shocked that was available for the price in the area. The rental manager told us there'll be plenty of unhappy applicants haha.

Grats

Only thing that sucks is that we might have to take a double-rent hit because of stupid ass 30 day notices.

How am I supposed to know when to give a 30 day notice if I don't know whether I got the place or not? Ugh.

My best friend and I just got approved for an amazing house for rent on an awesome street. Pretty stoked to get out of the suburbs where I'm the only single person above the age of 21 within a 5 mile radius.

We're both shocked that was available for the price in the area. The rental manager told us there'll be plenty of unhappy applicants haha.

Grats

Only thing that sucks is that we might have to take a double-rent hit because of stupid ass 30 day notices.

How am I supposed to know when to give a 30 day notice if I don't know whether I got the place or not? Ugh.

could be worse, you could be left with a massive mortgage and no job lol.

could be worse, you could be left with a massive mortgage and no job lol.

Your payout is bigger than my last job's salary so I don't feel that sorry :P!

Today was absolutely fucked.

I just had some gross ass chinese food. The kind you get for 5$ in a box which could feed a small village in africa.
Hitting up a proper thai resturant next time.

IWMTB19 vs. OCD tracker: OCD has won pretty handily for the last while :(

It's more under control today and my anxiety has consistently gotten better for months so I guess it's not as bad as it could be...

This is shaping up to be an 18 hour workday and then back to work in the morning. Ugh.

This has been one of the most soul destroying days. And it just doesn't end.

This has been one of the most soul destroying days. And it just doesn't end.

Damn I'm sorry man. Why is this falling on your shoulders?

This has been one of the most soul destroying days. And it just doesn't end.

Damn I'm sorry man. Why is this falling on your shoulders?

My boss, is down off signing stuff in another city. So i'm the senior person left.

Are you laying people off?

In talks for a promotion to take affect in the next month or so.

EDIT: My "stepdaughter" moved out to Hawaii after she graduated High School and she has prospered ever since.

Are you laying people off?

I made 14 people redundant (fired) today. Some i have worked with for 8 years. Many i count good friends.

3 people weren't in the office. I got to call them on the phone and deliver the news.

I'm getting VERY drunk tonight. Despite me being one of the people with no job in the future.

Are you laying people off?

I made 14 people redundant (fired) today. Some i have worked with for 8 years. Many i count good friends.

3 people weren't in the office. I got to call them on the phone and deliver the news.

I'm getting VERY drunk tonight. Despite me being one of the people with no job in the future.

During one of the layoffs I've been through I sat next to the "conference room" where dozens of people walked in and found out if they had a job or not. I'm sure it was heavy as hell delivering the verdict to co-workers and friends.

Don't get alcohol poisoning.

During one of the layoffs I've been through I sat next to the "conference room" where dozens of people walked in and found out if they had a job or not. I'm sure it was heavy as hell delivering the verdict to co-workers and friends.

Don't get alcohol poisoning.

That's my plan this weekend. So i'm not guaranteeing anything.

Fucking WOW.

If I hadn't left freelance for an agency job, I certainly fucking would have and looked for a full time gig after what transpired tonight with an old client.

smh

This weather is starting to make me mad , i was ok with it in December and January but its March in less then 2 hours and its still fucking cold
winter depression is real


other then that, life is ok, still in school and working part time so its ok for now. about to get shook and play outlast B^)

So I worked until 4 am one night this week, and a good 10+ hours almost every other day. I have to go in tomorrow and will likely work Sunday too.

I thought I would work a more normal schedule if I got out of the games industry but ugh.

The upside is that I'm getting over time for all this.

So I worked until 4 am one night this week, and a good 10+ hours almost every other day. I have to go in tomorrow and will likely work Sunday too.

I thought I would work a more normal schedule if I got out of the games industry but ugh.

The upside is that I'm getting over time for all this.

Oh. Crocodile tears then!

Ha. I'm still fucking exhausted. But I'm trying to not be too upset because I have been through far worse experiences and survived. I supposed that is the benefit of age and experience, you get perspective over these things.

I'm looking at all this OT as a way to fund my new laptop so I can finally start doing my own iOS side projects. That's what keeps me going.

quite busy myself.
i've started a little production company where i rent out my camera package including a Director of photography/camera operator specifically for narrative production.
i've already got several short film productions lined up scheduled for the year so things are looking great.
im also working on a couple of art pieces for an art competition this fall which is taking up the bulk of my time. i've been working on it for almost 3years now.

In the process of joining NYPD. Family is scared I'm gonna get shot, friends already hate the police and don't know what to think, and I'm nervous/excited to be going through the whole situation. It's something I've put off in other to try a safer job and make others happy but the struggle is too real and even though I'm not in yet, it's already been one of the more exciting adult like things to go through in my life. Haven't told too many people yet so it feels good to get it out there.

In the process of joining NYPD. Family is scared I'm gonna get shot, friends already hate the police and don't know what to think, and I'm nervous/excited to be going through the whole situation. It's something I've put off in other to try a safer job and make others happy but the struggle is too real and even though I'm not in yet, it's already been one of the more exciting adult like things to go through in my life. Haven't told too many people yet so it feels good to get it out there.

i always wanted to be a cop :<

In the process of joining NYPD. Family is scared I'm gonna get shot, friends already hate the police and don't know what to think, and I'm nervous/excited to be going through the whole situation. It's something I've put off in other to try a safer job and make others happy but the struggle is too real and even though I'm not in yet, it's already been one of the more exciting adult like things to go through in my life. Haven't told too many people yet so it feels good to get it out there.

i always wanted to be a cop :<

What stopped you? Other than all the paperwork and life history(literally your whole life) it hasn't been too bad.

In the process of joining NYPD. Family is scared I'm gonna get shot, friends already hate the police and don't know what to think, and I'm nervous/excited to be going through the whole situation. It's something I've put off in other to try a safer job and make others happy but the struggle is too real and even though I'm not in yet, it's already been one of the more exciting adult like things to go through in my life. Haven't told too many people yet so it feels good to get it out there.

i always wanted to be a cop :<

What stopped you? Other than all the paperwork and life history(literally your whole life) it hasn't been too bad.

genetics lol

eyes were a bit too shitty to meet the vision reqs we have here without laser eye surgery, and i wont be able to get that for a good few years yet since my eyes havent quite stopped degrading

had to do other shit in the meantime so the dream is dead~

Went to Verizon to get a new phone. the Moto X.

Things have changed since the last time I got a phone. They told me I had 2 options
1) To use my free upgrade I'd have to ditch my grandfathered unlimited data plan and get a new bullshit one. Not happening because I use more data monthly than any of their plans cover.
2) To keep my unlimited data plan I would have to pay full price for the phone. 399 for a Moto X and that was one of the cheaper ones. the Nokia Lumia Icon and the Galaxy 4 cost way more.

So I'm keeping my piece of shit phone for a while longer.

i always wanted to be a cop :<

What stopped you? Other than all the paperwork and life history(literally your whole life) it hasn't been too bad.

genetics lol

eyes were a bit too shitty to meet the vision reqs we have here without laser eye surgery, and i wont be able to get that for a good few years yet since my eyes havent quite stopped degrading

had to do other shit in the meantime so the dream is dead~

Ah ok, sucks to hear. My best friend was all set to go, made it through every step then caught a dui. So many ways for things to go wrong im trying to just stay in every day to cover my bases lol.

Booked the honeymoon to Hawaii. Got the wedding cake picked out yesterday. Gotta do the tux fittings sometime in the next few weeks

shit is happening bruhs. starting to get real :?

Booked the honeymoon to Hawaii. Got the wedding cake picked out yesterday. Gotta do the tux fittings sometime in the next few weeks

shit is happening bruhs. starting to get real :?

Your world, as you know it, is now over. :shock:

quite busy myself.
i've started a little production company where i rent out my camera package including a Director of photography/camera operator specifically for narrative production.
i've already got several short film productions lined up scheduled for the year so things are looking great.
im also working on a couple of art pieces for an art competition this fall which is taking up the bulk of my time. i've been working on it for almost 3years now.

Good to hear dude.

On the 5th my friends and I find out if we get the money to make this horror flick we wrote. I'll be the AD and a producer on the film. Right now the money behind the movie is giving up a 1 Mil for production but he is going to try and find more. He wants at least 3 million but has said a million will do fine if we are tight on the budget.

quite busy myself.
i've started a little production company where i rent out my camera package including a Director of photography/camera operator specifically for narrative production.
i've already got several short film productions lined up scheduled for the year so things are looking great.
im also working on a couple of art pieces for an art competition this fall which is taking up the bulk of my time. i've been working on it for almost 3years now.

Good to hear dude.

On the 5th my friends and I find out if we get the money to make this horror flick we wrote. I'll be the AD and a producer on the film. Right now the money behind the movie is giving up a 1 Mil for production but he is going to try and find more. He wants at least 3 million but has said a million will do fine if we are tight on the budget.

nice, definitely keep us updated on that production.
whats your experience on a production set capt?

quite busy myself.
i've started a little production company where i rent out my camera package including a Director of photography/camera operator specifically for narrative production.
i've already got several short film productions lined up scheduled for the year so things are looking great.
im also working on a couple of art pieces for an art competition this fall which is taking up the bulk of my time. i've been working on it for almost 3years now.

Good to hear dude.

On the 5th my friends and I find out if we get the money to make this horror flick we wrote. I'll be the AD and a producer on the film. Right now the money behind the movie is giving up a 1 Mil for production but he is going to try and find more. He wants at least 3 million but has said a million will do fine if we are tight on the budget.

nice, definitely keep us updated on that production.
whats your experience on a production set capt?

I've just worked as AD on a couple of shorts.

I'm in college for editing though.

I've just worked as AD on a couple of shorts.

I'm in college for editing though.

nice. i didn't know you were taking courses on editing.
i've edited 3 short films this past year.
ironically, i dont enjoy being the DP in a production.
for now, i enjoy editing more than anything because i like being hands on the actual narrative storytelling aspect.
i'd like to direct one day but not until i have enough experience under my belt.

Booked the honeymoon to Hawaii. Got the wedding cake picked out yesterday. Gotta do the tux fittings sometime in the next few weeks

shit is happening bruhs. starting to get real :?

congrats brother.
judgement day is coming fast.

Difference between a first world country and a third world country is so fucking astronomical; Never ceases to amaze

Difference between a first world country and a third world country is so fucking astronomical; Never ceases to amaze

Where are you coming from?

Difference between a first world country and a third world country is so fucking astronomical; Never ceases to amaze

Where are you coming from?

Jamaica, more specifically, the Jamaica that tourists never see.