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Work / Life / Passion Balance

Name:	Donald \"Yadot\" Harris
Date Posted:	Oct 09, 2006
Rating:	2.0 out of 5
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Blog post

No its not a new Multiclass character in MoM. But it does however describe whats going on with me these days. I used to be all over the forums and answering and asking as much as I could. Lately though with a new promotion at work and other outside opportunities that I am foaming at the mouth over. Combined that with the amount of hours that I volunteer at my church and then of course my family I have very little time to do anything. Things are starting to get better though after I finish up some huge projects at work I will be developing myself in preparation for something... different :) I am forcing myself to change the amount of hours I spend at church simply for the fact that I need more time with my family. Although I will still be at church on Sunday and Wednesday! Then onto family, dedicated all day Saturday to nothing but family... so how does all this deal with games.... there is very little time to get stuff moving but I am still working. I gave my uber computer to my wife in order to let myself get more mobile and this will in time allow me to make pit stops at a coffee shop and spend some time on the game. I am trying to figure out a way to gather more developers to help me develop my projects. As both Jason and I are plagued with this whole real life thing. We have come to the agreement that we need at least 2 or 3 developers. Up until now I have been looking at local talent but the 3 that I have tried to get has failed. This, I guess is my first attempt at trying to get remote help. So if anyone would like to respond on some tips at securing remote talent with no up front pay that would be awesome. I know that I need to explain the 3 projects that I am working on but other than that what do developers want?? I am not a real developer I just play one on Garagegames.com :) If there any local Austin guys reading this with out a team please look me up. Anyways that is kind of where we are. I will post something much more specific about Cosmic Bob which is one of the 3 projects we have going. Now let me get back to juggling!

Recent Blog Posts

List:	06/17/08 - Busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest... 02/11/08 - Once more unto the breach, dear friends! 09/19/07 - So you want to be a brand manager? 09/09/07 - Good times at the Austin Game Dev Con 08/20/07 - I have the top of the mountain and it is good 08/06/07 - Where have I been? 01/29/07 - Getting Older and Wiser?? 12/10/06 - Wow Wii

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Unsung Zero (Oct 09, 2006 at 13:54 GMT)

"Life killed the Artist." Every few weeks this quote pops up in my mind and it seems more and more true as time goes on. I'm glad to see that you've dedicated an entire day for your family. I sometimes find myself neglecting people in order to pursue what I'm working towards. I guess everybody does this to some extent, but it's important that you keep your family in mind.

When planning a time frame for a project, it's often recommended to take your timeline and lengthen it threefold. I feel this to be pretty accurate, because life does get in the way.

Good luck with finding the balance that you're looking for.

Andy Hawkins (Oct 09, 2006 at 14:39 GMT)

I find myself working at all these extra things, education, games, helping on projects, and I spend less time with my family with the hopes that one day, one of these projects will come to fruition - I'll be rich and then I can spend all the time with my family.

However these days I don't think it will really happen. I think family is paramount, games dev is a "nice if it paid" hobby that shouldn't dominate family. Seize the day and all that (meaning use all the time you can with your family, not your computer) - don't let game dev become an addiction I think is the key - though I'm still trying to learn that lesson ;-)

@Donald - sounds like you have the right balance - however I don't see any "me" time in there for you - so I hope you get some of that, some time. I'm glad you posted this because it's good to know I'm not the only one who has so many things on the go.

Terry (Oct 09, 2006 at 15:10 GMT)

You're not the only one, Andy, there are lots of people in Donald's position. Too many things to do, too little time to do it. I got burned out one night a few months ago and wrote almost the same thing over at my place here...

It would probably be easier to list the people who actually do have all the time they need for their normal routine. :)

Donald \"Yadot\" Harris (Oct 09, 2006 at 18:01 GMT)

@Andy That is one part of the puzzle I need to work, I need more me time. I have not exactlly figured out how or where this will be. For now I am fooling myself into thinking that the Game Dev is me time. But my hobby and personal time need to be seperate.

Stephan (viKKing) Bondier (Oct 09, 2006 at 20:57 GMT)

@Donald: I got solution: stop sleeping! ;-)
Sorry I can't help. Good luck and keep us informed.

Andy Hawkins (Oct 10, 2006 at 14:53 GMT)

This brings me back to my old argument - the GG community needs to come together and invent a time machine!!!! Or maybe just a time folding machine, so for 8 hours of the day we can do game dev in the time fold and it wouldn't affect anything else in our lives. Of course we'd have to get used to 32 hour days ;-)

Casey Weidner (Oct 10, 2006 at 22:11 GMT)

i must say i would most apreciate a hyperbolic time chamber .. please start deving that one right away

^_^;

Donald \"Yadot\" Harris (Oct 11, 2006 at 03:55 GMT)

I think I saw a resource earlier today... :p

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