What’s next…
This past year was, hum… different to say the least.
The Quality and Usability project that I’ve been delivering at SAPO turned out to be much more than I can dreamed about, both in learning and work return. Truth must be told that I’ve exhausted myself in work, and the rest didn’t exactly follow along: neither financially, nor in personal terms. By taking more work I’ve not only lost the financial ability to provide extra income to my family but I’ve also reduced the amount of quality time I allocated to personal and family matters. If it wasn’t something that I’ve come to realize that I love to do, I’m sure that I had drop it long ago.
Some sort of change was in order, which is good, you need to constantly find what’s bugging you and fix it! I’m used to change, it’s something I’ve learned during this past 12 years working on the web: how to cope with change!
For those who truly know me, know for a long time that I’ve dreamed and wished to work abroad for a longtime, but they also know that for almost as long I’ve fought that need in a more or less idealistic way (trust me all the odds financially and of opportunities always pointed the other way around). I’ve stayed and worked against all odds in Portugal.
Today I’m faced with the inevitable, I’ve received what I consider a life changing proposal and for the sake of myself and my family I can’t simply look the other way around and pretend that nothing happened as has happened before… result I’m now filled with doubts and reasonings about why I should and shouldn’t take it, why I should and shouldn’t move abroad!
One thing is certain today, 2008 ends in a changing chapter… and 2009 seems like an endless list of possibilities! Starting with the question of should I stay or should I go? 
Filed under: Random
| 17 Comments »
I'm Pedro Custódio, a User Experience Advocate with a strong software architecture background, sometimes I train and speak others in the arts of both. I'm currently main organizer of 
Taking risks just when all odds are in favor is not taking risks. So, just jump into it.
Most of us trade uncertainty with unhappiness, so if you have the chance to have both certainty and happiness, just enjoy it. And i do wish that both professionally and personally, 2009 will be a great year for your dreams.
Don’t go!!!! Who’s gonna cheer me up when I’m down?
Maybe you can ask Zeinal Bava for more money with more time for your family (Wednesdays you don’t work
), that’s a better job 
lol…
From the employer perspective…
Someone else once told me, if they come to you with “doubts” about their job/work and their main reason (the one they mention first) for leaving is “others pay more”, then… let them go.
ps: lousy way to ask for a raise. :-/
(I love anonymous comments)
If the only thing on top of the table were just money, trust me the decision would be easier…
If I may add a complement of your comment, a good and wise friend also told me sometime ago that if you look carefully the wage is the only true compensation and reward for someone’s work.
If you knew me, you’d know that it has never been for the money… and that’s in fact the only explanation why I haven’t gone yet after multiple offers.
Besides I hate begging for a raise, never did so far and it’s not today that I’m starting
Pedro,
We’ve only met at some occasions such as Shift, Twittlis, codebits. I’m only an enthus hobbyist in the web2.0 arena, but I must say that your work and your team’s is really impressive and I’m a big fan. I’m sure that whatever you’ll choose you’ll be successful and do valuable things. I find it important that one’s work is truly valued according to its merit. Have a great 2009!
Cheers, Guillaume
You know my take on this (for over 7 years now).
If there were any doubts about your option the “anonymous” comment as in it all you need to take a decision.
Seth Godin knows it well when he says that Safe is Risky. Time to make your bet.
I already gave you my opinion but here it goes again:
a) a crisis is coming
b) companies are going to use that excuse to maintain or reduce salaries/employees
c) in your area they pay much better abroad than in Portugal
I believe that you have gained more than enough expertise and international awareness to be better payed at what you do elsewhere.
I understand the reasons why you haven’t made the jump yet but you also know and I told you long ago that I disagree with them.
So go for it … you’re a big boy. What are you afraid of?
I totally get the “idealistic” reasons to stay “behind” and push the country forward, because believe me, that’s what you’ve been doing for all these years. And we thank you for it.
But these are strange times we’re living in. You and your work are worth *a lot*, and I’ve had the privilege of watching it unfold at a close range, so unless your work is being valued and supported thus allowing you to live a healthy (pro & personal) life, you have to follow what makes you and your own family happy.
Best of luck, Pedro. And whatever your decision might be, you have my support.
I have worked with you on several occasions now – HURRY GET ON OUT OF THERE =)
As the true rockstar you are =)
all the best and support from Denmark
A mudança assusta mas é bem boa!
Ou achas que vais ficar aí até à idade da reforma? Os empregos para a vida acabaram… não penses que será mais fácil mudar… aos 40. Muda homem… tens a idade, o espírito, a capacidade e a determinação. Go for it!
Hey Pedro! Decisions, decisions, decisions
If that choice would make you closer to London, I’d say take it!
Best of luck whatever you decide though, and hope to see you soon.
R
Best wishes for you Pedro, whatever you decide.
If the offer is that good, go for it. If you don’t you’ll probably regret it later.
Good luck!
Riccardo,
I heard it takes five hours to reach London by car/train, and around one hour by airplane (plus several hours for the heatrow paranoia)
Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value. “Albert Einstein”
Good luck!
Well, you wouldn’t post this if you had not already decided to accept it, would you?
Nuno,
My blog has been a source of inspiration but also a place to put up my mental notes and doubts and this was the casa, apparently some people perceived it as a request for better wage (typical portuguese behaviour sadly) and others as if I had decided already..
To be complete honest, neither of the two are true, but more on the first posts of next year