My life in Accenture before startups
My typical day working for a Big 5 firm:<p><pre><code>   7:00 - drive to client in Redlands
   8:00 - arrive in Redlands
   8:42 - client arrives for 8:00 meeting
   8:51 - client leaves for emergency
   8:52 - review project with programmer - still 18 months behind
   9:15 - daily email to 6 bosses about dire status
   9:38 - take call from boss #4 - debate "strategic direction"
  10:20 - coffee, snack, & bitch session with lead programmer
  10:45 - drive to client in Century City
  12:20 - arrive in Century City, everyone at lunch already
  12:30 - have hot dog at sidewalk cafe, look for Christina Applegate
   1:15 - meet with client for daily status
   1:22 - client leaves for emergency
   1:28 - review project with programmer - still 18 months behind
   1:40 - daily email to 5 other bosses about dire status
   2:15 - take call from other boss #3 - debate "strategic direction"
   2:28 - referee dispute between contract & employee programmers
   3:20 - coffee, snack, & bitch session with lead programmer
   4:20 - drive home
   5:50 - arrive home
   8:10 - take calls from 4 other bosses debating strategy
   9:20 - end day knowing tomorrow will be exactly the same
   Total work done: 0
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My typical day working for an enterprise:<p><pre><code>   7:30 - drive to work
   7:50 - arrive at work, turn on Windows workstation
   7:51 - get coffee, greet co-workers
   8:10 - workstation finally up, check overnight logs
   8:15 - check email
   8:30 - resume programming on current project
   9:15 - take calls from 6 customers, changing scope
  10:00 - go to daily status meeting
  10:12 - everyone else arrives at daily status meeting
  10:48 - drop current project, work on daily emergency
  12:10 - go to lunch at mall foodcourt
   1:00 - check email
   1:10 - resume programming on current project, drop daily emergency
   1:40 - take 4 calls, give project status
   2:00 - go to Special Planning Session for Project #127
   2:12 - others arrive at Special Planning Session for Project #127
   2:48 - candy bar break, bitch with other programmers about code review
   3:10 - resume programming on current project
   4:00 - go to daily stand-up meeting for project status
   4:08 - others arrive at daily stand-up meeting for project status
   4:45 - email project status to 8 bosses
   5:10 - drive home
   5:45 - day ends
   Total work done: 2 hours

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My typical day working for a start-up:<p><pre><code>   6:00 - code
   8:00 - breakfast at desk while coding
  10:00 - coffee break outside
  10:10 - code
  12:00 - lunch at desk while coding
   2:00 - break outside
   2:15 - work on everything else except coding
   4:00 - review & print code
   5:00 - exercise
   6:00 - dinner with SO
   7:00 - visit mother, watch Jeopardy & Family Guy with her
   8:00 - code
  10:00 - turn off monitor, review code, plan next day
  Total work done: 8 hours</code></pre>