Ever seen those web adverts that list a few generic health problems and ask you to 'click here', or read a horoscope that makes claims almost anyone can relate to?<p>So how is this different? Why so many upvotes...really, this is just more spam - is it not?
There's a quicker method of identifying "survival mode": just ask your accounting/finance officer about your cash flow for the last quarter and the projection for the next.<p>If your company isn't able to cover its burn rate and keep some cash for these two things:<p>1. Setting up a growth plan (more revenue), or
2. Continuing pivoting until you find something that allows you to do 1 ...<p>... you're in survival mode.<p>In survival mode, the only move is to lower your metabolic rate or burn rate. Much like a body would shut down non-critical functions just to "survive" so too will the company need to eliminate non-critical expenses. All this simply to buy more time for a eureka moment that will answer your growth question.<p>Tough as hell.
All of these sound like symptoms of a total loss of control. Whether through poorly negotiated contract or necessity, you're in a position where decisions of any importance are taken out of your hands.<p>Not being the master of your own fate (edit: insomuch as you can choose what to work on and when to work) can be brutal for some people. I'm not at all suited for it.
Since plenty of people here seem to have experience with this sort of thing ... I'm currently in a place where I can at least see 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 for me and 1 and 7 for others as well. Would it be wise to stay there or are those signs rather a sign that I should be looking somewhere else?
Well said, describes where I'm at now. Many people associate these signs exclusively with "burnout" but my problem with that term and thought is that it feels "terminal"-- meaning there is no fixing it apart from quitting and taking time off, finding a new idea/company you are passionate about and trying again.<p>I think it's common to be in this state without being what I'd call "burned out." If your management doesn't understand or support your team, and have undue expectations, that could easily put you in "survival mode."
So, let me pick everything negative that can be said about a working environment, put it in a post and then come up with a term for it. How about... survival mode! Great, post finished.
I confirm almost all of the signs.<p>The state of urgency hasn't stopped my productivity completely but it certainly has slowed it down.<p>My fix for now is this:<p>STOP MULTITASKING, ONLY ONE TASK AT A TIME! (seriously!)