Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
You accept the second assignment and work extra hours to finish
them both on time despite the risk of alienating your family.
While the editor for the chemistry book was explaining the project, your
head was busy finding reasons to accept the assignment. You reasoned that
the extra hours you would need to put in over the next few weeks would be
justified by the extra payment of a second assignment. By the time the editor
mentioned the bonus, you were already sold.
So you accept the assignment, and explain to your family that you will
be working late for the next few weeks. They seem to understand. As you work
through both assignments, they try to be helpful and understanding of your
time away from them.
You finish the chemistry index in record time, and the editor is pleased
with the product. However, you have to call the editor for the medical indexes
and explain that you are going to be a little late submitting the index because
you have fallen behind.
The medical text editor does not sound happy, but he agrees to allow you
the extra time. By the time you finished the medical indexes, you are exhausted,
and it takes you a couple of days to recuperate.
When you return to work two days later, you find a note in
your e-mail from the editor of the medical texts. He thanks you for your work,
but explains that due to the delay in your submission of the indexes, he will
not be able to use your services again in the future. You've lost a client.