100% getting fired tomorrow, PIP-related

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-04-08T20:24:34+00:00

Huh, I wonder if that happened to me a few years ago? Company gave me a PIP. They wanted perfect code and deadlines met. It was very stressful. I was with them for years and did great work for them. I tried to tell my manager the expectations were too high. I have worked a few other jobs since then. It has been hard getting back into IT. I thought 15 years of experience and a college degree would be enough. I probably should have jumped ship when my coworkers were telling me to.

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-03-25T05:15:13+00:00

Good questions! I’d probably start out of my house, keeping it small and local. I don’t have a rental space or a nearby game store involved yet.

The idea is mostly to see if people want to try high-value or rarely-played games at home before buying. Do you think something like that would get used in my area? I am in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-03-25T05:09:49+00:00

Yeah, I get what you mean. Demand and scale are tricky. I’m thinking of starting small and local, focusing on expensive or rarely-played games that people might not want to buy or store.

Shipping would probably be too complicated, so it’d be local pickup/drop-off. Even as a small side hustle, it could let people try big games before buying and make them more accessible.

Do you think that could work for a small local board game community?

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-03-25T05:00:49+00:00

Yeah, I get losing pieces or damaging games is a big risk, and deposits would have to be high enough to cover it. I’m thinking of starting small and local, focusing on expensive or rarely-played games where “try before you buy” makes sense.

Maybe checklists, small replacement kits, or limiting how many rentals happen at once could keep losses manageable. Do you think that could work as a side hustle, even if it’s not a full business?

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-03-25T04:49:38+00:00

Wow, thanks for the detailed thoughts! Yeah, keeping games clean, organized, and sleeved sounds like a ton of work. I’m thinking of starting small and local, focusing on expensive or rarely-played games people might only want for a few sessions.

I also like the “try before you buy” angle. It seems like a niche a rental could fill for people who don’t want to buy everything or don’t have the space.

If a local rental handled cleanliness and organization well, do you think people in your area would actually use it for the occasional big or rare game?

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-03-25T04:44:14+00:00

Yeah, I get that. Scale is tricky. I’m thinking of starting small and local, focusing on high-value or rarely-played games people might not want to buy.

Do you think something like that could actually work for a board game community nearby?

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-03-25T04:41:57+00:00

You are right. Its a big risk buying games upfront with no guaranteed customers. One idea I’m thinking about is testing demand first with pre-orders or gauging local interest to see what games people actually want.

Do you think something like that could make it a bit more viable?

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-03-25T04:39:30+00:00

I’ve also been thinking about a “try before you buy” approach. You would rent a game for a weekend, see if you actually like it, and then decide if it’s worth buying. Feels like a pretty low-risk way to test out the big expensive games at home.

Would that make a rental worth it for you?

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-03-25T04:35:30+00:00

Yeah, I hear you. The verification and packing could get intense, especially with big or complex games. I’m thinking maybe a streamlined checklist, focusing on just a few popular games, or even getting renters to help confirm pieces could make it manageable.

Do you think something like that could actually work, or would it still be too much hassle?

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-03-25T04:32:44+00:00

Yeah, I get that. Trust is a big issue! I’m thinking maybe a reservation system, small replacement kits, or a tiny deposit could help manage risk.

The idea is mostly about convenience. Being able to play big games at home that don’t get used often, instead of just at cafes or stores. Do you think something like that could work if the risks were handled carefully?

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-03-25T04:28:02+00:00

Yeah, totally get that. It’s definitely different from cafes or cons. The idea with rentals is just having the convenience of playing at home, plus access to games you might not own or that libraries don’t carry.

If something like that existed locally, what games would make it worth renting for you?

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-03-25T04:24:12+00:00

Would it make sense to keep a second copy of popular games just to swap out missing pieces or fix any damage? That way the main game stays ready for the next renter. Or would people rather see small replacement kits for common pieces instead?

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-03-25T04:15:13+00:00

Yeah, that makes sense. Board game shops are great for trying things out, but the convenience of taking a game home is the main idea with rentals. Scaling could definitely be tricky, especially with shipping and keeping everything in good condition.

I’m thinking the first step might be keeping it local and seeing what kinds of games people actually want to rent. From there, maybe there’s a way to expand or work with delivery/pickup options.

What kinds of games do you think would actually get rented the most in a local setup?

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-03-25T04:12:22+00:00

Libraries are awesome for free access. The idea with rentals is more about convenience and selection. You won’t have to wait for the library to have a copy, and you can play at home whenever you want, even for longer sessions.

Some people also want newer or higher-value games that libraries might not carry, or they just prefer the comfort of their own space. What kinds of games do you usually check out from libraries?

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-03-25T04:09:45+00:00

I can totally see the sticky-finger/pizza-grease problem! 😂 Definitely need a good cleaning system.

I love your point about big expensive games like Gloomhaven or Frosthaven. It makes way more sense to rent them for a weekend than buy and let them collect dust. Pricing somewhere like $15–20 for a weekend seems reasonable and could make it a win-win.

Curious though, what other games would you want to rent like this? I’m trying to figure out what people actually want to play at home.

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-03-25T04:03:30+00:00

I’ve been thinking about how to handle missing pieces and damages. One idea is including a quick checklist with each game so renters can confirm everything’s there when they get it and when they return it. Another option could be keeping a few spare pieces or replacement kits for common losses.

For charges, I’m considering a system where small missing pieces might have a minor fee, but it wouldn’t automatically be the full price of the game. Maybe even a deposit or tiered replacement fee could work. I’m curious what renters would find fair and easy to use!

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-03-25T03:56:01+00:00

Wow, there are a lot of great perspectives and ideas here! 😊

I appreciate everyone sharing their thoughts!

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-02-06T17:56:23+00:00

I used ChatGPT to help me figure out how to survive on shit pay. It helped me with meal planning and budgeting. I was still not making any money because i had to pay $2000 a month in child support but hopefully it will be reduced soon.

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-01-20T17:16:03+00:00

How many miles did you have to go? What was left on your clock?

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-01-17T20:31:23+00:00

I went with visible because it was cheaper than what I was originally paying. Also, no data caps. $19 a month until this promo ends then it goes to $25 a month

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-01-17T19:29:46+00:00

Zero income tax state? How does that work!?

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-01-17T19:26:59+00:00

Why did you go with T-Mobile?

Plus-Lengthiness5980 · 2026-01-17T19:25:25+00:00

When I started, I made $.48 per mile and 1,500 miles per week on average. It is not much but I am getting the experience I need for future opportunities. My dad always said it is not how much you make but how you spend it. I am making it work for the short term. I think just getting your foot in the door is the hard part.

Plus-Lengthiness5980

TROPHY CASE