My boss wants to pay me an experience instead of money.

So I ruin his $3 million project.

Here's what happened. Subscribe to Am I the Jerk on YouTube and hit the bell for notifications.

I'm a young project manager for an unlimited commercial GC.

I picked up a hammer for the first time six years ago. No prior experience.

I was raised believing if you work hard and apply yourself, you'll be successful.

For two years, I learned everything I could in the construction industry, took my work home with me,

and studied on my own time to better myself. For that, I was promoted to foreman. I was brought in to

take over a small project at a 12-building 120-unit condo complex. It started small, and the board

of directors for the HOA told me they loved my professionalism, work ethic, and ability to complete

projects on time, and under budget.

We won a big contract because of that small project.

This was three years ago.

I've since taken over the job of foreman, superintendent, and project manager.

I do the billing, meetings with engineers and board members, scheduling, takeoff, material ordering.

I even train the subs on application of new products because we didn't have enough mid-management.

The project just passed $2.7 million.

We got a bid request for another $3 million job in the same complex.

All the while, the board of directors are telling me how appreciative they are and how they've

gone through five different contractors in the years before committing to my company, because

of my management and quality of work.

This boosted my confidence, and I went to the owners asking for the raise they promised

...