You ever just dig yourself into such a hole, so gradually, that you don’t even notice until the dirt is up to your neck? That’s me right now. Annual reviews are starting next month, and there’s this one person… I just can’t. I’ve been their department head for three years, and for probably two of those years, I’ve been avoiding the really hard talks. You know the ones. The ones where you have to say, “Hey, this isn't working.” Or “You’re just not cutting it.” They’re a nice kid, really. Always tries. But the results… they just aren’t there. And I keep making excuses for them. For me. It started small. A missed deadline, I’d just cover it myself. A project that went sideways, I’d "adjust" the numbers for the report. You tell yourself, “It’s just this once,” or “They’ll get it next time.” But next time never really comes, does it? Now we’re at the point where their poor performance is actually affecting everyone else. My team is picking up their slack, muttering under their breath. I hear it. I pretend not to. And I’m freelancing now, no safety net. Every penny counts. Losing a client, or even worse, my OWN gig because I can’t manage my team… that thought keeps me up. This job is supposed to be my "retirement plan," even though there’s no such thing for us anymore, is there? Just… more hustle. And now it’s here. The review cycle. The calendar invites are going out. I have to sit across from them. And what am I going to say? “Remember all those times I let you slide? Yeah, those are coming back to haunt you now. And me.” I should have done it months ago. YEARS ago. The thought of that conversation… the look on their face… it just makes my stomach clench. You know that feeling when you've done something wrong, really wrong, and there's no going back? You just gotta face the music. But man, I really don't wanna play this song.