Kinda stressing in my job right now.

I work as a software developer. Lately, I've been working on an internal tool for the company, which is an application used directly by the owners. It’s fun, but it's hard. Sometimes I don't hit deadlines because my boss keeps piling on features he thinks we should add, and he wants them all ASAP. It was stressful, but manageable.

For context, the company has three owners. Everything changed when the second owner caught wind of my project, and that’s when hell started. Basically, he’s just like my other boss, he has his own ideas and features he wants to be added, and like the first owner, he wants them ASAP.

It’s becoming very stressful. I barely managed with only one owner piling up features, but now that it's doubled, I won't lie, it’s getting to me. My head feels like it’s split into two sections now, one for each boss, because their ideas are so different. One is focused on automations, while the other is focused on managerial tools. It’s a lot, and I just wanted to vent a little.

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Alifeinterrupted · 31-35, F

That honestly sounds really overwhelming. You went from managing one stream of ideas to juggling two people who both want everything done right now, and on top of that their visions are completely different. Anyone would feel stretched in that situation.

It does not really sound like you are the problem here. It sounds like there is no clear direction or agreement between the owners, so everything just lands on you at once. That is a tough spot to be in because you are trying to keep everyone happy while also actually building something that works.

If it is possible, it might help to gently push things toward one shared list of priorities. Even something simple like asking what should come first this week and what can wait could take some pressure off you. Right now it sounds like everything is urgent, which usually means nothing really is.

Also just to say, the fact that both owners are jumping in probably means they see value in what you are building. That does not make it less stressful, but it does say something about the importance of your work.

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