LPT: Give Maximum Effort at Work - Even if it's not Appreciated

Submitted by chuckdooley t3_126mpy3 in LifeProTips

DISCLAIMER: I am not advising people to steal from their employer. Utilize the resources that are available to you.

TL;DR: Your company is likely using you and squeezing every last drop out of you....do the same to them, because there is more than a good chance, if you're reading this, your employer has way more resources to use than you do....take advantage

I know that sounds like a sponsored title from corporate america....fall in line!

It's not, quite the opposite, actually.

I need to be very clear - I'm not saying to stay at your job if you're miserable. That said, I don't think anyone should leave a job without another job if possible (again, I know this isn't always the case)

Let's say you're miserable, and your company is full of greedy assholes and shitty management....that's probably more often the experience than not.

One thing I've learned along the way throughout my career is these companies and corporations have resources available to employees....make the most of them, take the trainings you're interested in that would expand your skillset

I'm 36 and I don't fully understand the quiet quitting movement, but take that time and expand your skillset, make your position better, implement your ideas if you can, or submit them to management....sure, they might benefit in the short time, but YOU will benefit in the long run

I fully believe that employment is a two way street, they're paying you and you're working....but just like you may feel you are an untapped resource, I would almost guarantee, so are they

So, to reiterate, I'm not saying to stay in your miserable job if that's where you find yourself....but make the most of it while you're there to add to your resume and make you a more hirable candidate along the way

EDIT: Just to be clear, I'm not talking about theft. I'm an auditor and I will catch you for that :D

I'm talking about the resources that are available to you....ask for some more responsibility so you get the opportunities that might pass you by

Also: Second Pro-Tip - If your company has a 401k match and you aren't contributing, you're leaving money on the table....believe me, I know what it's like to have that money taken away that may pay the electric bill...sacrifice NOW, just trust me on that...I know that seems like obvious advice, but I wanted to say it anyway

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Anon293357 t1_je9s9x1 wrote

Minimum wage, minimum effort

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chuckdooley OP t1_je9swn8 wrote

I actually really appreciate this post because I totally understand the feeling.

I feel it to my core, and I’ve gone through a lot of my career thinking that.

I finally started applying myself at jobs that I didn’t believe deserved me, one of them actually fired me…I don’t care because I learned their accounting system, gave them improvements, and then I used that experience in my next job

I still flip their office the bird when I drive by….but I’m grateful for them because they taught me where I didn’t want to be.

This isn’t about bettering the company, per se, sure they might benefit from your increased skill set, but you can plan to leave any time….doesn’t mean you’ll get the job immediately, but the greater “lesson” if there was one….better yourself while you’re stuck there

I don’t care if you’re cleaning toilets at Wendy’s, not that there’s anything wrong with that, if that’s what you want to do….but you’re not limited to improving your role, you probably see things that management doesn’t, tell them!

This screams self help, I know, and I hate that I sound like this, but I really believe it

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NaturalSelectorX t1_jea7j38 wrote

I feel like you have a different experience than most people. A common result of taking on more responsibility is that you get more work with the same pay. Then your expectations go up, and your perceived performance goes down. Greedy assholes and shitty management won't provide resources and opportunities to better the lives of their employees; that's why they are greedy and shitty.

My counter advice is to find a place you don't hate, work at a comfortable pace to avoid burnout, and seek opportunities in your free time. The best way to progress your career and increase wages is to move to a new employer.

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chuckdooley OP t1_jea9yca wrote

I am not saying take on more responsibility for responsibility sake. I’m saying, take on responsibilities for yourself.

Want to learn excel? Spend browsing time making something that will make your job easier…does your company have excel training courses? Take them

I’m saying, use the time you’re stuck there to better yourself…that’s it…pretty simple concept that I think were trained to overlook

Bide your time, make the paycheck while you research companies…do things that YOU want to do because it makes YOU better…who cares if the company benefits in the short term

This is all about an individual making themselves better…they’re not going to pay you what they owe you, probably, use them until you can move on

It’s like a coach that works at a stepping stone team…make the most of it and move on

Edit: there’s this mentality of, “my job sucks, fuck them”. Ok, that’s fine, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities to better yourself along the way

Gut reaction is: “that will never work and here’s why”….I know those words, they were my mantra for years

Change the way you think, which isn’t easy, but it’s possible

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chuckdooley OP t1_jeaaygj wrote

One more reply, because I think it’s important. Look at the negativity in the answers…yeah, you’re right, the odds are stacked against you, but the resources are available (through the company or not, even) to expand skill sets and it just costs time that you’re already spending

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chuckdooley OP t1_jeaanz5 wrote

Also, I have to add, maybe I do have a better situation than some or most, I didn’t start here….I am just repeating what I have done in my career to get here.

Just because at first glance it doesn’t fit, doesn’t mean it’s bad stupid advice as someone else said.

It takes work, but dammit, it’s fulfilling for once and I’m proof that it works, even if it takes time

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NaturalSelectorX t1_jeafanh wrote

> I didn’t start here….I am just repeating what I have done in my career to get here.

You started somewhere, and it was probably a more advantageous position than most. You are born into a family with an economic class. Higher economic class = more property taxes = better funded schools. Living in a nicer area provides better work opportunities. Your connections were influenced by where you lived and where you went to school. You probably didn't have parents working multiple jobs. Maybe you got financial help with college. There are a lot of things people take for granted when creating their "self-made" narrative. Nobody is self-made. This is a good read on the subject. You may be a victim of the fundamental attribution error.

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chuckdooley OP t1_jeagqzm wrote

What a weird thing to fixate on. You don’t know one thing about my background or finances (or, to be honest, lack thereof)

I grew up in an ag town in Kansas. I went to public school, public university and have worked my ass off since I was 14

I’m a recovering alcoholic that nearly drank myself to death because of my career.

I am me and that’s it.

I don’t care whether someone started beneath me above me or the same as me. We all have to do it…it’s easier for some than others, that’s a fact of life.

Why would you try to discount the advice I’m giving?

Edit: I'm not saying you can't challenge me, again, I welcome that, but to make huge assumptions because "maybe you didn't consider you have an easier life than others" is such a simple way of looking at it....this isn't "get rich with these three easy steps", this is, "hey, you probably have some positive opportunities even in a bad situation, explore those options"

And please don’t quote the bootstraps thing to me…that isn’t even close to what I’m saying. I’m saying, we all have the same amount of time on this earth…instead of saying, I can’t do this because XYZ, think positively

Edit: also, talk about really missing the point, I never once said I was self-made….I have taken advantage of the opportunities laid in front of me….I stand on the shoulders of giants (we all do) and if you don’t take advantage of the work done before you, that’s on you

Edit: you being the royal you, not you specifically

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NaturalSelectorX t1_jeane1n wrote

> I never once said I was self-made

When you say "I'm proof that it works", "it" being the work and choices you made, that's being self-made.

> I have taken advantage of the opportunities laid in front of me

Right. I'm saying you are privileged to have those opportunities. The person cleaning toilets at Wendy's (that was your example) doesn't have professional development opportunities like an accountant. Being the best toilet cleaner gets you more toilets to clean.

> Why would you try to discount the advice I’m giving?

Because it's a view of the world that only applies to a relatively privileged few, and seems insulting to those that are not. The person at Wendy's is far better off trying to attend night school or other education opportunities outside of work. Putting in maximum effort at Wendy's comes at a huge opportunity cost. You should be turning down those extra shifts to work on getting out of Wendy's. Taking advantage of professional development is great for those who have it available, but you tried to pretend this can apply to toilet cleaners.

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silentstinker t1_je9qvlp wrote

I just swipe some office supplies here and there to make up for it.

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chuckdooley OP t1_je9r619 wrote

Ha, I'm not advocating stealing, if that's what you mean. I'll add that to my post to make sure it's clear.

I'm just saying different trainings are available, software that you wouldn't otherwise have access to where you could learn to be an expert or at least more than a novice....things like that

Again, not advocating theft

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phwe9774 t1_jed9wsf wrote

Everyone that's saying this is bad advice because fuck corporations or minimum wage minimum effort isn't paying attention and reading what OP actually said. They're saying to make the best of a bad situation and learn what you can while you're there, not to try and leverage a raise from a shitty boss, but to leverage more money from your next job.

Most people have at least one shitty job in their life, usually more than one. If you have a shitty job and you aren't actively looking for another job or taking steps to learn more skills to get a better job, you only have yourself to blame. Before anyone says companies should be forced to pay a living wage, I want you to ask yourself one question: what do you think is going to change first, your job or corporate pay policies?

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chuckdooley OP t1_jeda4zi wrote

Thank you! I thought I was taking crazy pills

And I absolutely agree with your last point (and the rest of it)

We can only affect our own change before we can contribute on a larger scale

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keepthetips t1_je9qjph wrote

Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips!

Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment.

If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.

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Next-Concentrate5159 t1_je9wch4 wrote

... No, lol just no. I've worked hard and all I ever receive in reward was explotation and no raises or promotions. This is bad advice in 2023....

Companies want brown nosers, NETWORKING makes you successful, "trying hard" is stupid bad advice because no one notices the hard worker, they notice the noticable, which is the talkers.

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Next-Concentrate5159 t1_je9wdny wrote

... No, lol just no. I've worked hard and all I ever receive in reward was explotation and no raises or promotions. This is bad advice in 2023....

Companies want brown nosers, NETWORKING makes you successful, "trying hard" is stupid bad advice because no one notices the hard worker, they notice the noticable, which is the talkers.

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Next-Concentrate5159 t1_je9we6t wrote

... No, lol just no. I've worked hard and all I ever receive in reward was explotation and no raises or promotions. This is bad advice in 2023....

Companies want brown nosers, NETWORKING makes you successful, "trying hard" is stupid bad advice because no one notices the hard worker, they notice the noticable, which is the talkers.

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chuckdooley OP t1_je9wwnb wrote

I knew that I’d get push back…and I’m fine with that, I was right there with you.

Let’s take the company itself out of it, because I agree that they’re exploitative, and they will squeeze every last drop out of you…I know it and I’ve experienced it.

My point is, if you’re stuck there, make the most of it…I’m not telling people to bust their ass for the company…I’m saying, bust your ass for yourself! Use the resources available to make you a better candidate and get out as soon as possible

It’s so easy to say, “they’re taking advantage of me and it sucks”….and it’s likely true…don’t stick around, don’t kill yourself for them…that’s all I’m saying.

Again, I’m not saying you’re wrong, I agree with you, but I don’t think you understood the point of my post

Edit: just to reiterate, none of this advice relates to the company, zero. I’m just acknowledging that resources are available to brownnosers and non-brownnosers alike…do one without the other, be selfish, it’s ok, they are too, and they won’t apologize for it and neither should anyone else

Sure, they’re going to benefit from your betterment, there’s nothing to do about that, but you’re just making yourself more and more marketable to where you can escape to a company that values you….or, you have the talents to take your skills on the road with you

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chuckdooley OP t1_je9y6kr wrote

Also to say that this is “stupid bad advice” is just disrespectful. You are more than welcome to disagree, I welcome that, but let’s keep our criticism constructive.

I value your input because you’ve lived a different experience from me, and I will absolutely take it into consideration.

My post wasn’t perfect, but it is my experience and I assure you, I’m living proof that it has merit….just like your comments have merit because it’s your experience

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