Member-only story
Your Hard Work Will Never Magically Be Rewarded
I’ve talked about the concept of “office martyrdom” and explained why it’s an easy trap to fall into yet potentially very destructive.
The office martyr considers themselves a victim, taking on extra work, staying late at the office, and giving nearly everything for their career, all the while complaining about the extra burden they supposedly have to bear. This can quickly turn into a vicious cycle of victimhood and alienation from co-workers, friends, and family.
Working yourself to the bone and sacrificing in the name of work can only get you so far.
The extreme stress you’re putting yourself under is costing you in more ways than one. Not only can all the worrying drag down your productivity at work, but it can also prove corrosive for your personal relationships.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation like this? It’s your good friend’s bachelorette party this weekend and all your girlfriends are geared up for a night out. But you have so much work to finish before Monday and tell her that you won’t be able to make it. Although you tell her over and over again that you’re super bummed that you’ll be staying in, secretly you feel like it’s almost a higher calling.
