It’s the weekend, and I feel like offering some advice to the newcomers since I keep seeing the same mistake repeated over and over.
Early in my career, I made the classic mistake of always saying yes. That extra project, covering for a colleague, weekend work ... I took it all on. Six months later, those so-called favors had quietly turned into ongoing expectations, with no extra compensation in sight. These days, I follow three ironclad rules: 1) Never take on "temporary" work without a clear end date, 2) Always ask for something in return, even if it’s just public recognition, and 3) Keep at least 20% of my capacity reserved for real, unforeseen emergencies. The surprising result is that I’m now more respected for setting boundaries. Managers are more cautious about adding to my plate, knowing I’ll push back when needed. Ironically, by being less available, I’ve gained far more control over both my workload and the direction of my career.