Overheard a new hire say "I don't do free work" and it made me rethink my whole hustle mindset

Was grabbing coffee near the office last Tuesday and heard this kid maybe 22 years old tell his friend he won't even answer a quick question after hours unless he's clocked in. At first I thought he was lazy. But then I started adding up all the "quick favors" I did early in my career. Free extra reports, staying late to help a coworker, taking calls on my day off. Probably cost me 2 years of proper advancement because I looked desperate instead of valuable. Has anyone else noticed a line between being helpful and getting walked on?

2 comments

2 Comments

perez.christopher6d ago

That free hustle mindset is exactly how people get promoted faster than clock watchers.

derekp706d ago

Late last year I counted up the extra hours I put in at a small consulting firm - over 200 unpaid hours in just 12 months. @perez.christopher I get where you're coming from but I think you're missing the bigger picture. That kid at 22 is probably going to burn out way faster and miss the relationships that actually get you promoted. Most of the people who "watched the clock" in my early years are still stuck in the same roles while the ones who did extra ended up with better connections and better offers. The trick isn't doing no free work, it's knowing when a quick favor builds real trust versus when you're just a doormat. I've seen too many people use the "I don't do free work" line as an excuse to be lazy and then wonder why nobody wants to help them when they need a favor.