And what may this be? Working hours.
My advice to young players is that acting like a martyr by working long hours is NOT impressive, and rather than making you look "driven" and "ambitious", it actually looks like you desperately need a life.
A few weeks ago, I went to drinks at a bar with a friend. She mentioned that some other people would be joining us soon, but that they were still finishing up at work.
At 8:30pm.
On a Friday night.
When the said individuals eventually arrived, I decided to make polite conversation with one of them:
- Me: So. What do you do?
- Him: I'm a corporate lawyer.
- Me: Wow.....(big pause).....Umm, that must be interesting.
- Him: Yeah, really long hours though.
- Me (knowing exactly where this conversation was heading): Right
- Him: Yes. I work late most nights. And on the weekend, too.
- Me: Oh.
- Him: What sort of hours do you work?
- Me: Well, I usually finish at the office at 4:30, although I sometimes stay until 5.
- Him (eyes boggling): 4:30 AM? Gee, that's CRAZY! I've never worked past midnight. Phwoar!
- Me: Err, no. 4:30 PM. I work 8 hours a day.
- Him (very embarrassed): Right.
What really disturbed me about this exchange was that my interlocutor thought that working until 4:30 IN THE MORNING was a more likely scenario than working until 4:30 IN THE AFTERNOON, which is what I would describe as "normal hours."
Maybe it's just me, but if I am hired to work 8 hours a day, I am going to work 8 hours a day. I'm not going to sit in the office until 10pm so that I look "committed to my job", because, frankly, there's other things in my life which are important. Like actually going out, relaxing and (shock, horror) ENJOYING MYSELF.
Sure, I may not ever be able to afford a house in Woollahra and I'm not going to be shopping in Gucci or Hermes any time soon. But you know what? That REALLY doesn't worry me.
Now, back to work!
