The harder you work, the more they will take you for granted

Posted by paperlevel@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 343 comments

Reflecting on my career one truth has always emerged: "The harder I worked, the more they took me for granted." It seems counter-intuitive, frustrating and demoralizing, so why is it? Well, simply put: They get used to it. When you consistently deliver high-quality work or go above and beyond what's expected, it can become the new norm. People may come to expect this level of effort from you without recognizing or acknowledging it. Another reason is that people may not realize how much effort you're putting in. If you're not vocal about your accomplishments or don't receive regular feedback or recognition, others may not be aware of the extent of your hard work. So what can you do about it? The answer is obvious, don't give so much, pull back a little. Now mind you, and put down the pitchforks, I'm speaking to my IT heroes out there, the ones who go above and beyond, answer the phone during Thanksgiving dinner, or Saturday morning at 2am. IT admins work in the background, they get no recognition or praise, we work in the shadows, in the server rooms and IDFs where no one can see. When things are working, great! "So, what exactly do you do here again?" And when things aren't working: "Hey, are you working on this or what is it you do here exactly?" So relax, and don't be a hero, they don't give a damn either way.