Be comfortable with doing extra

I have just written and deleted a 395-word letter on doing extra in your workplace.

It didn't feel right to share that thought yet. It is a very disputed thought—one that throws me off the instant I chat with anyone.

I think you should be comfortable with doing extra, without the requisite compensation that comes with it.

Have I said you shouldn't ask for a raise when you feel like you've done well and above for your company? No.

What I am saying is that to do your job and to do it well, you should be comfortable with exploring the full extent of your capabilities as a person in that role.

I'll give you an example of a graphic designer who could code and write well. He had an email newsletter to design and deliver to his marketing team, and the developer was unfortunately not ready.

For that particular custom email, the copywriter was postponing the timeline. In the team, he was the only one bothered about the task assigned by his manager—to get the email ready.

What I am saying is that if you are that designer, you should go all the way with the full extent of your capabilities and get the job done. Because if you didn't, you would have failed.

And the rampant culture of compartmentalising responsibilities in a team in the name of "doing your job" and "not sticking your nose in other people's business" doesn't exempt you from the apparent failure that you have had.

Granted, you can leave when over time you're not being appreciated for the extra that you add.

However, do good work at every opportunity you have to do it. Like I always say, you never know your big break.

Enjoy.

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