Hey, You! Yeah, You! I Caught Your Overachieving Ass!

Before you even clock in today, I need to stop you right there. I see you, ready to swoop into the office like some underpaid superhero. You’re out here volunteering for extra work, solving problems that aren’t yours, and picking up the slack for people who are probably sipping lattes and watching cat videos on their “sick day.” Stop it.

Today, I’m here to give you the pep talk you didn’t know you needed. Say it with me: “I am only doing my job today. No more, no less.”

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The Overachiever’s Curse: Doing Too Much for Too Little

Let’s get one thing straight—you are not the office janitor, nurse, IT specialist, and emotional support animal all rolled into one. You have ONE job, and guess what? That’s the only thing you’re getting paid for.

When Brenda from accounting is out and they ask you to cover her spreadsheets? Nope.
When your boss hints that you could stay late to “help out” with something outside your job description? Nope.
When Karen wants you to step in because she “totally forgot” to schedule her meeting? Hell nope.

Why Overachieving is a Scam

Here’s the dirty little secret of the corporate world: If you do more than what you’re paid for, they’ll just expect more. There’s no gold star, no Employee of the Month parking spot, and definitely no fat bonus check waiting for you. What’s actually waiting? Burnout, resentment, and a seat at the “we’ll-get-back-to-you-on-that-promotion” table.

Example 1: The “Helper” Trap

Jason is the office IT guy. One day, his coworker Janice asked him to “help out” with a presentation because she was “just so overwhelmed.” Being the nice guy he is, Jason stayed late, revamped her slides, and made her look like a rockstar. The next week? Janice expected Jason to help her again. And again. Jason’s reward? Her promotion.

Example 2: The “They’ll Notice My Hard Work” Fantasy

Lisa in customer service thought going above and beyond would lead to recognition. She took on extra shifts, solved problems outside her role, and stayed late. At her annual review, her boss said, “You’re doing great, but we need you to be more consistent.” Excuse me?! She had to start using PTO just to cry.

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Why We’re Pulling Back Starting Today

Repeat after me: “If the company doesn’t care enough to fix it, neither do I.”

It’s not your job to plug holes in their sinking ship. They’re not paying you enough to be the captain, the crew, and the lifeboat. So, what are we doing instead?

• Staying in our lane: Focus on what you were hired to do. Nothing more.
• Minding our own business: Brenda’s workload? Not your problem. Karen’s missed deadline? Also not your problem.
• Clocking out on time: You’re not earning a gold medal for staying late. Turn off that computer, and go live your life.

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A Short Story: The Day Superman Quit

Once upon a time, there was a guy named Dave. Dave was the “go-to” guy in his office—always fixing things, staying late, and doing everyone else’s job. One day, Dave realized he was the most stressed, underpaid person in the office. So, Dave did something revolutionary: He stopped caring.

When his boss asked him to “pick up the slack” for someone out sick, he said, “Sorry, that’s not part of my job.” When a coworker asked for help, he replied, “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” Dave clocked out at 5 p.m. sharp, every single day.

And you know what? The company didn’t collapse. His coworkers learned to handle their own messes. And Dave? He finally started sleeping at night.

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Dark Humor Department: Why Work Smarter, Not Harder

• “They want you to work like you own the company. But guess what? You don’t even own the stapler on your desk.”
• “Your boss doesn’t remember your overtime, but they’ll sure remember your one sick day.”
• “Overachieving is like bringing gourmet cupcakes to a potluck where everyone else brought store-bought cookies. Just stop.”

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Wrap It Up: Superman is Retired

So, when you walk into work today, do me a favor: Take that damn Superman cape off. You are not here to save the day. You’re here to do your job and collect your paycheck. That’s it.

Overachieving isn’t noble; it’s unpaid labor. So step back, sip your coffee, and let the chaos unfold without you. Trust me, the office will survive—and so will you.

Now go forth, do YOUR job, and nothing more. You’re welcome. 😉