Too Bad to Be Too Good: The Dangers of Over-Sacrificing at Work

Too Bad to Be Too Good: The Dangers of Over-Sacrificing at Work

Many professionals pride themselves on going the extra mile for their companies, pushing themselves to achieve more and contribute beyond their job descriptions. It feels good to exceed expectations, especially when the bosses celebrate your wins. However, there's a harsh reality that some of us have had to learn the hard way: sacrificing too much can backfire. This brings to mind a phrase my dad always used to say: "kwandikwo tiguciarwo," which loosely translates to, "you were employed there, not born there."

The message is clear—you weren't born into the company, and at any moment, you could be replaced. No matter how much you pour your heart into your job, you remain just another employee. When push comes to shove, you may find yourself going home with all the troubles you absorbed, only to be easily replaced by someone else. Yet, driven by ambition and a desire to stand out, many of us continue to oversacrifice, often breaking some rules along the way to achieve short-term wins.

The bittersweet victory of being praised for those wins can blur the lines between right and wrong. But here's the twist: the same rules you bent or broke will eventually come back to haunt you. Perhaps your boss, who once celebrated your achievements, will turn against you, or maybe your successor, eager to prove their worth, will use your slip-ups to paint themselves as more professional and trustworthy.

Think about this metaphor: your neighbor's truck is sliding into a ditch. You notice it, jump the fence, and place a stone behind the wheels to stop it. You're trying to help, right? But then, the gardener catches you trespassing. Despite showing evidence of how far the truck had slid and the stone you placed behind it, you're jailed and fined for trespassing. Your good intentions don't matter; what matters is the rule you broke.

This is the bitter reality of employment. No matter how well-intentioned or beneficial your actions may seem, stepping outside the boundaries of your role can cost you dearly. It doesn’t matter if you're saving the company's metaphorical truck from disaster—if it's not in your job description, it's not your responsibility.

The lesson? Stick to what you were hired to do. Don’t save the truck—it’s not yours, and it’s certainly not your father’s. Mind your business, fulfill your duties, and if the ship starts sinking, don’t hesitate to jump and swim to the next one. Oversacrifice can lead to unseen dangers, and in the end, your well-being matters far more than the fleeting success of a company that can replace you in a heartbeat.