Thread by @polotek

I've gone back and forth on the right nuance here. What I tell people is to work hard on your own growth. Don't find yourself working hard because you expect that you'll magically be recognized and rewarded for it. That's often not how it goes, and it's a hard lesson for people.

https://twitter.com/MichellCClark/status/1473703630427590667

What gets you recognized and rewarded is way more situational and way less predictable than people want to believe. In order to know how to get ahead, you have to understand what kind of organization you're in and how it operates.

The important thing to understand is this. You want to get rewarded for the *value* you bring. You do not want that to be tied to how many hours you work or how intensely you work. That is a recipe for burnout. Or at least for feeling overworked and underappreciated.

This message resonated with me because it acknowledges that working hard sometimes is an important part of the plan. Especially early in your career. You have to gain experience and learn how to be awesome. There's no substitute for hard work there.

https://twitter.com/MichellCClark/status/1473703630427590667?t=K6TAiq24XAkC2aXKRaPLNg&s=19

The hardest part of this message often goes unsaid. (Especially for younger people who think they know everything already). You need to be ready to hear that the things you're doing aren't as valuable as you think they are. Learning what matters and what doesn't is critical.

This is an important nuance. Remember I said the value you bring depends on the situation. If you want to keep doing what you're doing, go find the people who value that thing. It can be tough, but also hugely rewarding to find your place.

https://twitter.com/shelbyspees/status/1473713344863522819?t=cOXPwry5UrrJVBxEg3nKaA&s=19

What you shouldn't do is try to hard to stay in a situation where your work is not valued. Where you're trying to *convince* the powers that be to recognize and reward you. That's a waste of your valuable time and also a damage to your sense of self. Don't do it.

I'm not telling you to quit your job today. I'm not saying you can't give it some time to see if things changes. Sometimes they do. What I am saying is if you are getting signals that the people you want recognition from don't understand why you're awesome, believe it.

This is the last thing I'll say. I'm intentionally placing these two things right next to each other so you have to engage with both of them. Know your value and ask for what you're worth. But make sure you know how to be awesome first. That takes time.