Do not work more than what is advantageous to you. This is your own limit and can change throughout your career. There will be times when working extra hours may get you to the next level, this is a path you can pursue or walk away from.

When I was just starting off in my career, my mentor told me about Scott as a cautionary tale. Scott was a hard working, and dedicated employee. He started with the company on a factory floor. He was known for always working overtime when it was available, and the first person to call if you needed someone to cover a shift.

The company was investing heavily in IT and people it determined were intelligent enough and dedicated enough to do the job. Scott was brought into a training program, sent to some classes, and pulled from the factory floor to an office job.

Scott maintained his work ethic, even though he was salaried he found value in working extra. He felt he was noticed and that his efforts were appreciated. He was also able to pick up new skills and knowledge much faster than his coworkers because he worked more hours.

Scott never married. He tried dating a few times, but the women he dated didn’t like being second to his career. Scott lived modestly and talked to his parents a few times a month.

Scott was the first one to arrive and the last to leave. The joke around the office was that he had a bed under his desk. He eventually got into gaming, late nights playing started to drag on him. But he was always at his desk before anyone else. Occasionally someone would catch him sleeping at his desk.

One day the police came looking for him. His parents hadn’t been able to reach him. When someone went to his desk, he was asleep, but they couldn’t wake him.

The coroner estimated he had been dead for 3 days. In that chair for 3 days. Coworkers walking by, saying good morning, jokes about not working too late. He had nothing really but that job.