Traditional work ethic says you have to “pay your dues” to get ahead.
But, often, this means enduring useless hardships just for the sake of enduring them.
Rather than a pointless rite of passage, think of paying your dues as gaining experience.
But neglecting to negotiate your first-ever salary can cost youhundreds of thousands of dollarsover the course of your career.
Writer Matt Cheuvront explains:
while experience matters the idea of “paying your dues” is fading fast.
The concept of “climbing the ladder”, nowadays, is an old-school train of thought.
We, collectively, seek work that matters.
Work that’s challenging.
Work that’s fulfilling.
And we aren’t willing to wait.
And really, we shouldn’t.
I remember the first time I heard this phrase.
“What’s the point?”
Someone on the team said, “you have to pay your dues.”
But, in this case, my “dues” were staying late for the sake of staying late.
This was unproductive and wasteful.
At the same time, as Cheuvront says, experience does matter.
But you do need to learn.
And don’t shy from striving for more simply because you feel you’re undeserving.
Yes, experience and learning are a big part of getting ahead.
it’s possible for you to pay your dues, just see to it they’re actually productive.
Check out more on this topic at the link below.
Life’s Too Short to Be Spent Paying Your Dues| Life Without Pants
Photo byAlan Cleaver.
