I was wondering yesterday where can a line be drawn between being a dedicated individual and being a fool?

Where did this question come from? Well, I was thinking that I almost always come to work earlier and leave late while most of my colleagues just stick to the roster.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not pointing fingers at anyone. My colleagues are fine people and fine co-workers, but I guess at the end of the day the company doesn’t care if you work your butt off or if you just… work. As long as the numbers are where they should be, you, the one who comes in early and leaves late, are as good as the one sticking to the roster as far as the company is concerned.

Then I realized I don’t usually come in early and leave late for the company. I do it for myself, because I almost always spend that extra time troubleshooting stuff with other people, reading technical stuff and basically gaining knowledge. Yes, doing that helps the company getting those numbers, but my knowledge doesn’t just vanish. It’s a win-win.

I believe an individual becomes a fool once there’s no win at all for him in spending that extra time working.