Started at an NYC tech start up years ago. I am one of the first 25 employees. When I started I was told there would be amazing opportunities for me in the future if I just worked hard and was a team player.
My first year, I regularly worked 12 hour days as an operations manager. Did almost every role from account management, customer service to supply chain logistics management. Literally did the labor that enabled the business to function, without my long hours the business would have failed. I gained 50lbs because I didn’t have time to cook or go to the gym. Also have intense bouts of depression that have me on my ass for months. This was my first corporate job and I have a shit ton of debt so I powered through it thinking things would get better.
3 years later, after I given everything to this company middle managers have been hired over me that refuse to promote or acknowledge any of the work I did before they arrived. Not only did work my ass off, I volunteered extra time to start my companies LGBT ERG and advised HR on diversity and equity before we hired a DE&I person.
The only thing I have from my time at this company is my salary and some stock options. I hate everything meeting I have with my manager they micro manage everything I do and slow down all of my work, any efforts to innovate or grow the business is immediately shut down.
Now I am where I should be, putting in minimal effort just to get my pay check and waiting for my stock options to vest so I can cash out and quit. I’m finally getting my mental and physical health back together. After 3 years of neglect depression and anxiety is a real bitch, but it’s getting better now. None of the hard work I did was worth it, don’t make the same mistake!
TLDR: don’t work hard it never pays off, just do what you need to do to not get fired and enjoy your life.