Why Staying Late at Work Won’t Earn You a Medal (and What Actually Matters)
I was thinking recently about a piece of advice I received in my 20s that I really wish I had followed at the time.
A Flashback to My Early Career
Flashback to my early 20s: I was in my second job after graduation, working late evenings at the office, taking work home, and even putting in weekends. I was really overdoing it.
One day, a colleague was leaving the office at 4:30 PM—when our workday ended—and asked, “Oh, are you headed home?”
I said, “No, I still have a couple of hours left to do.”
She looked at me and said:
“Émilie, no one is going to give you a medal for staying late at the office. You're not going to get a promotion. You're not going to get more money. You're not going to get any recognition from your manager. You're not going to get a medal for staying late.”
I laughed it off at the time, thinking I knew better. But I kept doing the same thing. Back then, my self-worth was so tied up in being seen as productive and busy. Overworking was my badge of honor.
And, honestly, it seemed to work. My employers liked me, I got positive reviews, and I thought I was doing everything right.
What I Realized Later
Now that I run my own business, I can see things more clearly. Those compliments I got weren’t about the overtime—they were about the meaningful work I was actually doing:
Connecting with clients
Collaborating with colleagues
Contributing in meetings
Providing trainings
Synthesizing information into useful documents
All the late nights? Most of it was just busy work that didn’t actually earn me recognition or progress.
How I Work Now
In my own business, I do things differently:
I work Monday to Thursday, 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
I see clients during those hours, but not back-to-back.
I have breaks built in, plus time to follow my passions—like writing this right now.
Focusing on meaningful work rather than appearing busy has been a game changer.
Food for Thought
So here’s the advice I wish I had followed in my 20s: you’re not going to get a medal for staying late.
Maybe you’re thinking, “In my industry, staying late is necessary.” Sure, sometimes that’s true—but in most cases, it’s worth reflecting on what you’re actually doing after hours:
Is it meaningful work, or just busy work to appear busy?
What contributions truly matter, and where can you lean into them more?
For me, recognizing this shifted how I approached my career—and it’s a reminder that working smarter, not longer, is where the real impact lies.
I hope this gives you some food for thought. What’s one thing you could stop doing after hours that isn’t actually moving the needle?
Watch the full video version of this blog here: Advice I Wish I Listened To In My 20’s