158. Go the Extra Mile

Another suggestion for living better is to give more than you are paid for. Make this a principle by which you live your life. This will make you so valuable in your work that you become indispensible. Always go the extra mile.

Everything in life has a price and in modern society the way you pay for it is with the money you earn. Therefore, at every opportunity, improve your career. Take exttra courses. Improve all of your skills. Acquire new skills. Learn new languages. Do this even when the subjects bore you. You may only ever need to use the skill once in your lifetime but by having it you will be more confident and more useful. This will open the door to higher earnings.

Put out more on your job than you are being paid for. Miracles will begin to happen. If it makes you unpopular with your co-workers, that is their problem. Only you can live your life and there will be people depending on you.

Do this today and tomorrow and for ever.

This principle has an application with homework and examinations. When you are given an extra question which is optional, always do the extra question. You may have got one of the earlier questions wrong. In cases like that the examiner will always give you the benefit of the best questions you have done.

114. On the Popularity of your Work

(Even) if nobody likes your work, you have to go on - for the sake of the work. - Gustav Holst.