I found a meme on Instagram the other day. The point of the meme was, you have to act your wage, which is obviously a wordplay between the well-known expression 'act your age' and, well, wage.

It made me realise I often didn't act my wage in the past. Sometimes I would do more than was required of me. On other occasions, I would do less. Very rarely I would do what I was being asked. And I was never doing what I was being told.

I think it's probably a fine balance.

Because on one end, you shouldn't do more unless you're paid to do it. There's no point overworking and overstressing yourself for no reason.

At the same time, sometimes, you have to sort of fake till you make it. So if you want to step up and go up, and you know you're working at a company where a promotion is within your reach, then sometimes it pays off to NOT act your wage and do more.

It also follows the old adage, some say it's an army rule, that says you should never ever volunteer for anything.

Initiative in the ranks often end up in tears.

Also, if somebody gives you a task and you screw it up, it looks bad.

But if you volunteer for a task and you screw it up, it looks worse.