Don't Give Your 100%

Welcome, friends, to VAP Talks! I’m VAP, your desi bhai who’s been through the corporate world, just like you, freshers and folks with 2-3 years of experience. Today, I’m sharing a story that's packed with emotions, ranging from stress and worry to calmness and happiness. You might be thinking, “Arre, VAP, 100% nahi dena? Yeh kya bol raha hai?” I know, it sounds crazy! However, let me explain why giving your full effort in corporate life can be a trap. Grab a chai, feel the ups and downs, and let’s dive into my smart corporate trick!

In 2022, I joined a big IT company in Pune, fresh from college, my heart buzzing with excitement. I was ready to rock, thinking, “Ab toh full power dikhayunga, sabko impress kar dunga!” But after a few months, I felt stressed, my stomach was tight, wondering how to balance work and life. I heard this quote, “Change is the only constant,” meaning we need to keep getting better every year. Your boss expects that too: improve, learn, grow. But in corporate life, giving 100% can burn you out. I learned this the hard way, and it changed everything.

When I joined my project, I worked under a manager, let’s call them DM, who reported to a higher boss, HM. I started giving my all, finishing tasks super fast, my heart racing with hope to get noticed. A task that took others 4 hours, I could do in 2. But I saw my colleagues chilling, taking the full 4 hours, and still getting by. I felt frustrated, thinking, “Yar, main itna mehnat kyun kar raha hoon?” I read books, watched YouTube videos, and learned from corporate folks that giving your all might get you a top rating, say, 5 out of 5, but it’s tough. Managers like DM are always looking for mistakes, so even with crazy effort, you might only get a 4, and that means late nights, extra work, and no life outside the office. A 3 rating? That’s for doing what’s expected, on time, no extra drama. Anything below 3 is rare because managers don’t want to explain poor performance to HR or HM.

I felt a bit hopeless. Why kill myself for a 4 when it’s not guaranteed? So, I made a plan: work at 60% of my potential. A 2-hour task? I’d take 4 hours, like everyone else. You’re thinking, “Arre, VAP, job chali jayegi!” Nahin, yaar, I was still matching what others did, so no one complained. This gave me calm. I left the office on time, no stress. My heart felt light, and I had time to chill, watch movies, and hang with friends. Most importantly, I used that extra time to learn new skills, coding, tech trends, everything. I was happy, balancing work and life like a pro.

Why not give 100%? If I did, DM would expect me to top it every year. That’s pressure, yaar! By working at 60%, I had room to grow without stress. If I needed to impress, I’d finish a task early, making DM go, “Waah, yeh toh jaldi kar deta hai!” This created a good impression without burning me out. By mid-year, I was at 75-80% of my capacity, still below my full potential. With my upskilling, I was actually 110% better than when I started, but nobody knew I kept that card hidden.

Then came the appraisal quarter, and I used a smart trick: recency bias. People remember recent stuff more than old stuff. Early in the year, I spotted a way to improve operational efficiency with a script, but I saved it. In the last quarter, I rolled out that script, boosting the team’s work. DM was thrilled, saying, “VAP, yeh toh kamal hai!” In the performance review, I showed how I improved from the start of the year, with my graph going up steadily. My heart was racing with excitement. I knew I played it smart. Result? I got a 4 rating, and while in IT increments are usually 4-8%, I got a double-digit hike, way above the norm! I was overjoyed, feeling like I cracked the corporate code.

You might be thinking, “VAP, toh kya skills dikhayein hi nahi?” Or, “Kya sab aise karte hain?” Nahin, yaar, it depends on the person! I worked below my potential but still matched what DM expected, finishing tasks on time like my colleagues. If you’re already struggling, you might need to push harder to catch up. The trick is to know your team’s pace and stay just above it, not go all out. This works in relationships, too. Don’t show all your cards at once. Play them one by one, save the best for last, and win the game. My heart felt full, knowing I had the best work-life balance and still got that big hike.

So, this is what I learned: 100% effort? Don’t do it! Work smart, not hard match expectations, save energy, and upskill in your spare time. Understand your team’s vibe, use recency bias, and show growth when it counts. As freshers, don’t burn out. Balance work and life, learn, and grow. Are you smiling, thinking of your own work hacks? Drop a comment on how you manage your work? Next time, I’ll share another corporate trick. Till then, work smart, live happy. Take care, doston! 😊