I am a longtime lurker. I signed up to say this: Never work extra without being paid extra. You can easily work your butt off and never get anything.

Sure, the boss and the company would like you to work extra, but when did the company ever pay you extra up front for work you—perhaps—would deliver at a later time?

You are a business. It’s not sound business to lower your own hourly rate.

Sure, if everything looks 100 percent aligned, buy the pretty girl a drink, but most of the time things are not aligned.

Don’t be the prostitute who expects to get paid later.