when you like what you do...
well, when you LIKE what you do, spending long hours doing it comes naturally.
Just thought I'd add that perspective. I think LOTS of people who think this way end up owning their own businesses.
hard work and dedication does deserve a reward... and being told to LEAVE may be counter-productive in more ways than one.
/me points out that a long commute home might be a good way of getting the extra work in, if you can do it while riding on a train, on a notebook computer, with somewhat unreliable intarwebs access.