"Keep your nose to the grindstone"

It's rather funny sometimes, you can hear a phrase a hundred thousand times and not realize the meaning behind it.

Just this morning I realized the TRUE meaning of the old phrase "Keep your nose to the grindstone". I used to think it meant "Keep your head in your work and concentrate. Work hard and you will prosper."

While this is partially correct, it is not the FULL meaning.

What this phrase is really trying to teach us is "Don't get involved. Keep your head down. Be blissfully ignorant of problems, co-workers and outside disruptions that do not directly affect your own work."

In other words, shut out everything that does not DIRECTLY affect you. Lay low. Don't bring attention to yourself. Don't stray AT ALL from the task at hand. Keep your eyes on your own work, do not try to fix other people's mistakes. Let them incur their own wrath. You are in this ONLY for yourself.

...and even if it does directly affect you somehow, it is best to just keep your damn mouth SHUT.

"Don't stick your neck out" either, because it WILL get cut off.