Getting a Raise, Part II

If you are serious about making more money at work, I can tell you exactly how to do it – without fail. This method is so fool-proof, it’s almost unfair how well it works. And not only will it earn you a raise or promotion in no time at all, it will set you on a course toward something called “success”.

What is this powerful technique? It is actually a two part technique, and it will require just over one hour a day of your time – 5 days a week. That’s about 5 hours a week. A not-insignificant commitment on your part, but the technique is so powerful that you’ll begin to see results almost immediately.

Every Day – Commit To This

Here’s part one: Every work day, commit to reading something related to your current industry for one hour – preferably before work, but after work is also acceptable. (Ahem – not DURING work!) Read books (Remember those 5 books your boss recommended? Start there!) or trade magazines that focus on your industry. One hour – 5 days a week.

With that kind of time commitment, you should easily be able to read at least one book a month on topics related to your job. Guess what? None of your co-workers are doing this (although teaming up with one or two co-workers in an informal book club is just fine if that will keep you motivated). This way you (or your book club group) will begin to set yourself apart from the just-here-to-collect-a-paycheck crowd.

Nobody Likes The “I Just Work Here” Crowd!

Right after each one hour reading session, part two is to take out a spiral notebook and turn to a blank page. Immediately write down 10 ideas that would make your industry better. Don’t worry about how practical or weird the ideas are – just write down what comes into your brain. Get this done as fast as possible. Don’t worry about repeats from previous days – just write down what comes to mind today.

As you continue to read (Hey, 12 books a year is more than most college students read before they graduate! So this effort is just as good as – even better than – taking some extra college courses. Of course, taking extra college courses ain’t a bad idea either), your brain will be getting more and more ideas from the material you’re reading and your spiral idea notebook will start filling up.

You’ll Just Be Better…

As you go through your work day, you’ll begin to find ways to apply these ideas to your job. It’ll just happen naturally. You won’t even have to force it. You’ll just be better at what you do. And remember our idea about “Create Value First and the Rewards Will Follow”? That’s what you’re doing.

One objection about doing this reading in your field that comes up is: “I don’t plan on doing this job forever. I’m going to be a (    ) once I (    ).” Doesn’t matter what you’re “going to be”. Right now, you are doing what you’re doing and you should become the best at it.

Habits of Success – A Beautiful Thing

If you do this, you’ll get a raise and earn more money now. If you move on to that “future” thing – Great! And won’t it be easier to get there with recommendations from past bosses saying “He/She was the best employee ever!” or “We hate to lose him/her, but he/she just outgrew us!” Plus you’ll be developing habits of success that will stay with you wherever you go.

Stay tuned to Part III, the concluding article, next time …

Related Articles:

• Getting A Raise, Part III
• Getting a Raise, Part I
• Maybe You Just Need To Make More Money?
• Your Financial Bucket List
• The Cost of Whistles – Living Successfully